What about one regular meal per child?
As we said in the early weeks, Internet is not fairly accessible to everyone. The articles from this week confirm this assertion... The numbers speak for themselves : minorities, poor, old are less represented online. When this people go online, I don't know if we can say that they really have "access" to Internet. I do think that having access also involves gaining technological literacy. Even if many people discovered Internet on their own (myself included), school, University helped me a lot understanding it better or evaluating the risks. For a non regular user, it is hard to really measures the tricks that Internet can have, and to pay attention to everything. However, I was surprised that "Younger internet users take more precautions online" (Pew - Are wire seniors sitting-ducks page 2). The few old people that I know who use Internet are generally the most precautionous people, they have many anti-viruses / firewalls and don't visit websites that they don't know while my computer may be the most unsafe on Earth...
I don't think that all adults should be online. If everyone want to, that's ok, but some people don't and I hate the fact that more and more things are only available online (buying tickets for some events, finding some information, some music being released only in MP3). People should have the choice, and they have it less and less. I think it's really a Western point of view to say that everyone should have access, because it facilitates life etc.. Some kinds of culture disapeared or have been so modified because of technologies in the past (I think of oral cultures for example, which suffered a lot from television) so I hope Internet won't finish the work...
I am not a huge fan of technological improvement at all cost. I may sound paradoxal because I am a big Internet user, it helps me a lot but I understand that some people don't want that. Some would argue that they don't want it because they don't know what it is like, but that's wrong. Many persons have been users and abandoned Internet... ("In April 2000, 13% of non-users were net droppouts" Pew).
This leads me to my last point about the one laptop per child program. The title of my post may sound provocative and demagogic (or simply stupid) but let's think about it one minute. The idea of this program looks great on the paper but I'm definitely not convinced. I don't doubt that these people have good intentions (wiling to help poor children can't be blamed), but giving computers is a strange way to do that... If it's only educational, why not sending books? It looks to me that this will lead to a Westernization (not to say Americanization) of some weak countries which will lost a little bit of their identity.
I imagine many people won't agree with me, so if you react, let's just talk calmly!
Comments
I completely agree with you on the issue of one laptop per child. I think your title pertains to a much better way to go about the situation in third world countries. However, I do not think that a concern of mine would be the westernization and the identity loss of weaker countries. What I am concerned about is that they this program is trying to bite too much off at once. I believe they need to start small, and then work up towards something such as the laptop program.
Posted by: Scott Szesterniak | February 28, 2007 8:13 PM
In response to your comment about the One Laptop per Child Program, I have to say that by providing people in Third World countries with computers, we are incorporating them with the rest of the world. They are being included in with the rest of the world that is technologically advanced. Even though there are still many countries in the world that do not have a lot of Internet access, I believe that to be temporary. As time passes, I believe that more and more people are going to set up Internet access in their homes. It's a fast and efficient way for news and communication to travel. It's also a great way to do research and do hobbies. I think that by giving children in Third World countries Internet access, they will be more technologically literate. I think that it's a great way for them to not be technologically held back from the rest of the world.
Posted by: Natalya Goncharova | February 28, 2007 10:02 PM
Pierre, I totally agree with your point about laptops possibly contributing to Americanization. I think we can see that historically, well-meaning westerners have been a pretty culturally destructive force. I hope that if people do get these computers, that they will not be content to simply consume Western media and ideas, but will use them as tool to talk back and educate us about the human impact of our country's foreign policy. Imagine if schoolkids in rural Mexico could e-mail kids in Minnesota to explain what it's like to have a mother who works 16 hours day in a post-NAFTA sweatshop making the brand name clothes that American kids covet?
Posted by: e_rose | March 1, 2007 12:27 AM
Good post! I totally agree with your logic on the one laptop per child idea. While capitalism isn't a perfect system, it seems to work well in most cases in our society... but this laptop idea seems to be promoting capitalism as a worldwide goal. I agree that this would eventually wean third-world countries on to American ideals and values, whether the creators behind the idea have a hidden agenda or not, I do not know.
Posted by: William | March 1, 2007 5:36 AM
I like what you had to say about the internet being 'a Western point of view to say that everyone should have access, because it facilitates life etc..'
It's sad how our America influences (and probably pressures) other countries to keep up- and how it eliminates those cultures rich traditions and foundations. We need to set the example of moderation and responsibility- before we become totally consumed with technology.
Posted by: Julie Swenson | March 4, 2007 8:50 PM
I agree that the poor and disadvantaged are less represented online. I also hate the fact that some things are only available online, buying some concert tickets and things is annoying that they are only available online. I also hate the fact that they offer better deals to events and other things if you book online, why not give that option if you go buy them at the door?
I agree with you on the point that it does seem to be some sort of Americanization with giving everyone a laptop, maybe giving everyone a meal would be more appropriate.
Posted by: Harpal (Paul) Thind | March 4, 2007 11:10 PM