Changes

For several years I have been seeing a gradual coming together of many strands in development toward the possibility of an integrated

For several years I have been seeing a gradual coming together of many strands in development toward the possibility of an integrated

strategy that can be replicated worldwide. After the initial stage, it should all become self-sustaining in the manner of the Grameen Bank, Grameen Phone, and the like, and thus independent of the usual sources of non-profit funding. Here are the leading strands.

strategy that can be replicated worldwide. After the initial stage, it should all become self-sustaining in the manner of the [http://www.grameen-info.org/ Grameen Bank, Grameen Phone], and the like, and thus independent of the usual sources of non-profit funding. Here are the leading strands.

* ICT4D, including newly powerful computers and Internet at prices that make sense in even the poorest and most remote villages, given the promise of economic growth to enable paying back costs.

* [http://www.unicttaskforce.org/welcome/ ICT4D], including newly powerful mobile phones, computers, and Internet at prices that make sense in even the poorest and most remote villages, given the promise of economic growth to enable paying back costs.

** One Laptop Per Child, for the reasons Satish Jha cites and more, including a rethinking of curricula, textbook content, and publishing models. Scarcity of information is no longer the limiting factor in education. Electronic publications still take effort and time to write, but the reproduction cost on the Internet is nearly nil. Governments will soon realize that they don't have to buy textbooks. They can contract for writing textbooks and other materials with the proviso that the government, or we should say the public, owns the copyright. We can take advantage of Free Software and Open Access publishing throughout this process, and of a century of discoveries in how children really learn. Currently XOs are $198 each, with $75 versions promised for 2010. GiveOneGetOne is to start up again in November.

** One Laptop Per Child, for many reasons, including a rethinking of curricula, textbook content, and publishing models. Scarcity of information is no longer the limiting factor in education. Electronic publications still take effort and time to write, but the reproduction cost on the Internet is nearly nil. Governments will soon realize that they don't have to buy textbooks. They can contract for writing textbooks and other materials with the proviso that the government, or we should say the public, owns the copyright. We can take advantage of [http://www.fsf.org/ Free Software] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_access Open Access] publishing throughout this process, and of a century of discoveries in how children really learn. Currently XOs are $198 each, with $75 versions promised for 2010. [http://wiki.laptop.org/go/G1G1 GiveOneGetOne] is to start up again in November.

** WiMax and other broadband technologies that can provide Internet to whole countries (90-95% coverage) for $10 per person installed.  

** [http://www.wimaxforum.org/home/ WiMax] and other broadband technologies that can provide Internet to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Deployed_WiMAX_networks whole countries] (90-95% coverage) for $10 per person installed.  

** Fiber optic cables for every country in Africa. There is one installed on the West Coast, two being laid on the East Coast, and four more promised. Rwanda and the other dozen landlocked countries in Africa are making deals with their neighbors for overland links. Some regions in Central Asia may take a little longer.  

** [http://www.iconnect-online.org/News/iconnectnews.2006-06-30.8848332576 Fiber optic cables] for every country in Africa. There is one installed on the West Coast, two being laid on the East Coast, and [http://allafrica.com/stories/200807210866.html four more promised]. [http://www.ugabytes.org/nod/?q=node/351 Rwanda] and the other dozen landlocked countries in Africa are making deals with their neighbors for overland links. Some regions in Central Asia may take a little longer.  

** New satellite launches that promise both to break the current cartel pricing in Africa, and to link Africa directly to South America, the Middle East, and Asia, not just by multihop through Europe.

** New satellite launches that promise both to break the current cartel pricing in Africa, and to link Africa directly to South America, the Middle East, and Asia, not just by multihop through Europe.

** African banks that are now in a position to start creating a continent-wide network and to roll out electronic banking.

** [http://ai.africanews.com/site/list_message/8123 African banks] that are now in a position to start creating a continent-wide network and to roll out electronic banking.

** Global GIS initiatives dealing with mapping critical poverty issues: environment, water, agriculture, climate, health, and much more.

** [http://www.isde5.org/ Global GIS initiatives] dealing with mapping critical poverty issues: environment, water, agriculture, climate, health, and much more.

* The many organizations working on renewable electricity for villages, among them Earth Treasury, Engineers Without Borders, and the Jhai Foundation.

* The many organizations working on renewable electricity for villages, among them [[User:Mokurai/Earth Treasury|Earth Treasury]], [http://www.ewb.org/ Engineers Without Borders], and the [http://www.jhai.org/ Jhai Foundation].

