Re: [GKD] Should "Developed" Countries Subsidize the Internet for LDCs?
On 12/28/04, John Dada
> And let me also stir things up a bit more, Lee. I've heard data bandied
> about what defines an LDC, and have heard things like folks living on
> less than $1/day. I don't know where these figures come from. But one of
> my mothers (yes, in rural Nigeria, every elderly woman is my mother) is
> on welfare from our organization and she earns 100 Naira per week (this
> is less than $1/WEEK). I hope this gives a little perspective and
> reality-check on subsidies. Would you subsidize IT infrastructure and
> end-user fees for this mother of mine?
Well, it is always a pleasure to meet a fellow stir stick.
In Phon Kham the first priority of villagers was clean water. The
second was improvements at their school. The third was efficiencies in
the processes of their organic agricultural, animal and crafts
businesses. After that came communications.
I think it is important to understand that they wanted communication for
two main reasons. One was better connected extended families. The
other was to find out prices and to make trades to increase their income
without changing their lifestyles much nor their traditions at all.
There were three other reasons, too: education and fun for their kids,
making an 'insurance' deal with the local doctor for emergency phone
health care, and reporting to people like us and to carry out other
business functions ... but these were secondary. All of these things
have economic as well as social value for the village.
In Lao language there are many honorifics and 'mother' is one. People
also adopt people. One of my mothers lives in Phon Kham. She adopted
me after we shared our stories with each other for two years. It
actually happened the day after she told me her whole experience during
the American war in Laos. This took many tearful hours. She knew I was
involved in the war, too, involved with the bombing that forced all the
families in her village - or villages like hers - to leave their
ancestral homes. She is the biological mother of the co-founder of Jhai
Foundation, Bounthanh Phommasathit.
I cannot give anyone a subsidy. I am too poor. I can choose to help
people. I try to help people according to their desires. I try not to
disempower them.
So ... would I subsidize IT infrastructure and end-user fees for this
mother of yours?
All opportunities are local. In the case I know Phon Kham's business
plan is flexible. I'd guess villagers would take any subsidy or
discount or tax break they can get.
I will fight for my mother's desire in Phon Kham to get connected by
phone and internet with their children overseas. I will fight for their
children and all people in Phon Kham to help them find out the price of
rice and weaving every day. In that fight I will try to work with them
to get a good price on charges from the phone company and, if necessary,
the satellite company, if they ask me to. I also know one must choose
one's fight and we'd talk about what fight to take.
As you know, villagers in Phon Kham have not been able to get permission
to connect yet. We're working on a new idea using WiMax that might
overcome the main barrier. We are proceeding with the process of
developing a POC of the Jhai PC and communication system on the Navajo
reservation and betas in several other countries, including Laos.
I think communication is a basic element of social change for good or
for ill. It is more likely the change will be for good, if the impetus
for the change and the plan for the change comes from end-users.
I hope this is clear, John. Should MNCs or other large donors subsidize
communications? I think subsidizing internet connectivity fees could be
a nearly transparent investment, if done carefully.
I think ... ok, I know ... a major reason some of the first people
involved in personal computing wanted to communicate was to find smart
people everywhere and talk with them. Well, we won't unless the poorest
people get connected.
I think this makes a coincidence of interest.
yours, in Peace,
Lee Thorn
chair, Jhai Foundation
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