How Can Access to the Internet Benefit Third World Communities?

HEALTH
Example: In the health sector, telemedicine provides a number of advantages for doctors and other medical staff. In the Third World in particular, it is often difficult to have access to appropriate expertise for an accurate diagnosis and the treatment of illnesses. This is particularly true in rural and remote areas, but in many cases in urban areas as well. Computerized networks facilitate access to accurate and up to date information, enable long-distance training and consultation, and improve the administration of the health sector. On-line initiatives addressing health and medicine promote networking among hospitals and health professionals worldwide, and provide updates on current medical research.

EDUCATION
Example: The very origin of the Internet is strongly linked to education as it was in universities and research institutes that electronic networks were initially developed. It has since evolved from the sharing of research findings among scientists and scholars to access to libraries, schools and universities worldwide. Not only can one find interesting reference material and valuable resources, but increasingly one can also download books and journals, the Internet thus providing a wealth of knowledge at ones finger tips. The Internet also enables alternative teaching methods through virtual classrooms and long-distance education, thus allowing more people to receive education.

POLITICAL PROCESSES
Example: The ease with which information can be published and disseminated on the Internet allows for more democratic and participatory political structures. Computerized networks have for many years been used to share information on important events, and given today’s world of increasing global integration it would appear impossible to stop such information flows. For instance, Chinese students, overseas as well as within the country itself, were able to communicate through e-mail, before, during and after the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown in Beijing, thus defying heavy government censorship and ensuring a free flow of information.

JOB CREATION: Creation of new working places in the information technology sector and more and better statistics about the situation of the employment situation.

CULTURE: Creation of African museums in the Internet, keeping historical documents and other information on CD.

TRADE AND COMMERCE: Connections to foreign chambers of commerce, reducing of costs, information over import and export of products, developing and marketing of news products.

TOURISM: Strengthening of international tourism, reducing of costs for advertising, improvement of image.

FOOD SECURITY: Improvement of import and export of agriculture products, improvement of production, reducing the premature decay of food by means of better distribution.

GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT: Improvement of rights and possibilities of women, use of new technologies for propagating gender equality.

MAN-MADE CRISIS AND NATURAL DISASTERS: Management of environment degradation and natural disasters; information systems about region with disasters; communication in emergency situations; warning systems.