July 5, 2009 · 11:10 am

Lugano grottos and wines…

Smiley smallThanks to Isabella Rega, I had an opportunity  last week not only to learn much more about the exciting research ongoing at the Università degli Svizzera italiana in the field of ICT4D (NewMinE Lab and webatelier.net), but also to enjoy something of the culinary and vinous traditions of Ticino.

Hence, some additions to my periodic listing of interesting restaurants:

  • Canvetto luganese – this really good small restaurant is owned and managed by the Fundazione Diamante, which provides support and work for people with disabilities, integrating them into a diversity of different enterprises.  Since 2003 it has been recognised by the Osterie d’Italia di Slow-Food, and offers a range of delicious regional foods.  Its handmade pastas and ravioli are particularly good, as was the steak tartare!
  • Grottos – the hillsides around Lugano are replete with small restaurants, originally built around caves (hence the name ‘grottos’), but now offering some excellent freshly grilled meats and local foods in open air surroundings.  I particularly enjoyed dinner at the Grotto Circolo Sociale Montagnola, which had really excellent grilled grilled costine, as well as lunch at the Grotto Ticinese, where we shared risotto, grilled meats and salads, sitting under the trees on an otherwise very hot and humid day!
  • In Lugano itself, La Rosa dei Venti is situated on the lake shore by a small yacht club – a heavy rainstorm forced us inside, but the seafood risotto was good!

Barrell smallAs for wine, Ticino often suffers from rain and dampness in October which has a tendency to cause rot – but sadly not of the noble kind – the Botrytis cineria here in Ticino is far from benevolent! Hence, grape growers have been keen to plant early ripening varieties, most notably Merlot.  In recent years,  these red grapes have also been used to make the white wine Bianco di Merlot, which can have complexity and subtle flavours – when well-vinified they have a fresh acidity that goes really well with the local food.

  • Tenuta Bally & von Teufenstein, with vineyards and winery at Vezia, a short distance from Lugano, produces a good range of interesting wines.  As well as a rich and fruity Bianco di Merlot, their red wines (Cresperino 100% Merlot; Riserva Ernesto 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon) are generally much fuller and with better tannin structure than many of the rather light Merlots that can be found in Ticino.  Their Tre Api Merlot Riserva from the excellent 2007 vintage is made from old vines, and has fine soft tannins with a real richness of flavours – combining redcurrants, blackberries and violets.  They also make a rosati wine (Sarabanda) and a sparkling Spumante di Merlot, as well as a white (La Piana) that combines Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon, and an 100% Chardonnay (La Sfinge)

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July 2, 2009 · 7:42 am

Conflicting views on UK ID Card announcement

Alan Johnson, the UK’s Home Secretary,  made an important announcement on 30th June about the future of UK identity cards, noting in particular that:

  • ‘I want it to be a voluntary scheme’
  • ‘It is an important tool for tackling terrorism … it is very helpful’ but is not the whole toolkit
  • it would be an ‘identity card with thumbprint and biometric features’

This was further supported by an update on identity cards posted on the Home Office’s web-site which noted that

  • ‘From 2011-12, ID cards will roll out to the wider population on an entirely voluntary basis. This accelerated roll-out will benefit those people who need the cards the most. ID cards will be particularly helpful for young people who need to prove their age, and will empower businesses to ensure that they aren’t selling items such as alcohol and cigarettes to those who are underage. The government is also exploring the option of allowing pensioners aged 75 and over to receive an ID card free of charge’.
  • ‘The Home Secretary has asked the UK Border Agency to review its successful roll-out of compulsory ID cards to foreign nationals to see how it can be sped up. The agency has already issued 50,000 ID cards to people who are legally living and working in the UK. Under current plans, within three years all non-EEA foreign nationals coming to the UK for more than six months, or extending their stay here, will have a card’.
  • ‘Home Secretary Alan Johnson, said that the cards would be the most ‘convenient, secure and affordable way of asserting identity in everyday life.’ He said, ‘The benefits are not just for individuals but also for communities where a reliable proof of age will be invaluable in the fight against underage drinking and young people trying to buy knives.’ He also pointed out the benefits to young people, who he said, ‘on average, have to prove their age more than twice as often as adults.’ ‘

