via News-stream by jc.dauphin@unesco.org on Jan 23, 2007
The successful deployment of free and open source software (FOSS) in projects in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Latin America are described on a publication entitled "Breaking Barriers" by UNDP's Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme.
via News-stream by joe.francica@directionsmag.com (Joe Francica) on Jan 22, 2007
... it’s all about public good; All technology is essentially a tool to serve the public…Ultimately data is a source of information; and information in a globalized world is knowledge. And knowledge in a knowledge economy is progress."
via News-stream by SBarbalet on Jan 22, 2007
Sage Publications have announced that they will award an annual prize for “the best article published in either Cultural Sociology, Sociology, or Work, Employment and Society” all of which are journals of the British Sociological Association.
You can see what online journals are available in speciality areas of sociology by searching Intute: Sociology and specify “Journals” as the resource type.
via News-stream by Shirl Kennedy on Jan 22, 2007
10 Most Popular World Bank Reports on South Asia in 2006 Source: World Bank Based on number of downloads. Afghanistan: Drug Industry and Counter-Narcotics Policy Can South Asia End Poverty in a Generation India Development Policy Review: Inclusive Growth and Service Delivery, Building on India’s Success AIDS in South Asia, Understanding and Responding Afghanistan: Managing Public Finances for Development Nepal: Resilience Amidst [...]
via Live Search: "knowledge society" "knowledge economy" "information society" macro:livesearch.pdffiles on Jan 22, 2007
... http://www.unesco.org/en/worldreport From the information society to ... expansion of new technologies and the rise of a knowledge economy ... There is not a single model of knowledge society; moreover, each ...
via Sarah's blog experiment by Sarah Cummings on Jun 01, 2006
I've been wandering around for a few weeks with a copy of the report Kennis voor belied: beleid voor kennis, produced by the Dutch Advisory Council for Science and Technology Policy (AWT), in my rucksack. Frankly, I think it's dynamite!
This report was published in May 2005 under the title which translates as 'Knowledge for policy: policy for knowledge.' In this report, the Advisory Council argues that policy creation and implementation of the Dutch government would be improved if these processes of policy creation and implementation were supported by trustworthy, varied and independent knowledge. It is convinced that to obtain knowledge for policymaking, policy for knowledge is needed. Government departments need to have a knowledge policy which:
- Integrates diverse perspectives or countervailing knowledge
- Should be based on trustworthy, varied and public knowledge
- Applies knowledge in a transparaent manner
If the government underestimates the importance of knowledge for supporting policy, the Advisory Council argues that it runs the following risks:
- generating inadequate ploicy
- policy failure as a result of unexpected, dramatic developments
- insufficient preparation for the future
- damage to its reputation
When knowledge policy does not function effectively, the Advisory Council argues that the following problems appear in the civil service practice: an overload of knowledge and information; fragmentation of knowledge domaines; and more attention to process than to actual content.
I found this report fascinating and applicable to much wider areas than policy alone. Also thought it was very interesting that commentators on Dutch policy are looking at policy in the UK for reference and comparison.
via Baljit's Epoxy on SuprGlu on Jan 13, 2007
THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY: IS THE UNITED STATES LOSING ITS COMPETITIVE ...
of a knowledge economy, declining sharply as a percentage of the gross domestic product. This has. placed future innovation and our economic competitiveness ...
via Baljit's Epoxy on SuprGlu on Jan 13, 2007
Here are some articles relating to the "global Indian takeover". The frame of India as a economic superpower is promoted as much by the media as it is by the government. However there are two sides to the argument – India as a economic powerhouse with great potential and the myth of India as a economic superpower poised to takeover the world. 1. India's great global takeover game By Raju Bist
via Baljit's Epoxy on SuprGlu on Jan 17, 2007
Seymour Lipset eminent political sociologist has died age 84. Stephen Miller, a obituary writer at the New York Sun Newspaper reflects on Lipset's life and contributions to the fields of sociology and political science. Perhaps another addition to the Dead Sociologists Homepage and Dead Sociologists Index. And maybe a few more jokes in sociology classes about dead sociologists.
Everybody loves a "how-to." Simple instructionals and DIY projects are a requisite occupation for self-sufficient hipsters and hackers. From constructing personal PV arrays to generating pedal-powered electricity, brewing biodiesel to knitting scarves, worldchangers like to do things ourselves. Hence, my elation at discovering the nascent online project, Howtopedia.org, set up by a Swiss non-profit supported by Practical Action (formerly ITDG) and the International Network for Technical Information (INTI). Howtopedia's building a wiki-style library of DIY recipes that promote sustainability by helping us all become a little more independent. Howtopedia describe themselves as: A collaborative platform for practical knowledge and simple technologies, (i.e. technologies that require no complex machine, that are easily explainable and usable by individuals or small communities) for a sustainable and ecological future [...] We are convinced that sharing low-tech know-how across borders and organisations is essential for an independent and self-sufficient form of sustainable development. So far the library still has a lot of open space where content will eventually be found, and we're all invited to start filling it up by offering our own expertise and editorial skills. Even so, it's fascinating just to look through the placeholders and see what ideas have already begun to... (more)
