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"Sí, Spain" is one example of a 'bottom up' approach in creating a Diplomatic Web site. There are many other working examples of this model which are individually transforming society in their field of work. If we look at them collectively, these transformations serve as indicators of the possibilities of using Internet as a tool for 'systemic world development'.
- NGO's plans of action. After the last Euro-Mediterrean Conference held in Barcelona, November 27, 1995, a parallel conference of over 1000 NGOs was summoned to draw specific plans for future Euro-Mediterranean dialogue. One of the participants, Pangea, a pioneering Web site serving NGOs in Spain, demonstrates how organizations are using the Internet to link NGOs respective plans of actions, individual projects, and to disseminate widely ideas and facts about grass-roots movements for international cooperation and social change.
- Young Businessmen Association During the European Council meeting in Madrid on December 15&16,1995, the President of the European Union Commission, Jacques Santer and H.R.H. the Prince of Asturias chaired a meeting of the International Federation of Young Businessmen.
As this meeting occurred within the frame work of the EU Council of Ministers, young entrepreneurs attending the meeting felt that they would be able to actively participate in addressing the top priority of the European Council: youth employment.
The "Asociacion Madrileña de Jovenes Empresarios" (AJE) is launching a pilot project with funding from the regional government of Madrid in the amount of 18,850.000 pesetas (154,000 US$) to cover hardware, software and training costs. The project objectives are to:
- Establish an electronic network for the young entrepreneurs of Madrid.
- Provide links to INFOVIA from Telefonica and direct access to INTERNET.
- Develop a WEB page for AJE providing information on services offered by the organization and a wide variety of information related to business development in Spain, Frequently Asked Questions, etc.
- To include an expansion to the CEAJE (Confederacion Española de Asociaciones de Jovenes Empresarios) and some links to similar Iberoamerican groups, which have the advantage of using the same language.
- For more information about this project contact:
Mr. Marcelino Oreja Arburua
DEF - 4 SL.
Principe de Vergara, 136
28002 MADRID
Ph. 341.562-9853
Fax 341.564-9591
E-mail: defsl@ext.step.es
- Medium and small sized Embassies
While not all Embassies have the financial and human resources to mount an effort like "Sí, Spain", many small and medium sized Embassies in Ottawa are connected to the Internet in some capacity, either via FreeNet or the WWW.
- Fully Incorporate the Use of Internet into the Activities of Diplomats World-wide
There are infinite applications of Internet and Web technologies. Yet keeping in mind the concept of 'Systemic World Development', it is essential to foster growth in all four subsystems (biological,economic, cultural and political). Embassies are in a unique position to be able to affect all these subsystems simultaneously. One example would be using the Internet to improve diplomatic cooperation between countries belonging to the same regional group (eg. EU,APEC, ASEAN, Euro-Mediterranean Conference, Iberoamerican conference, League of Arab States, etc.) or other regional sub groups (The Andean Pact Countries "Pacto Andino, The Group of Rio, The Central American Group, etc.). The activities could include sharing information resources, improving trade relations, promoting and exchanging culture and facilitating more open dialogue via a Web site which was open to input from both individuals and governments from these regions.

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