Hi and glad to see the AFRIK-IT listserv is up and running.
 
A brief introduction: my name is Peter da Costa and I work for
Inter Press Service (IPS), the world's leading provider of
development-perspective journalistic information.
 
I'm based at the regional HQ for Africa in Harare, Zimbabwe, but
am Gambian by nationality (you know, that sliver of land jammed
in the middle of Senegal and once described as "a geographic and
economic absurdity").
 
I agree with those who say that there are much more important
things to discuss than whether listserv members are African or
not. What is important is that we all have the interests of the
region, its peoples and its development at heart.
 
As a user of telematics we at IPS are keen to have a say in the
way the sector develops in Africa, and as such believe there
should be a media users lobby group, perhaps within the framework
of ANITEP.
 
We also seek, through the articles we disseminate, to empower
people in Africa about telematics applications as well as to
bring home to them how new technologies will affect their lives.
The fact is that to date the level of debate about the
implications of the information superhighway on Africa has been
pitiful, and participation in this field has to be strengthened.
 
There are various ways you can access our different newsfeeds, so
if you want to subscribe or even to make suggestions, send a
message to <[log in to unmask]>.
 
I look forward to vigorous and stimulating participation in this
discussion group and hope we can evolve concrete strategies to
take IT forward in Africa.
 
05.06.95
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Peter da Costa, Regional Director for Africa
Inter Press Service (IPS) Third World News Agency
Regional Headquarters for Africa
P.O. Box 6050, 127 Union Avenue, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: (263-4) 790104/5 Fax: (263-4) 728415
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
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