One of the precipitating factors behind this announcement was rising opposition that airside workers at Manchester and London City airports were being forced to have identity cards.  The Home Office site provides the following official response: ‘Under the new proposals, ID cards will be voluntary for workers at Manchester and London City airports. Workers will continue to be encouraged to get an ID card, which they can do for free, as it makes it easier for employers to carry out background checks and issue passes.’

These announcements are generally most welcome, because they go some way to recognising that:

  • many people in the UK do not want identity cards
  • the costs of introducing ID cards are much higher than was originally anticipated
  • the claim that they will have a significant impact on terrorism is simply not  true, and therefore the government’s attempt to introduce ID cards on the back of public concern over terrorism was devious and misleading
  • ID cards are primarily a means through which the state imposes control over its citizens rather than an actual benefit to those citizens.  If we have survived without ID cards in the past, why do we need them now?

From the above announcements, it would now seem that the main case ‘for’ ID cards now rests on their ability to prevent underage drinking, smoking and knife crime.  Could someone please tell me how ID cards will actually stop young people from getting access to alcohol, tobacco and knives?

It is interesting to note how mainstream media has reported different aspects of this announcement, mostly being supportive of the changes:

  • BBC: ‘Climbdown on compulsory ID cards’
  • The Guardian: ‘ID cards policy to continue’
  • The Guardian: ‘Passport details to be kept on ID register despite card U-turn’
  • The Times: ‘ID cards ‘will never be compulsory’ for Britons’

For other views on ID cards see:

  • No2ID the UK-wide, non-partisan campaign opposing the government’s planned ID card and National Identity Register

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June 30, 2009 · 8:38 pm

China and Internet filtering

The BBC today reported that the Xinhua News Agency has recently announced that China is to delay a controversial plan that would require all new computers sold in the country to be equipped with internet filtering software (Green Dam Youth Escort).   According to the BBC, “Officials say it is designed to shield children from pornography and violence. However, free speech activists have criticised the software plan as an attempt to tighten the Chinese government’s already strict controls on internet usage”.

The Xinhua report is as follows: “BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) — China will delay the mandatory installation of the controversial “Green Dam-Youth Escort” filtering software on new computers, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said here Tuesday. The pre-installation was delayed as some computer producers said such massive installation demanded extra time, said the ministry. All computers produced or sold in China were scheduled to be installed with such software after July 1, according to MIIT’s previous announcement. The ministry would continue to provide a free download of the software and equip school and Internet bar computers with it after July 1, said a spokesman with MIIT. The ministry would also keep on soliciting opinions to perfect the pre-installation plan, he said. The software is designed to block violence and pornographic contents on the Internet to protect minors. It could also help parents control how much time their children spent online“.

This is yet another example of the intricate changes in relationships between states and individuals that have been enabled by ICTs.  Much more work needs to be done better to understand the ethical implications of such changes.

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June 21, 2009 · 1:59 pm

Updates on Iran

Most technologies have traditionally be used by those in power to maintain their positions of power.  However, new ICTs, particularly those associated with the Internet, such as Blogging and Twitter, have the potential dramatically to change existing power relationships.  The current situation in Iran provides a classic example of ways in which these technologies can be used to share information and to organise political action.

For just some of the many accounts of ongoing activities in Iran, for example, see:

Other interesting material on Iran and Twitter includes the following:

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June 21, 2009 · 11:38 am

Digital Britain

The UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (I still think this is a crazy mixture, but…)  published its final report on Digital Britain on 16th June 2009.  It claims that “The Digital Britain Report is the Government’s strategic vision for ensuring that the UK is at the leading edge of the global digital economy. It is an example of industrial activism in a crucial growth sector. The report contains actions and recommendations to ensure first rate digital and communications infrastructure to promote and protect talent and innovation in our creative industries, to modernize TV and radio frameworks, and support local news, and it introduces policies to maximize the social and economic benefits from digital technologies”.

