South America

Yesterday: Migrant techno-wizards return home to do battle with the Digital Divide.

Rio de Janeiro
Against All Odds: Teaching Computer Graphics in Brazil
Educator Rejane Spitz returned home to Brazil in 1992, to create the first computer graphics department at PUC Rio. Having no computers to work with, she took her students out into the streets of Rio to experience how computers were working in Brazilian commerce.

Colombia:
The Fight
Connectivity in Colombia: Follow web warrior and fine artist Alejandro Duque and his students as they do battle with the "digital invasion." "Globalization just doesn't’t fit 'our moment,'” he says.

Today: Wi Fi in the Rainforest

Brazil:
Amazonia
Monkeys and marmosets, tamanduas, turtles, and tapirs, armadillos and anteaters, peccaries and pacas, manatees, otters, dolphins … AND, beginning in February 2004, a solar wireless satellite Internet connection!

About Amazonia

Welcome to the Reserva Ecolôgica do Xixuaú - Xiparinã, a remote 172.000 hectare primary forest reserve, situated on the Rio Jauaperi, some 500 kms from Manaus, Brazil.

Since 1992, Xixuaú - Xiparinã's unique ecosystem has been the subject of study by organizations and universities throughout the world. Researchers from such associations as the Universita la Sapienza (Rome) , the Institute for the Quality of Life (Denmark), and the University of Birmingham (UK) have made the 30-40 hour boat trip (length varies depending on the season) to Xixuaú - Xiparinã to study the region’s rich biodiversity. Apparently, the rock formations and sandy beaches formed during the area’s low water season form a natural barrier, creating an ideal environment for native species to thrive.

Bringing ICT to Amazonia exemplifies the essence of sustaining environment and culture in one of the richest, most endangered areas on the globe. Perhaps more than any other region, the lifestyles and values of aborigines living here are intricately tied to nature. While environmentalists and eco-tourists have long championed the importance of preserving the rainforest, connecting this ancient natural treasure with modern day technologies appeared daunting: Imagine what could be lost?

Xixuaú - Xiparinã attained its status as protected land in 1992 in a collaborative effort between the Brazilian government and the Amazonia Organization.

Up until now, the reserve’s two traditional schools lacked the resources to provide education past the primary grades for community children. Now, children and adults have begun attending evening classes, using the Internet to participate in distance education resources. A multimedia school, lead by a local volunteer, is also providing training in computer usage, the Internet, and digital photography.

Amazonia.org is in the process of creating online content to introduce to the global community. Bookmark this project!

Conclusions