Comments on: Cell phones as social activist tools http://polizeros.com/2007/06/28/cell-phones-as-social-activist-tools/ Musings on politics: anti-war, global warming, peak oil and otherwise Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:11:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: DJ http://polizeros.com/2007/06/28/cell-phones-as-social-activist-tools/#comment-139100 DJ Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:12:36 +0000 http://polizeros.com/2007/06/28/cell-phones-as-social-activist-tools/#comment-139100 Last time I checked, the wait for a landline in Sri Lanka (in those places where one is available) was about 4 years. Cell phones have given the middle class the ability to communicate. (But the middle class isn't all that big.) Last time I checked, the wait for a landline in Sri Lanka (in those places where one is available) was about 4 years. Cell phones have given the middle class the ability to communicate. (But the middle class isn’t all that big.)

]]> By: Bob Morris http://polizeros.com/2007/06/28/cell-phones-as-social-activist-tools/#comment-139097 Bob Morris Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:22:56 +0000 http://polizeros.com/2007/06/28/cell-phones-as-social-activist-tools/#comment-139097 The article also mentioned that disposable cell phones are popular in the Third World because they cost less and, for activists, provide anonymity. In fact, such countries may use cell phones as the standard, and not even bother much with landlines. The article also mentioned that disposable cell phones are popular in the Third World because they cost less and, for activists, provide anonymity. In fact, such countries may use cell phones as the standard, and not even bother much with landlines.

]]> By: DJ http://polizeros.com/2007/06/28/cell-phones-as-social-activist-tools/#comment-139096 DJ Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:55:06 +0000 http://polizeros.com/2007/06/28/cell-phones-as-social-activist-tools/#comment-139096 In Sri Lanka, 5.4 million people are <a href="http://ebusinessforum.com/index.asp?layout=rich_story&doc_id=10213&title=Sri+Lanka%3A+Cutting+it&channelid=4&categoryid=30" rel="nofollow">reported</a> to have cell phones. That's about 28% of the population-- a vast improvement over land lines (less than 2 million, or about 10%), but still not universal. A cell phone costs $30, and the typical daily wage is $2. That's a lot of days' work for a laborer. The cell phone has revolutionized communication within the NGO sector, where information was formerly communicated in person, often requiring a full day on a bus. But they are by no means universal-- and are typically purchased and operated with money from rich foreign donors. Not exactly a sustainable technology. In Sri Lanka, 5.4 million people are reported to have cell phones. That’s about 28% of the population– a vast improvement over land lines (less than 2 million, or about 10%), but still not universal. A cell phone costs $30, and the typical daily wage is $2. That’s a lot of days’ work for a laborer.

The cell phone has revolutionized communication within the NGO sector, where information was formerly communicated in person, often requiring a full day on a bus. But they are by no means universal– and are typically purchased and operated with money from rich foreign donors. Not exactly a sustainable technology.

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