Archive for October, 2009
Brazil: Between democracy and doubt
Posted by admin on October 25th, 2009
Since January’s World Social Forum in Belém, where alternative media were heralded for bringing progressive and pluralistic information to the fore, online independent initiatives have been flourishing in Brazil. Alongside well-established community media, the Independent Media Center has collectives based throughout major Brazilian cities, Web 2.0 hosts countless blogs, alternative news websites [pt], forums and interfaces, and cyberactivism [pt] is quickly taking shape.
These examples are fortifying themselves through city- and state-level meetings with civil society organisations and academics in preparation for Brazil’s first National Conference of Communication in December. Entitled ‘Communications: a Means for Building Rights and Citizenship in the Digital Era’, it signals a very first step in democratising Brazil’s communications system.
Technology in the hands of the Guarani
Posted by admin on October 22nd, 2009
Guarani in Rio de Janeiro
CDI Europe would like to share some great field experience with you. On our first newsletter we have published a story about the Guarani indigenous community in Brazil on how this tribe is using technology as a tool to perpetuate its traditions. It was a breath taking experience for all of us from CDI.
‘Ayvu Ryru’ is what the Guarani indigenous community in Rio de Janeiro named their computers. The meaning – box to keep the language – tells a lot about the Guarani culture which is essentially oral. CDI delivered technology, audio-visual tools and training to the Guarani enabling them to rescue this centuries old heritage and preserve it for future generations and all mankind.
Today the Guarani have learned to use their computers and audiovisual tools, to register and to reproduce their culture for future generations and preserve it.
The room where the computers are kept in the heart of the tribe is carefully guarded by Leandro Mendes, who is being trained by CDI to be an educator. According to Leandro, technology is very important to the community because it is a way to preserve all their cultural practices. “We have learned how to interview people in a way that they can tell a story or give advice to the youth”, he explains. The enthusiasm of the Guarani for their audiovisual tools has led them to create a channel on YouTube to publish the videos they produce and to exchange material with other Guarani communities from all over South America.
Despite the immeasurable value for them, the computer school is now under threat. Without funding, the space is being kept alive solely through the perseverance of the Guarani. Even though Leandro has no salary, he continues to visit the project every day to care for the machines, to allow other people to access them and to practice what he has been learning with CDI’s team.
Bicentenary of Independence in Latin America event feedback
Posted by admin on October 13th, 2009
It seems like just yesterday that CDI Europe hosted its first fundraising and awareness event in the City of London.
CDI founder Rodrigo Baggio gave a passionate and inspiring speech about the results that CDI has achieved in Latin America and the plans for expansion to the Middle East and Africa.
Since then, we’ve had some very positive feedback and met some fantastic people who joined CDI Europe group on Facebook and Twitter to exchange valuable ideas, information and experience about Digital Inclusion, Education and Social Change.
Ah, feel free to download the photos of the event; please don’t forget to give credit to us in case you want to use them. If you missed our event, meet CDI Europe Executive Director Mauricio Davila and CDI founder Rodrigo Baggio above.
CDI Europe would like to thank all the attendees, staff, volunteers, friends, sponsors and partners. Special thanks to: Dell, Unilever, TAP, GlobalGiving UK, RBS, The Brazilian Embassy, Jungles Drums and Dewey & Leboeuf LLP.
CDI in Jungle Drums
Posted by admin on October 9th, 2009
This month’s Jungle Drums magazine features a great article about CDI and our campaign in partnership with GlobalGiving UK to help drive new opportunities for everyone throughout Latin America.
Donate, make a difference and have a chance to win a flight to Brazil.
Socio-digital Inclusion through the Lan House Revolution
Posted by admin on October 7th, 2009
The photo illustrates the “Lan House Revolution” taking place right now in Brazil. Across the country, the majority of Brazilians accessing the Internet today do so through Local Area Networks (LAN) spanning all cities and communities.
The concept of the LAN arrived in Brazil in 1998 but it had been previously observed only in the rich Brazilian neighborhoods. Now it has become a phenomenon especially in poorer and smaller communities, where computers and broadband connection are beyond the reach of the population.
According to Ronaldo Lemos, director of the Center for Technology and Society at the Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) School of Law in Rio de Janeiro, “lan houses are places of intense sociability, and are occupying an important place in the life of the favelas”. His paper LAN Houses: A new wave of digital inclusion in Brazil was presented at the recent Harvard University Communication and Human Development Conference.
Congratulations, Rio!
Posted by Ana on October 3rd, 2009
It was CDI’s founder and CEO Rodrigo Baggio who broke the fantastic news that Rio de Janeiro was chosen to stage the 2016 Olympic Games, during yesterday evening’s event to commemorate 200 years of independence in Latin America.
Brazil will be the first South American country to host the Olympics!
Brazilian Embassy promotes CDI event
Posted by admin on October 2nd, 2009
A big thank you to the Brazilian Embassy in London for all their support towards our event.