It seemed that the Occupy movement took to the internet this week to protest SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act. Many people in the US have been calling and emailing their congressman to keep the internet uncensored and even those abroad have spoken up in support of internet freedom. Those who were not aware of [...]
This week I’ve been pondering over the ever-increasing impact of technology and how gadgets such as Kindles and iPhones are more commonly seen in the hands of commuters and suchlike, which led me to consider how easy it is to take advantage of our access to books. It saddens me to hear that public funding [...]
Roots and Wings is always expanding its online presence to spread our message about the importance of education. Recently, RWI launched a mobile site so that our followers can keep up with us on their mobile devices anywhere in the world. We are also proud to announce that viewers can also visit our newly launched [...]
The practical need and creative push to talk about all the virtual bits and pieces of new, digital technologies have set off a surge in neologisms. Now making offhanded references to things like blogs and emoticons, we’ve inducted new words into common speech and come up with many more still on the margins of use. [...]
Long time readers of the blog may have noticed a few changes in recent months, including bloggers’ bios, featured images on every post, and much more. Today, we are happy to add an email subscription option for those of you who would like to follow the happenings at RWI via email. For those of you [...]
When we think of technology we usually think of high tech computers and devices that put the world at your fingertips. But the most basic definition of technology is the use of even the simplest tool to achieve a means to an end. While internet and computers are extremely empowering devices, some communities lack even [...]
If you are reading this blog, you most likely have easy reliable access to the internet and by extension, a computer or smart phone. As a student, blogger, and office worker, I spend many hours every day online working, studying, surfing, and communicating with the world. As Americans we are often bombarded with technology on [...]
The Epoch Times, L.A. Times, The Irish Herald, El Mensajero, Fresno Bee, China Daily, Corriere della Sera, Asharq Al-Awsat, Yedioth Ahronoth, Le Monde, Haiti Progres, and The Mendocino Beacon. These titles are some of the sixty-two current local, national, and international newspapers I tallied at the main branch of the San Francisco Public Library. There [...]
Technology is helping marginalized communities make significant progress towards economic development, but in the indigenous Mayan population of Boca Costa de Sololá — one of the poorest areas in Guatemala, isolated by language and cultural barriers — computers are still foreign. A donation from the Florida-based energy company TECO Energy helped change that. Using the [...]
It’s been nearly four months since beginning construction on the new Technology Center in Pasac, Guatemala. Progress has been constant despite Guatemala’s rainy season (May through October). Everything is on schedule, and the building should be finished in September 2010. One exciting development is that the Technology Center will be hooked up to Pasac’s brand [...]
RWI has plans to build the first technology center in the Boca Costa region.
Roots and Wings International has some prolific, creative volunteers who offer their precious time and exquisite talents for the benefit of the organization. For instance, take webmaster Edwin Lunandy.
I would personally love to behold the looks on the indigenous Guatemalan children’s faces once they see the capabilities that computers have in this high-tech world. I bet it would be a rare glimpse of the past drifting away and the present taking over more and more parts of the forgotten world.
Former Guatemalan President Alvaro Arzu invited Roots & Wings International President Erik Swanson to attend a May conference about promoting education and technology in the rural regions of Guatemala. Swanson spoke out on behalf of RWI to help increase the access of higher education throughout indigenous communities in rural Guatemala. Computers for Schools, a Guatemalan [...]
