Divided we fall? - the importance of the digital divide

DIVIDED WE FALL? THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE (A Joint Invitation from AccountAbility and BT) As part of guiding thinking and practice, in relation to its efforts to close the digital divide, BT and The Institute for Social & Ethical AccountAbility (a non-profit organisation) is inviting interested parties to join in a live online debate with Pierre Danon, CEO of BT Retail. Pierre will be joined by Adrian Hosford, BT Director of Social Policy; Dr Chris Tuppen, Head of Sustainable Development at BT; and Mike Pierce of AccountAbility, on 10 October 2001 at 10am. BT has chosen to concentrate its efforts on digital inclusion and communications, since this is their industry - but wants to know if a range of stakeholders think this is the right approach. This will be a chance for opinion formers, employees, the media and others, to ask senior BT executives about the company's position on the digital divide. People's feedback really does count, as it will be used to help shape the future direction of BT's work on the digital divide. WHEN? The debate will be live between 10 am - 11.30 am on Wednesday 10 October 2001. WHERE? at http://www.groupbt.com/society/chat.htm or access through the BT Betterworld home page at http://www.bt.com/betterworld Anyone who cannot make the discussion, can still ask a question or let BT know what they think at any time by emailing yourviews@bt.com. -ENDS- For further information: Please contact either Justin McKeown or Daniel Bleakman at Sinclair Mason on Tel: 0870 60 60 960 or e-mail: justinm@sinclairmason.com or danielb@sinclairmason.com Notes to Editors * For interview requests, please contact Justin McKeown or Dan Bleakman 0870 60 60 960. * * The Digital Divide was featured as a Hot Topic in BT's recent Social Report. You can read it at http://www.groupbt.com/society/digitaldivide.htm. * Visit http://www.groupbt.com/society/yourviews_email.htm to register or to suggest issues for future discussion. * To read the comments and questions raised in BT's current email debate go to www.groupbt.com/society/yourviews_updates.htm <yourviews_updates.htm> * BT's Betterworld site http://www.groupbt.com/society includes information on BT's policies in relation to its social, environmental and economic impact, performance data and targets for improvements. It has been externally audited and includes commentaries from independent experts on issues such as the digital divide, mobile health and the environmental impacts of e-business. Income from visits to this website will be donated to charity. * AccountAbility (http://www.accountability.org.uk/) is a not-for-profit professional institute. Its goal is to develop and promote practical tools and standards, and professional development pathways to advance social and ethical accountability internationally. For direct comments to AccountAbility about its involvement in this initiative or other issues and questions, please contact us at virtualengagement@accountability.org.uk ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/10/08/20011008BIT00920/bit0002.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/10/08/20011008BIT00920/bit0002.pdf