The key measures it recommends are:

  • A three-year National Plan to improve Digital Participation
  • Universal Access to today’s broadband services by 2012
  • Next Generation fund for investment in tomorrow’s broadband services
  • Digital radio upgrade by the end of 2015
  • mobile spectrum liberalisation, enhancing 3G coverage and accelerating Next Generation mobile services
  • robust legal and regulatory framework to combat Digital Piracy
  • support for public service content partnerships
  • a revised digital remit for Channel 4
  • consultation on funding options for national, regional and local news

One of the most interesting statements in the executive summary is that “For individuals a quiet revolution has delivered seamless connectivity almost everywhere. That revolution ranges from personal pocket libraries of music, audiovisual content and increasingly electronic literature on a scale inconceivable ten years ago; inexpensive broadband which allows efficient and family-friendly working patterns in the knowledge sector of the economy – and broadband at increasing speeds – the next generation of which, already available to nearly half Britain’s homes, allows us to send or receive 200 mp3 music files in five minutes, an entire Star Wars DVD in 3 minutes and the total digitised works of Charles Dickens in less than 10 minutes. It has given us access to a wide range of social networks, allowing us to share experiences and swap and create content. The digital revolution has also led to a huge expansion in the creation and availability of professional content. Today, the typical British consumer spends nearly half of their waking hours engaged in one form or another with the products and services of the communications sector”.  The report goes on to assert that “The UK is already a digitally enabled and to a significant degree digitally dependent economy and society. The Digital Britain Report aims to be a guide-path for how Britain can sustain its position as a leading digital economy and society”.

To my mind, the report is overly up-beat.  It fails satisfactorily to address the real challenges associated with a digital Britain, and especially:

  • it focuses primarily on the technological and economic dimensions – and not enough on the social, cultural and political issues raised by these
  • there is nothing overtly on the ethical and moral issues raised by this particular vision of a ‘digital Britain’ (‘ethics’ and ‘moral’ are words that are not even mentioned in the report)
  • although trying to grapple with some of the issues surrounding unequal access, its solutions are unlikely to have a significant impact on the lives of Britain’s poorest people and communities – the concept of a ‘digital divide’ is only mentioned three times, and there is no mention of words such as ‘inequalities’ or ‘inequality’; ‘equity’ is only mentioned twice.  The market cannot provide effective solutions for the most marginalised – and it should be the role of government to intervene to ensure that as many people as possible can benefit from the potential that such technologies can offer
  • insufficient attention is paid to the negative effects of the digital economy – in terms of the ways in which it reinforces power relationships, and enables ever greater ‘control’ and manipulation of the majority by the few.  The anarchic potential of the Internet is also insufficiently explored – and is treated negatively in the only place where it is addressed (“Most consumers, except the minority of the anarchic or those who believe in ‘freedom to’ without its counterbalancing ‘freedom from’, who believe in unsupported rights without countervailing duties, would prefer to behave lawfully if they can do so practically and with a sense of equity” p.110).  “Web 2.0” is likewise only mentioned once!
  • as I have argued elsewhere, one of the implications of Britain sustaining “its position as a leading digital economy and society” is that this will necessarily mean that it will relatively disadvantage those in poorer countries of the world.  Given my own interest in trying to ensure that poor people and marginalised communities can also truly benefit from digital communities, I am concerned by the complete lack of attention that this report pays to issues of ‘development’ – Africa is not mentioned at all, and ‘developing countries’ are only mentioned once to exemplify the impact of mobile ‘phones therein!  I wonder what colleagues in the UK’s Department for International Development have to say about this – another excellent example of lack of joined up government!

