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SOUTH AFRICA LAUNCH OF 2001 GLOBAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT ON 10 JULY
The Presidency and the United Nations System Resident Coordinator/ United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative, Prof. John Ohiorhenuan, will be hosting the South Africa launch of the 2001 Global Human Development Report.
The report: "Making New Technologies Work for Human Development" commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme, offers a timely and provocative analysis of the potential of Biotechnology and Information and Communication Technology [ICT] for developing countries. It argues that these new technologies can play a huge role in the fight against poverty and refutes the view that technology is primarily a luxury for people in rich countries.
In addition to assessing the technology achievement of 72 countries, South Africa included, the Report takes a fresh look at issues including genetically modified foods (frankenfoods), intellectual property rights and the brain drain. In each case, it offers specific policy ideas that are likely to evoke strong reactions from both the right and the left.
The South Africa launch will reveal the key findings and recommendations as well as highlight specific advances that South Africa has made.
"...in today's knowledge-based global market, every country, no matter how poor, needs to build its own capacity to master and adapt technologies to local needs," states the Human Development Report 2001.
Date: 10 July 2001, Tuesday
Venue: SABC in Auckland Park, Panorama, 29th floor
Time: 10h00
Contact: Metsi Makhetha on 082 414 7096/ (012) 338 5084 (United Nations Development Programme)
Issued by: Department of Arts, Culture Science and Technology, 9 July 2001