[asia-apec 38] are we ready for the global information economy?

[daga]

Friends,

for those of you who will be in Manila for APEC and all and are free on
November 17, you are invited to the one-day open public session.
Registration for this and inquiries for the workshop proper can be made with
<daga at hk.super.net>.


          ARE WE READY FOR THE GLOBAL INFORMATION ECONOMY?
                      (The Emerging Global Information Economy 
                      And The Responses Of Social Movements)

                    A workshop sponsored by Interdoc and DAGA 
                    in Manila, Philippines - November 16-20, 1996


Background:

     Within the span of a few short years, the global information economy
has become a reality for most countries. With the Internet reaching into
practically every country in the world, and growing at a rate of up to 10% per 
month, the basic infrastructure for this economy is rapidly taking shape. Soon, 
as media, entertainment, communications, and data converge on the Internet, 
it will become THE infrastructure for producing, marketing, distributing,
and even paying for information goods and services.

     Social movements have so far shown different responses towards this
development. On the one hand, many welcome the Internet as an inexpensive,
empowering medium of communication and information exchange. On the other
hand, many consider its intrusion an integral part of the whole process of
globalization, which is wreaking havoc on the life, livelihood and culture of 
millions of underprivileged and the voiceless, not to mention the impact of
this process on the environment.

     Very little systematic analysis on the implications of the global
information economy on southern countries, peoples, and social movements 
has been done and many are unprepared to respond properly to its entry into
local economies.

     This workshop intends to tackle this issue head-on. What are the threats 
as well as the opportunities presented by the emerging information economy?
Which aspect predominates? Who will benefit from the global information 
economy? Who will lose? How should social movements respond to its impact?
These are among the questions we will try to answer in the course of our four 
days of deliberation.

     1996 also commemorates 10 years of Interdoc activity in Asia. The
workshop will be an opportune occasion to critically look back, evaluate the
state of our documentation and electronic networking activities, and
together move forward.

     You are most welcome to join us in this effort.


Objectives:

     1. To discuss the implications of the emerging information economy,
including the internet, on developing countries, peoples of the south 
and social movements.

     2. To identify factors within this emerging economy and its
infrastructures and institutions that are favorable as well as those
which are unfavorable to social movements and popular concerns.

     3. To discuss how social movements may respond to the favorable
as well as unfavorable factors, to further advance the interests of
countries and peoples of the south, particularly the poor.

     4. To strengthen networking among groups involved in this field,
particularly information and network providers who are working
amongst social movements.

     5. To consolidate Interdoc as an organization that can help
social movements respond to the challenges of the emerging global
information economy.


Target participants:

     1. NGO information providers such as databanks, documentation
centers, alternative news agencies.

     2. NGO network providers such as email operators, internet
service providers, etc.

     3. Leaders of social movements and non-government organizations.


Workshop dates:

     We will hold the Interdoc/DAGA workshop from Nov. 16-20, 1996 at about
the same time as various initiatives on APEC, which will be held in Manila
around these dates.

    This will enable us to interact with people's organizations and NGO
leaders who will be attending the alternative APEC meetings.


Workshop schedule:

Day 0       (Nov. 16 - Shalom Center, Manila) 
                    Arrivals
               Please make sure you get to the venue by 6pm
19:00       *** Dinner ***
20:00            Introduction of Participants
                    Presentation of Schedule     
                    Expectations check
                    Orientation                      Mario Mapanao, DAGA 
   
Day 1       (Nov. 17 - Open Public Session)
am
 8:00- 9:00     Registration
 9:00- 9:30     Introductions
 9:30-10:00    Introductory Remarks      Roberto Verzola, Interdoc
                *** Break ***
               The Global Information Economy: Sectoral Views
(The aim of the open session is to share sectoral experiences, lessons and
issues. Sectors identified are tentative and names indicated are either
contact persons or prospective speakers. Alotted time includes open forum.)
10:30-11:00    Women                         Rhona Bautista, ISIS International
11:00-11:30    Workers                        Rex Varona, APEC Labour Rights
Monitor
                      (incl. Migrant Workers)    (ALARM)  
11:30-12:00    Farmers
12:00-12:30    Indigenous Peoples        Jenny Lasimbang, Asian Indigenous
                                                           People's Pact (AIPP) 
                *** Lunch Break ***
14:00-14:30    Urban Poor                    Kenneth Fernandes, Asian
Coalition for
                                                           Housing Rights (ACHR)
14:30-15:00    Human Rights                Boonthan, Asian Cultural Forum on
                                                           Development (ACFOD)
                *** Break ***
15:30-16:00    Environment                   E. Deenayalan, The Other Media 
16:00-16:30    Alternative Media            Kunda Dixit, Inter Press Service
                                                            (IPS)
16:30-17:00    Information Providers       Mario Mapanao, Documentation for
                                                            Action Groups in
Asia (DAGA)
17:00-17:30    Network Providers           Leo Fernandez, AsiaLink/Indian
                                                            Social Institute
(ISI)
17:30-18:30    Impact of the Global Information Economy:
                     Summing Up of Sectoral Views
Jagdish Parikh, Interdoc
                *** Dinner ***
                     Technical Sharing
21:00             Departure for Tagaytay City     (2-hour trip)

