2007 - number 8
By Roni Amelan (UNESCO) - Publication Date: 24-09-2007
Over the coming two years, UNESCO is committed to continue working for freedom of expression and press freedom and to promoting the use of the information and communication technologies to foster inclusive knowledge societies that empower individuals and communities.
"Contributing to the construction of inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication," is how UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information (ADG/CI), Abdul Waheed Khan encapsulates the objectives of his sector for the coming biennium.
This echoes objectives established by World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which UNESCO helped organize in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005. UNESCO remains active in the WSIS process, destined to build people-centered information societies that are mindful of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and, of the basic human right of freedom of expression.
That strategy focuses on fostering free, independent and pluralistic communication and universal access to information. This is essential for the strengthening of participatory democracy and for the struggle against poverty, as communication and information play a central role in development. However, in many parts of the world, the media need to be reinforced so as to contribute to the international development drive, says Mr Khan.
Media development has long been at the centre of CI's work, notably through programmes such as the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) which, over the last 27 years, has raised some US$ 93 million for over 1,100 projects in 139 developing countries and countries in transition. IPDC is the only forum in the United Nations to discuss and promote free and independent media in developing countries and countries in transition.
The CI sector is also committed to continue serving as a watchdog for freedom of expression around the world, an area in which UNESCO plays a leading role, reminding Member States of their obligation to respect this fundamental human right enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and recognized by the WSIS.
Creating resources
"Creating the resources in Member States for them to develop free and independent media is our bread and butter," says Mr Khan, recalling that universal access to knowledge depends on adequate communication and information infrastructures.
"At stake is the empowerment of individuals and communities", says Mr Khan, who recalls that the link between empowerment and knowledge is becoming ever stronger. It is therefore not surprising that another major objective for CI, is to support UNESCO in working towards fulfilling the ambitious goals of the Education For All (EFA) drive adopted by the international community in Dakar in 2000. EFA concerns overall improvements in the provision of quality basic education and life skills to all and achieving gender parity in education by 2015.
The multiplier effect
Mr Khan explains that the information and communication technologies (ICTs) can have a "multiplier effect," contributing to the education of learners and the training of teachers. "Likewise, CI works to ensure that the multiplier effect of ICTs benefits UNESCO's promotion of cultural diversity and dissemination of scientific knowledge." Thus, argues Mr Khan, CI is the leader when it comes to cooperation between UNESCO's sectors.
In addition, the ADG recalls that ICTs not only help generate and disseminate knowledge but are also important for the preservation of knowledge. Programmes such as Memory of the World serve to preserve and disseminate the heritage of documentary material and archives. Thus, through ICTs, UNESCO's Communication and Information sector has become involved in the preservation of knowledge, including indigenous knowledge, and in cultural heritage.
The new technologies have operated a deep change in the flow of information and its sharing. Mr Khan strongly believes that UNESCO must play its role in bridging the knowledge gap to ensure that this multidirectional flow of information and knowledge does not pass by those who are less privileged. With programmes such as the Community Multimedia Centres, and a wide range of partners including some of the world's leading private sector companies and NGOs, as well as networks such as the new Power of Peace Network, Mr Khan is convinced that UNESCO can contribute to world peace and development.
* Portal of the Communication and Information Sector
UNESCO
* UNESCO and WSIS – Towards Knowledge Societies
* Memory of the world
The UNESCO Courier, no.5, 2007
* Media under attack
The UNESCO Courier, no.4, 2007
* Media matters
The UNESCO Courier, no.1, 2007
Author(s): By Roni Amelan (UNESCO) - Publication Date: 24-09-2007
© UNESCO 1995-2007 - ID: 39551
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
ZAMBIA SHOULD RATIFY FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL
By Matongo Maumbi,
Tobacco kills almost five million people each year. If current trends continue, it is projected to kill 10 million people a year by 2020, with 70% of those deaths occurring in developing countries. Tobacco also takes an enormous toll in health care costs, lost productivity, and of course the intangible costs of the pain and suffering inflicted upon smokers, passive smokers and their families.
In May 2003, the member countries of the World Health Organization adopted a historic tobacco control treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which has the potential to reduce this terrible toll.
The FCTC seeks to reduce on tobacco consumption and a number of other countries have ratified the convention while ZAMBIA HAS NOT. Why hasn't the Zambian Government RATIFIED the FCTC? Is it because they are reducing tax on it in a bid to gain the much needed income? Is this the best that the government can do when there are so much adverse effects of the drug?
