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FACEBOOK FOUNDER MARK Zuckerberg, U2 frontman Bono and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates have thrown their weight behind the goal of bringing internet access to everyone in the world by 2020.
The pledge comes amid a United Nations effort to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030, a goal set on Friday during a special summit at the global body.
The internet became commonplace in developed countries in the 1990s, but UN officials estimate that half the world does not have reliable access — especially women and girls, whose education is vital to development.
Zuckerberg told the UN web access in refugee camps would help people source aid and stay connected to family members.
“When people have access to the tools and knowledge of the internet, they have access to opportunities that make life better for all of us,” a declaration signed by Zuckerberg and Bill and Melinda Gates, who have devoted their wealth to philanthropy, read.
“The internet belongs to everyone. It should be accessible by everyone.”
Zuckerberg, swapping his trademark hoodie for a suit and tie, said that for every 10 people connected to the internet, one is lifted out of poverty.
“The internet is more than just a network of machines; it is the key driver of social and economic progress in our time,” Zuckerberg told a luncheon at the UN headquarters in New York attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Syria
The 31-year-old entrepreneur pointed to the role of the Internet in empowering otherwise voiceless people in places such as Syria, where civil war is producing a refugee exodus.
A ‘like’ or a post won’t stop a tank or a bullet, but when people are connected, we have the chance to build a common global community with a shared understanding — and that’s a powerful force.
He estimated that spreading the internet could also bring affordable education to 600 million children who would otherwise go unschooled.
Other signatories include Jimmy Wales, co-founder of free online encyclopedia Wikipedia, and Bono on behalf of his One anti-poverty campaign.
The U2 frontman and Zuckerberg have written an op-ed in the New York Times about their goal.
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I think food and homes would b more like not wifi
These people (Bono and his buddy) live on another planet. Bono, there is a guy who has serious health conditions living in a tent on Killiney strand, just under your luxurious mansion. You think that his priority is to have access to INTERNET.?
If Zuckerberg is involved, this is what’s in store:
“Indonesians surveyed by Galpaya told her that they didn’t use the internet. But in focus groups, they would talk enthusiastically about how much time they spent on Facebook. Galpaya, a researcher (and now CEO) with LIRNEasia, a think tank, called Rohan Samarajiva, her boss at the time, to tell him what she had discovered. “It seemed that in their minds, the Internet did not exist; only Facebook,” he concluded.
In Africa, Christoph Stork stumbled upon something similar. Looking at results from a survey on communications use for Research ICT Africa, Stork found what looked like an error. The number of people who had responded saying they used Facebook was much higher than those who said they used the internet. The discrepancy accounted for some 3% to 4% of mobile phone users, he says.
Since at least 2013, Facebook has been making noises about connecting the entire world to the internet. But even Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s operations head, admits that there are Facebook users who don’t know they’re on the internet. So is Facebook succeeding in its goal if the people it is connecting have no idea they are using the internet? And what does it mean if masses of first-time adopters come online not via the open web, but the closed, proprietary network where they must play by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s rules?”
http://qz.com/333313/milliions-of-facebook-users-have-no-idea-theyre-using-the-internet/
Excellent insight.
that’s a bit frightening..
Reminds me of that episode if South Park where the internet disappeared and everyone went to camp where they were given 1 minute of internet and Randy blew it all on internet porn.
Well said!
We now know that the reason the wheels came off the much lauded Arab Spring was that there was a problem with the wifi….
You can’t spy on people with food.
that’s great can you eat the internet
yes, buy only one byte at a time.
Jesus H Macy is their life not painful enough as it is?
Well between the two they have loads of money and property so let them.buy an island and put them up. sorted.
But there would be nothing in it for them if they did something practical.
Any chance of Bono paying his taxes in Ireland and doing something for people in need at home?
Paul Hewson pays his taxes in Ireland. As does Dave Evans, Larry Mullins and Adam Clayton. Plus they do a lot for Ireland, such as funding music in schools. But don’t let facts destroy your ignorance.
Identify yourself & I might consider what you have to say.
Looking forward to John’s comeback comment.
Oh nevermind, he did one. Wasn’t great though.
