Fair Trade Technology Tech that Helps the World

Fair Trade Technology – Tech that Helps the World Lee Felsenstein, co-founder Fonly Institute 2460 Park Blvd. #1 Palo Alto, CA 94306 lee@fonlyinstitute. com

Lessons from Phon Kham - 1 Farming community unable to feed itself reliably High degree of social cohesion Taxed selves to improve school Relocated from Plain of Jars (US bombing) Resettled in unpopulated valley 85 km from Vientiane All adults employed, children all in school and helping Bad 4 km road from hwy. 13, impassable in monsoon No desire to leave for Vientiane

Lessons from Phon Kham - 2 Textiles sell for high prices in Japan and west Prices offered by middlemen are minimal Laotians overseas need textiles for weddings Produce prices are low no way to check competitive prices Overseas village members led Jhai Foundation to village Villagers requested telephone capability

Villagers have requested Jhai’s help with communications to improve economic and social conditions • Voice – Trading among five villages – Getting good prices at market towns – Talking with family and friends (like Jhai) overseas for connection, business and remittances • Data(Internet) – Fun and training for students – Accounting and recordkeeping – Telemedicine

Migration to Cities Not drawn by opportunity but driven by necessity Disease, prostitution, crime Political instability Disconnection from traditional culture

Environment as critical element INa - INb + OUT *slam!* (INa - INb)* 100, 000 = OUT (INa - INb) *slam!* OP AMP without feedback – an electronic tantrum

Environment as critical element IN OUT + OP AMP with unity feedback – a useful component (OUT = IN)

Convergence - Divergence Stable systems display diminishing response to disturbance Unstable systems show increasing response disturbance Until something breaks failure disturbance

Free Trade vs. Fair Trade “Free trade” – rule of the strongest No regard for consequences - “externalities” Economic advantage trumps all other considerations Resulting in destruction of agriculture in developing countries Farmers are resources to be mined and discarded Fair Trade – takes human interactions into account Sustainable agricultural economy Low prices come at a cost Farmer is participant in market economy Full access to market information

Fair Trade Technologies - principles Migration by necessity is destabilizing to society Necessary change involves: Improvement of rural incomes Reduction of cultural isolation Improvement of opportunities to young Telecommunications are essential factor

Enabling Technologies Embedded Processors Open Source Software VOIP Wireless Connectivity - 802. 11

System Requirements Village-based system, capable of operation by children Telecommunication Local Internet 10 year longevity minimum Localized General computer capabilities Web browsing Word Processing Spreadsheet Printing

The Jhai Communications System 802. 11 b Wireless network Linkage among villages Data and VOIP to Internet telephony Linkage to phone system via Open. 323 POTS calls PABX functionality

Expats – the key to the solution Expatriates (“expats”) crucial to distribution Can aggregate cost of village system Know the village and the players Will maintain contact Need closer cultural contact Children lack knowledge of language Written language Stories and lore Can provide commercial opportunities

Effects of Fair Trade Technology Brings farmers into market economy as participants Strengthens connections between community members and expats Allows expats to assist community economically Allows expat families to participate in community life Allows access to world culture and information Telemedicine Agricultural information Education

System Requirements Rugged design and construction Long lifespan – software and hardware Localized – numeric control Power supply applicable to other needs Operable by schoolchildren Minimal consumables – low cost of operation Assistance through Internet Ease of repair

Future Prospects This is an industry in formation Huge market if costs are low Many global social benefits Direct economic benefit to participants Change in market structure and change in product design is not historically made by existing industry It'll be fun