The FCTC is encouraging governments to increase tax on tobacco and related substances so as to discourage would-be smokers and those that are already in the habit. Is it the nation's well-being or the nation's wealth that counts here? Certainly the nation has to have a healthy citizenry so that they become much more productive.
The objective of the FCTC is "to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke." The Preamble of the FCTC recognises the need for countries to give priority to their right to protect public health, the unique nature of tobacco products and the harm that companies that produce them cause.
Tobacco tax increases are encouraged in the FCTC, but the Zambian Government is doing the direct opposite. The treaty states that "each Party should take account of its national health objectives concerning tobacco control" in its tobacco tax and price policies. The treaty recognizes that raising prices through tax increases and other means "is an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption by various segments of the population, in particular young persons."
A comprehensive ban on advertising is required: The FCTC requires all Parties to undertake a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship within five years of ratifying the treaty. The ban must include cross-border advertising originating within a Party's territory. The definitions of advertising, promotion and sponsorship are broad and include indirect as well as direct forms. Countries with constitutional constraints are required to restrict advertising, promotion and sponsorship, including cross-border advertising, in a manner consistent with their constitutional principles. The Parties also agree to consider a protocol to elaborate on the cross-border provisions, for example the technical and legal aspects of preventing or blocking advertising on the internet and satellite television.
Nonsmokers must be protected in workplaces, public transport and indoor public places. The treaty recognizes that exposure to tobacco smoke has been scientifically proven to cause death, disease and disability. It requires all Parties to implement effective measures to protect nonsmokers from tobacco smoke in public places, including workplaces, public transport and indoor public places -- evidence indicates that only a total smoking ban is effective in protecting non-smokers.
Large health warning labels are required. Parties to the treaty agree that health warning labels ideally should cover 50% or more of the principle display areas of each packet, which for a standard cigarette package means both the front and back. Health warning labels must include rotating messages in the principle languages of the Party. Deceptive labels must be prohibited. Countries agree to prohibit misleading or deceptive terms on tobacco product packages within three years of becoming a Party. Research has proved that cigarettes that are labeled "light", "low tar", and "mild" (among other terms) are as dangerous as those denoted as regular and thus these terms mislead and deceive consumers about the risks involved in the use of these products. Although the treaty does not specify the terms that Parties should ban, the scientific evidence would certainly support banning the use of terms such as "light", "mild", "low tar", etc.
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the first treaty initiated by the World Health Assembly, the governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO). Negotiations began in October 1999 and concluded on March 1st 2003. The FCTC was adopted at the World Health Assembly on May 23, 2003 and is now open for signature and ratification.
Mother Zambia, you are very welcome to ratify the treaty and help save thousands of lives in our beautiful country. Let us join hands to fight the use of tobacco, it's worthwhile call.
We can indeed be happy to have smoke free restaurants, bars and many other public places........
(with excerpts from Framework Convention Alliance and Tobacco Information & Prevention Source – TIPS)
Sunday, September 02, 2007
How can African Journalists benefit from Web2.0 revolution?
African Journalists need to embrace the new revolution of Web 2.0 tools if they are to catch up in this globalised World. Below find an interview on Web 2.0 with Matongo Maumbi a journalist from Zambia whose blog matongo.blogspot.com
Maumbi recently attended an online training focusing on Web2.0 tools organized by PenPlusBytes, the International Institute for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Journalism. In 2006, PenPlusBytes launched an online course on ICT Journalism in Africa and it attracted about forty three participants from nine countries spread across Africa, Europe and Asia. You were one of these fortunate students.
Why did you want to engage in such a course? What were your needs?
Matongo: I engaged in the course because I have an interest in exploiting ICTs at personal level and also professionally. I have been working as a broadcast journalist since 2001 and I was lucky to have been exposed to the computer and internet right from the early days of my career. My ICT knowledge is driven by personal interest and enthusiasm. I needed some professional guidance on using ICTs in my career as well as how I would fully utilize them. I needed to know the pros and cons of using ICTs . The limits, the potential benefits the fun of using the internet and how to explore it better.
What did you learn? What did you prefer (e.g.,. learning about new tools, engaging with other journalists, sharing your ideas and knowledge with others, working together on a common article, networking and interacting…)?
