Molly Burhans
This morning we discussed more abstractly how to consider connectivity as a human right, and then towards the end of our discussions we look at a fantastic example of this in action in Uruguay. Looking forward, I’d like to bring to the discussion more what Jeffery Sachs referred to as the drama of implementation, and how, if we do consider connectivity as a right, we can bring that to people and make sure that the efforts are coordinated.
A little background about my work, I direct GoodLands, we made the first global maps of the Catholic Church in history, they are also the first global maps of any major world religion in history. We also help stand up geo-spatial data systems and focus on sustainable land use.
Looking to the next sessions, in this wonderful and historic space, I’d like to bring up the point, what role do religions, not just the Catholic Church, but all religions, have to play in the dissemination of Internet? Every single religion in this world, I believe, has some sort of vested interest in connectivity as a human right, as also a way to propagate their faith and their beliefs though humanity and support their mission efforts such as education and healthcare. The other question that I would like to bring to the forefront is about platforms that enable governments, the private and the public sector, to collaborate in the implementation of connectivity as a human right.
One of the systems that we’re focused on is developing spatial data infrastructure globally for the Catholic Church. Breaking down the essentials of a spatial data infrastructure, it’s an infrastructure that allows organisations to communicate about geographic data within a centralised system, and also provides the policy, the technology, the frameworks and the people to make this happen, and looking at the whole issue of implementation, and just the tens of organisations I’ve encountered working towards this same goal together, the value and the importance of potentially investing in this spatial data infrastructure where all of our organisations can come together and see where implementation is happening and fill in the gaps in the future is something that I would like to address this afternoon and hear brought into the conversation more. Thank you.
