[Fsf-friends] UNESCO UNDP and M$

[Anivar]

Dear Friends,

M$ is targetting Education and Culture of Communities communities with
the help of UNESCO.
http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre/PressRelease.aspx?file=MSUNESCOPREMEA.xml

[quote]
M$ and the UNESCO will focus on increasing the use of ICT through the
following projects:
Education and Learning

   -- Syllabus for integrating ICT curriculum into teaching. UNESCO and
      Microsoft believe that ICT can play a significant role in improving
      teaching and learning, provided that teachers have the training they
      need to effectively integrate ICT into instructional design, planning
      and other critical components of education. With assistance from
      Microsoft, UNESCO will create resource materials supporting the
      development of curricula and training courses on the use of ICT for
      teachers and classrooms. The materials will provide content guidance
      to curriculum authors and course providers, as well as tools to help
      teachers, education policy-makers and others evaluate the
      effectiveness of available courseware. This multistakeholder project
      will draw on Microsoft's expertise in designing ICT products and
      services for education; in conjunction with its Partners in Learning
      and Unlimited Potential initiatives, Microsoft recently announced the
      global availability of two ICT curriculum series for use in schools
      and community learning settings.
   -- UNESCO Knowledge Communities. Utilising the Microsoft(R) Solutions
      Sharing Network platform, UNESCO will develop multiple online
      communities that allow international and national experts and agencies
      to exchange content and best practices, share tools, mobilise
      interested parties, and suggest solutions and strategies to address
      critical issues in education. Initial community themes will include
      Technology Solutions in Education, Multilingualism in Cyberspace and
      Information for All.
   -- Teacher support and knowledge sharing. UNESCO and Microsoft will
      explore how Microsoft's Innovative Teachers programme and its online
      community, the Innovative Teachers Network, can further UNESCO's aims
      in education. The Innovative Teachers Network connects a global
      community of educators and provides forums in which teachers can share
      ideas, content and best practices with other teachers who share a
      common interest in using technology to enhance teaching and learning.
   -- ICT access and skills training for teachers and students. UNESCO and
      Microsoft will also explore how Microsoft's Partners in Learning
      initiative can help advance efforts to improve education in developing
      countries. Partners in Learning seeks to deliver teacher and student
      skills development, tailored curricula, technical support and
      research, and increased access to technology by working with
      governments, local schools and teachers. UNESCO and Microsoft will
      explore opportunities to collaborate under Partners in Learning in
      Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and Africa,
      Eastern Europe, and Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

   Community Access and Development

   -- Youth technology and learning centres in the North African Arab
      states.  Microsoft and UNESCO will establish a subregional technology
      centre that will provide North African youth with improved access to
      ICT and ICT skills development. The facility will share resources and
      expertise with other centres throughout the region, with the ultimate
      aim of helping develop North Africa's future work force. The project
      will draw on resources and best practices from UNESCO's international
      information and data exchange network INFOYOUTH, and Microsoft's
      Unlimited Potential initiative. INFOYOUTH organises national, regional
      and international consultations among a wide variety of stakeholders
      to facilitate exchanges of data, experiences and analysis on which
      national and international youth policies are based. Unlimited
      Potential focuses on improving lifelong learning for underserved young
      people and adults by providing technology skills through community
      technology centres. Under the alliance, UNESCO and Microsoft will also
      explore the potential to collaborate on additional Unlimited Potential
      projects.
   -- Computer refurbishment. UNESCO, in collaboration with Microsoft, will
      foster international cooperation and the sharing of best practices to
      support refurbishment efforts that can help developing countries
      increase access to cost-effective computer technology.

   Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Preservation

   -- Local language development. UNESCO and Microsoft will explore ways to
      provide access to technology that preserves language and culture. As
      part of this exploration, UNESCO will provide consultation to
      Microsoft and support the company's efforts with local governments to
      prioritise and expand the number of languages served by its Local
      Language Program. Launched in early 2004, the Local Language Program
      is a global initiative that provides desktop software and tools in
      local languages by collaborating with local experts including
      governments, universities, language authorities and other interested
      parties.
[/quote]

UNESCO is not the only one doing back room deals with Microsoft
(and others) while  paying lip-service to FLOSS.  UNDP also has its
double standards. Or if it is not that, they should at least come out
and declare what the rationale behind it,. and where it is all leading.

This is a  open letter to UNESCO i got earlier from  MISTICA virtual
Community, after getting some informaion abt this deal between UNESCO 
and M$.
http://www.funredes.org/mistica/carta_unesco.htm?lan=en

-- 

  .-"""-.         Anivar Aravind <anivar@riseup.net>
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