The Drum Beat 90 - Review of Tempo, About Time and Base Line (3/8 - 4/12)

This Drum Beat pulls together compelling stories from The C. I. Home Page from Mar 8 2001 - Apr 12 2001.



The HOME PAGE contains regularly updated briefing notes on important stories, trends, and events that effect the context in which we all work. We try to find relevant information, usually from sources that you won't see in the mainstream media, and we provide links which you can use to follow-up for more information in the areas that interest and effect you most. If you haven't done so please check it out and let us know what you think or send us stories and information from your own work and experience.

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TEMPO (communication trends and strategic opportunities)



1. Brazil to Democratize the Internet with Cheap Computers (03-08-2001)

P Rebelo of Wired News reports that the Brazilian government hopes to democratize the Internet through a computer costing US$300. The 'Popular PC' prototype, features a 500 MHz-equivalent processor, 64MB of RAM, an Ethernet network card, a 56K modem, 14-inch monitor, sound and video cards, serial and USB ports, a mouse and a keyboard. It uses a 16MB Flash Card instead of a hard drive, and a Linux based package instead of Microsoft Windows. It does little more than access the Internet and people will not be able to save files or add software. Some claim this will help in reducing Brazil's digital divide while others argue that building computers for the masses should not be a priority.



2. African Women Journalists Launch African News Web Site (03-19-2001)

J Sass reports in Nigeria-AIDS that women journalists in Eastern and Central Africa have launched their own news Web site to counter what they see as bias in Western and male-dominated news. The web site, The East African Media Women's Association (EAMWA) went live on International Women's Day. EAMWA said that the site would seek to cover issues that affect women writers on the continent, and empower women journalists through professional education and training. Only 4% of news currently on the Internet is about Africa, and foreign journalists write 50% of that.



3. 'On the Internet' and Emerging Nations (04-02-2001)

K. Morrow at Bellanet sent us this note on the most recent issue of The Internet SOCiety (ISOC) online magazine 'On The Internet'. It focuses on how small groups of citizens are changing their world based on the belief that information and communication technology (ICT) makes a difference. Some of the stories in this issue are: Networking in Latin America - Rethinking Telecenters - Rural Access by Radio and Internet Helps Close the Digital Divide - The Internet in Laos: A Rough Guide - Electronic Commerce in Nepal - and Toward a Knowledge System for Sustainable Food Security.



4. Film About Cambodian Crews on Thai Trawlers Highlights HIV and Prejudice (04-09-2001)



Anjira Assavanonda of the Bangkok Post writes that the harsh life of Khmer crews working on Thai trawlers will feature in a new film on the perils of HIV transmission and the prejudice of Thai people towards these workers. The docu-drama 'No Home Too Far' will be shown at fishing piers and small villages along the Thai-Cambodian border where Khmer workers live.



5. BBC World Service Hits Record (04-12-2001)

Andrew Ward of The Financial Times reports that listenership to the World Service has increased for the 3rd consecutive year to a record 153 million. The figures demonstrate its viability in the increasingly commercial market for news and information. The BBC says that audiences have been attracted by impartial reporting of internationally important issues and that the greatest number of new listeners were recruited in Nigeria, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and China.



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Look for The TRAINING Special Drum Beat - to be issued April 25.



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ABOUT TIME (voices & stories from the centre of the action)



6. Zambia's Green Ribbon Campaign Against Constitutional Change (03-08-2001)



The Kabissa-fahamu Newsletter reports that on Feb 21st over 1000 citizens gathered in peaceful resistance to changing the Zambian constitution so the President can run for a 3rd term. The meeting was part of the 'No 3rd Term Campaign' and was co-convened by the Law Association of Zambia, the Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical churches, and the Women's Movement. It brought together Zambians from all walks of life including traditional rulers, members of parliament, and individuals involved in the 3 constitutional commissions since independence, to speak against changing the consitution.



7. India's Budget Ignores the Aged (03-15-2001)



The Hindustan Times reports in a story posted in Propoor that Maj. General (Retd.) S. S. Sandhu, Director General of HelpAge India, in a communication to the Union Finance Minister Y Sinha, has said that the Union Budget has completely ignored the interests of the country's aging population. Mr. Sandhu said that out of India's 77 million older people, 90% belonged to the unorganized sector. These people receive no pension, gratuity, medical or other benefits. He lamented that more than 40% of older persons were living below the poverty line. He appealed to the Finance Minister to allocate funds for the welfare of the aged in the current budget.



8. Words Are Our Weapons: Interview with a Zapatista (04-02-2001)



OneWorld US translates the final portion of an interview by Gabriel Garcia Márquez and Roberto Pombo with Sub-Comandante Marcos of Mexico's Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN). The interview ranges across topics as seemingly diverse as the symbolism of Marcos' clothing, the meaning of dialogue, the guerilla movement in Colombia, and the importance of literature in Marcos' childhood and later political development.



9. Central Americans Petition Merck to Lower HIV Drug Prices (04-05-2001)



R Stern of the Aguabuena Human Rights Association writes that a coalition of 40 Latin American NGO's and 80 individuals have sent a letter to the pharmaceutical company Merck and Co. urging it to offer price reductions in Central America similar to those offered to African nations. Merck announced it was lowering the prices of Stockrin and Crixivan for countries "in the developing world" but has since acknowledged that the offer has not been extended to Central American nations. For more information contact Mr Stern at: rastern@sol.racsa.co.cr



10. Awareness Slowing Spread of AIDS in Vietnam (04-12-2001)



SEA AIDS reports that Viet Nam's total number of HIV/AIDS patients is far lower than the figure forecast 5 years ago which predicted about 278,600 HIV/AIDS patients or nearly 8 times higher than the current number of infected persons. Lower infection rates have been attributed to a successful nation-wide public awareness campaign, coupled with stricter controls on high-risk groups.



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BASE LINE (facts that tell a story)



11. Women Feed The World (03-08-2001)



Source: Future Harvest.

• Women produce 60 to 80% of the food in most developing countries and this percentage is growing.
• In 1950 women performed almost 40% of agricultural work, today the figure is close to 50%.
• In sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean, women provide 80% of staple foods, in Asia they perform 90% of the work in rice fields.
• Women farmers receive only 5% of agricultural extension services offered worldwide.
• The World Bank estimates that educating women could increase farm yields by 22%.
• In Kenya a national information campaign targeted at women increased maize yields 28%, beans 80%, and potatoes 84%.

12. Women and the Media (04-12-2001)



Source: The Global Media Monitoring Project 2000

• Women's Representation in the Media 2000 -
• 41% of news presenters.
• 56% of TV presenters.
• 28% of radio presenters.
• 26% of newspaper reporters.
• Women covered as news subjects - 18%

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This issue compiled by Chris Morry cmorry@comminit.com



The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.



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