I am hoping to connect with various Internet researchers when I am in Japan in May. Below is a note that I am circulating around Japan. Please forward as appropriate. Any suggestions? Thanks, Steven Clift P.S. I may stop in South Korea if there is interest in arranging some sort of e-democracy presentation. Any ideas? E-Democracy and Japan On Wednesday, May 22, 2002 I will be speaking at a symposium on e- democracy in Tokyo, Japan. This will be my first visit to Japan. This message is a short introduction to my work and a request for advice and contacts. Please forward this message to those you think will be interested. ** To connect with me and others interested in e-democracy ** in Japan, send an e-mail to: ** do-japan-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ** For e-democracy news, visit: http://e-democracy.org/do What is e-democracy? A simple definition of e-democracy is the use of the Internet in governance, politics, elections, media and community. I have spoken on this topic hundreds of times across twenty countries. I look forward to learning about e-democracy trends in Japan and comparing notes. To learn more, read my "Future of E-Democracy," "E-Democracy E-Book," and other articles on my web site <http://www.publicus.net>. My Democracies Online Newswire e-mail announcement list connects 2400 people around the world interested in this topic. Join this important e-mail list and read past messages at <http://www.e-democracy.org/do>. To auto-translate my materials try <http://world.altavista.com/>. A request for advice. In the days following the symposium I plan to meet people involved with e-democracy-related projects in media, politics, community and government. Please e-mail suggested names and contact information to me <clift@publicus.net>. In particular, I would like to meet the staff who work on Prime Minister Koizumi's e-mail newsletter <http://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/m-magazine/>, those involved with wireless political content on iMode, and citizens involved with very local uses of the Internet for local community involvement and discussions. Meeting and learning. In major cities around the world I have organized small informal public gatherings where people interested in e-democracy can meet one another. We will meet online first and organize the details. Join my e-mail list for contacts in Japan by sending an e-mail to <do-japan-subscribe@yahoogroups.com>. I am also considering organizing a special half-day workshop for a limited number of participants on Friday, May 24 or Saturday, May 25. Depending upon potential sponsors and costs, there will likely be a fee to participate. Send me an e-mail if you would like more information on attending or sponsoring this event <clift@publicus.net>. Thank you, Steven Clift P.S. You can read my full biography at <http://www.publicus.net>. The short version is that I helped create the world's first election- oriented web site in 1994 called Minnesota E-Democracy, coordinated e- government for the State of Minnesota 1994-97, served as Co- Editor of the G8 Democracy and Government Online Service Publication, and I was a co-founder of Web White & Blue, a project of the Markle Foundation which organized an online presidential campaign debate in 2000. Today, I am a global e-democracy expert, speaker and consultant. I continue to volunteer with Minnesota E- Democracy <http://www.e-democracy.org> which is recognized as a leading host of online citizens discussions that matter in real politics and community. ^ ^ ^ ^ Steven L. Clift - W: http://www.publicus.net Minneapolis - - - E: clift@publicus.net Minnesota - - - - - T: +1.612.822.8667 USA - - - - - - - ICQ: 13789183