Is access to Information structural?

I'm pondering how might access to information (and these days that means primarily suitable telecommunications infrastructure) be related to poverty? To uncover this, a couple of things need to be defined clearly. 1st Poverty -- what is it? what causes it? 2nd what is suitable telecommunication infrastructure, and where does it rank as a symptom or determinant of poverty. Does it weigh in as heavily as clean air, drinking water, suitable shelter? Education.

Can education be provided, in a sustainable manner, without suitable high speed internet access? Is there still room in development models, for keeping the solutions local and sustainable?

My first thoughts about this, was that indeed there was something structural about poverty, and hence about suitable and sustainable infrastructure. At the simplest level, perhaps, but it is just that, too simple. The structure does not exist in a vacuum, it is not superorganic, in the sense that it somehow floats above all the other attributes of any given culture, and to get a deeper understanding of the problems, at a theoretical level, we need to identify who the stakeholders are, and in which context they operate. But this is not a theoretical problem alone and needs some imaginative solutions in the present. So in short, probably not a structural problem, or if it is, let's stop playing the blame game.


Now you can blame the social system
But I still say it was his necktie (From "Necktie" by Michelle Shocked, Texas Campfire Tapes (Cooking Vinyl 1987).

CIRA to host national event on the future of the Internet | Canadian Internet Forum

CIRA to host national event on the future of the Internet | Canadian Internet Forum

Some interesting discussions here.

Personally I'm interested to hear what they have to say about access, and distribution of information services. I attended one of the sessions that this one is summarizing, in my capacity as Provincial Director for the SLA -WCC, but also expressed my concerns at the time regarding the geographical distribution of internet access. The discussion at the time back in November ended on a fairly optimistic note, that all we needed to do is hound the politicians to do the right thing. But I'm not sure that in that small an informal gathering we were able to agree what the right thing might be.

As it turns out a lot of thought and imagination needs to be expended, and in very limited time. Already since we met a few months ago, a recent CRTC decision has come down that may have significant impact on this country's internet access; that decision has placed caps on unlimited internet access previously promised by some service providers.
This decision not only limits the ability of smaller service providers to compete, but more importantly it places limits on the access to information for people who are already at a lower socio-economic status, and cannot afford to pay the rates offered by the larger service providers, many of whom don't serve the remote communities, citing the rules of market forces (rather than social responsibility) as the driving force behind irresponsible decisions. These are harsh criticism to be sure, and unsubstantiated, so I throw these out to the wider community to engage in discussion.

What is at stake is an uneven distribution of information in a society that ostensibly values education as a basic human right.

Watch this space for further thoughts as they develop.

Filing 'Teachable' moments

What are the chances? two reference questions that touched on two very different aspects of my past research. I was able, without consulting external resources.

Historical Atlas that shows events of the 18th century in western europe. Was able to remind student of a resource I hadn't used in over 10 years, back when I was teaching historical geography of Europe.
treatment of women in shakespeare's time -- directed student to New Historicism and stephen greenblatt.
This experience needs to be filed as I prep for interviews as a teachable moments.  And speaking of teachable moments, have been confronted with a spectacular one, as I failed to be shortlisted for position that I've been doing for several years, and had developed an excellent rapport with the folks I was meant to serve, but perhaps not so much with my team mates.  Tricky one.  Siomebody moved my cheese, and I'm expected to make lemonade.  Watch this space, as I try to reinvent myself.  I've been told in the past I have a good broadcasting voice.  What of the voice of Information Literacy.  What shall I call myself?  Open to suggestions,

Liberation Technologies

Encountered a new term, still struggling with what it means and what the implications might be.

Liberation Technologies.


Something to do with mobile technologies, but liberate from what?  and did we ask to be 'liberated'.
Fishing for active discussion, what these might be.