* Many organizations rolling out vastly improved health services to whole countries and in a few cases to the entire world. This includes the Rotary International eradication of polio; anti-malarial bednets wherever needed; free medication for River Blindness; low-cost AIDS

* Many organizations rolling out vastly improved health services to whole countries and in a few cases to the entire world. This includes the [http://www.rotary.org/en/serviceAndFellowship/Polio/Pages/ridefault.aspx Rotary International eradication of polio]; [http://www.rbm.who.int/ anti-malarial bednets] wherever needed; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onchocerciasis#Treatment_and_control free medication for River Blindness]; low-cost AIDS medication (largely due to the [http://www.clintonfoundation.org/what-we-do/clinton-hiv-aids-initiative Clinton Foundation]); practical methods for [http://www.pih.org/issues/tb.html treating multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis] (MDR-TB); [http://www.microinsurancecentre.org/UI/Home.aspx microinsurance]; Free Software for health, such as [http://www.openMRS.org/ OpenMRS]; and [http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Health health education] through One Laptop Per Child.

medication (largely due to the Clinton Foundation; practical methods for treating multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB); microinsurance; Free Software for health; and health education through One Laptop Per Child

* More than 100,000 of the million and more NGOs of the world now connected with each other through Wiser Earth.

* More than 100,000 of the million and more NGOs of the world now connected with each other through [http://www.wiserearth.org/ Wiser Earth].

* Barack Obama's plan to double US Foreign Aid, and redirect it to much more efficient methods (toward helping the poor, not just subsidizing US agriculture, manufacturing, and consulting). This includes a $2 billion annual Global Education Fund.

* Barack Obama's [http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/Fact_Sheet_Foreign_Policy_Democratization_and_Development_FINAL.pdf plan to double US Foreign Aid], and redirect it to much more efficient methods (toward helping the poor, not just subsidizing US agriculture, manufacturing, and consulting). This includes a $2 billion annual Global Education Fund.

* The microfinance movement's casting about for the next big challenge. I predict village electricity and Internet along with school computers, and I am working on alliances toward that end.

* The microfinance movement's casting about for the next big challenge. I predict village electricity and Internet along with school computers, and I am working on alliances toward that end.

My version of the mission is: Whatever turns out to be needed. My self-appointed task is to find the holes in current programs, and fill them, first with my own efforts and second by recruiting others to do the work, research further solutions, and plan where we might go next. Among the critical tasks are village electricity and Internet, redesigning curricula and textbooks, and bringing all of this together into target communities with microfinance, with a flexible, integrated business plan for whole societies to advance societal infrastructure (education, health, clean water, and other essentials), and the private sector (sole proprietorships, sustainable international companies, producer and consumer co-operatives), and shared values.

My version of the mission is: Whatever turns out to be needed. My self-appointed task is to find the holes in current programs, and fill them, first with my own efforts and second by recruiting others to do the work, research further solutions, and plan where we might go next. Among the critical tasks are village electricity and Internet, redesigning curricula and textbooks, and bringing all of this together into target communities with microfinance, with a flexible, integrated business plan for whole societies to advance societal infrastructure (education, health, clean water, and other essentials), and the private sector (sole proprietorships, sustainable international companies, producer and consumer co-operatives), and shared values.

It is no longer practical to impose the illusion of shared values on a society. They must grow out of the situation. The report on OLPC's early effects in Ethiopia gives a glimpse into where we are going. Within a few months, in a highly traditional society that has valued teaching politeness and obedience over subject matter in schools, and where asking questions of a teacher was considered insulting, the XO and its software have opened up a new, collaborative relationship between teachers and students. This is in no small part attributable to the collaborative nature of the XO's Sugar and other software. Access to the information riches of the Internet is another important factor. See [[http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Academic_Papers Academic Papers]] on the OLPC Wiki for this and other recent reports.

It is no longer practical to impose the illusion of shared values on a society. They must grow out of the situation. The report on OLPC's early [http://www.gg.rhul.ac.uk/ict4d/ethiopia.pdf effects in Ethiopia] gives a glimpse into where we are going. Within a few months, in a highly traditional society that has valued teaching politeness and obedience over subject matter in schools, and where asking questions of a teacher was considered insulting, the XO and its software have opened up a new, collaborative relationship between teachers and students. This is in no small part attributable to the collaborative nature of the XO's Sugar and other software. Access to the information riches of the Internet is another important factor. See [[http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Academic_Papers Academic Papers]] on the OLPC Wiki for this and other recent reports.

There is more, but that will do to begin with.

There is more, but that will do to begin with.