[Love and esterel]

Greetings to the International Democratic Union,

The nation of Caradune is planning to submit to the UN the following proposal.
Caradune submitted it last month and it get more tahn 100 approvals.
As we gave Caradune many ideas and helped them, they proposed us to be the co-author.

This draft is currently being debated on the UN forum, and even if we had some desagreement last time we posted our proposal on your regional forum, we will always be happy to listen to your critics and ideas, as we really appreciate the great work of your region for the UN.


Thanks a lot


here is the current, non final, draft
---------------------------------------------------------
-A- SHOCKED by the amount of children worldwide who do not have basic access to a computer

-B- CONVINCED that the mastering of Information Technology is essential in the education of every child worldwide and for his/her own future

-C- FULLY AWARE of the difference of technology level between member nations

-D- SEEKING to minimize the cost of the following clauses

-E- FULLY AWARE of the availability of cheap and basic computer designed by non-profit organisations


-1- MANDATES all nations to provide each child, aged more than 12, Information Technology education; which can be integrated into National Education programs.

-2- URGES all nations to secure for every child, aged more than 12, some access in school to information technology school equipment with educational software and internet access,

-3- ENCOURAGES all Nations, where the cost of this clause will not be significant, to secure that every child, aged more than 12, has a operational computer for himself with internet access and educational software, or more powerful high-tech educational tool. Computers, internet access or others tools could be bought or rented at a very modest price for children not able to afford them

-4- ENCOURAGES all Nations to try to limit the cost induced by paragraphs [2] and [3], by different means such as:

-4.1- providing cheap and basic computer designed by non-profit organisation as those that already exist

-4.2- Running the computers mentioned in [2] and [3] with needed open-source software, freeware or software graciously paid or discounted by companies, as a sponsoring operation for them or by non-profit organisation

-4.3- Proposing some non-profit organisation or some companies to graciously offer some computers, internet access and technical support, as a sponsoring operation for them which can prove more efficient than a TV ad campaign

-5- ENCOURAGES all developed Nations to help developing Nations to implement this program, by different means such as:

-5.1- Sharing technologies with nations who don't have yet access to them

-5.2- Giving access to these nations to a low rate loan/bonds system, which will be repaid in middle term by the growth of the amount of taxes collected due to the growth of information technology economic sector
----------------------------------------------

ps: here are 2 real world important links to better approach this topic

http://laptop.media.mit.edu/laptop-images.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4292854.stm

[Groot Gouda]

Love and esterelOct 8 2005, 09:33 PM -3- ENCOURAGES all Nations, where the cost of this clause will not be significant, to secure that every child, aged more than 12, has a operational computer for himself with internet access and educational software, or more powerful high-tech educational tool. Computers, internet access or others tools could be bought or rented at a very modest price for children not able to afford them [/quote]
Although I don't think this is an issue that should have a high priority, there's nothing really wrong with it. However, I do have some problems with the above quoted section (and I know it says "encourage", not "mandate").

Why should every child have its own computer? It's overdoing it to a high degree. Every child should have reasonable access to a computer, but their own? When they're twelve? Come on. They can share it with other family members. Remember that for kids, the educational value of a computer is last on the list, after communicating and gaming. That needs parental control, especially for the under-16s. Having their own computer makes that rather difficult.

So I'd prefer more carefull phrasing of that part. Whether they use their parent's computer, a library PC or a school computer should be preferable.

[Love and esterel]

thanks for your comments

it's why we try to be very soft about this clause
The aim of this clause is in middle term as Information technology become more and more important and essential in everyday life

-3- ENCOURAGES all Nations, where the cost of this clause will not be significant

Caradune, the author submitted it today, but we will not campaign this time, we will use the same good strategy than Antrium for "labelling standard", collect ideas and campaign only when we will re-submit it next week

[Groot Gouda]

You don't understand my point. I don't care about the cost (well, not as the first point), it's just that I think it's not good for a child's development to have their own computer at early age. Nor that it is efficient from an environmental point of view.

[Love and esterel]

Groot GoudaOct 10 2005, 02:53 PM You don't understand my point. I don't care about the cost (well, not as the first point), it's just that I think it's not good for a child's development to have their own computer at early age. Nor that it is efficient from an environmental point of view. [/quote]
thanks for yor concern, its interesting
i was thinking our following preliminary clause will answer to your question:

-B- CONVINCED that the mastering of Information Technology is essential in the education of every child worldwide and for his/her own future

but maybe we have to rewrite it a better way



let's take an example

few years ago, when mobile phone appears, many people were saying "oh look at this guy/woman he/she has a mobile phone, he/she is selfish/egoistic/non-sociable"

today in many countries most of these people have now a mobile phone and don't see any problem about it

human beings need communications, what we need is "telepathy", as we are not able to do it => we invent all kinds of communication tools: mail, telegram, phone, e-mail, mobile phone, chat, forum, weblog, instant messenger, digital pictures and video camera...these had and will not replace physical communication these add new communication to physical ones who are limited

information technology are becoming more and more essantial in our every day life for communications, skills needed for employment opportunities, culture, knowledge (wikipedia ...)... and this is only the beginning

in several countries already more laptop are sold than desktop, computer is becoming a personal tool, paragraph -3- objective is in "middle and long term": to allow every child in the world to have easy access to something essential and avoid that this "essential" to be only available to children in rich nation or with rich parents

i hope i have answered to your question, but feel free if you have other concerns

[Mikitivity]

I'm sorry I've been inactive ... long days at work, make for a very tired set of eyes at night. :/

I have a minor suggestion:

Quote: 
-A- SHOCKED by the amount of children worldwide who do not have basic access to a computer[/quote]

-A- CONCERNED by the number of children who do not have basic access to a computer

Basically I think this should be toned down a bit, as education at this stage of a human's life isn't more important than nutrition. Also I removed "worldwide", as it is kinda implied anyways.

