Vision - November/December 2008 - (Page 37)

and back to their headquarters, in order to deliver food, medicine and supplies. TSF also runs what they call “humanitarian calling operations”, or makeshift calling centers that provide populations affected by floods, droughts, earthquakes or political conflict with free, three-minute phone calls to reconnect with loved ones. In Haiti, in just two days TSF provided more than 500 families with a free threeminute call that would normally cost around 135 gourdes, nearly four times the cost of a cup of rice. For a population devastated by the food crisis and these storms, access to TSF’s phone lines may mean not only connecting with loved ones, but possibly also a lifeline to friends or family who could send money or help. In addition to providing funding for immediate deployment of emergency telecommunications staff, our Technology Partnership also is supporting the firstever training program for telecoms “first responders” that is open to the global community of humanitarian relief workers. By 2010 this program will have trained 500 aid workers, exponentially increasing the number of ICT aid workers available to provide communications in disasters, and making it easier for these emergency telecom technicians to work together in the field. Merge Public-Private Efforts for Success The UN Foundation-Vodafone Partnership, and its collaboration with UN agencies and other organizations, is a clear example of the power of public-private partnerships. And the opportunities for harnessing technology for the greater good abound in health, humanitarian relief, development and environmental protection. UN Millennium Goal #8 calls for cooperation with the private sector “to make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications” to help overcome some of the persistent humanitarian challenges that have defined the past century. Through enhanced access to technology and the Internet, technology leaders can promote market driven solutions for key international challenges, such as the food crisis, education around the world, living standards and creating business opportunities in emerging market. All of us have a role to play and with the continued and growing engagement of the telecommunications and technology industries, the “can do” attitude of the private sector and the broad reach of the public sector, we can save lives and foster shared peace and prosperity. Join us. • Timothy E. Wirth, a former Democratic congressman and senator from Colorado, is president of the United Nations Foundation. For more information about UN Foundation partnerships, visit www. unfoundation.org/your-role/partners/. be at the right place at the right time www.digitaldowntown-nyc.com For exhibitor information contact Ryan Strowger (p) 703-907-7679 (e) exhibits@digitaldowntown-nyc.com http://www.unfoundation.org/your-role/partners/ http://www.unfoundation.org/your-role/partners/ http://www.digitaldowntown-nyc.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Vision - November/December 2008

Vision - November/December 2008 Contents Shapiro's Spectrum In this Issue The Economist C4 Trends Going Global Visionary CES Unveiled Eco-Intelligence Is Vital in a Sustainable Global Market XGP— A Game Changer Enhancing the Tech Experience High-Definition Decade Public-Private Partnerships CEA Newsline Tech Speak Tech Policy Eye on Business Market Insider Just the Stats

Vision - November/December 2008

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