Re: Human Development Report 1999 [message from Ahmad Omair]

["Irfan Khan" <KhanIA@super.net.pk>]

Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1999 12:25:38 +0500
From: Ahmed Omair <ao@akunet.org>
To: S-Asia-IT <s-asia-it@apnic.net>


Well said Sean.

It is not only the third world but the developing nations are the 
suffered from this too. I personally feel that this information 
technology is only benefiting few areas. Main problems like clean 
water and health care for everyone is still a dream. The distribution 
of wealth is to be blamed for it. British have emptied the wealth of 
Indian subcontinent in 19th century and so Americans do the same 
these days in most parts of the world. More than 70% of world 
resources are captured by the few companies. Their interests are more 
in developing their wealths than to help the people of the poor 
world.  

Regards,
------------------------------------------
Ahmed Omair                Internal: 3437
Technical Support (Internet Services)
The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Tel. 0092-21-4930051 Fax. 0092-21-4934294
------------------------------------------


Sean Kline [Mostar, Bosnia] wrote:

> Thanks for your additions Kate.
> 
> Clearly to expect the internet (or IT generally) to serve
> disenfranchised people throughout the world is unrealistic, particularly
> given that we already have plenty of important proxies of well-being
> before us (literacy, health, telephone usage, etc.). What about other
> agents of change such as governments (those that have made a fiscal
> commitment to improving the condition of their people), NGOs and
> international agencies? I wouldn't necessarily suggest that these actors
> should be the focal point for yet more finite funding, but wouldn't it
> be fair to say there are ripple and/or indirect effects of information
> flows and technological development that do in fact benefit marginalized
> people? Just a thought...