Day 2       (Nov. 18 - DAP Conference Center, Tagaytay City)
am
 9:00- 9:30     Summary of Previous Day
 9:30-10:00     Interdoc,10 Years in Asia: An Evaluative Report 
                     (From Hong Kong To Bangkok And Manila)
Roberto Verzola, Interdoc
                                                                          
10:30-12:30   Small Group Discussions
                    Topic: Impact of the Global Information Economy
                    and the Responses of Social Movements
                *** Lunch Break ***
pm
14:00-15:30    Small Group Reports/Plenary
                *** Break ***
16:00-17:30    Small Group Discussions
                    Track 1: Information Providers
                    Track 2: Network Providers
17:30-18:30   Small Group Reports/Plenary

Day 3       (Nov. 19)
am
 9:00- 9:30     Summary of Previous Day
 9:30-10:30    Paper Presentation                                    Roberto
Verzola, Interdoc
                    "Responding to the Challenges
                    of the Global Information Economy"
               *** Break ***
11:30-12:30   Plenary Session
               *** Lunch Break ***
pm
14:00-16:00   Small Group Discussions
                    "Proposals For A Concrete Programme of Action"
               *** Break ***
16:30-18:30   Presentation of Results/Plenary
                    (Results to be consolidated by a Drafting Committee)

Day 4       (Nov. 20)
am
 9:00- 9:20     Presentation: Draft Programme of Action
 9:20-10:30    Plenary on Programme of Action
               *** Break ***
11:00-12:00   Interdoc Organizational Meeting
12:00- 1:00   Evaluation
                   Closing Ceremonies


Workshop venues:

Nov 16-17:
UCCP Shalom Center
1660 Luis Ma. Guerrero St.
Malate, Manila
Philippines
Phone: (63 2) 521 4904, 523 677, 524 8422, 524 8430
Fax: (63 2) 524 8432

Nov 17-20:
Development Academy of the Philippines
Conference Center, Tagaytay City
Philippines
Phone: (63 96) 4131 290, 4131 291, 4131 292
Fax: (63 2) 712 7890


Funding:

Because of limited resources available, we ask all prospective participants to 
raise funds for their participation.

Workshop fee:

USD 200, including meals (dinner, Nov. 16 to breakfast, Nov. 21), lodging 
for five days (Nov. 16-20), local transport to and from Tagaytay City 
conference site, and workshop materials.

Participants to the various alternative to APEC and other international
conferences in Manila around that time who intend to attend the first day
open public session only should pre-register. The one-day workshop fee is
USD 10 (inclusive of lunch, snacks and workshop materials).


Contacts:

For registration and other details, please contact:

1. Mario Mapanao, DAGA
    Documentation for Action Groups in Asia
    96, 2nd District, Pak Tin Village
    Mei Tin Road, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong 

   Email: daga at hk.super.net
   Phone: (852) 2691 6391, 2697 1917
   Fax: (852) 2697 1912

2. Roberto Verzola, Interdoc
   108 V.Luna Road Extension
   Sikatuna Village 1101
   Quezon City, Philippines

   Email: rverzola at phil.gn.apc.org
   Phone: (63 2) 921 5165
   Fax: (63 2) 433 1133

(Those requiring official invitation letter for visa purposes to the
Philippines 
should communicate with Roberto Verzola at the soonest possible time.)

3. Jagdish Parikh, Interdoc
    1802 Fairview Avenue
    Easton, PA 18042
    USA

    Email: jagdish at igc.apc.org
    Phone: (1 215) 252 3422

Notes:
1. This is NOT a training workshop. While familiarity with computer
communications or the Internet would be useful, the main objective of 
the workshop is to discuss political, economic, social and cultural
issues, not technical issues.

2. It is suggested that participants coming from the same country meet 
before coming to the workshop, so that they can exchange notes and 
prepare a collectively written country situation report.There will also be
time, 
during the evenings, for issue-based caucuses and country/sub-regional 
meetings for sharing and joint planning which can be inputted into the 
plenary sessions.

3. Evenings are generally free for technical sharing/exchange/demonstration,
informal discussion, multi-cultural presentations, etc.

4. A workshop registration form and guide questions towards creating a
directory/profile of participating organizations will be sent prospective
participants. 

5. Participants are requested to bring 50 copies of organizational
brochures, reports and/or newsletters. Participants are also requested to
volunteer to moderate plenary and small group sessions, act as recorders,
lead socials and other tasks that will help ensure the success of the
workshop.  

6. The workshop will be all the more significant in that it marks 10 years
of Interdoc activity in Asia. In August 1986,  a  workshop on"Documentation
in the Age of New Information Technologies", co-sponsored by the Asian
Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC), Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives
(ARENA) and the Documentation for Action Groups in Asia (DAGA) was convened
in Hong Kong.