The UK government needs to understand that ICTs are about much more than simply the technology and the economy – if we are truly to use them to make the world a better place, we must emphasise the social, political and cultural aspects of their use much more than does this report on Digital Britain.

For other commentary in the UK press see:

  • James Ashton in the Times: A blurred vision for Digital Britain
  • Matthew Horsman in the Daily Telegraph: Only a sketchy road map of Digital Britain
  • BBC News: Digital Britain countdown begins

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June 11, 2009 · 11:50 am

… on serendipitous rigour

Rhinefield-House-smallFor a while now, I have been thinking around the notion of ‘serendipitous rigour’ – which might at first sight appear to be a contradiction in terms.  However, sitting in the luxurious wasteland of the New Forest at the EPSRC Think Free retreat, I have discovered that others are also grappling with this notion.

So, herewith some interconnected  thoughts:

  • there is value in bringing together the concepts of ‘serendipity’ and ‘rigour’ – and in encouraging research practices based upon their intersection
  • serendipity can be defined as the effect whereby someone  accidentally discovers something fortunate or beneficial, particularly while looking for something else entirely – it is therefore crucial for creativity and the advancement of knowledge [note the origins of ‘serendipity’ in the Peregrinaggio di tre figluoli del re di Serendippo published by Michele Tramezzino in Venice in 1557, from which Horace Walpole coined the word]
  • the addition of the notion of rigour to that of serendipity is important for two reasons in that
    • we rigorously need to create ‘places’ where we can actually foster such serendipity, and
    • we also need rigorously to take advantage and benefit from the opportunities that serendipity provides

By encouraging the promulgation of serendipitous rigour, we may be able to escape the shackles and confines of our sterile academic milieu, and develop new concepts and practices that could make the world a better place

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May 25, 2009 · 6:51 pm

eLearning Africa, 27-29 May 2009

This year’s eLearning Africa conference in Dakar, Senegal, starts on 27th May with pre-conference workshops and concludes on the evening of 29th May.  It promises to be an interesting opportunity to reflect on how best we can use e-learning to deliver on some of the continent’s biggest capacity development challenges.

The organisers suggest that the highlight will “include:

  • Discussion on the relative merits of one-to-one vs. shared computing which will feature in several sessions including a series of cases studies presented by SPIDER showcasing the way in which one-to-one computing has been realised in large scale equipment roll-outs in Rwanda, Ethiopia and Uruguay.
  • Debate about the extent to which open source solutions can be made sustainable. Are they the only solution for cash-strapped organisations or do they require a level of skills and resources not regularly found in colleges, universities and schools? Input on this topic will come from practitioners from the National Open University of Nigeria; MEF/IMSP, Benin; Makerere University, Uganda and many others.
  • The ongoing debate about the open educational movement in Africa will further develop this theme. Can the OER movement in Africa help to expand access to educational content for Africa’s resource-poor higher education institutions? Does it live up to its expectations? Presenters from OER Africa, the National University of Rwanda and the Shuttleworth Foundation in South Africa will present their experiences.
  • Mobile learning is of particular interest in Africa given the number of mobile devices available and the lack of reliable terrestrial Internet access. eLearning Africa 2009 features many interesting practical examples, such as m-learning for health-care workers, instigated by the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium; mobile learning opportunities by l’Ecole Nomade in France; a study by the University of South Africa on the use of Mxit; and a partner programme of the Mid Sweden University and the Open University of Tanzania, using mobile phones to enhance in-service teacher training.
  • Affordable and reliable access solutions remain a challenge for most education and training practitioners in Africa. Presentation sessions in which access is discussed will include input from the Senegalese Government, the French Foreign Office, Computer Aid International and AfrISPA.
  • The results of new research led by IDRC’s PanAf Observatory will highlight the ways in which the pedagogical integration of ICTs can improve the quality of teaching and learning in Africa.
  • A discussion on the re-use and disposal of obsolete ICT equipment entitled E-Waste: Is Africa Heading for an Environmental Crisis? will feature a lively debate on issues around re-use and disposal of ICT equipment and the impact this has on the environment.
  • Dedicated sessions led by leading organisations active in this field including Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), the World Bank, UNESCO and UNEP which will feature some of their projects, initiatives and successes.
  • There will be several inspirational case studies on the development of ICT4E policies, including presentations by IICD, The Netherlands, Ministère des Enseignements Secondaires, Cameroon, the University of Lagos, Nigeria and COFOPS-INTER, Cote D’Ivoire.
  • A special panel to highlight the eLearning initiatives of the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa, the South African Institute for Distance Education, and UCT’s Centre for Educational Technology. This panel will reflect on early lessons learned, explore specific educational technologies, introduce the emerging research agenda, and discuss how eLearning in African Higher Education can be advanced further.
  • University experience in putting in place effective technology- enhanced learning, which will feature presentations from universities including Université Cheikh Anta Diop dé Dakar, Senegal; University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Université de Nouakchott, Mauritania; and École des Sciences de l’Information, Morocco. They and many others will provide first hand witness accounts of the opportunities and challenges they face.
  • Sessions on the ways in which ICT is being used to support teacher training and the skills of public servants which will include input from the Ministry of Education, Malawi, the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana and the University of British Columbia, Canada.”