Matongo: I learnt quite a number of things. I initially only took blogging as an adventure. Writing whatever came to my mind without any real set objective or target. I guess this was because I did it just out of interest and curiosity. I learnt how to conduct better online research for background information. How to source documents, how to set good parameters for searching. My knowledge on Web 2.0 was improved. Blogging is a good place to express oneself freely without the censorship of your editor or superiors on your work.
How does, what your learnt, influence your current journalism practice? How did it modify your way of working? How did it nurture your work (if so)? How do you apply what you learnt?
Matongo: I preferred learning new tools and also interacting with other journalists from across the continent and globe. As curiosity satisfaction was among my needs, I was really looking forward to learning new tools on ICTs. My mind was more set on learning new tools from what I already taught myself. I guess from the many things I learnt, I now spend less time on the internet. I spend less time because I know better how to conduct my online research with in the shortest possible time but with maximum information. As I am now working better with internet, it has encouraged me to continue getting a local touch to what I read on the internet. During the course I found my self working on fewer but better researched programmes that are of great relevance to our catchments community.
You created your own blog. How do you use this blog? What is the main purpose (PR, information sharing, interacting….?). Did you reach your goal? What are the strength and the weakness of such an exercise?
Matongo: Initially had a website aimed at doing radical campaigns online on things that affect Zambia. Time and resources could not allow me to continue and my site died out. Then I though of creating blog with a similar aim. I basically transferred what my site to the blog. I use the blog to make and achieve my thoughts online. As my blog is more of expressing my self, I have not yet set a good objective. In a small way I have reached my goal of transferring my thoughts online. The greatest strength is that you are your own editor and can write anything you fell is morally right at your own pace and space. You get unlimited freedom besides that fact that you have sensitive stories. Weakness comes in as most of the time I only write about my thoughts without backup professional thoughts. This creates a sense of non credibility from readers. Updates are seldom coming on the blog as I use company equipment and internet to do the updates.
What are the main challenges for African journalists to use Web2.0 tools? Do you think that most journalists have already a "mindset" for Web2 tools? What would the African Media community gain by using Web2.0?
Matongo: The main challenges of African journalists using web 2.0 tools is that we do not have our own working space. We have to rely on computers and internet from our offices. How on earth could one fully use web 2.0 tools when one does not have their own resources? The mindset for most journalists is there but a mindset with out resources is meaningless. Internet connection and access is very expensive for most journalists and even when it is affordable it is very slow. There is plenty to gain such as information sharing, unlimited power to express oneself (group) without the trouble of going through the censoring editors and managers.
Do you think that web2.0 applications - if well used by African journalists - can make the Internet more "relevant"? How so?
Matongo: I think Web 2.0 tools if properly used can make it more relevant. There is a lot of information that African Journalists have but because they have to go through editors, such info is suppressed. Mostly it is as a result of editors, managers not appreciating the role of ICTS tools.
Have you advertised your blog. If yes to whom and how?
Matongo: I think my blog is an isolated one. I have not advertised it. The only people that know about are my friends. I never thought of advertising it mainly because I think I do not update it regularly.
Are you making money from your blog?
Matongo: I am not in any way making money from my blog . I still do not fully know how I can tap into that potential. I do not really see how I can make money. I guess this is something I have to learn next. I know I have what it takes; I just do not have the right guidance.
Have you taught other about blogging?
Matongo: I have not taught any of my close friends' blogging and taking full advantage of the internet besides e-mail messaging. Training for African Journalists in necessary on new web tools because these are new things which are not taught in Journalism. It is also important to note that a blog helps to store content online for African Journalists which has been for a long time been stored in paper form. The content put on a blog is shared and people learn from that kind of content.
Maumbi recently attended an online training focusing on Web2.0 tools organized by PenPlusBytes, the International Institute for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Journalism. In 2006, PenPlusBytes launched an online course on ICT Journalism in Africa and it attracted about forty three participants from nine countries spread across Africa, Europe and Asia. You were one of these fortunate students.
Why did you want to engage in such a course? What were your needs?
Matongo: I engaged in the course because I have an interest in exploiting ICTs at personal level and also professionally. I have been working as a broadcast journalist since 2001 and I was lucky to have been exposed to the computer and internet right from the early days of my career. My ICT knowledge is driven by personal interest and enthusiasm. I needed some professional guidance on using ICTs in my career as well as how I would fully utilize them. I needed to know the pros and cons of using ICTs . The limits, the potential benefits the fun of using the internet and how to explore it better.
