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Peace Corps to Wire Senegal
Posted by
michael
on Thu Mar 06, 2003 09:10 AM
from the goodwill-to-men dept.
from the goodwill-to-men dept.
An anonymous submitter wrote: "Peace Corps Online is reporting on the White House's Digital Freedom Initiative that will place volunteers from the Peace Corps, Hewlett-Packard and Cisco in a pilot program in Senegal where they will leverage nearly 200 cybercafes and 10,000 telecenters to provide opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The idea isn't new - David Rothman proposed an Electronic Peace Corps in 1984, the Geek Corps has been doing this kind of work in Ghana for years, and the Peace Corps already has about 1,500 volunteers working in information technology."
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why? (Score:2)
Re:why? (Score:5, Interesting)
Parent
Re:why? (Score:2)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $1,580 (2001)
but still has over half it's people below the poverty line, and nearly 50% unemployment.
Re:why? (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re:why? (Score:5, Insightful)
However long range wireless solutions might be very suitable for many of these countries for bringing internet access to the cafes, because the poverty levels means that even phone lines get stolen quite often for the copper many places (some countries have even had cases of people cutting down power cables to sell the scrap metal).
Securing a number of wireless routers might be easier than securing miles and miles of cable. Additionally, putting up phone cables is expensive, and many African countries have extremely under developed landline networks, and it's not a given that setting up wireless connections won't be cheaper.
Parent
Re:why? (Score:2, Informative)
Are there any Internet cafes in the developed world that use long-range wireless technologies? We can't even make 3G cell phone networks a reality here in the US, so I don't see how we can expect that to happen in developing countries. And if you're referring to Wi-Fi, then that's also not feasible, since 802.11b only goes about 10 miles max, even with a line-of-sight high-gain directional antenna. You'd have to put repeaters all over the countryside.
When I served with the Peace Corps in Ghana, some of the "luxury" Internet cafes in the capital were using specially-licensed microwave links to a shared VSAT Internet link, but spreading that kind of access throughout the rest of the (mostly rural) land just isn't economically possible.
What I noticed in Ghana is that any town that had been wired for electricity, no matter how small, was also wired for phone service. Unfortunately, the government-owned phone company (Ghana Telecom) has a monopoly on the entire phone industry, and they aren't interested in competition because they don't want to lose their cash cow. The result is that dial-up Internet access from small towns is already availble but extremely expensive due to the per-minute long-distance charges.
The solution, I think, is not technical but rather economical. Instead of building some fancy wireless mesh network, developing countries should work to deregulate the phone industry and open it up to competition, thus lowering the cost of Internet access everywhere.
Re:why? (Score:2, Insightful)
training for what, exactly? how are IT skills and improved communications going to help free impoverished countries from the grip of corrupt administrations and natural resource leeches such as Shell or deBeers?
what do these businesses sell, in any case? last i heard, putting your small business on teh internet was only useful if you are producing something someone in [affluent country here] wants - and sadly, outside of big business concerns such as oil or diamonds, that doesn't amount to much.
Re:why? (Score:5, Informative)
You can find practicly anything on the internet, no need for expensive books, all you need is a little curiousity.
As for fighting big business and governments all you need is to set up a 'poor-villages-against-whatever' mailinglist and you can organize.
That is the power of the internet: spreading information at practicly no cost.
Jeroen
Parent
Re:why? (Score:2)
Also, a free press is a great tool to help develop a country. Get people used to exercising reason skills about the circumstances of their lives and they are a lot more likely to become entrepreneurial.
Don't get me wrong, I'ld rather see a balanced mix of solar ovens, microloans, and living machine-based water processing systems, But this is an excellent start.
Of course, since it's being sheparded by the Shrub White House we can assume that the whole project will be distorted by the sort of corporate malfeasance that made so much of the "Green Revolution" a multi-million death fiasco. But it is still worth it.
Rustin
Re:why? (Score:2, Insightful)
whipping out their Pocket PC once they hear that a wifi node has been set up on top of the local
rubbish heap.
Swell! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Swell! (Score:3, Interesting)
It's all very well and good to want to provide communications access to those that don't have it, but do they *need* it?
I would have thought that tackling the causes of Africa's poverty, rather than attempt to "boost it into the 21st century" (whatever that means) would be a more effective and longer-lasting solution.
but no. we'd rather show we care enough to give them the benefits of Fark, AYBABTU, and hotmail accounts (and who wants to bet some enterprizing fellow won't work out a way to capitalise on our own greed and idiocy - Nigerian 411, anyone?)
not belittling the hard work people put into this, but it seems to be yet another case of malformed priorities/treating symptoms not cause. but then, treating symptoms doesn't carry so much responsibility/difficulty, does it?
sadly, a pointless excercise.
Please stop the "they only need food" (Score:2, Interesting)
Yes. It's exactly like if you argued they don't need a postal service at all in third world countries. Now matter how starved they are, postal service is useful. Likewise for communications. For the record, many of those countries have numerous emmigrants, and considering the price of international phone communications, you'll understand why email and cybercafes are such a success there. The emmigrant-whose-plane-ticket-was-paid-by-the-villa ge-and-who-sends-back-money is not uncommon. There are other uses too.
In addition, in almost all third world countries, have a very rich upper class, with the lastest technological toys, and which doesn't know what to do with its money (investing is boring - culturally speaking this isn't US/UK self-made-man dreams etc..., using money to get power isn't always necessary, as there is more social corruption). At the very least, those demand a good Internet access.
Re:Swell! (Score:5, Insightful)
A large portion of Africa is farmland, but dedicated to export crops. There is little left over for staple farming. The money earned from these cash crops makes the landowners rich, which in turn makes the government rich. The profit is dumped into the military, buying jets and tanks, troops, training camps, etc to quell uprisings and 'protect' their country. Little is left over for urban development, health care, or infrastructure. Much of the foreign aid is absorbed by the government.
Tackling the root causes is difficult, as it is not only the western world which is profiting from Africa's poverty. It is their own leaders as well.
Parent
Re:Swell! (Score:3, Insightful)
Exactly, wouldn't this money be better spent? On the flip side it sounds like the move is generating private investment.
From the CIA world fact book (hey its what google gave me): [CIA World Fact Book] [cia.gov]
"Senegal ... realized full Internet connectivity in 1996, creating a miniboom in information technology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82% of GDP."
However, I worry about the mentality that the internet can solve all our problems. I think we all saw the fallacy of that misconception after the bubble. Further, the question should be asked, is this a society that is ready for this technology? Will this have adverse impacts on a culture that has not prepared itself for such drastic change (now I sound like my old Tech and Society prof)? Will the average Senegalese be receptive to such a cultural shift?
This is good but... (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=4657 [linuxjournal.com]
Re:This is good but... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:This is good but... (Score:4, Insightful)
You said yourself that you need skilled labour.
Skilled labour means good education.
For education to work you need to get people to look beyond their horizon into the world. What better medium than the internet to do this?
Jeroen
Parent
Re:This is good but... (Score:3, Insightful)
Books?
Re:This is good but... (Score:2)
When you compare how many books you can fill with a google search I think that internet connection isn't so expensive afterall.
Jeroen
Re:This is good but... (Score:3, Insightful)
What do you think the Internet is. It's basic infastructure. Computers and the Internet move information -- FAST and EFFICIENTLY.
Not only is that important for health, education and general quality of life, but employment can arise through it too.
The Internet is no longer a simple luxury. In fact, my specific job would be impossible without the Internet, but it has nothing to do with the Internet. It's just how we deliver our product.
Re:This is good but... (Score:2, Informative)
The Internet is a fantastic tool, and yes, while there are many things that Senegal does need before it can advance in the world -- the Internet, while not the be-all-end-all solution, can do a lot of good.
Check out the draft of my paper here:
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~cfarivar/senegal/draf t.html [berkeley.edu]
And Now the News... (Score:4, Funny)
Always has to be hardware (Score:5, Interesting)
Well at least Cisco and HP are branching into new market and away from the saturated ones.
Re:Always has to be hardware (Score:2, Interesting)
IT infrastructure permits to nurses to know better about new drugs, to exchange knowledge. it permits communication in a land where phone is very expensive.
Funny thing is Senegal is one of the most connected country in sub-saharian africa, 45Mb where Niger have only 2Mb. And it is the richest in west-africa (may be Nigeria is on par).
