Interesting Web Sites, Brought to you by TecsChange

We recommend that you visit the following sites which cover many issues that relate to our work.

Boston Area Calendars and Event Listings

TecsChange volunteers help maintain the ACT-MA, the Massachusetts activist mailing list.

Organizations Involved in International Technical Assistance

Based in London, England, ComputerAid International recycles donated computers for use in schools and community projects in Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. Launched in 1998 - by January 2000 Computer Aid had sent over 3,000 computers to 19 different countries.

The Chiapas Media Project is a bi-national partnership that provides tools and training so that marginalized indigenous communities can establish their own information outlets. The project provides video cameras and editing equipment along with appropriate training so that communities in Chiapas can tell their own stories in their own words. The project will also provide computer technology and training so that the communities can establish and maintain their own web sites. Eventually, the web sites will have the capacity to upload both recorded and real time video.

Project Infomed Cuba Solidarity Web Site

South Africa's National Information Technology Forum supports the creation and advancement of the South African Information Society and universal access to information for all citizens and to eliminate disparities between urban and rural, town and township communities as regards the use of information and communication technologies.

Green Empowerment supports non-governmental organizations (NGOs) developing renewable energy projects in the Philippines, Nicaragua, and Borneo, and Canada. Their Nicaragua Project is a collaboration with The Ben Linder Memorial Fund, and ATDER-BL, a Nicaraguan NGO.

The International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers' Union has a great list of links to sites relating to labour, technology and the workplace.

While not a technical assistance page, the United Nations has a great on-line database with valuable development-related data on countries throughout the world.

Local Organizations we work with

	Mass Global Action Mass Global Action launched Encuentro 5, dubbing it a "movement-building space in the heart of Boston." The project is now home to 10 "resident organizations" and 5 city-wide coalitions; It is also an event/meeting/organizing space for numerous other organizations involved in social change work.
	MIT Western Hemisphere Project goal is to bring the diverse MIT community together to examine and better understand the relationships among peoples and governments in the Americas
	MLK Bolivarian Circle of Boston whos aim is to inform the American public of our events and projects underway in Venezuela.
	South End Technology Center @ Tent City (The Tech Center) is a collaborative venture between the Tent City Corporation (TCC) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Our fundamental purpose is to enable people to become producers of knowledge and sharers of ideas and information.
	Free Geek Providence is a non-profit 501(c)3, grassroots, volunteer run organization dedicated to addressing the digital divide by providing recycled computers, training and technical assistance to our community and responsibly recycling items that can no longer be used.
	Timothy Smith Technology Center Network an extensive list of Techology Centers in Boston (Contact each center for information)
	New England United organizing anti-war activities across New England.
	Progressive Radio shows in Boston we help maintain this list of radio shows in Boston.
	Semi-New Computers You can afford a great computer. We sell high quality, refurbished computer systems at low prices. These computer systems are appropriate for use by organizations, schools and families.

Progressive Technology-Related Web Sites in the Boston Area

	Independent Media Centers are being established throughout the world to counter the biased coverage provided by the mainstream media. They use the Internet to cost-effectively get their alternative message to the world.
	binaryFreedom A progressive voice of the digital age. Fighting for digital freedoms in software, hardware and on the Internet. Watching for corporate abuse, promoting knowledge and education of todays digital dangers like DRM and software patents all this with a big focus on Free Software.
	Organizers Collaborative is a Boston-based organization established in 1999 to promote better use of technology by social change organizations throughout the US. The Organizers' Collaborative is dedicated to advancing social change through the effective use of technology. We are particularly committed to low-cost and no-cost tools created in the spirit of Open Source. Since our founding, we have built the capacity of hundreds of grassroots organizations who are working for a better society. We welcome you to join us in our work!!!
	Smallbean collects newer used electronic stuff for coordinated donations to schools in the developing world.
	Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group The Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group (AIDG) helps individuals and communities get affordable and environmentally sound access to electricity, sanitation and clean water. Through a combination of business incubation, education, and outreach, we help people get technology that will better their health and improve their lives.
	Newton San Juan del Sur Sister City Project has been in existnace for over twenty years, during which time the Newton/San Juan del Sur Sister City Project has financed the building or renovation of over twenty schools, and improved the health of communities surrounding San Juan bay by bringing simple, eco-friendly technologies to the families of San Juan. Click on “About Us” to learn more about our work. TecsChange has supplied a number of computers to them over the years.
	Blue Energy Group is a nonprofit organization that provides a low-cost, sustainable solution to the energy needs of marginalized communities through the construction, installation, and maintenance of hybrid wind and solar electric systems. blueEnergy manufactures wind turbines and other key components locally to keep energy costs low, improve equipment serviceability, and create employment where it is desperately needed.
	Technology and Culture Forum at MIT. An ongoing series of lectures on social implications of technology. Free and open to the public.
	Bikes Not Bombs works to achieve peace and social justice through grassroots organizing and promoting community-based education and development projects involving recycled bicycles and other environmentally sustainable modes of transportation.
	Organizers' Collaborative is a nonprofit membership organization composed of activists and technically oriented people working to enhance grassroots organizing, research, and movement building by social change organizations.
	Promethian Power Systems has developed a solar-powered refrigeration system for commercial cold-storage applications in off-grid and partially electrified areas of developing countries. Our technology enables food suppliers to store and preserve perishable food items—such as milk, fruits and vegetables—without the need for expensive diesel-powered generators.
	Engineers Without Borders-Boston (EWB-Boston) was established in early 2005 for the purpose of engaging local professional engineers and interested persons in EWB-USA projects and programs.
	Science for the People - Listserve a discussion list for radical scientists. Science for the People - Index of Back Issues the magizine published from 1969 to 1989. There is an effort to put the back issues of the magizine on the web.

