Six billion voices

Poverty is the worst form of violence.

Mahatma Gandhi

Suppose for a moment that we can get information and communications technology (ICT) to work for the poor. This would mean that remote villages in the developing world – with no electric power, telephone cables or money – would get low-cost computers and broadband wireless internet, plus internet telephony (VoIP), enabling in turn sustainable economic growth, education, good health care, access to government and jobs. Suppose that all of this works everywhere, and that over time it breaks the cycle of dependence on government aid and NGO charity, replacing it with self-reliance. What else would happen?

Edward Cherlin

Read the full story: