From notes@igc.apc.org Sun Apr 21 00:14:16 1996
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Date: 20 Apr 1996 05:25:00
Reply-To: Conference "zamir.chat" 
From: KATHERINE.LAYTON@ZAMIR-ZG.ZTN.apc.org
Subject: Jezik and "Access"!
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Reply to Ed at PeaceNet Balkans Desk!:

p> Now that there's an opening for peace in the Balkans, I'm hoping
p> that ZTN will reach out to more of the "not privileged" you speak
p> of, and that they will get online and take over more of the
p> online work of discussion & reconciliation. So it's great to hear
p> from you, and to know that Bistrica and Sela are online. It seems
p> to me that the job of those out here should be to help improve
p> your comms facilities (mostly by providing funding for
p> equipment), while you continue to make the network available to
p> new users.  --  ed

        Actually, the people in Bistrica don't have to use the camp  
computer, as they have their own.  In fact, we have our own room,  
computer, modem, printer, photo-copy machine, and supplies.  This is our  
"Information/Communication Center."  We started out with this in November  
of last year, when we established an "Information Center" in the  
"restaurant" of the camp for the access of all people living in the camp.   
At that time, all information that we posted came through my personal  
computer and outside sources.  Our "English group's" role was to help  
translate and post this information.
        We've gone much further now with this Information Center, however.  
 OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE - CROATIA (thank you to Mr. Srdjan Dvornik for his  
offer of the equipment, his hard work and patience with us) donated to us  
all of our equipment and supplies, and the camp management provides us  
with our own room and our telephone line.
        The project group consists of people who live in the camp, mostly  
adults, and they control all aspects of the project.  They hold the key to  
the room.  At this time I'm their project coordinator; I help them to  
organize, learn opportunities and organizational and computer skills.   
Though the group already does much of this now themselves, my goal is to  
turn this role over completely within the next two months.
        Our objectives are to provide information and teaching of computer  
skills for the entire camp.  We also make available the ICVA directory for  
all members of the camp.  UNHCR has suggested that they will help us in  
the distribution of our first "information bulletin" to other camps,  
either by coordinating the distribution with ODPR or by distributing it  
themselves.  We plan to complete the bulletin in two weeks.  We hope also  
to work with UNHCR in distributing their new "Information Repatriation  
Reports," though this is still yet just an idea that UNHCR is considering.

        These stages probably won't have been the most challenging for the  
project.  Access to information and informational resources is still a big  
question.  The ZTN system has been wonderful for us thus far, but the  
working group for the project has commented about seeing some news that  
they can't read or can only read with great difficulty.  We hope that the  
JEZIK question, with UNHCR reports, with ICVA-coordinated info., and with  
the ZTN system, will become more favorable for us soon.

p> ps - Regarding the UNHCR & ICVA reports being in English - I
p> agree it's stupid that they're not bilingual. If the bureaucrats
p> won't provide translations, why doesn't the grassroots peace
p> movement use ZTN to raise money & pay one of our South-Slav
p> peace workers to prepare the translations?

Well, Ed, this question is on our list of "to-do's" - this week we will  
approach the Zamir system-coordinators about help with the language  
problem.  My/Bistrica's postings about "Jezik" are about this - putting on  
line our concerns about "access" to resources that Zamir provides.

Take care,
Katherine.
**************************************************************************
                        Katherine S. Layton

Put Svetog Vicenca B.B.                         Informativni Centar
21403 Sutivan                                   Odmaraliste "Bistrica"
Hrvatska                                        21403 Sutivan
                                                Hrvatska
+385 (021) 638148

                       Katherine.Layton@zamir-zg.ztn.apc.org
                       Bistrica_Sut@zamir-zg.ztn.apc.org
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