[Love and esterel]

MikitivityOct 12 2005, 03:38 AM I'm sorry I've been inactive ... long days at work, make for a very tired set of eyes at night.  :/

I have a minor suggestion:

Quote: 
-A- SHOCKED by the amount of children worldwide who do not have basic access to a computer[/quote]

-A- CONCERNED by the number of children who do not have basic access to a computer

Basically I think this should be toned down a bit, as education at this stage of a human's life isn't more important than nutrition. Also I removed "worldwide", as it is kinda implied anyways. [/quote]
thanks a lot for your suggestion, it's softer indeed
i will propose it to the author, i'm pretty sure he will agre with you

[Mikitivity]

Cool!

[Love and esterel]

Hi,
the proposition we are co-authoring got 110 approvals for our 2nd submition, we didn't campaign a lot as we wanted to have some feedback to improve it and also collect a list of interested delegates,

we are also thinking to rename it, as the objective have changed since the first draft:

IT Education Act
or
IT Education Initiative

here is the new draft
thanks a lot for your comments, ideas, critics

--------------------------------------------------------
The United Nations,

-A- CONCERNED by the number of children who do not have basic information technology education,

-B- CONVINCED that the mastering of Information Technology is essential in the education of every child worldwide and for his/her own future

-C- FULLY AWARE of the difference of technology level between member nations

-D- SEEKING to minimize the cost of the following clauses

-E- FULLY AWARE of the availability of cheap and basic computers designed by non-profit organisations


-1- URGES STRONGLY all nations to secure that each child, aged at least 12, receive some information technology education adapted to the national technology level. This can be integrated into National Education programs,

-2- ENCOURAGES STRONGLY all nations to secure for every child, aged at least 12, some access in school to information technology school equipment with educational software and internet access,

-3- SUPPORTS operations which provide children, personal computers with internet access and educational software, or more powerful high-tech educational tool, when the cost for the Nations will not be significant. Computers, internet access or others tools could be bought or rented at a very modest price for children not able to afford them

-4- RECCOMANDS all nations to be prudent by ensuring that these actions don?t undermine or reduce currents nutritional, health or clothing efforts

-5- ENCOURAGES all Nations to try to limit the cost induced by this resolution, by different means such as:

-5.1- providing cheap and basic computer designed by non-profit organisation as those that already exist

-5.2- Running the computers mentioned in this resolution with needed open-source software, freeware or software graciously paid or discounted by companies, as a sponsoring operation for them or by non-profit organisation

-5.3- Proposing some non-profit organisation or some companies to graciously offer some computers, internet access and technical support, as a sponsoring operation for them which can prove more efficient than a TV ad campaign

-6- ENCOURAGES all developed Nations to help developing Nations to implement this program, by different means such as:

-6.1- Sharing technologies with nations who don't have yet access to them

-6.2- Giving access to these nations to a low rate loan/bonds system, which will be repaid in middle term by the growth of the amount of taxes collected due to the growth of information technology economic sector

[Groot Gouda]

Although I don't see this as a big priority for the NSUN, I don't see a lot wrong with it either. It doesn't really force a lot, though. But perhaps strong urging is the best in this case.

[Love and esterel]

Groot GoudaOct 23 2005, 01:32 PM Although I don't see this as a big priority for the NSUN, I don't see a lot wrong with it either. It doesn't really force a lot, though. But perhaps strong urging is the best in this case. [/quote]
Thanks
Yes in fact, the "mandates" in our test submission was the main problematic point.
We finally think these critics were right, as some nations can be in a very early development phase.

[Groot Gouda]

I know, and mandating is not to be taken lightly. But balance is extremely important. Too much mandating, and people will see it as needless interfering. Too little, and the resolution becomes toothless.

[Love and esterel]

Groot GoudaOct 24 2005, 08:17 PM I know, and mandating is not to be taken lightly. But balance is extremely important. Too much mandating, and people will see it as needless interfering. Too little, and the resolution becomes toothless. [/quote]
You right
When i was writing the resolution adoption&ivf, many people on the forum asked me that "my proposition should do something", i replaced "urges" by "mandates" and then during the vote it was the the more often written critics on the forum

i begin to think, maybe, it's best to avoid "mandates", we don't care after all
what is your position about it? do you think sometimes it's better to mandates something?
it's tricky and also it can be a very "marketing" approach
or only use "mandates" for absolutly non-controversial clauses?