IMHO it is just another way to promote american engineering and products to a potentially good marketplace. Why not Mali, or Niger which are in a much more problematic state ?
Re:Always has to be hardware (Score:5, Insightful)
Better laws can theoretically be attained in semi-democratic and democratic countries through providing information about current laws, and things that are going up for voting in the legislative body, as well as providing a conduit for citizens to contact their government members in order to influence policy.
Better courts can be attained, especially in countries that utilize a common law standard, by having the court system linked up, so all judicial reviews can be viewed quickly, easily and instantaneously. Thus, the court system can act more consistently as a whole across the entire nation-state, as opposed to the personal habits of each judge. Also, abuses in the system can be reported easier across great distances, if the other branches of the government are plugged in as well.
Banks are another institution that really need to be connected, and have a sharing of information between them. Computers are very useful in documenting a credit history on individuals, making it much easier to call up, so any bank can view it much faster for when determining whether or not to give an individual a loan. Transfers between institutions are better handled electronically as well.
The Internet also provides a cheap way for local nation-wide businesses to post job listings, theoretically allowing for out of work people to be put in touch easier with companies that need workers, improving the overall economy. Though, it is important to note that the US has had some serious flaws with this, but not to the point where its completely useless. I have found work off an Internet job posting before.
Along with increased mobility, you also have a better chance of affordable communication with relatives within the country. Thus, despite the physical distance potentially developing between citizens and their families, all touch won't be lost.
And of course, there is always the benefit of being able to access a wealth of information sources on the Internet that encourage people to view other places in the world and see how they function, so that they might demand change at home.
The point is, just because IT infrastructure seems like a luxury, improved and increased communication between all levels of society is an inherently good thing for democratic institutions, as well as developing market economies. It might not be as useful as building a power plant, or teaching them better farming techniques, however the companies helping here aren't farming or power companies. They're IT companies, so they're helping the way they know how to help.
Parent
Fallacy of Other People's Volunteering (Score:2, Insightful)
Here, there's the misappropriated tech support for the third world:
Most countries need better laws, courts, banks not IT infrastructure.
I would also prefer it if the U.S. had better courts and laws- they're currently better than most countries, but could also stand a lot of improvement. I'm not volunteering as a lobbyist, political activist, or even writing my representatives about those issues. Instead, I do some network administration and general tech support for a couple local non-profits. Are my efforts better spent elsewhere?
The short answer is no:
-I want to build on the knowledge I already have.
-I want to feel satisfied at the end of the day for having solved some small network problem, gotten a donated computer up and running, etc.
-I want an external and personal source of motivation: other volunteers and employees who immediately appreciate and recognize my efforts (and they couldn't have done it themselves) because it helps them do their job.
-I might want to get a paying job doing something similar with the references and skills I've built volunteering.
Large scale societal and infrastructural issues take lots of time, money, and effort beyond the abilities of volunteers to fix alone. It's good to be aware of efforts in those larger-scale issues and support them, but it's easier to get volunteers to do something they already know and want to do. (Contrast with "Hey guys, let's dig a latrine in Cambodia!" recruitment method)
If someone were to go to Senegal or other country with IT work in mind, they may come into intimate contact with the more fundamental problems and shift their efforts accordingly, where as reading a speculative slashdot post about the 'real' problems may put them off from volunteering altogether.
yay (Score:3, Funny)
Open Source is crucial... (Score:2, Interesting)
Sutil slogan changes... (Score:5, Funny)
Yuppie: "Make lan, not war"
Re:Sutil slogan changes... (Score:2)
And even if in technical books I don't read "subtle" a lot to make it sound all the alarms, I just don't had to hurry writing the title and don't checking if it was ok. But I agree that is bad enough that all must talk one language here to add another language to understand to be capable to read slashdot properly.
How long before... (Score:2, Funny)
(What is the number of the senegalese penal code that prohibits such scams???)
Helping out online (Score:4, Informative)
Rus
What will it do? (Score:5, Insightful)
Besides, the people in this country can't afford Coke as a general rule -- even when they can, they return the glass (yes, glass!) bottle right away to get the deposit back and put the Coke in a plastic bag to drink. There are already enough cybercafes in Dakar; perhaps this cash should be going towards helping the little Muslim boys that run around the streets, forced into virtual slavery (via begging) in order to make a few bucks for their master.
