[Sussex] Fairtrade and stuff...

[Geoffrey Teale]

Matt,

This doesn't suprise me.  Usually this is because they rely on whoever 
they can get to work for them for a small salary to implement whatever 
they can.   Whilst charities might be seen as having a lot to gain from 
Open Source software they are also most likely to be lacking in staff 
with the sort of knowledge required to steer them down that path.

Frankly, you could draw their attention to the possibilities of using 
Open Source software, but unless you're planning to implement it for 
free they probably aren't all that bothered.

However, a more important point for organisations like this is whether 
they use MS Office and expect their contacts in the developing world to 
use them as well.  They need to be very careful that they don't 
indirectly pressure the people they are trying to help into a choice 
between buying massively expensive software or using software without 
licenses.

-- 
GJT
gteale at cmedltd.com

Macdonald-Wallace, Matthew J wrote:

>All,
>
>I've just got back from glastonbury (what an excellent place!) and had a
>great time talking to people about fair trade and stuff like that.
>
>Have just visited the fairtrade site (http://www.maketradefair.org/) and
>have noticed that their pages are all written in <shock horror>Active Server
>Pages</shcok horror>.  I've emailed them to find out why this is, but surely
>this is another example of the fact that even charities look to M$ for
>support...
>
>Just my $.02,
>
>Matt
>
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