Cybersociology Magazine | Issue Five

Cybersociology Magazine: Issue Five

Field Report: APC NETWORKS

ASSOCIATION FOR PROGRESSIVE COMMUNICATIONS

Global Internet Community for Environment, Human Rights, Development & Peace

WHAT IS APC?

** The Global Computer Network for Social Justice and Development **

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is the world's most extensive network of Internet providers dedicated to serving non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and citizen activists. Since 1987, APC members have been providing fast, reliable, easy to use communication tools.

Today we are a non-profit association of 25 member networks working together to provide online organising and collaboration tools and skills for civil society. APC goes beyond the hardware and software to support the people and organisations working together worldwide for social, environmental and economic justice.

APC member networks offer a wide range of services and support to link people, issues, resources and tools for action:

Internet Access
Training and Support: For Users, Trainers and Facilitators
Exclusive News and Information Services
Communications Consulting
Online Collaboration Strategies and Methodologies
WWW Site Development
Public and Private Workspaces: Mailing Lists and Newsgroups
Customised Information Tools: Databases and Search Engines

APC's state-of-the-art Internet services and applications are designed and supported to meet the unique needs of our global community of over 50,000 activists and organisations, including appropriate technology solutions for those without full Internet access.

** BUILDING A COMMUNITY WITHOUT BORDERS **

APC enhances communication and cooperation across the global social justice community through our six programmes:

Strategic Uses

APC members work with your community to build electronic campaigns, hold effective online meetings, catalyse online action, produce collaborative documents and get things done. We offer training and resources to build your capacity to use the Internet effectively. Our communication strategies combine the best of traditional and electronic means of sharing information, linking with radio, fax, face-to-face meetings and word of mouth.

Information, Content and Tools

APC develops Internet products, resources and tools to meet the unique advocacy, collaboration and information publishing and management needs of civil society. We also carry news services and hundreds of public discussion groups -- from activist campaigns to official UN declarations, you'll find both local and international perspectives on your community issues, which spark new ideas and projects.

Network Development

APC reduces the gap between the information-poor and the information-rich -- especially in less developed countries, and connects people separated by dictatorship and war. We build technical and management capacity among existing and emerging communication networks to continually strengthen our capacity to serve the needs of NGOs and activists.

Communications Policy Awareness

APC defends and promotes non-commercial, productive online space for NGOs and collaborates with like-minded organisations to ensure that the information and communication needs of civil society are considered in telecommunications, donor and investment policy. APC is committed to freedom of expression and exchange of information on the Internet.

Women's Networking Support Programme

Our Women's Programme emerged in 1993 to redress gender inequities in the design, implementation and use of electronic communications, and offers unique opportunities for women and women's organisations all over the world, focusing on Information Facilitation, Regional Support, Policy and Advocacy, Training, and Research.

Africa Programme

Members and partners in Africa work locally and regionally to interpret APC's programmes in the region. Strengthening indigenous information sharing and independent networking capacity on the continent are key priorities.

*** APC is committed to making our programmes and services available to people from all regions in the world. ***

** GLOBAL NEWS AND ALERTS **

Day-to-day, and during times of crisis, people rely on APC networks for frontline alternative news and analysis. High-quality development news services include Inter Press Service, China News Digest, Haiti Progres, BOLIVIAPRESS, Mid East Realities, People's Tribune, Greenpeace Global News Headlines, Agencia Informativa Pulsar, BurmaNet News, and many, many more.

Many APC networks also offer headlines services and digests to facilitate local information sharing among NGOs and activists.

** APC and the UN **

APC has been instrumental in forging communication links between NGOs and the United Nations, serving as the primary telecommunications provider since 1992 for NGOs and UN delegates during the preparatory process and on-site for UN World Conferences. In 1995, APC was awarded consultative status to the Economic and Social Council of the UN.

** WHO USES US? **

Every day tens of thousands of activists and organisations use APC networks for internal communications and public advocacy work...

A human rights organisation in Guatemala posts an alert about the disappearance of a peace activist, including contact information for the relevant officials. Readers world-wide lobby to bring attention to the activist's plight.
A coalition of fair trade organisations e-mails notices asking consumers to boycott companies using sweatshop labour and archives relevant information about the campaign on a WWW site.
Grassroots organisations in Ecuador partner with APC to operate a community-based public Internet access centre.
A team of women's organisations learns website skills and builds a clearinghouse of information for South African women.
An AIDS research organisation in the United States puts a full-text database of bibliographies, abstracts and documents on a website for public access and searching.
Environmentalists use a public mailing list to plan strategy and interventions for a UN climate change conference. On-site APC offers a communications centre, workshops in online advocacy and live reporting for those monitoring the conference remotely.
A national human rights commission learns to use mailing lists for internal communication. Their communication coordinator is trained to maintain a public website of press releases, cases, and general information.

Consult your local APC network to devise a communications and training strategy that works for you. (See Member list below.)

** JOIN US! **

Whether you need basic Internet connectivity or help planning a major online project, APC members can provide you with low cost tools and techniques to help you use private and public online workspaces effectively. To join APC's community-without-borders, contact the member network in your region.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

APC members agree to keep prices as low as possible so as to be aff ordable to NGOs, including special group rates in some cases.

Most APC member networks are Internet Service Providers in their countries.

Subscribing to any one of the member networks gives you access to all the materials, information and many services made available by all other APC members.

For current information on any APC member pricing structure, please contact them directly through the addresses provided below.

APC SECRETARIAT

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

WWW: http://www.apc.org/

APC International Secretariat APC North American Regional Office

Rua Silva Jardim, 52 Presidio Bldg 1012, First Floor

12500-000 Guaratinguet· Torney Avenue

Sao Paulo, Brasil P.O. Box 29904-0904

tel: +55 12 525 2168 San Francisco, CA 94129-0904 USA

fax: +55 12 525 2168 tel: +1 415 561 6100 ext. 120

fax: +1 415 561 6101

APC Programme Contacts

* Strategic Uses - [email protected]

* Information Content and Tools - [email protected]

* Network Development - [email protected]

* Communications Policy Awareness - [email protected]

* Women's Programme - [email protected]

* Africa Programme - [email protected]

APC NETWORKS ADDRESS LIST

* Argentina *

Wamani

Talcahuano 325-3F

1013 Buenos Aires,

Argentina

tel: +54 1 382 6842

fax: +54 1 382 9342