From: aless@ax.apc.org
Newsgroups: soc.culture.brazil
Date: 05 Oct 92 17:11 PDT
Subject: What is AlterNex?
Nf-ID: #N:ax:1191000067:000:8037
Nf-From: ax.UUCP!aless    Oct  5 17:11:00 1992


From: Alessandra Oliveira <aless>
Subject: What is AlterNex?

/* Escrito 11:06 am  Jun 29, 1992 por aless em ax:ax.info */
/* ---------- "What is AlterNex?" ---------- */
ax!


Nodo AlterNex

International data communication for peace, social justice,
solidarity, human rights, democracy and ecological protection

A service of IBASE and the Association for Progressive
Communications (APC).

=================================================================

WHAT IS AlterNex?


AlterNex is a non-profit, international data communication service
operated by IBASE in cooperation with the Association for
Progressive Communications (APC), designed especially for
individuals and nongovernmental organizations.

Inaugurated in July of 1989, it offers electronic mail services,
permanent conferences (public or private), access to databases and
fax and telex service.

Supported by a powerful computer communication system, operating 24
hours a day, it services hundreds of organizations and individuals
inside and outside Brazil, allowing for rapid and inexpensive
exchange of information with hundreds of thousands of people and
institutions in practically every country in the world. Directly or
through other nodes in the APC network, the system provides contact
with a large number of international data communication networks.

Currently, the AlterNex network includes among its users, many
different non-governmental organizations, unions, professional
associations and researchers involved in a range of issues related
to the social and political realities both in Brazil and
internationally.

The hundreds of existing conferences in the system include topics
such as human rights, environment, alternative technologies,
energy, AIDS, economics and labor issues. It is also possible to
consult conferences organized by Interpress Service (IPS), sent by
journalists throughout the world, providing over a hundred pages of
news each day.

The AlterNex node was installed thanks to the support of the United
Nations Development Programme and Cooperazione e Sviluppo (CESVI,
Italy), along with the support of the governments of Canada and
Holland and equipment donated by Sun Microsystems, Inc.



IBASE

The Brazilian Institute for Social and Economic Analysis is a non-
governmental, non-partisan, non-confessional, and non-profit
organization. Its main objective is to collaborate in building a
democratic society through the socialization of information and
knowledge.

Working together with social movements, popular and labor
organizations, NGOs and churches, IBASE identifies the promotion of
democracy, solidarity, social justice and the strengthening of
citizenship as the focus of its work.

Established in 1981, IBASE seeks to utilize and disseminate, along
with social movements and organized civil society, modern and
efficient means to reach its goals. It has been, in this sense, a
pioneer NGO in the utilization of information and
telecommunications.



APC

The Association for Progressive Communications, formally
established in 1990, joins together entities operating
telecommunication systems with common objectives: peace, 
prevention of war, elimination of militarism, environmental
protection, human rights, elimination of poverty, promotion of
equitable development and social and economic justice.

Within its international partnership, APC includes among its
members, in addition to AlterNex: IGC (USA, with econet, peacenet,
conflictnet, and homeonet), WEB (Canada), GreenNet (England),
NordNet (Sweden), Pegasus (Australia), Nicarao (Nicaragua), Chasque
(Uruguay), ComLink (Germany), GlasNet (Russia) and EcuaNet
(Ecuador).


Through the use of "gateways" with other networks (Internet,
Bitnet, DasNet, FIDO) the reach of the APC network is extended to
all continents.




ECO-92

The United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development
offers an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate the neccesity and
efficiency of informational telecommunications networks.

During recent months, it has been possible for organizations around
the world to exchange information and experiences in regulated and
independent forms, in addition to having access to the official
documents distributed by the UN Secretariat, from Geneva and the
various PrepComms.

The AlterNex node is the focal point of the Information Strategy
Project (ISP), an electronic information exchange system which
allows for immediate and sustained communication between Riocentro,
the official site of the Conference, and the locales of the many
NGOs and other institutions meeting during this event. This will
facilitate a broad and democratic distribution of the proceedings
and results of the debates within the Conference and throughout the
world. 



AGENDA-21

The challenges presented by ECO-92 will remain after the Rio
conference. The signed agreements and treaties, along with an
agenda of actions and responsabilities covering an extensive range
of environmental and development issues will need attention and
active follow up on the part of civil society in every country.
Quick and free communication between organizations concerned with
these issues in the international field is fundamental to the
maintenance of this constant monitoring.

The AlterNex node in Brazil and the APC network as a whole, with
its proven electronic mail and international conferencing services,
will continue offering the possibility of rapid, efficient, 
constant and independent interaction between the social actors
involved.



WHO USES THE SYSTEM

The list bellow is a small example of the thousands of
organizations using the AlterNex and APC networks:

ABIA (Brazil), Russian Science Academy, Agrodata (Uruguay), AJUP
(Brazil), ALIDE (Peru), International Amnesty (England), Centro
Luiz Freire (Brazil), CIMI (Brazil), CLACSO (Argentina), CLADES
(Chile), CNN (USA), CPT (Brazil), CRIES (Nicarao), CSUCA (Costa
Rica), CUT (Brazil), DESCO (Peru), FASE (Brazil), Federaci"n
Internacional de Periodistas (FIP, Venezuela), FIOM-CGIL (Italy),
EZE (Germany), Global Action Network (USA), GreenPeace, IDICT
(Cuba), IDRC (Canada and Uruguay), ILET (Chile), ISER (Brazil),
MLAL (Italy), NOVIB (Netherlands), OXFAM (England and USA), PLACIEX
(Peru), PNUD, SAYCIT (Venezuela), Third Work Network, UNCED,
UNICEF, World Wildlife Fund.




HOW TO USE THE SYSTEM

In order to use the system, you only need a microcomputer (the most
commonly used are IBM-PC compatible and Macintosh), connected to a
regular telephone line, through a special gadget called a modem.

Using a communications program (MTE, PROCOMM, RedRyder, etc.), you
connect your computer by dialing direct to AlterNex (as if you were
using a traditional telephone) or by means of RENPAC, which is a
service of Embratel dedicated to transmission of data.


When you are not using it for communications, your computer can be
used for other applications, like word processing or spreadsheet
preparation. The telephone line, at these times, can be connected
to a regular telephone for normal operation.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.



COSTS

As much as possible, users' costs basically cover the development
and operational costs of our services, since it is a non-profit
operation.

The user pays a subscription fee equivalent to US$20 (which
includes a user's manual and 60 minutes connection time), and a
monthly fee equivalent to US$10 (which also includes a maximum of
60 minutes connection). Additional connection time costs about
US$10 per hour (around US$.17 per minute).

These costs do not include rates for transmission of messages to
other APC nodes or networks, or fax/telex service. Nor are the
costs of RENPAC or DDD direct dial reflected in the above fees.




IBASE
Nodo AlterNex
Rua Vicente de Souza, 29
Botafogo
22251-070 Rio de Janeiro Brazil

phone:     (021)286-0348
           (021)286-4467
fax:       (021)286-0541
telex:     2136466 BASE BR
dial-up access:(021)286-0024 e
           (021)266-3088
RENPAC NUA:(724)12150479
Internet:  suporte@ibase.br


Newsgroups: soc.culture.brazil