Source: http://www.dev.tv ICTs vs POVERTY What role do ICTs have in banishing poverty? We have just had a Millennium Summit Plus 5 in New York. To no-one’s surprise, the ambitious so-called "Millennium Development Goals" for halving poverty are not being met. Could that be because in the 21st century we are overlooking the 21st century solution for bridging the divide between Rich and Poor? Namely: to invest more in ICTs – television, radio, computers, the Internet, mobile phones, and so on? On 30 September, at the headquarters of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva, we are staging a Debate on the emerging agenda for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). An invited audience of 50 ICT movers and shakers will fire questions at a distinguished panel. The Debate will be broadcast on BBC World Television on 22 October 2005, in advance of Phase II of WSIS, which will take place in Tunis, Tunisia, on 16-18 November 2005. This is your chance to have a say by sending your questions to Anita McNaught, moderator for the Debate. Send your questions right up to 12:00 GMT on 29 September 2005 on anita@dev.tv, and we will do our best to make sure they are put to the panel. This Debate is staged with support from SDC, GKP, and UNDP-APDIP.