インドのテレセンター開発を、開発論で書いている知人に話したら大受けしたのが下記のエピソ−ド2「サンダルと開発」。
インドにはNGOや援助機関の人たちが作れ作れと唆し、テレセンターがタケノコのようにあるらしい。成功、失敗の議論以前に、このNGOや援助機関の人たちって何様?というのが友人のresearch question.
確かに日本のおじさん、ボーイスが島の人を土人扱いするのを見ると、思わず鏡を出したくなる。「あんたが土人!」日本語でも今度書きます。
Episode1:
The first Telecommunication system was a submarine cable launched in the Pacific Islands in the beginning of the 1900s. Its purpose was of course for the governing colonial countries economic, military and political purposes, not for the local indigenous peoples.
When Pacific Island countries obtained their independence in the 1980s, they needed to have the old colonial powers public infrastructure industries such as Telecom to remain in their new country, with excusive monopoly rights. This came without any obligation for universal service.
I find that economical colonialism still exists in this region with the idea of a free market. I also question whether the former colonial governments can tell Pacific Island countries to achieve economic independence after taking many of their resources, and changing (some say destroy) the fabric of their society.
Episode 2:
On a business trip to the Pacific Islands in my early days with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, I met a senior staff member from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). With a strong belief and passion he said to me ; “I found that my mission to these islands is how we can help them to wear sandals as the first step. I really thought about this when I saw islands people’s naked feet”
I have never forgotten his comments and keep asking the question - is it true?
Three points flow on from this. Firstly, current studies reveal that naked feet can stimulate the brain and be good for ones health. Many educators encourage people to do this, although from a safety perspective we are discouraged from doing so. If however the islands people can walk with their naked feet, then isn’t this telling us that they have a safety environment?
Secondly, if island people wear sandals and shoes, they either need to make their own shoes (a shoes factory) or they import them. Is this feasible or not?
Thirdly, is this what island people are really expecting? Have we forgotten cultural factors. Culturally there are sanctuaries on the islands where shoes or covered feet are not allowed.
Levels of development are often evaluated with quantative measures such as GDP, GNP, literacy rates and so on. Yet Sen’s discussion on the ‘Development of Freedom’ does not use these measures. Access to information and communication should be critical for development.
I also would like to examine what and how ICT4D (ICT for Development) was discussed since the release of the Maitland report “Missing Link” by ITU in 1985.