When I look at the big stones of Philip II Palace in Escorial (Madrid, Spain, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/318), I am filled with wonder by the golden colors of the building at sunset, but, at the same time, I don’t forget these stones were cut because thousands of South-America natives produced plus-values and were slaughtered by the Spanish Empire. I am not guilty of those massacres in the past, but I consider It is my responsibility to remember, to point out, to vindicate memory.
I know every day hundreds of thousands of Congolese child-slaves are forced to crawl into underground mines to dig for the coltan, the essential raw material make electronic gadgets like cell phones, iPods, laptop computers, play stations, wireless systems, DVD players and blackberries possible (see University of Michigan, Computer Industry Impacts on the Environment and Society, http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section002group3/coltan_mining_in_democratic_republic_of_the_congo) Even if I cannot stop this massacre with my own hands, it is my responsibility to use all these devices to denounce and to act against exploitation.
It is a matter of facts: discontinuities existing between the “haves” and the “have-nots” exist. Servers are located in certain areas (See La Documentation française, http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/cartes/transports-et-reseaux/c001270-la-repartition-mondiale-des-serveurs-hotes-en-2010 ) and not in the clouds.
I agree with you: working with partners in our regions, distributing knowledge and networking, creating partner governed cooperatives…, these are the kind of initiatives we need to fight against the increasing digital divide. While empires cut mountains and take stones, we throw pebbles. But we are a lot and we work together and this dialog is a proof. Thank you for your comments that I have appreciated very much. I feel less alone and really close to you, beyond the Atlantic Ocean.
Yours
Amelia Sanz
Complutense University of MAdrid
Amelia Sanz has written a solid article with an important argument. I hope the list will discuss it broadly.
I do have one minor note, and I just sent an email to Amelia. I’m copying part of it to the list and to Amelia as well because I wanted to clarify that the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) differs from the discussion in the article. I fully understand and accept that dLOC is barely mentioned in the article, and that it being there or not does not change the overall argument or value of the article. Thus, I know that the mention of dLOC may be seen as a minor or nearly irrelevant point. It’s a significant point for me, though, and I believe that silence is agreement and so I ethically needed to write. I completely understand if others want to disregard or delete this email.
I hope that my email does not detract in any way from the larger, important discussion of the argument and points raised in Amelia Sanz’s article.
And, my thanks to all on this list for being part of and creating an inclusive and supportive community where discussions small and large, discussions on major topics and minor points, and discussions from many perspectives can be shared and discussed in a positive and productive manner.
Thank you,
Laurie
===============================
[Greeting]
[…] clarification on dLOC to note that it does not actually fit this framework [in the article]. Materials in dLOC are hosted on servers at the University of Florida, and this is the partner role that UF plays for dLOC. dLOC is a partner created, driven, and governed cooperative that has grown to 37 partners (http://dloc.com/dloc1/partners). The founding dLOC partners (Archives Nationale d'Haïti; Caribbean Community Secretariat CARICOM; National Library of Jamaica; La Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo FUNGLODE; Universidad de Oriente, Venezuela; University of the Virgin Islands; Florida International University; University of Central Florida; University of Florida; http://dloc.com/dloc1/about) collaborated to create the founding documents for governance and partner roles, which began well before any of the technologies. The founding partners rightly understood that the important work is that by the partners in coming together and that technology supports and does not direct nor dictate policy, and that dLOC required a strong governance structure for the ambitious work envisioned by the founding partners.
dLOC is governed by an Executive Committee and Scholarly Advisory Board (http://www.dloc.com/dloc1/govern). Partners contribute materials to dLOC as a central portal and repository. dLOC supports partners in sharing their materials with the world and in supporting digital preservation. All partners in dLOC retain all rights to their materials and many host materials locally and through other repositories, with dLOC explicitly supporting non-exclusivity, and this is also explained in the partner invitation letter (http://dloc.com/design/aggregations/dloc1/docs/dLOCPartnerInvitationwithApplicationJuly2012.pdf).
[…]
I hope you forgive the length of this email. I’m very passionate about dLOC for many reasons, including for the way that the dLOC partners explained and taught me about dLOC, for what the partners did and continue to do in making dLOC, and for how the dLOC partners support and mentor me as part of the community. I was not part of the founding of dLOC, or the planning that led to the founding. I know that I can positively contribute to dLOC now and in the future because of what the partners have made possible.
[closing and signature]
From: globaloutlookdh-l-bounces@uleth.ca [mailto:globaloutlookdh-l-bounces@uleth.ca] On Behalf Of Adeline Koh
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2013 10:42 AM
To: A list for participants in the ADHO DH Global Outlook Community; AMELIA DEL ROSARIO SANZ CABRERIZO
Subject: [globaloutlookDH-l] Digital Humanities or HyperColonial Studies?
Hi all,
This new post by Amelia Sanz of Complutense University (Spain) might be of interest. I've cc-ed Amelia on this email too.
Digital Humanities or HyperColonial Studies?
Best,
Adeline
Adeline Koh, Ph.D.
Director, Stockton College Center for Digital Humanities (Fall 2013)
Assistant Professor of Literature
Richard Stockton College
Email: Adeline.Koh@stockton.eduTwitter: @adelinekoh