I was expecting more myself.
The Sanctimonious self righteous billionaires… modern day heroes.. just like the guy who upped the price of life saving medicine by 5000%!
What a pair of planks,
looks like Zuckerberg has a bad case of Bonoism
They’ll be able to read mean comments about them on the journal now.
I know yeah, or ‘like’ pictures of what those gowls are having for breakfast, while they live in squalor, 10 to a tent with abysmal sanitation, disease rampant and not even able to go for a few pints to ease the pain…
As if they didn’t have it tough enough now they have to put up with Bono
bono will get more out of it than he puts into it,as usual.
God forbid . why don’t they just tell their mates to stop bombing and destroying these people’s homes and countries just for oil and resources and maybe these people could enjoy the internet in their own homes.
Between them these two billionaires could provide food and shelter for the refugees..
Ehh Internet….?
Oh OK…
Great, more free stuff.
Hope UPC won’t be the provider, as the refugees will go insane waiting for youtube to buffer!
I think eircom or whatever you call them these day would be a more appropriate company, UPC as expensive as they are have great quality broadband
The world is so f….ed up when 2 knobs think the priority in refugee camps is to get them on the net. 2 complete c…s.
“Quick! everybody into the boats…we make the crossing tonight!”
“Fu(k no….we ain’t going…we got wifi!”
…..said no one….ever.
Latest reports say the amount of ‘Nigerian Princes’ has increased X10 fold thanks efforts by Bono to lift refugees out of poverty by supplying them with internet access.
Bono defended the increase in scams saying that he was right as 1 in 10 refugees had been lifted out of poverty although a side effect was an equal amount of people descending into poverty in Ireland after losing all their money to ‘Nigerian Princes’.
How much are bono’s FB shares worth?? Over a billion. Cynical Cuban heel wearing non Irish tax paying full if sh.. Pain in the hoop
Phil, it might be just me but I get the feeling you’re not short-arse Hewson’s biggest fan.
Not really james, he talks some amount of rubbish. And the fact that he has quite a stake in FB points to a vested interest. Not to mention he pontificates on all things poverty while dodging his tax liabilities here. And contrary to all the lemmings that follow U2, actually, their music has been boll.x since unforgettable fire. This is nit a U2 thing, just a Bono BS detection rant!!!!
Gotcha, he’s a bit of a tool alright.
Fu*ckin Delusions!
Please go away Bono
Dear God, please open a vast swallowhole in the Earth and gobble up Zuckerberg and his abomination Faecesbook. Oh, please leave a little room for Bono as he’s getting ideas above his station.
Your’s sincerely,
Everyone.
In 1984 Sir Bob Geldof and his mates raised millions for the poor in Africa..
And how did they repay him.. by a massive increase in the birth rate, a multitude of wars… well done Bob!
With their money those 3 could probably half world hunger. The high numbers of starving ppl in the world is embarrassing for our generation. over 10% of the world’s population don’t have enough food to eat everyday due to poverty. As long as those 3 greedy leeches are still a representation of our society I can only see this world getting worse. .. http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm
Stomach churning
In every country in world the richest in each country could end poverty. Their answer is nah I want my ten houses with giant pools and thirty cars and s building to house the thirty cats and dome s private jet to fly a hat somewhere. And now WiFi in a refugee camp
The mind boggles.
ONOB doesn’t take much to work out that anagram!!
Pushers.
and where are the to charge their phone or laptop ???
As that will feed, water and cloth them for the winter that is coming, that is sarcasm as it could be a bad winter in store?
And his shares went up??? Tomorrow?
These overindulged clowns need a good smack
Feed people
Nice one!! They can now check Google maps for the best route to Germany and Sweden
Any chance they could bring it to county Waterford first a snail could go faster here
I don’t know what the other guys are like, but Bono only does things that put money in his pocket and his face in the news.
With money these two,have alone could make an instant change with the poverty issue as simple as a Wave of a Wand !
The Facebook ads would make a profit when they start serving ads on lifejackets and boats
world’s biggest wan–rs
Everyone deserves Porn
Facebook is what set the whole thing off in the first place..
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