- Italy is one of the first countries in the world as long as the number of mobiles-per-person is concerned...one of the last one in western countries as long as number of pc-s/per/capita is concerned...I guess this tells a lot about my country. We are very individualistic, even if I don't think we are more selfish than other countries are...we love mobiles maybe because they are easier to be used if compared to pc-s...they give us the illusion of freedom, and also give us a way to keep ties with our families alive...Italy keeps on being a catholic country, and we show it! But the number of pc-s is growing up, and they are improving pc-literacy also in schools...it's something too important in everyday to miss the chance...but I hope it won't affect our lives too much..... Jacopo, Italy (29 years old)
- I am a language teacher. I use the internet to research topics that I then use in my lessons and to get any kind of information about local events, doctors, airplane tickets, business, etc. It is very useful for me and for my community. It is a great help for studies and for getting information about any single subject. My students also use internet for their lessons. My life is now very different and more comfortable: I can do all my bank transactions without moving from my desk, I keep contact with friends and families, I can renew books that I borrowed from the library, I can get appointment for doctors, I can buy my holiday tickets and I can book my hotel rooms. Actually I don't think I could pass without it anymore. By internet I can also keep informed about news in other parts of the world through the many digital newspapers available on line...... Ascen, North of Spain (35 years old)
- We need more youth newspapers, radio and TV programmes made by and for young people. And not only for youth from cities, but for those from rural areas too. The problem is that if in cities this situation is bearable, in villages it is lamentable. We think that to develop school newspapers would be the easiest first step in improving this situation. Our newspaper Young Non-stop we distribute in all regions of the country. But in order to reach everybody, the radio programmes would be extremely necessary.....Lulia Sevciuc, Republic of Moldova ( 19 years old)
- The most important barrier to engendering the (ICT policy) process is lack of knowledge and training. Most policy makers and organizations involved in the policy process don't see the gender dimension until someone makes a very strong case for it (and even then there is some resistance)... very few policy makers are trained to think from a gender perspective and unless they are educated on how to do so at all steps of the process, we (will) not get gender integrated into policy. I believe that training of policy makers (both at the country level and international organization level) on how to engender the policy process is of the utmost importance.....Sonia Jorge, USA
- Most of the documents, articles, books dealing with (these) issues are also in English and even very positive initiative(s) such as this one have the same restriction. (see how few women from Latin America are participating in this forum) I believe that language options have to be taken as a political issue, an issue that must be in the center of policy decisions, specially for international organizations.....Gloria Bonder, Argentina
- If most children in the media are from rich families and they act on the command of adults, I am beginning to wonder whether this is really participation. From what i know about participation, all the children, rich or poor are supposed to be part of the decision making but here is the case where most of the children are being string pulled by those in authority. Children managing their own affairs in the media are very rare. I am in no way saying that we children should take over the decision making. There's a proverb which says that what an old man squats to see the child stands on the highest mountain but can't see. So all we 're trying to say is that we should live up to Article 12&13 which emphasize participation. If we're able to do this we'll surely have a world fit for children.....Nicolette, Ghana (14 years old)
- No me queda claro si nosotros debemos sentirnos responsables por la actitud de nuestros adolescentes o echarle la culpa a los medios de comunicación. Quizá el Colegio, o la familia, o la iglesia se han puesto una venda y dejaron que los medios se metieran sin permiso dentro de nuestra intimidad. Ahora es tarde para expulsarlos, pero temprano para crear los filtros que hagan que los mismos jóvenes los saquen de sus piezas... Dagoberto Rojas Toro, Chile (21 años)
