Lausanne on the path of digital solidarity

Following Geneva and Delemont, Lausanne is the third Swiss city to make the move towards digital solidarity. During a meeting of the Municipal Council of the City of Lausanne on 22 November, a motion submitted in the spring of this year, asking the Executive Authority to participate in the Global Digital Solidarity Fund was accepted. Within six months, the Lausanne authorities must present the draft of their bill before the legislature, which will enable the City of Lausanne to implement the «one percent » digital solidarity principle. This will come into effect during 2006.

Alain Bron, Municipal Councilor and professor of telecommunications, is the architect of this motion. «Because of the nature of my work, I’m aware of the digital divide», he said. «When I learned of the existence of the DSF I understood that this initiative fit into a broader strategy for sustainable development. It is a path Lausanne has been following for nearly five years since it first adopted the principles of the Agenda 21».

The Municipality has also wanted to transmit this engagement as a message. «It is a sign of solidarity that we wanted to send to other local authorities about a relatively unknown problem», Alain Bron commented. His opinion is shared by the Mayor of Lausanne, Daniel Brelaz, who will present the project to the Municipal Parliament: «We want to show that help to countries in difficulty doesn’t stop at fighting hunger, but includes support to bridge the technology gap as well» From this perspective he pronounced himself totally in favour of the «one percent» digital solidarity principle.

Daniel Brélaz said he hoped the initiative taken up by his city would serve as an impetus to something larger. «The financial impact of adopting the digital solidarity principle by Lausanne will probably be limited considering the size of the digital divide», he said. «But it’s a symbolic signal that highlights an injustice and incites other local authorities to commit to bridging the gap. Little streams make great rivers.»