What did you learn? What did you prefer (e.g.,. learning about new tools, engaging with other journalists, sharing your ideas and knowledge with others, working together on a common article, networking and interacting…)?
Matongo: I learnt quite a number of things. I initially only took blogging as an adventure. Writing whatever came to my mind without any real set objective or target. I guess this was because I did it just out of interest and curiosity. I learnt how to conduct better online research for background information. How to source documents, how to set good parameters for searching. My knowledge on Web 2.0 was improved. Blogging is a good place to express oneself freely without the censorship of your editor or superiors on your work.
How does, what your learnt, influence your current journalism practice? How did it modify your way of working? How did it nurture your work (if so)? How do you apply what you learnt?
Matongo: I preferred learning new tools and also interacting with other journalists from across the continent and globe. As curiosity satisfaction was among my needs, I was really looking forward to learning new tools on ICTs. My mind was more set on learning new tools from what I already taught myself. I guess from the many things I learnt, I now spend less time on the internet. I spend less time because I know better how to conduct my online research with in the shortest possible time but with maximum information. As I am now working better with internet, it has encouraged me to continue getting a local touch to what I read on the internet. During the course I found my self working on fewer but better researched programmes that are of great relevance to our catchments community.
You created your own blog. How do you use this blog? What is the main purpose (PR, information sharing, interacting….?). Did you reach your goal? What are the strength and the weakness of such an exercise?
Matongo: Initially had a website aimed at doing radical campaigns online on things that affect Zambia. Time and resources could not allow me to continue and my site died out. Then I though of creating blog with a similar aim. I basically transferred what my site to the blog. I use the blog to make and achieve my thoughts online. As my blog is more of expressing my self, I have not yet set a good objective. In a small way I have reached my goal of transferring my thoughts online. The greatest strength is that you are your own editor and can write anything you fell is morally right at your own pace and space. You get unlimited freedom besides that fact that you have sensitive stories. Weakness comes in as most of the time I only write about my thoughts without backup professional thoughts. This creates a sense of non credibility from readers. Updates are seldom coming on the blog as I use company equipment and internet to do the updates.
What are the main challenges for African journalists to use Web2.0 tools? Do you think that most journalists have already a "mindset" for Web2 tools? What would the African Media community gain by using Web2.0?
Matongo: The main challenges of African journalists using web 2.0 tools is that we do not have our own working space. We have to rely on computers and internet from our offices. How on earth could one fully use web 2.0 tools when one does not have their own resources? The mindset for most journalists is there but a mindset with out resources is meaningless. Internet connection and access is very expensive for most journalists and even when it is affordable it is very slow. There is plenty to gain such as information sharing, unlimited power to express oneself (group) without the trouble of going through the censoring editors and managers.
Do you think that web2.0 applications - if well used by African journalists - can make the Internet more "relevant"? How so?
Matongo: I think Web 2.0 tools if properly used can make it more relevant. There is a lot of information that African Journalists have but because they have to go through editors, such info is suppressed. Mostly it is as a result of editors, managers not appreciating the role of ICTS tools.
Have you advertised your blog. If yes to whom and how?
Matongo: I think my blog is an isolated one. I have not advertised it. The only people that know about are my friends. I never thought of advertising it mainly because I think I do not update it regularly.
Are you making money from your blog?
Matongo: I am not in any way making money from my blog . I still do not fully know how I can tap into that potential. I do not really see how I can make money. I guess this is something I have to learn next. I know I have what it takes; I just do not have the right guidance.
Have you taught other about blogging?
Matongo: I have not taught any of my close friends' blogging and taking full advantage of the internet besides e-mail messaging. Training for African Journalists in necessary on new web tools because these are new things which are not taught in Journalism. It is also important to note that a blog helps to store content online for African Journalists which has been for a long time been stored in paper form. The content put on a blog is shared and people learn from that kind of content.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
School Certificate - Zambia's Dream MDGs
Education is one of the fundamental human rights and it is also contained in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets for 2015. We have already marked the half way point for these goals to be achieved.
This is a good idea. Children can now have a basic education. With basic education, children should as well be equipped with the learning environment they would encounter when they qualify to Grade 10. At the moment there is hardly any basic school with lab facilities to foster for some practical works. more can be said on this, you may add your own thoughts.
