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CASI

New resource

Members of CASI have just completed production of a four-part, 12-page resource on Peace, War and Terrorism, for use by individuals, congregations and groups. It begins with the events of September 11 last year, and continues through the situation in Afghanistan and the 'war on terrorism' as well as offering some starting points for exploring the Biblical and prophetic dimension, along with references and further sources of information.
Each part offers readings, visuals and some questions to start discussion or reflection.

Available in hard copy from the CASI office, P O Box 9049, Wellington, as a (large, .pdf) email attachment from casi(at)pcanz.org.nz or by downloading from the CASI website.

Enclosure

This month's issue of Broadsheet is enclosed as an extra in Bush Telegraph by special arrangement with the Assembly Executive Secretary and Communications Unit. This is an interim measure until the future format of Broadsheet is settled. To those of you who completed the questionnaire about Broadsheet in the March Bush Telegraph, many thanks. Those who meant to but didn't get round to it will find a slightly different version inserted into the enclosure. We welcome your feedback.

Climate change and the Kyoto Protocol

CASI is keeping up with developments in this topic, working alongside the Overseas Mission and Partnership Group, and plans to cooperate with OMP in producing a resource on the topic. Groups and individuals wanting to be kept up with the play in this area should contact the CASI office; there's a lot of action at present and it doesn't always wait for monthly communications let alone two-monthly newsletters.

Digital divide

More than just access to the Internet .

Since 'digital divide' entered the national vocabulary a couple of years ago, it's become a useful shorthand way of referring to all the justice issues which go with lack of access to computer technology. However, the term has now widened to include access to all information and communications technologies, whether well-established or latest cutting-edge stuff.

A new aspect of this issue has emerged with the publication of the Discussion Document on Digital Television. This came from the Radio Spectrum and Broadcasting Policy Group of the Ministry of Economic Development just before last Christmas - precisely the time when most Kiwis are shaking out the tents and taking a break from all that stuff. So it hasn't had much public attention.

While a lot of the topics are quite technical, social issues related to the digital divide can be seen lurking in the small print. The technology used to deliver digital TV programmes is also capable of providing other forms of information content such as graphics, sound, text and voice. In future, it's likely that TV sets will not be just screens but instead provide a full range of digitally-delivered services including the Internet.

Some of the discussion paper's topics relate to the right to information and not being excluded from it for technological or for economic reasons. In the UK, transition to digital TV is taking a market-based approach, although their Government still retains some regulatory control. There, analogue transmission (what we get now) will not be switched off until the overwhelming majority of people have access to digital services. 'A solely market-based conversion to digital risks leaving some households behind, thus extending the digital divide,' says the discussion document

An issue for New Zealand is whether digital transmission should be done through land-based technology (using phone lines or cables) or by satellite. The discussion document suggests that commercial land-based transmission would on focus towns and cities which can be reached easily and (more) cheaply. But that would only reach six out of ten households, thus excluding 40 percent of the population from even the right to receive information and programmes from this source. Satellite transmission requires international and more complex commercial negotiation but, given our rugged landscape, would mean far more New Zealanders could receive the signal.

Digital technology also offers new opportunities, and the Churches' Broadcasting Commission has picked up on these. It's putting forward a creative proposal to reserve some of the broadcasting spectrum which would be taken up by digital TV for community use, asking the Government to not just sell the whole band to the highest bidder(s). The CBC proposes that three digital frequencies be set aside for communities to use as a kind of Access TV, for social services, sport and cultural and religious broadcasting. Digital cameras and transmission gear are so compact, portable and easy to use, says the CBC, that local groups should be offered the opportunity to build community and not simply passively accept all TV viewing that commercial companies want to offer us.

So it's not as simple as it sounds. Justice and social issues - and opportunities - abound. CASI is putting in a preliminary submission to the first round of discussions, which close on April 15th. But there will be much more to come.

Any group interested in exploring some of these topics in more depth and over time is welcome to get in touch with CASI. Please phone the office at 04 381 8295 (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays are best), write to us at P O Box 9049, or email casi(at)pcanz.org.nz