[governance] Digital Solidarity, Access, CSR and Rio

[David Goldstein]

Nnenna,

There is probably not a clear view on the success or otherwise of funding projects from the first to the third world. Some work, some don't and some are in between. But while we in the first world probably don't understand this as well as we could, I don't think you really understand what CSR is about.

I see no evidence of CSR being about greed on a large scale. The points you made on this no doubt have varying degrees of applicability depending on the funder, and this can also be determined in part by whether it goes through a foundation or not.

One could easily argue that the problems are as much if not more the fault of the regimes in varying countries, how the programmes within these countries are set up and obstacles placed in the path of implementing programmes.

David

----- Original Message ----
From: Nnenna <nne75 at yahoo.com>
To: Governance <governance at lists.cpsr.org>
Sent: Tuesday, 18 September, 2007 11:28:12 PM
Subject: [governance] Digital Solidarity, Access, CSR and Rio

Hi people

I would have loved to engage in these discussions but for time constraints.  Here are my quick 'tots

Maybe if we go a step  further, and try to replace Digital Divide - a prooblem - with Digital Solidarity - a challenge, a responsibility - it wil help shape our thinking.  In this case, it will no longer be a case of "them" but us.  If you have access to a computer, electricity, internet connection, good bandwidth and pro time to read this mail, then you are already on the +ve side of the Global Digital line.  The question willno longer be what others should do but what you can do.  

On Access, it is easier to point out what governments should do in IT infrastructure until you understand that governments themselves have been roped into licence and agreement nets...  In our engagement as the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa - FOSSFA -, we have come to realize the intricate relationship among
 software, hardware, basic infrastructure and social stability.  

Corporate Social Responsibility, as well as Direct Foreign Investment and all the development talk is hinged on greed.  They are all offshoot of capitalism.  For organiwations  or individuals who fundraise in developing countries, they already know that.  But I am not sure it is clear to others in the developed cuntries.  I am yet to meet a single corporate body that donates on 100 percent humanitarian purposes.  Sponsors always have a reason.  It may not be financial at first sight, but in the end it is.  Some do it to prevent their competitors from doing it. So apparently they do not gain;  Except that at least, they would have prevented others from gaining, which in a sense, is a gain. You can take this reasoning from NGOs to governments...

On Rio, I do not understand why we cannot ask a straight question on this list - who is sure to be in
 Rio?  Once it si clear who will be there, it saves us the stress of playing wild cards.  On another note, it might be good to have a pre consultations on important issues under the themes already outlined.  If we have a basic list of Civil Society concerns that need to be voiced in Rio, it will make the presentation of the people who will represent CS easier.  They could build their presenatations on the fundamentals and not worry that they are misrepresenting.

I believe that everyone is this list can contribute to Rio whether s/he will be physically present or not.  That, also, will be Digital Solidarity

Cheers

Nnenna
 
      
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