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One Laptop Per Child reaches Gaza Strip

11 points by ilike 16y ago

scottporad 16y ago
I think this is great! To the extent that Gazan children become more educated and exposed to the outside world...I think they'll crave stability and growth from their leaders over "armed struggle". You see the opposite in China. The Chinese leaders are afraid of what their people will do when exposed to the outside world, so they censor their Internet.
- ars 16y ago
  I think people have a mistaken view of Gaza. There's plenty of technology. Most people have cell phones, and can call, text, web browse to the outside world if they want. Computers are not rare either (10% of households). Almost all have TV's (although many local broadcasts are propaganda, about 25% people have satellite dishes). There is plenty of contact to the outside world if they want it. Source for numbers: http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&lang=en&ItemID=275&mid=10982 http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.... Nicholas Negroponte's quote demonstrates an utter lack of knowledge of what life it like there. "even when getting to school is impossible"? I guess that's true for his computer, but it's not really a problem is Gaza, education is universal there. There is armed conflict occasionally which prevents school, but there is that in Israel too. Usually it's flare ups that last a day, and every couple of years a big war. But all that it true for Israel as well.
  - jbooth 16y ago
    Sort of. They're penned inside Gaza which isn't very big (maybe 10X the size of manhattan), they can't leave or trade, and Israel bans such threatening imports as concrete, which "could be weaponized". What they have in the way of school are a bunch of brainwashing institutions run by Hamas trying to create perfect islamic soldiers. This isn't to take sides in the conflict, Hamas and Israel are both contributing to the hopelessness of every day life for average people in Gaza. But let's not minimize it by virtue of a couple of statistics regarding TV ownership.
    - ars 16y ago
      Actually the schools are mainly run by the UN. Parents can choose a Hamas school if they want though. And everyday life is most certainly not hopeless for the average person. Why do you think that? They are penned in though, and I'm certain that they hate that. But from a practical point of view it doesn't prevent much - lots of people never travel far from their home town. If they wanted change in their worldview, they could. If they ever actually have have their perpetually delayed elections, we'll find out what they really want.
      - jbooth 16y ago
        I'd consider it hopeless if I were there. Not many places on earth I'd be less excited about living than there. As far as whether "they" could change.. awfully hard when you've got Israel on one side and Hamas on the other. Not much room for empowered moderate politics there. Hamas could change, sure.. but until they do, nobody without an army is going to change anything.
        ars 16y ago
        > Not many places on earth I'd be less excited about living than there. Really? They have among the highest life expectancies in the world, and all the health indexes (maternal death, infant mortality, etc) are very high. I'd hate living in places like Rawanda much much more - actually pretty much anyplace in Africa, despite not being penned in. But I could see why you'd hate living in a place controlled by Hamas though.
        jbooth 16y ago
        Well, different strokes for different folks. I'd take the increased freedom along with increased risk of disease, given the choice.
        MichaelSalib 16y ago
        all the health indexes (maternal death, infant mortality, etc) are very high That statement seems to contradict http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip#Health http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip#Health ; can you cite any published data justifying your claims?

11 points by ilike 16y ago

I think this is great! To the extent that Gazan children become more educated and exposed to the outside world...I think they'll crave stability and growth from their leaders over "armed struggle". You see the opposite in China. The Chinese leaders are afraid of what their people will do when exposed to the outside world, so they censor their Internet.

ars 16y ago
I think people have a mistaken view of Gaza. There's plenty of technology. Most people have cell phones, and can call, text, web browse to the outside world if they want. Computers are not rare either (10% of households). Almost all have TV's (although many local broadcasts are propaganda, about 25% people have satellite dishes). There is plenty of contact to the outside world if they want it. Source for numbers: http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&lang=en&ItemID=275&mid=10982 http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.... Nicholas Negroponte's quote demonstrates an utter lack of knowledge of what life it like there. "even when getting to school is impossible"? I guess that's true for his computer, but it's not really a problem is Gaza, education is universal there. There is armed conflict occasionally which prevents school, but there is that in Israel too. Usually it's flare ups that last a day, and every couple of years a big war. But all that it true for Israel as well.
- jbooth 16y ago
  Sort of. They're penned inside Gaza which isn't very big (maybe 10X the size of manhattan), they can't leave or trade, and Israel bans such threatening imports as concrete, which "could be weaponized". What they have in the way of school are a bunch of brainwashing institutions run by Hamas trying to create perfect islamic soldiers. This isn't to take sides in the conflict, Hamas and Israel are both contributing to the hopelessness of every day life for average people in Gaza. But let's not minimize it by virtue of a couple of statistics regarding TV ownership.
  - ars 16y ago
    Actually the schools are mainly run by the UN. Parents can choose a Hamas school if they want though. And everyday life is most certainly not hopeless for the average person. Why do you think that? They are penned in though, and I'm certain that they hate that. But from a practical point of view it doesn't prevent much - lots of people never travel far from their home town. If they wanted change in their worldview, they could. If they ever actually have have their perpetually delayed elections, we'll find out what they really want.
    - jbooth 16y ago
      I'd consider it hopeless if I were there. Not many places on earth I'd be less excited about living than there. As far as whether "they" could change.. awfully hard when you've got Israel on one side and Hamas on the other. Not much room for empowered moderate politics there. Hamas could change, sure.. but until they do, nobody without an army is going to change anything.
      - ars 16y ago
        > Not many places on earth I'd be less excited about living than there. Really? They have among the highest life expectancies in the world, and all the health indexes (maternal death, infant mortality, etc) are very high. I'd hate living in places like Rawanda much much more - actually pretty much anyplace in Africa, despite not being penned in. But I could see why you'd hate living in a place controlled by Hamas though.
        jbooth 16y ago
        Well, different strokes for different folks. I'd take the increased freedom along with increased risk of disease, given the choice.
        MichaelSalib 16y ago
        all the health indexes (maternal death, infant mortality, etc) are very high That statement seems to contradict http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip#Health http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip#Health ; can you cite any published data justifying your claims?