Friday, May 18, 2012

Tagore's 151st Birthday


where you walk in company with the world of men, I am united with you. Not in the forest retreat, nor in isolation, not even in the solitude of my inmost thoughts, but where the people have you for their own, I, too, have you for my own, my beloved. Where you greet every one with outstretched arms, my heart awakens in love for you. Love is not to be secreted away within the four walls, like sun, it spreads out everywhere. That you bring joy to one and all, is also that which brings me joy, my beloved! Rabindranath Tagore [Translated by Kshitis Roy from the original Bengali song, Viswa sathey yogey yethaye viharo]

Tuesday, May 15, 2012


Message of UN SG


UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon I welcome the focus on women and girls as the theme of this year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. Information and communications technologies are already benefiting women and girls in numerous ways. E-commerce is expanding opportunities for entrepreneurship. Mobile telephones are enabling midwives to make childbirth safer. Electronic social networks are allowing women around the world to mobilize as never before for democracy, dignity and human rights. At the same time, we know that information and communications technology has the potential to cause harm. Cyberbullying, Internet-driven human trafficking and other abuses are often targeted at women and girls. We must do everything possible to stop these crimes and promote greater online security for all people. More broadly, we should work to optimize the power of information and communications technology to support sustainable development. By gathering, disseminating and analyzing information, we can accelerate action to protect natural resources, combat climate change and help vulnerable people, including women and girls. This is especially important in the context of the “Rio+20” United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held next month in Brazil. In the final run-up to the Conference, and then especially afterwards as we implement the decisions taken there, information and communications technology can make possible new approaches and solutions for a sustainable future. On this World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, I call again for wide-ranging efforts to close both the digital divide and the gender gap. All people must be able to make the best use of information and communications technology to help create the future we want. Ban Ki-Moon UN Secretary-General

Message of ITU SG


Theme 2012: "Women and Girls in ICT"