[Computerbank] Re: [cai-sa] East Timor

[Penni Diffey]

Hi all

I've been quite busy and have only just caught up with the ET discussion.

Possibly people aren't aware that we have donated approxmately 40 computers 
to ET. The majority being sent August 2001.

These computers went to Dili University ( with technical software including 
language and LaTex apps), and 2 community groups.

We also gave office equipment and computers to 2 of the political parties and 
some to individuals.

Most were shipped by Rotary International, for free, and bp Australia 
provided contacts for shipping the rest.

There were many hurdles language, politness, customs officers and managing 
aproject from afar. We made it clear that we only shipped Linux and I was 
informed that the boxes sat around for a while before they were used. It 
turned out that the tech was being polite not knowledgable.

While East Timor is a worthy cause we need to ask ourselves about the cost 
and whether or not Linux would be acceptable.

I'll try to contact Brian Manningham from ITAid  next week as he may have 
some idea as to what's really going on.

I'll just leave you all with this thought - Does your group have the physical 
and mental resources to do this and what abot the folk here that are waiting.?

I'm not saying don't do it but just consider it carefully.

Pen







On Wednesday 20 November 2002 17:39, you wrote:
> On Tue, 2002-11-19 at 20:43, Peter Gossner wrote:
> > CAiSA should be able to manage about a half dozen boxes in near future.
> > (233mhz +) However we have no modems.
> > Perhaps Vic or NSW has those ?
>
> We do not operate outside the boundaries of NSW. CBNSW cannot meet the
> demands here. The rest of the world will have to wait until CBNSW have
> become closer to critical mass.