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May 20, 2009 · 8:14 pm

WISE awards for outstanding educational achievement

LOGO WISEThe Qatar Foundation has recently announced the launch of its WISE (World Innovation Summit for Education) awards for outstanding educational achievements.  In this inaugural year, the WISE Awards nominations will generate six prizes to existing projects aligned with the Forum’s three main themes: Pluralism, Sustainability and Innovation.  Two prizes will be awarded for each of these three themes. Each of the six laureates will receive a WISE Prize Award of $20,000 at the Gala Dinner on November 17th, 2009. Laureates will also be given the opportunity to showcase their projects during the WISE Forum.

The WISE Awards application process is open to individuals or teams of individuals from across the world and in all education sectors, to be supported by a letter of endorsement from senior management of their organisations. The closing date for applications is 15th July 2009.

Laureates will be selected by a pre-jury and then by an International Jury consisting of some of the world’s leading experts in pluralism, sustainability and innovation in education, drawn from public institutions, civil society, the private sector, international organisations, universities and social entrepreneurs.

Further details are available as follows:

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May 18, 2009 · 1:03 pm

Maputo restaurants

Not everyone would automatically think of Mozambique for its culinary excellence – but for those who like fine seafood, Maputo’s restaurants are definitely worth exploring.  Mozambique is a forgiving country, and despite the violent war of independence it still retains certain classic Portuguese traditions, not least the tendency to serve rice and chips with most main courses.  It is also possible to find great Portuguese wines – definitely a step up from most of the South African onesprawns available on the wine lists.  Here are just a few of my favourite places to eat in Maputo:

  • Costa do Sol – on the coast to the north of Maputo – serves fantastic fresh seafood in an art deco atmosphere.  The vinhos verdes go down well with the lobster and prawns!
  • Restaurante Escorpião (Recinto da Feira Popular – Maputo. Tel. 21302180. E-mail: restauranteescorpiao@hotmail.com) – serves typical ‘Portuguese’ cuisine – and has one of the best collections of Portugese wine outside Portugal (try the Borba with one of the meat dishes).
  • Maputo Waterfront restaurante (Av 10 Novembro 74,http://www.paginasamarelas.co.mz/pag/2226032468_PAG_A.html) – serves excellent seafood and meat dishes – try one of the combination dishes, such as chicken and seafood.  As its name suggests, it is right on the waterfront
  • Restaurante 1908 (Av. Eduardo Mondlane,946 – Maputo. Tel. 21424834.) – a sophisticated restaurant in the centre of Maputo, serving Mozambican and Italian food.  As its name suggests it is in a building constructed in 1908!

