Path: trc.rwcp!rwc-tyo!news.iij.ad.jp!cotton!junko From: junko@amulet.co.jp (Junko Yoshimura) Newsgroups: tnn.interv-e Subject: InterVnet Date: 01 Mar 1995 01:28:26 GMT Organization: Amuletware Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. Lines: 88 Distribution: tnn Message-ID: <3j0imk$i07@cotton.iij.ad.jp> NNTP-Posting-Host: cashmere.iij.ad.jp Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII An Internet-Based Network of Networks for Supporting The Kobe Quake Survivors Since the massive earthquake hit Kobe area in Japan, a large number of volunteers and volunteer groups have come to help out the shattered cities and people. However, coordinated effort seems to be difficult due to the lack of communication among parties participating in the relief operations, i.e., among NGOs/NPOs, volunteer groups, business organizations, local governments, refugee shelters and so on. We are proposing InterVnet, an Internet-based communication network connecting personal computer networks of various sizes and kinds so that vital information about relief activities and about needs of the victims can be shared among all interested people who have an access to computers. We are hoping that InterVnet will be used effectively in facilitating coordination so far lacking in the ongoing relieve activities. Organization of InterVnet President: Satoru Hirata (Kansai NGO Council) Executive Director: Ikuyo Kaneko (Keio Univ., Suehiro House) Steering Committee Members: Naohiro Higuchi (Osaka Liaison; Hope Foundation), Naoto Kitamura (Tokyo Liaison; Essk), Junko Yoshimura (Network Liaison; Japan Computer Access,Suehito House), Taka-aki Kaburagi (Network/BBS; Japan Computer Access), Yoko Takahashi (Documentation; Japan Philanthropy Association) Supporting Organizations: Kansai NGO Council, Japan Philanthropy Association, JANIC, Kansai Productivity Center, Prop Station, Internet Initiative, Essk, Hope Foundation, Japan Computer Access, Suehiro House, Editorial Engineering Laboratory Osaka Headquarters: 06-962-7400 Takasago Building 3F, 2-9-5 Shigino-Higashi, Joto-ku, Osaka Tokyo Liaison Office: 03-3723-1133 c/o Essk, 1-34-6 Kita-Senzoku, Ota-ku, Tokyo Network Addresses: NIFTY-Serve: PAG02023 PC-VAN: BTG90492 Internet PAG02023@niftyserve.or. jp Basic Policies and Services of InterVnet *InterVnet uses Internet netnews to post various information concerning relief operations and needs of quake survivors. The purpose of InterVnet is to provide with a common bulletin board by which the same set of information is shared by each concerned person who have an access to a computer. *A computer network becomes a member of InterVnet by agreeing to share information concerning quake survivors and relief efforts by volunteers with other members of InterVnet through the common bulletin board. InterVnet is a common information plaza to be shared by all such member BBSs. *As of March 1st, 1995, three major BBSs, i.e., NIFTY-Serve, PC-VAN, People, have agreed to become a member of InterVnet. Some so-called grass root BBSs, such as Prop Station and FIDO Networks Japan, have also agreed to be a member of InterVnet. The InterVnet organization will continue to ask other BBSs to join so that more and more people would be able to is also posting the information in ALL member networks. needless to say, information posted in InterVnet is to be shared by all uses of the Internet throughout the world. In this way InterVnet offers an efficient way of sharing and posting information to all member BBSs. *InterVnet aims to provide all concerned people with an open and transparent information sharing system. InterVnet does not seek any forced integration or hegemony concerning information. *InterVnet is a nongovernment and nonprofit project which will expire after a year. Major functions of InterVnet, however, will be continued after that period by some other form of network project. *As of March 1st, 1995, InterVnet offers five netnews groups in Japanese and one netnews group in English. As the traffic of information in English increases, we are hoping to divide the only netnews group in English to several groups each with a certain category of information, such as activity reports of NGOs/NPOs and such as relief activities conducted by corporations. InterVnet also plans to offer WWW to facilitate more efficient information retrieval. -- YOSHIMURA Junko InterVnet Network Div.