The right for free access to information

I do not buy the newspaper often, as I find that accessing the news through google is usually all I have time for, and actually enjoy, as I can search for updates on news heard briefly on TV/radio and delve into deeper issues such as the state of other lesser known parts of the world.

However, occasionally I allow myself the luxury of buying a saturday 'SMH' and tossing aside housework etc until I have at least read the first section from cover to cover + 'The Good Weekend.'

Two articles discovered in recent months were really appealing to me, so I thought I'd share them here.

The first is the Hole in the wall experiment, which successfully enabled illiterate students in India to access information through the use of a computer set into an external wall and covered so that access by adults is very difficult. The article I read described how knowledge of English or any other written language was not required and that students intuitively used a basic keypad to surf the net and share information. The designers also mentioned that whilst using the computer, the caste system was ignored by the children who all happily explored as a group; the poorest children next to those that were obviously well off.
This experiment has led to a number of stations being set up in several third world countries. Although outside, the machines are not destroyed by vandals etc as those who are near this free resource understand that it is there to benefit all. And best of all, the children are sharing what they discover!

Another resource providing free access is a lot closer to home, and I supect I might have seen it on TV as opposed to the paper, however, wanted to look further into what it involves. 'The Benjamin Andrew Footpath Library' is based in Sydney and Melbourne on the city streets in areas where homeless people are known to reside. I think it is a public fallacy that our society tends to think that homeless people are also uneducated. There are many reasons why a person may be without a home and it is not always due to commonly perceived reasons. .....Incidently, I heard recently through the Exodus foundation, that homeless people do not have ANY access to Medicare (our assumed right) as they have no registered place of abode!
The Footpath library is staffed by volunteers who place the books in piles on the ground and allow anyone who walks past the opportunity to select books, at no cost. The books provided have been carefully provided in consideration of the intended recipients ie no 'home-renovating', and to my knowledge, it is not expected that the books will be returned.
If it sounds interesting, the website above is a good place to find out about volunteering, donating books etc.

New beginnings

Welcome to my first entry for this blog. I currently write a private blog attached to my uni studies and occasionally write about something that I think might interest others, so during those times, will email a relevant CC to here.
As a strongly global and reflective person, I tend to write from memory and then throw in the occasional smattering of references and links, so if you read something that sounds a bit dodgy, leave a post and I will check my facts. :-)