Based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Bytes for All has a bold charter: to expose the inequities caused b y the "digital divide." To educate people worldwide on its impacts and identify ways that the divide can be closed. They point out some of the daunting realities of the third world: "a modem costs more than a cow"; "access to telecommunications is a privilege"; "information by definition is a property of the government." Bytes seeks to break these destructive assumptions, and shares a great deal in common with Greenstar.

Therefore, Bytes for All is now a Greenstar Premium Partner. This means that, when you visit the Greenstar website as you're doing now, and make a purchase, a portion of the proceeds will be paid to Bytes for All.

Everybody wins. You get some extraordinary, unusual and thoughtful gifts to use for the holidays or any occasion. Bytes gains support for its important projects and Greenstar 's international projects, based in developing countries, also benefit.

So, who is Greenstar?

Greenstar is founded on a simple idea: that people, no matter where they live, have the same basic needs: for food, shelter, caring for their children and families, building their future, leading a life of learning, creativity and dignity. Where people in emerging nations don't enjoy the social and economic conditions to support these basic needs, all they need is the tools to grow by themselves, some assistance and startup resources.

And then they need everyone else to get out of the way.

Greenstar's concrete approach to delivering on this promise is also very simple: a self-contained, solar-powered, Web-connected community center. Including a medical clinic and telemedicine connections, a classroom, a commercial-grade photovoltaic solar power array, and a satellite dish for telecommunications.

Then, make it self-financing through ecommerce on the Internet.

We create a commercial website to market products from the village worldwide, and promote the site to nearly 200 million people who work, shop and learn on the Web every day. Allow them to connect with the people in the villages by email. The people in the village will decide for themselves how to use the income to improve their lives.

In a few months, a village can advance 1000 years, from a position where there is no electricity, no telephone or computer, no clean water, little medical or educational support, and little income, to a position where they are independent, growing, and connected to the world community.

A trial installation is underway on the West Bank, in a remote Palestinian village, with great success. To learn more, see http://www.greenstar.org/newsletter.htm

What do these people have to offer that you would be interested in -- for holiday gifts, for your home or office?

A surprising variety of beautiful and unique items -- from the historic Hebron area, which figures strongly in the scriptural events of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Gorgeous brassware; subtle glassware and ceramics; finely-formed pottery.

And their culture -- live music recorded recently in the village, with extraordinary Bedouin sounds from a tradition more than 5000 years old. You can get a free sample of this amazing music by clicking here.

We also developed a gallery of artwork produced by the children and adults of the community, which shows a startling clarity of vision, and fine artistic balance. These digital products can be downloaded direct to your computer, where within minutes you'll hear amazing music and see stunning artwork. Find out more by clicking here.

"Welcome to South Asia. This talent-rich, resource-poor, tragic-powerhouse of immense software skills, finds its abilities recognized across the globe.

And yet millions here can't find the solutions that could make their life a little less of a struggle. Likewise, software brains from the region are serving some of the biggest companies in the globe... But it also finds itself ironically unable to afford the prices of 'legal' software that it very badly needs for itself.

bYtES For aLL is an attempt to swim against the tide. Through a web site and an e-mail based mailing list, we hope to update interested readers about new and interesting ventures. Attempts that focus on people before profits. This initiative regularly brings articles, news bits and information clips on interesting and people oriented IT practices in this region. It works as an one stop information center where people involved into these initiatives can find their collaborators, can discuss issues pertaining to their interests, can know more about the developments and can be aware of other initiatives. It also organizes different campaigns with regard to ICT developments in the third world countries.

This venture is being jointly undertaken by Frederick Noronha a freelance journalist based in Goa, India interested in developmental issues, and by Partha Pratim Sarker a web designer and an online activist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This online initiative is also politically significant, as the countries here are artificially hostile on traditional sovereignty, while the individuals are struggling to achieve a regional synergy. "

See the main website at http://www.bytesforall.org
To contact Partha Pratim Sarker directly, send email to: partha@drik.net

 

Make a purchase here on the Greenstar website. Or call, toll-free to 877-282-9900 to quickly receive a printed catalog by overnight mail (323-422-9602 outside the U.S. and Canada).

That's all. Greenstar automatically pays 8% of your total purchase, including shipping, to Bytes, which uses the funds to support its important work.

Thank you from Greenstar and Bytes for All.