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RDL-CLEAR
Nominated for EFF Pioneer Award
By Chu Mangoba
Since
its founding in July of 1990, the Electronic
Frontier Foundation has given Pioneer Awards to individuals and
organizations who worked in extending freedom and innovation in the
realm of information technology. There are no specific categories
for the EFF Pioneer Awards, but the following guidelines apply:
1. The nominees must have contributed substantially to the health,
growth, accessibility, or freedom of computer-based communications.
2. The contribution may be technical, social, economic, or cultural.
3. Nominations may be of individuals, systems, or organizations in
the private or public sectors.
4. Nominations are open to all (other than current members of EFF's
staff and board or this year's award judges), and you may nominate
more than one recipient. You may also nominate yourself or your organization.
5. To be valid, all nominations must contain your reason, however
brief, for nominating the individual or organization and a means of
contacting the nominee. In addition, while anonymous nominations will
be accepted, ideally we'd like to contact the nominating parties in
case we need further information.
6. Persons or representatives of organizations receiving an EFF Pioneer
Award will be invited to attend the ceremony at EFF's expense.
All nominations are reviewed by a panel of judges chosen for their
knowledge of the technical, legal, and social issues associated with
information technology. EFF started giving the awards in 1992.
This year's award ceremony will be held in Berkeley, CA, in conjunction
with the Computers, Freedom and Privacy conference (CFP), which takes
place in mid-April. Deadline for submitting nominations for this year's
Pioneer Award was February 1, 2004.
In recognition of the pioneering achievement of RDL-CLEAR in utilizing
electronic information technology for a humanitarian cause, Angie
Shreckengaust of the Solaris OS Group submitted her nomination of
Ish Fabicon and RDL-CLEAR for the EFF 2004 Pioneer Award. Ms. Shreckengaust
is one of the honorary members of RDL-CLEAR during the formative years
of the organization. She presently works for Sun Microsystems, based
in Silicon Valley. She is with the Solaris OS group.
Ms. Shreckengaust wrote the following to support her nomination of
RDL-CLEAR for the Pioneer Award:
"One
of the pioneering wonders in the field of electronics has been the
information superhighway that gave birth to the cyber world. While
it is just right to honor the great minds behind this massive infrastructure
of the digital age, it is just as fitting and proper to duly recognize
pioneering achievements in the use of this infrastructure to improve
the lives of ethnic and cultural minorities in the less privileged
areas of the world.
"The nominee, Ish Fabicon, quickly recognized information technology
as an avenue to make a difference in the lives of indigent indigenous
people in his home province of Romblon, in the Philippines. With that
vision, he founded RDL-CLEAR on June 27, 1998 in Chicago, Illinois.
RDL-CLEAR is the acronym for 'Romblon Discussion List - Cultural,
Livelihood and Educational Assistance for Romblon'.
"Romblon is the birthplace of the nominee and is one of 11 smallest
and poorest provinces of the Philippines. As the name implies, the
organization relies heavily on an internet-based networking of people
as the backbone of its operations. . . .
"As the positive vibes, energy and synergy of RDL discussions
began to resonate thunderously in cyberspace, Mr. Fabicon started
to channel these energies towards more concrete, palpable goals. .
. .
From among the Romblon voices scattered worldwide, the acronym CLEAR
(Cultural Livelihood Educational Assistance for Romblon) slowly surfaced
as the strong vision for their people back home. The mailing list
gestated into a grassroots organization with clear and concrete goals.
Unifying that vision is the now-famous-to-the-group fiery battlecry
initiated by Mr. Fabicon and now an electronic icon after his name,
"Hala Bira!" (Translated loosely it means "Let's
forge ahead!!"). . .
"For decades, Romblon has lagged behind other provinces in the
Philippines in economic development due to barriers in and lack of
communication and transportation infrastructure. The economic hardship
has forced many of its trained professionals to migrate to other countries
in search of greener pastures. These professionals, now having realized
their dreams want to share those dreams with their beloved people
back home by sharing 3 T's: time, talent and treasure.
"With economic empowerment of Romblon constantly on their minds,
"sanrokan" (ie, sharing) has become the successful campaign
strategy of RDL-CLEAR towards accomplishing its mission.
"The 'sanrokan' theme and spirit fuel its various fundraising
drives; its online magazine, (http://www.sanrokan.com);
the can-do attitude of its members; the collaborative exchange of
ideas in its RDL discussions; and the synergy of its members as they
wholeheartedly pour volunteered hours into accomplishing their many
projects.
"Looking back to one's roots, giving back to the community via
"sanrokan" is an endearing cultural and social paradigm
aptly symbolized by RDL-CLEAR's logo, the boomerang.
"And with internet and group communications as its cradle, RDL-CLEAR
was born to make a difference in the lives of many people of Romblon.
All these forces came together to create a beautiful story so right
for our times.
"It could not have been for another time. It is for us, for our
digital age and times."
"I proudly nominate Mr. Ish Fabicon and the RDL-CLEAR organization
for their perseverance and pioneering effort at utilizing internet
communications to launch a grassroots NGO."
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