[Institut] Statement - Round Table, Trieste Oct 2003 (fwd)

[Antun Balaz]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2003 16:08:36 +0100
From: eJournals_Delivery_Service <ejds at ejds-2.ictp.trieste.it>
To: undisclosed-recipients:  ;
Subject: Statement - Round Table, Trieste Oct 2003


Dear eJDS Users,

   At the second Open Round Table on "Developing Country Access to
Scientific Knowledge: Quantifying the Digital Divide", held in
Trieste, 23-24 October, those present agreed to sign an statement
on

    AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET FOR RESEARCH AND LEARNING

as described below, and which will be presented to representatives
of governments at the World Summit on the Information Society, to
be held in Geneva, from 10 to 12 December, 2003.

   We thank to all those who have already signed and invite you to
sign and/or forward it to your colleagues.  We would like to have
as many signatures as possible.

   To agree visit:

    http://www.ejds.org/meeting2003/statement

or send an e-mail To: <ejds at ictp.trieste.it>


                           Sincere regards,

                            Hilda A. Cerdeira
                            Enrique Canessa


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Statement

AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET FOR RESEARCH AND LEARNING


   Scholars from across the world meeting at the Abdus Salam International
Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste were concerned to learn
of the barrier to education and research caused by the high cost of
Internet access in many countries.

  The Internet enables the use of content which is vital for individuals
and for institutions engaged in teaching, learning and research. In many
countries use of the Internet is severely restricted by the high
telecommunications cost, leading to inequality in realising the benefits
of education and research. Research staff and students in countries with
liberal telecommunications policies favouring educational use are gaining
social and economic advantage over countries with restrictive, high-cost
policies. The potential benefits of access to the Internet are not
available to all.

  The signatories to this message invite scholars in every country to
join them in expressing concern to governments and research funding
agencies at the effect of high telecommunications costs upon individuals
and institutions undertaking teaching, learning and research. The
situation in many countries could be improved through educational
discounts on normal telecommunications costs, or through the lifting of
monopolies. It is for each country to determine its own
telecommunications policies but the need for low-cost access to the
Internet for educational purposes is a need which is common to the
whole of humankind.

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