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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 2003)
ii 10 worn Phil Pritchett Live (and live recording) w/special guest Ryan Bingham $ 1 00 bar drinks $ 1 00 pints 8pm-10pm Party Safe and Designate a Driver. 696-5570 www.tapbcs.com Wednesday, November 5, 2003 THE BATTALK U.N. says not enough governments are onlin By Mark Stevenson THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MEXICO CITY — Most of the world’s nations have their own Web sites, but only 20 percent of people with Internet access use them, according to a U.N. report released Tuesday. A total of 173 of the U.N.’s 191 members had Web sites in 2003, according to the U.N. World Report on the Public Sector, entitled “E-Govemment at the Crossroads.” Just two years ago, 143 nations had Web sites. Only 18 countries, many in Africa, remain completely off-line. In many countries, women and the poor have less access to the Internet than other sectors. “Security and privacy issues” also discourage use among all populations, the report noted. The Internet has more potential for gov ernments than simply being a place for cit izens to easily access basic information and forms. “Many governments turn to Internet-based services as a way to cut red tape,” said Jose Antonio Ocampo, the U.N. undersecretary- general for economic and social affairs. “But we also see the Internet as a means of advanc ing and consolidating transparency and democracy.” While Web-based access can link citi zens to everything from schools to hos pitals and libraries, only a few govern ment sites encour age users to help make policy, the report said. “Only a very few We... see the Internet as a means of advancing and consolidating transparency and democracy. ]ose Antonio Ocampo U.N. undersecretary tunity to getijm and easy access information," report said. In another it ing for “e-j tion,” or the ment’s wil to interact logue with over the Great f!; ivoiui governments have opted to use e-govem- ment applications for transactional services or networking, and even fewer use it to sup port genuine participation of citizens in pol itics,” it said. The United States led the rankings of e- govemment “readiness,” or the amount of information, services and products offered over the Internet combined with the infra structure needed to access them. Sweden ranked second, followed by Australia, Denmark, Great Britain, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and Finland. Most Americans who use government Web sites get tourism information, do research for school or work, download gov ernment forms or get information on services. “U.S. users perceive the availability of e- government first and foremost as an oppor- the United States for the top spot. The top 10 included New France, the Netherlands, Ireland andseti developing countries — Chile, Estonia. Philippines, Mexico and Argentina. Estonia, for example, has a site cal “Today I Decide” at which people can[r pose, amend, and vote on policy issue Officials then are required to consider I proposals. Only 15 governments in the world aa; Internet comment on public policy issues; only 33 allow government transactions, filing forms or paying fines, over the Imer At least 60 percent of all e-govemit; projects in developing countries fail,] about half waste some taxpayer money,i report said. For Qian ( United tions u a bette on W Rudde: Qic Secret Kissin State ( Presidi cussed tions States tation packet overflt watche via clo “(T| endeav offers i (unity t riences look t< China- Trat United $97.1 U.S. re cal exp ners fr their m The wasbu of the Sti STUI Po Chari Station ( contest a for disre< °f Texas “The through cop dow Wrote m , '•ght,” Oi the car Rccreatk d 'd that t The r andTexa Gr ASeatl ; WA Green Ga ry Uo Wednesc in the nat Place in tl ttievictirr ::::: '82