Steven L Clift wrote:
>
> Using Newsgroups for Peer-to-Peer Development Topic Communications
>
>                      GOVNEWS: http://www.govnews.org
>
> The issue of cost-effective communication has been brought up a number of
> times on this forum.  We have noted the convenience of e-mail, but over
> time have had to create special topical lists.  The often bandwidth
> hogging WWW isn't the most affordable way to get information to places
> with expensive connections and with e-mail you don't necessarily need
> everything you pay to download.
>
> One lower common denominator tool the UN/NGOs/development community
> should consider is the use of special newsgroups on specific topics of
> interest.  Some newsgroups could be announcement related and others could
> be discussion oriented.  The framework for "governmental" newsgroup
> creation was recently launched.  I encourage you to visit their WWW site
> for detailed background on news.
>
>                 http://www.govnews.org
>
> News is a store and forward way of distributing messages to servers
> across the world.  A local user then accesses a newsgroup from their
> local Internet provider (be it commercial, government, or university)
> instead of having to go all the way across the Internet.  In many places
> News may actually be received via satelite and uploaded via telephone
> modem lines when telecommunications costs are less.
>
> In my work capacity as the coordinator of the Minnnesota state
> government online efforts I have served on the GovNews Hierarchy
> Coordinating Committee representing state and local governments
> generally.  I have promoted the creation of topical groups at the global
> level, because I think peer-to-peer communication is the first step:
>
>   - gov.topic.development.food-programs <- A possible example, but
>         people on this forum are much better positioned to develop such
>         a topic tree.
>   - gov.topic.info.systems.epub     Government use of electronic publishing.
>         This one exists and is actually a gateway to an existing e-mail list.
>
> At some point we might see - geography/institutional:
>
>   - gov.us.mn.governor.news  <- For press release from our Governor.
>
> The UK will likely be next with a geographic name space, but discussions
> with coutries like France and others have occured.  The key thing to
> point out is that the framework has been launched, but the real
> development and use will come with use and broad interest.  (The WWW is
> sexy, but that does not mean that it has the most utility all or most of
> the time.)
>
> The HCC could really use some solid contacts in the United Nations that
> would like to create a "gov.un.XXXX" section.  This would be an excellent
> way for the UN to make their announcements available much more broadly in
> a timely basis.  Does anyone have any specific recommendations on who to
> contact?  Perhaps the right person is on this list?
>
> Again, I encourage you to visit the WWW site and you may e-mail any
> questions to the coordinating committee at:  [log in to unmask]
>
> Thanks,
> Steven Clift
> Many hats.
>
> P.S. If you would like to see their Table of Contents, please contact me
> directly at <[log in to unmask]> and I will email it to you.