First, I am pleased to announce today that our Peace Corps has committed to
make technology and communications an increasingly important strategic tool
in the work of Peace Corps volunteers. Before Peace Corps volunteers go into
the field, the Peace Corps will make sure they have the know-how to enable
people to use technology to gain information, improve education, and enhance
economic development. Whenever possible, the Peace Corps will also help
increase access to telecommunications in the communities it serves.
Second, I am proud to announce that USAID will lead a new initiative to
promote Internet access and electronic commerce for development in eight
countries. This initiative will go hand-in-hand with legal and regulatory reforms
aimed at liberalization and universal access, to stimulate new businesses
through electronic commerce, and demonstrate applications in democracy and
governance, economic growth, environment, education, and medical
assistance. This initiative will build on the Leland initiative, a $15 million effort
to provide 21 African countries with support for Internet connections.
This is our Digital Declaration of Interdependence -- five challenges that can
strengthen our global community for the 21st Century. If we can improve
access to technology so everyone on the planet is near voice and data
communication; if we can overcome our language barriers with real-time digital
translation; if we can create a global network of people to improve the
delivery of education and agriculture; if we can use communication technology
to ensure the free-flow of ideas and democracy; and if we can create
networks to expand economic opportunity around the world -- we will not only
harness our newest technologies, we will do so in a way that strengthens our
oldest values.
Before I conclude, I want to say a special word about how we must work
together to avoid the Year 2000 computer problem -- which could stall much
of our progress in international telecommunications if we do not mount a
major, worldwide, public and private crusade to fix it.
Today, we potentially have hundreds of millions of computers and devices that
literally cannot read the year "2000." This means that when the clock strikes
midnight on January 1, 2000, everything from air traffic control to water
systems, heart monitors to nuclear power plants could be affected.
Here in the United States, we have a major effort underway to cope with the
challenge. Within the White House, we are pursuing a top-priority, high-level
initiative to make sure our national government is prepared.
But in an era of global interdependence, there is a shared global responsibility
to meet the challenge. And I say to every single company, and every single
nation, that has benefitted from global trade, and global telecommunications:
just as you have shared the benefits of this global and Information Age, you
have an obligation to help shoulder this critical burden.
All of our economies will be hurt if the Year 2000 problem is not solved in time.
One weak link in the system will weaken us all. I appreciate the work being
done by our Federal Communication Commission and the ITU on this issue --
but we have more work to do.
Let us meet the Year 2000 challenge together, so we can begin the 21st
Century with confidence, and without computer problems. Our ambassadors
are ready to work with you and provide any technical assistance you need.
Together, we must solve this problem.
Throughout this millennium, the story of human achievement has been a story
of wonder, a story of discovery, a story of imagination, but also of a story of
courage -- to try new things, to believe in what we can't see, and to boldly
follow wherever the road may take us.
Today, that road of discovery is a highway of light and speed to connect the
largest city to the smallest village across the globe. In a world once limited by
borders and geography, the only limits we face today are the borders of our
imagination. More than any other time in our history, the promise of new
discovery and new technology has made it possible to renew and strengthen
our oldest and most cherished values.
As we move into a new a new century and a new millennium, let us take that
same sense of wonder, that same sense of discovery, and that same sense of
courage to make real the values that centuries of human experience have
aspired to create -- to end suffering, to eradicate disease, to promote
freedom, to educate our children, and to lift our families and our nations up.
We don't have a moment to waste. Because our children and our world are
waiting. Thank you.
algore2000.com |
