Message-ID: <3616DFE9.74FCB80@idn.org> Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 22:39:37 -0400 From: "Christopher L. Byrne" <mailto:info@IDN.ORG> Subject: Re: IDN Applauds the Use Of Lotus Notes Technology As World Bank To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Dear Mr. Lessard,Absolutely none, nor is the IDN. The World Bank has made a technology decision that is very well suited to development organizations. This is a very good decision on the part of the World Bank and if you look at the World Bank web site, you will see that they are not doing anything to promote as you suggest. A review of their revised site found that they are using the tool and that it is a very good tool. Your view is perhaps a bit jaded, and why I do not know. There are not many information tools well suited to the development community and the World Bank is now using a very good tool as is CIDA. Not all decisions are self-serving.
This is a tool that can go a long way in helping development organizations communicate and share more effectively. Is it such a bad thing to recognize a good decision? One of the goals of the IDN is to promote more and better collaboration and communication in the development community (something which it does not do very well or if at all in some cases), so we will look at any and all tools which can do that better and help people as much as possible to access and use similar tools.
You will find that Lotus has donated software and other tools to non-profit NGOs doing work around the world. Is that a bad thing?
I find it interesting that a member of a mailing list devoted to the use of technology in development would criticize before looking at the strengths of the decision the World Bank made which will make it easier to provide information and allow users to access it more efficiently.
Your own web site says "Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key", so why not look at it in that light?.
And the World Bank had nothing to do with and had zero input into that transmittal.
Best regards,
Christopher
George(s) Lessard wrote: >
> Dear Christopher L. Byrne, on 3 Oct 98, I read your e-mail called "IDN
> Applauds the Use Of Lotus Notes" :
>
> So... how much money or whatever is the World Bank getting for promoting Lotus
> Notes, Domino and the Lotus Development Corporation?
>
> :-) :-) Message Ends; Signature File Begins (-: (-:
> George Lessard
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