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May 1, 2009 · 9:10 am

World Press Freedom Day debate at the Frontline Club

01052009395The UK National Commission for UNESCO and the Press Freedom Network have convened today’s debate at the Frontline Club on the motion “Governments at war are winning the battle of controlling the international media”.  The proposers are Andrew Gilligan (Evening Standard) and Jamie Shea (Private Office of the Secretary General of NATO) and the opposers are Jeremy Dear (General Secretary, National Union of Journalists) and Alan Fisher (Al Jazeera English). William Horsley is the debate chair.

My interpretations of what was said by the speakers:

  • Wars create a sellers market in news; demand increases but supply reduces in times of war.  Wars are confusing.  It’s in the interest of those running the battle to keep things confused.  Embeds provide most of the reporting on ongoing wars as  in Afghanistan.  This makes news much more uncontroversial than they should be (Andrew Gilligan)
  • The voices of those suffering are given life by journalists.  War on terror has been accompanied by a war on civil liberties.  Journalists have risked their lives and been killed as they try to lift the veil of secrecy. Despite censorship, a complete blockade of news is not possible given the existence of mobile ‘phones, computers and the Internet (Jeremy Dear)
  • “No pictures, no news” – governments are quick learners.  Do governments make mistakes?  “Yes”.  Do they learn from their mistakes?  “Yes”.   Governments keep the journalists always occupied – keeping them in constant briefings, so they cannot go off and find out things for themselves! We no longer need to work through the media – governments create their own media networks – such as NATO TV.  Instead of using the press to get the message out, we now use pundits who are sympathetic to our cause. “Anyone can be his or her own journalist”. The profession has become democratised – so why cannot governments join in?  A good press helps those of us in government who believe in accurate information (Jamie Shea)
  • Journalists can now report immediately from the frontline; in the old days ‘geography’ mattered, but this is no longer true.  Governments are losing the battles because there are now more ways of accessing the truth than ever before – the bloggers and the twitters…  But the answer is not simply as a result of these new technologies.  Technology is one of our biggest assets – it is getting smaller and better all the time (Alan Fisher)

My thoughts and comments from the floor:

  • There was a tendency to imply that journalists are the arbiters of the truth.  But are they?  I think not.  We all bring parts of ourselves to the truths that we espouse.
  • A key theme, though, is the distinction between “independent journalism” and “public sector broadcasting” – independent voices are really important
  • I liked the comment from the floor that “journalists are concerned with their own greed”!
  • I echo the thoughts of a speaker from the floor who said that African governments are taking advantage of so-called press freedom – many African peoples do not have a choice
  • Much of the debate is indeed ethnocentric – despite global telecommunications
  • An African channel about whom the joke is “not wrong for long”!
  • Relationships between governments and the free press have to be based on mutual respect (Jamie Shea)
  • I would agree with Andrew Gilligan that very few people can actually get to the frontline of war zones – and therefore that professional journalists have a key role to play
  • I enjoyed Alan Fisher’s comments on the Georgia-Russia war – journalists on the ground can directly contradict what government spokespeople are saying
  • Do governments collude in disinterest? Is that why we don’t hear much about continuing violence in places such as DRC?
  • From the floor: “credibility has nothing to do with truth”
  • From the floor: “Deep in the Congo forest you cannot use your mobile ‘phone”.
  • From the floor: “In many countries, to get a SIM you still need to give your identity”
  • How many African countries really support freedom of the press?
  • In so many parts of the world, local journalists do not have the power actually to report because of government restrictions
  • Jeremy Dear emphasised the fundamental importance of journalists supporting each other in the face of oppression from governments
  • Andrew Gilligan: “bloggers have no credibility and little reach”

Who won the debate?  In favour: 38; Against: 15; Abstentions: 9.

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