Re:What will it do? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:What will it do? (Score:2, Insightful)
Anything's better than the upbringing they currently get: hating jews and americans (altho it's worse in other more fundamentalist Islam countries). What kills me is how many people via pop media actually fall for the line that the problem actually is their objects of hate, instead of their enslaving masters, mullahs, ayatollahs and other desperate hate mongering cleric authorities and war lords.
I hope they setup webcams (Score:2)
Business Opportunity (Score:3, Funny)
Great. Now AOL will be intercepting 2 billion spams / month, from a new country tld.
Buzzspeak - English translation (Score:3, Insightful)
leverage (vb): means "use"
Alternative trendy buzzwords and phrases:
enabled
facilitate deployment
fixed resource empowerment
consolidate operational dynamics
foster tangible goals
Re:Buzzspeak - English translation (Score:3, Informative)
"Leverage" is about using a small investment to achieve a large result. Those of us who actually study a subject before being snitty about it call this the Multiplier Effect.
In this context, the goal is to use a relatively small investment in telecommunications and electronics to provide a tool, a "lever", that will then cause larger, desired change.
Go away, little boy and leave criticism to those of us who actually *do* know the proper meanings of words.
Rustin
Woo-hoo! Where to next? (Score:3, Funny)
What's that? Peace Corps? Yes. Overseas only? I see. Nothing inside the US? Aha.*click*
Never mind.
from CIA Factbook (Score:3, Insightful)
COMMUNICATIONS
-
Telephones - main lines in use:
234,916 (2001)
-
Telephones - mobile cellular:
373,965 (2001)
-
Telephone system:
general assessment: good system
domestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system
international: 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
-
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 10, FM 14, shortwave 0 (1998)
-
Radios:
1.24 million (1997)
-
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
-
Televisions:
361,000 (1997)
-
Internet country code:
.sn
-
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
15 (2002)
-
Internet users:
40,000 (2001)
Lesser-developed countries flock to cell phones to get around there out-dated, out-moded, out-period telephone communications, I guess.Sounds like the Peace Corps needs to Wi-Fi Senegal rather than wire it.
I'd love to go (Score:2)
Considering those are the three weapons I'd love to have...sign me up!
Woah, 1500 IT workers? (Score:4, Interesting)
Until "IT" is a Peace Corps job category like Education, Agriculture, Health, and Environment, Peace Corps will not be taking IT seriously.
I speak from experience.
-JB (Volunteer - Poland 15, 1999-2000)
WTF!? (Score:2, Funny)
hmmm.... (Score:2)
Peace Corps Wire Segal ?
No, what's needed is wireless broadband (Score:3, Insightful)
But the idea of wiring Senegal is all wrong. What's needed is wireless. Wireless internet (e.g. 802.11b Wi-Fi) is a far more appropriate solution in a country like Senegal where traditional wireline infrastructure is going to be subject to harsh environmental conditions and being destroyed by political unrest. Wi-Fi long-distance links can span 30 km in a single hop, and the towers like cell towers can be powered with generators. Wi-Fi delivers true broadband, 802.11b is 10Mbps, and 802.11a and 802.11g can deliver more like 30Mbps.
Broadband is essential. With broadband you can deliver the killer app (yeah, I said killer app) of the rural internet which is Voice over IP. People in Senegal, well, the literacy rate isn't so high, and VoIP is what's really useful to people as it allows them to call members of their family who may be off making money in other parts of the world, to call into town to check crop prices, to call their relatives in the city. Of course this requires policy to make sure that VoIP is legal and that the national telco doesn't try to block it to protect their own profits.
If you're interested in wireless long-distance links, you might be interested in a mailing list on the subject, wireless-longhaul@openict.net. You can subscribe here [openict.net], and the mailing list home page is here [openict.net].
Peace Corps not part of Homeland Security (Score:5, Informative)
Parent
Re:oh nice.. almost ... (Score:2)
I can't believe that they actually want to waste time and wire the area, why not WiFi towers that double as cell phone towers so we won't have to ALSO go install those with volunteer labor?
I am completely for getting information and social/spiritual ideas to the masses though.
Re:Educate women instead of developing cybercafes (Score:2, Insightful)
I think this is very worthwhile but would only work in cities where you have electricity - for part of the day at least...