International Solidarity Organizations that we have Worked with in the Past

Tonantzin the Boston committee for support of Chiapas has helped raise funds to send computers to human rights and indigenous organizations in Chiapas, Mexico. We also jointly organized the Boston stop of the caravan to Chiapas.

Pastors for Peace has been organizing humanitarian aid shipments to Central America, Cuba, and Mexico since 1988.

Grassroots International provides financial and material support for community-led development in Brazil, Eritrea, Haiti, Mexico, and Palestine.

At the intersection of Art and Technology

	MITERS "Build Parties" every Friday Night at MIT.
	Artisan's Asylum Inc. is a non-profit community craft studio located near Union Square In Somerville, MA.
	Dorkbot Boston email discussion list

Resources for Organizations

	Techsoup the technology place for non-profits.
	Organizers' Collaborative is a nonprofit membership organization composed of activists and technically oriented people working to enhance grassroots organizing, research, and movement building by social change organizations.
	Recycling Medical Equipment a Harvard Medical students efforts to reuse medical equipement in Latin America and Africa.
	Harvard Recycling Center every Thursday from 11 to 2. There is more information and recent newsletters on Harvards website, but there is no one good link.
	Boston ReStore afforable furniture and supplies for nonprofits.

Strictly Technical

	Driver Guide site with lots of drivers.
	Wim's BIOS page has the most extensive collection of information on BIOS from different manufacturers and for different motherboards.
	You can download BIOS information (including a shareware version of the Intel Triton BIOS) from the Mr. BIOS web site.
	The name says it all: www.motherboards.org. Do you have a motherboard that you need documentation for? If so, this site may be for you. You can even search for a motherboard by model number.
	For modem drivers, try http://www.56k.com.
	If you don't know your modem's type or manufacturer, you can look it up by FCC ID number. This is a number written on a sticker somewhere on your PC (usually on the bottom of the box for external modems, and on the side of the card for internal modems).
	A site with a large selection of freeware. Check out their utilities.

Return to TecsChange home page

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	Based in London, England, ComputerAid International recycles donated computers for use in schools and community projects in Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. Launched in 1998 - by January 2000 Computer Aid had sent over 3,000 computers to 19 different countries.
	The Chiapas Media Project is a bi-national partnership that provides tools and training so that marginalized indigenous communities can establish their own information outlets. The project provides video cameras and editing equipment along with appropriate training so that communities in Chiapas can tell their own stories in their own words. The project will also provide computer technology and training so that the communities can establish and maintain their own web sites. Eventually, the web sites will have the capacity to upload both recorded and real time video.
	Project Infomed Cuba Solidarity Web Site
	South Africa's National Information Technology Forum supports the creation and advancement of the South African Information Society and universal access to information for all citizens and to eliminate disparities between urban and rural, town and township communities as regards the use of information and communication technologies.
	Green Empowerment supports non-governmental organizations (NGOs) developing renewable energy projects in the Philippines, Nicaragua, and Borneo, and Canada. Their Nicaragua Project is a collaboration with The Ben Linder Memorial Fund, and ATDER-BL, a Nicaraguan NGO.
	The International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers' Union has a great list of links to sites relating to labour, technology and the workplace.
	While not a technical assistance page, the United Nations has a great on-line database with valuable development-related data on countries throughout the world.

	Tonantzin the Boston committee for support of Chiapas has helped raise funds to send computers to human rights and indigenous organizations in Chiapas, Mexico. We also jointly organized the Boston stop of the caravan to Chiapas.
	Pastors for Peace has been organizing humanitarian aid shipments to Central America, Cuba, and Mexico since 1988.
	Grassroots International provides financial and material support for community-led development in Brazil, Eritrea, Haiti, Mexico, and Palestine.