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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=navy
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Dear friends</span></font></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>&nbsp;</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>&nbsp;</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>The WSIS Grassroots Caucus formed at Prepcom -2 of the </span></font></i></b><b><i><font
  size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Tunis</span></font></i></b><b><i><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'> Phase organized a regional consultation
with the grassroot level knowledge workers from </span></font></i></b><b><i><font
 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
 color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>South Asia</span></font></i></b><b><i><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'> on 10-12 July 2005 at the
National Agricultural Science Complex, </span></font></i></b><b><i><font
  size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>New Delhi</span></font></i></b><b><i><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>.&nbsp; The consultation that brought
more than 200 individuals from the grassroots with adequate experience of using
ICTs focused on the following issues:</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>&nbsp;</span></font></i></b></p>

<ul type=disc>
 <li class=MsoNormal style='color:navy'><b><i><font size=2 color=navy
     face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
     bold;font-style:italic'>The MDGs and WSIS</span></font></i></b></li>
 <li class=MsoNormal style='color:navy'><b><i><font size=2 color=navy
     face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
     bold;font-style:italic'>The role of ICT enabled knowledge centres at the
     grassroots to accelerate the MDGs</span></font></i></b></li>
 <li class=MsoNormal style='color:navy'><b><i><font size=2 color=navy
     face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
     bold;font-style:italic'>Issues underpinning WSIS plan of action</span></font></i></b></li>
</ul>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>&nbsp;</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>A detailed report is being prepared for wider circulation.&nbsp;
The participants felt that they have not been included in the WSIS process
although the majority of the WSIS decisions focus on them and their ability to
exploit the power of ICTs.&nbsp; They are now glad to be a part of the WSIS process.</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>&nbsp;</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>A similar consultation is being organized in </span></font></i></b><b><i><font
  size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Lusaka</span></font></i></b><b><i><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'> starting the 26<sup>th</sup> of
this month with a small number of grassroots knowledge workers from </span></font></i></b><b><i><font
 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
 color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Africa</span></font></i></b><b><i><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>.&nbsp; Those who would like to take
part in this consultation may contact my colleague, Anuradha Rao (<a
href="mailto:t.n.anuradha@oneworld.net">t.n.anuradha@oneworld.net</a>) or </span></font></i></b><b><i><font
 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
 color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Priscilla Jere</span></font></i></b><b><i><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'> (<a
href="mailto:Priscilla.jere@oneworld.net">Priscilla.jere@oneworld.net</a>). &nbsp;There
will be a Latin American leg of this consultation taking place in August with
support from Accesso and </span></font></i></b><b><i><font size=2 color=navy
 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;
 font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>OneWorld</span></font></i></b><b><i><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'> Latin </span></font></i></b><b><i><font
  size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>America</span></font></i></b><b><i><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'> in </span></font></i></b><b><i><font
  size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>San Jose</span></font></i></b><b><i><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>.</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>&nbsp;</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>Warmest regards</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>&nbsp;</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>[B. Shadrach] </span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>Founder Member, Grassroots Caucus</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>Director, </span></font></i></b><b><i><font size=2
 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
 color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>South Asia</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
 style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold;
 font-style:italic'>OneWorld</span></font></i></b><b><i><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'> International </span></font></i></b><b><i><font
 size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
 color:navy;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Foundation</span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

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