The basic schools have now out numbered the high schools. So, where do those children that qualify to go to Grade 10 go to when the high school are already filled? They have nowhere to go to besides going back home and trying to help with different chores at home or worse still, start with the vices we teach them against. Again, you may add more of your thoughts.
Zambia needs a much dedicated effort in achieving education for all. it is achievable. Achieving the MDGs does not mean we have to achieve the basics of it, we need quality achievement. These are development goals. We cannot develop with very poor results from our children and children's children.
And it seems the Zambian Government is too excited to achieve this goal at all costs. Is it achievale?
This is achievable, and we shall achieve it. The question is: What quality of Education shall we achieve by the year 2015? The Government of Zambia has made a lot of strides in making sure that the citizenry is educated. Primary schools (up to grade 7) have (almost) been fade out. The primary schools are now basic schools (grades 1 to 9), and high schools (grades 10 to 12) have been introduced.
This is achievable, and we shall achieve it. The question is: What quality of Education shall we achieve by the year 2015? The Government of Zambia has made a lot of strides in making sure that the citizenry is educated. Primary schools (up to grade 7) have (almost) been fade out. The primary schools are now basic schools (grades 1 to 9), and high schools (grades 10 to 12) have been introduced.
This is a good idea. Children can now have a basic education. With basic education, children should as well be equipped with the learning environment they would encounter when they qualify to Grade 10. At the moment there is hardly any basic school with lab facilities to foster for some practical works. more can be said on this, you may add your own thoughts.
The basic schools have now out numbered the high schools. So, where do those children that qualify to go to Grade 10 go to when the high school are already filled? They have nowhere to go to besides going back home and trying to help with different chores at home or worse still, start with the vices we teach them against. Again, you may add more of your thoughts.
It is as though government heard my concern, but just decided to make it worse.
You now just have to have a basic grade 9 certificate to proceed to grade 10. How on earth can you have all those children in schools which are non-existent? I was shocked when I heard the pronouncement from the minister of education.
I eagerly awaiting government's pronouncement that they were going to upgrade the infrastucture of a number of basic schools in the country. increase the number of classes in the high schools so that the many children that come from the basic schools can be accommodated. The situation now is having over 70 children in one class. Yes, and I mean 7 x 10 = 70.
The majority of the teachers in these basic schools are trained to teach up to grade 7. Now they have to be tasked to teach grades 8 and 9 - without training!! The infrastructure is not enough to handle the many children and teachers. There is under staffing, and many teachers have to do double classes. this is not just a double class. It's a class where you would have grade 3 and 4 pupils learning in the same class. What logic there is in this I still do not understand.
The children have been learning for free up to Grade 9. And they were happy the government was helping them. They would qualify to go senior secondary, and now be faced with the headache of searching for at least half a million kwacha to get to school. Free education should be free education at all levels otherwise we are moving more steps backwards than we are forwarding.
Government should not just upgrade the grades in schools, they should upgrade all the staff, infrastructure and finances for education to be for all at all times.
The majority of the teachers in these basic schools are trained to teach up to grade 7. Now they have to be tasked to teach grades 8 and 9 - without training!! The infrastructure is not enough to handle the many children and teachers. There is under staffing, and many teachers have to do double classes. this is not just a double class. It's a class where you would have grade 3 and 4 pupils learning in the same class. What logic there is in this I still do not understand.
The children have been learning for free up to Grade 9. And they were happy the government was helping them. They would qualify to go senior secondary, and now be faced with the headache of searching for at least half a million kwacha to get to school. Free education should be free education at all levels otherwise we are moving more steps backwards than we are forwarding.
Government should not just upgrade the grades in schools, they should upgrade all the staff, infrastructure and finances for education to be for all at all times.
I would love to know if the minister has children that fall in that category. may be they are performing very poorly and he would like them qualify with the minimum results.
Imagine a certificate holder writing the G12 final exams. he will do the same hoping to go to college with a basic certificate of education. Soon we shall have colleges, and the universities taking up all those that have proof of completing G12.
Zambia needs a much dedicated effort in achieving education for all. it is achievable. Achieving the MDGs does not mean we have to achieve the basics of it, we need quality achievement. These are development goals. We cannot develop with very poor results from our children and children's children.
Not all shall be chosen, a few shall be selected and we have to improve on that quality so that their output shall be qualitable as well.
We are losing our high education standards, especially in government funded schools. The private or church owned schools are forever going to be succeeding as they do not compromise quality at the expense of EFA.
We need high quality Education For All.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
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