Many people see technology as a solution to some of the problems that exist on our planet. It’s true that technology can be used for good, but with new developments come new challenges issues. The digital divide is one such issue, one that people are actively trying to overcome. Telecentres aim to bridge the digital divide by providing people access and knowledge about information technologies. A global telecentre movement is growing right now. Unfortunately, even where computer facilities are readily available, the digital divide persists—even in the world's most wealthy countries, access to the latest and most beneficial technologies is limited for those in rural areas and people with disabilities.
There are many other issues to consider when talking about ICTs and their role in our lives, beyond the digital divide and universal accessibility. The internet has created new and innovative ways for people to shape and share their identity, and express themselves. However, to some people, the internet can appear to be a modern day “wild west,” or something to fear. The rise of online social networking, shopping, and other online interactions that ask people to share a large amount of personal information have led to a number of risks that every internet user needs to bear in mind.
The internet may looked uncontrolled; however, telecommunication companies and governments around the world own the infrastructure behind the internet, and different governments and companies are asserting that ownership in different ways. No sole entity controls the internet, which is making the concept of internet governance or the uniform application of rules a very complicated issue.
However, these are not the only observations to be made. Recently, many advances in mobile media and technology have been made, creating a new world of possibilities. Our challenge is to figure out how to use technology - both the existing and the emerging - for good, and how to assure its access and use in the most democratic way possible.
Media
Our need to express and create is powerful. It provokes experimentation and inspires artistic cultural expressions such as visual art, dance, writing, theatre, and music. These cultural expressions are taking on a new shape and meaning in contemporary society.
One form of media that has become increasingly popular in today’s society is mass media (mainstream media). It consists of radio, television, magazines, newspapers, and of course, the Internet. Mass media’s primary objective and purpose is to inform, educate and entertain the largest possible audience. An important facet of mass media is its ownership and consumer-based motives.
On a daily basis we are bombarded with messages and advertising, but we are able to think critically and analyze them based on how money, values, political influence, and corporate ownership affect the content within. When we do this, we are practicing media literacy: the ability to separate fact from fiction as well as understand the nature of media.
Issues of representation must also be considered in a media analysis. Are diverse people and viewpoints represented? Do we see varied representations of class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, social role and occupation, or only stereotypes? It is easy to see how the dominant Western culture in our society sways and influences every decision relating to mass media and how little minorities have a say in what goes on in the communications industry.
Beyond simply receiving, we too can create the messages. Independent media is thriving on the Internet and young activists are behind the surge of empowered citizen-driven communication.
This section contains pages on independent and mass media, intellectual property, censorship, television and film, advertising, writing and publishing. We invite you to understand how arts and media affect our lives and how we as consumers, are becoming more imaginative, creative and media literate.
Identify & Get Informed
The greatest challenge that the human race has ever faced still remains: to live in a world free of the threat of violence. Violence is not restricted to times of war; it exists everywhere: in homes, schools and communities. Where there is injustice, there is conflict.
Some argue that much of the conflict in world can be attributed to the existence of an oppressive social system of power that reinforces differences between groups and allows one group to have power or privilege over another group. Conflict at the local and international level can stem from exploitation, poverty, corrupt governance, resource scarcity, and dehumanizing beliefs. One popular theory states that as long as the global system relies on exploitive, oppressive and hierarchical relationships, there will likely exist conflict. Another prevailing conflict theory says that conflict is inherent and constant, but when positively managed it can be a productive force.
On a local level, many grassroots organizations work directly with their communities to counter conflict with prevention strategies through educational campaigns as well as support services for those recovering from violence. Whether individually or in a group, we as global citizens have a responsibility to promote a culture of peace, and resolve differences without resorting to conflict. Topics explored in greater detail in this section are: Youth violence, Arms Control, war children, and genocide.
To learn more about the Global Issues’ Guide-to-Action model used for this issue click:
"http://www.tigweb.org/understand/issues/ "
APOLOGIES AND REPARATIONS PERSPECTIVE
Over the past few centuries the world has seen their share of human atrocities from the mass colonization and destruction of the majority of the world’s cultures and peoples, particularly that of Indigenous peoples and their lands, to the more than 300 year-long transatlantic slave trade that has systematically devastated the lives of several generations of people worldwide. So how can we redress these wrongs of the past? One way people have been addressing atrocities of the past is through the use of apologies and reparations. An apology, in this case, is a statement of regret that publicly acknowledges the occurrence and severity of the act of injustice committed; and reparations refers to a practical action that has been taken, such as paying money to the victims, to remedy the wrong that has been done. Both apologies and reparations seek to repair a relationship that has been compromised by some purposeful offense. However, apologies can only symbolically address wrongs that have been committed, while reparations are more tangible representations of the offenders willingness to begin repairing the relationship between offender and offended.
There has been much controversy over the issue of apologies and reparations in many parts of the world where some have questioned the practicality of apologizing and offering reparations to a person or group of people who have been unduly harmed given the fact that these actions are unable to reverse the wrongs that have already been done. In response, some advocates of apologies and reparations put forth that although the victims of offenses warranting an apology and reparations often suffer great degrees of loss in terms of dignity, rights, property, wealth, justice, and their overall well-being, apologies and reparations are meant to signal efforts towards peace and reconciliation that may have otherwise been ignored.
Have something more to add to what we’ve discussed above, then check out this global issue’s wiki page to have your say!
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