Yes, this is a report on Italy, but there is a parallel with Italian Americans.

It is SO obvious to state that the greater degree of "Book" Literary in a community, the higher degree of economic achievement.

Likewise, the greater degree of "Internet" Literacy" also the greater of economic achievement.

There is an oft repeated allegation that Italian Americans don't read (to the degree of other Euro Ethnics). If there is truth to that, we may be about to repeat that grievous mistake, and engage in Literacy Debacle II. (#1 Book, #2 Internet).

Previously, I had asked our Major Italian Organizations to Review the practice of giving astounding Donations to NON Italian American projects.

That's a NO BRAINER !!!

Let me take it one step further, and suggest that EVEN those projects benefiting the Italian American Community, should be Reviewed. Too many of those Programs are costly, and benefit SO Few.

There appears to be an emphasis on Photo Ops, and Personal Agendas, as opposed to how their Budget ($8 million in the case of NIAF) can BEST Benefit the MOST members of the Community, in the MOST MEANINGFUL way!!!!!!

Embarking on an "Internet Initiative", to encourage Italian Americans of ALL Ages should be their Premier Priority. The greater the degree of Internet communication
amongst the Italian American Community, the easier the Major IA Organizations can get out their message, and the more communication can foster greater UNITY, and greater POWER to Inform and Educate the community.
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Italians are "surfing" the Net, 10% more than in 2002.

Italy surfs at a 28% rate, France 43%, Britain 54%, Germany 60%, the US 68 %.

The regions in Italy with the highest number of users is Liguria (36.7 percent), followed by Lombardy (36.4 percent), Triveneto (35.5), Emilia Romagna (33.1), Piedmont-Valle d'Aosta (29.8), Lazio (29.2), Tuscany (28.8), Marche-Umbria (25.5). The southern regions come last with Puglia at 25.2 percent, Campania at 23.2, Sardinia at 22.7, Abruzzo-Molise at 21.3, Sicilia at 18.7 and Basilicata-Calabria 17.8 percent.

As you review the statistics below, it will not suprise you to see that the more Educated, and the Higher Income, the greater the use of the Internet!!!!!!
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13.7 MILLION ITALIANS "SURF THE NET"

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia
5 May, 2004

Rome, - At least 13.7 million Italians "surf the net", ten percent more than in 2002.

This is the result of a CNEL study on "Internet and consumer type" conducted in collaboration with Eurisko and presented today at a seminar in Villa Lubin.

The study reveals the socio-cultural aspect, the type of use and the user profile and a periodical evaluation of the spread of new communications systems in Italy between citizens and business.

And the research shows immediately that, despite the numbers, Italy is in fact behind other European countries regarding Internet. Here 28.5 percent of the population use Internet while in Germany the figure is 60 percent, in Great Britain 54 percent, France 43 percent and 68 percent in the United States. Furthermore the Italian percentage drops to 18.9 if only those who have connected to the web in the last seven days are taken into consideration.

Other figures which emerged from the study indicate a growth in connections from the home (20.9 percent), greater now than from the work place (9.3 percent), homes of friends (5.5 percent), in school (3.2 percent).

Almost half the Italian population (46.3 percent) has a computer at home, and of these one of out three is connected to Internet. Among the regions with the highest number of users is Liguria (36.7 percent), followed by Lombardy (36.4 percent), Triveneto (35.5), Emilia Romagna (33.1), Piedmont-Valle d'Aosta (29.8), Lazio (29.2), Tuscany (28.8), Marche-Umbria (25.5). The southern regions come last with Puglia at 25.2 percent, Campania at 23.2, Sardinia at 22.7, Abruzzo-Molise at 21.3, Sicilia at 18.7 and Basilicata-Calabria 17.8 percent.

CNEL deputy chairman Francesca Santoro stated, "the use of Internet in the last few years has produced significant transformations in our economy and society, providing new opportunities but also new inequalities and exclusions.

The ICT sector (innovation technology linked to the world of telephones and communications) is experiencing a phase of great uncertainty in Italy, where regional divisions continue to be felt and there is scarcity of investment for innovation and research". the network is not used much by women and the elderly, despite the increase in home connections and Santoro said, "it seems we cannot postpone a informational illiteracy programme".

As for the profile of the Internet user, research shows that the typical surfer is male, young and educated, 35.2 percent of men connect to Internet (compared to 22.4 percent of women), 57.7 percent of those between the ages of 14 and 21 and 48.9 percent of those between 25 and 34. The percentage of those between 35 and 44 years is 33 percent and those over 45 only 8.7 percent.

A total of 74.2 percent of graduates surf the net, 56.7 percent of those with A levels, 26.9 percent of those with O levels and 3.1 percent of those with the 11 plus.

There is also a revenue factor in the research, 46 percent of those earning a high salary surf the net. With regard to employment 39.8 percent of the employed connect to Internet compared to 20.3 percent of those who are unemployed and among these are mainly students, followed by the unemployed, housewives (4.8 percent) and pensioners (2.7 percent).

If only workers are considered, Internet reaches 77.8 percent of managers, 69.6 percent of industrialists and professionals, 60.7 percent of employees and teachers, 29.5 percent of craftsmen and shopkeepers and 18.9 percent of workers. Finally with regard to the uses of Internet, 73 percent use it to receive post and 66 percent to transmit post but also to browse (72 percent), seek information (56 percent) or useful news for work (42 percent), for study or tourism (36 percent) and for leisure (34.5 percent. There is still not much use regarding purchases (9 percent) or bookings (7 percent). (AGI) -

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - News In English
http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200405051843-
1239-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia