Re: [LUG] [Fwd: [DDN] Fwd: [GKD] Microsoft Donations: Roses with Thorns?]

[paul sutton <zen14920@xxxxxxxxx>]

This sounds like giving blood or other organs but then sayng that 
certain people can't have it,   Perhaps the International / national  
press would be interested in this.  And the RDA.

Paul

Tom Brough wrote:

> This sounds so familar, Im trying to formulate a reply, I would be 
> interested in members comments. Personally I find it distressing that 
> Microsoft would use this ploy in its "Charitable" acts.
>
> Tom.
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Augusta Molnar < amolnar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Dec 8, 2005 6:26 AM
> Subject: [GKD] Microsoft Donations: Roses with Thorns?
> To: gkd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Dear GKD Members,
>
> I am writing from Oaxaca, Mexico where I am visiting communities in the
> highlands. They have been beneficiaries of a very cool project 
> financed in
> part by the Gates foundation to install a wireless connection and a 
> set of
> computers for the schools. We are working on a network in the Latin 
> America
> region for communities for which we use by preference
> FireFox as our browser. We suggested they try this browser as Explorer 
> was
> causing problems, and discovered to our surprise that the Gates 
> foundation
> "gift" comes with tags.
>
> The computer network does not allow any of the users of the donated
> computers to install any software not owned by Microsoft, even any open
> source software. The network within which the computers reside will not
> allow any individual computers to download software to install, 
> ostensibly
> to prevent viruses and incompatible software from jeopardizing the 
> Microsoft
> system.
>
> These are computers installed for educational purposes in a number of
> telecenters in the public libraries in Mexico for all the young students
> preparing for a global world. These computers are therefore their only
> affordable access to the Internet and to learning about computers and
> programs. A significant number of them will leave this town to work at 
> least
> part of their life elsewhere in Mexico or in the U.S. Their work and 
> career
> opportunities will depend upon their skills and preparedness.
>
> I am reminded of my youth, working in the vicinity of USAID programs 
> which
> only purchased American-made cars shipped to remote corners of Asia for
> irrigation projects, etc., because the tied money only allowed US bids.
> (Ever try to blow up a pneumatic truck tire with a bicycle pump in a 
> small
> town in Asia? )
>
> Is this standard Gates foundation policies?????? Is this type of tag
> allowed??
>
> Interested to hear from those of you who are more knowledgeable on this
> point.
>
>
> Augusta Molnar
> Director, Community and Markets Program
> Forest Trends
> 1050 Potomac Street NW
> Washington, D.C. 20007
> Phone: 202 298-3006
> Fax: 202 298-3014
> www.forest-trends.org
>
>
>
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