[imc-sf-tech] Sending boxes to indymedia ecuador

[evan@protest.net]

I've mentioned this project to a number of you. For us to pull it off we
are going to need a lot of help. The plan is to try and get a dozen or so
people to come and help us test, configure, and install linux on up to 500
computers. Eddy and I who have been organizing this will be down in the
bay area to meet with the ACCRC who's donating the equiptment. Anybody who
wants to is welcome to come with us to meet them at 2pm tomorrow
(tuesday). You can get their address and directions from accrc.org. If you
know of anybody who might be interested in providing some of the funds for
the project we can accept tax deductable donations through a 501c3.


Summary: Project to ship a container of approx. 500 refurbished
         computers to Ecuador to extend the technical capacity of
         civil society and the anti-globalization movement
         leading up to the anti-FTAA protests in early November.
         If successful this will be the first stage in an ongoing
         project to send large numbers of computers to social
         movements in the global south through indymedia.

The single most consistent request from indymedia activists in the global
south is for computers and media making equipment. Even though the
internet and computers are reshaping the world they are only doing it for
those who have access to the equipment. For the past two and a half years
indymedia has prided itself as a network which takes the tools of media
and communications and puts them in the hands of people working for social
change. For this mission to become a reality we need equipment. Computers
play a central role in all media making and communication today. At the
same time thousands good working computers are thrown out because they are
a year or two out of date. This project thinks big and is attempting to
not only solve the needs of a single organization but to build capacity
across the breadth of the movement for a just society.

By working with the Alameda County Computer Recycling Center (accrc.org)
we have found a free source of recycled computers. ACCRC takes used
computers from silicon valley and refurbishes them for non-profits, the
poor, and educational institutions around the world. We are organizing our
own labor to test the incoming boxes and put together the parts into
useable systems with a Spanish language version of Linux installed. From
there the ACCRC will load them up on to pallets and in to the container
for shipping. Once the container arrives our Ecuadorian partner
organizations will work with a customs import agent to get the boxes
through customs and hauled up to Quito. In Quito we will be able to supply
computers to all the groups coming in to town for the convergence against
the FTAA at the beginning of November. To avoid the mistakes of past
projects shipping computers we are working on putting together short
workshops introducing the people and organizations receiving computers on
basic use.

We currently are doing outreach to groups in Ecuador and arranging
logistics. At the moment we working with Indymedia Ecuador, CONFEUNASSC
(The National Ecuadorian Campesino Organization), and Action Ecologica.
These and other groups have been involved in coordinating the Ecuadorian
Social Forum and have been central in the struggle to save the rainforest,
against dolarization, and recently the privatization of electricity. While
most groups in Ecuador have a couple computers there is a compelling need
for more.


Provisional Budget:

Computers, monitors, printers, etc...         $0 (paper value $100,000)
Shipping Container from Oakland to Guayaquil  $2500 for 20 foot container
                                              $3200 for 40 foot container
Shipping in Ecuador and Customs               $2000 (guess)
Trainings and training material               $500

                                Total cost:   $5000 to $5700


For more information and to talk to us about this project please email
evan@indymedia.org or call 707-822-1860.

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