Fair Trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach which aims to promote sustainability and help producers in developing countries; it focuses on exports from developing countries to OECD countries. To date products covered by Fair Trade principles have been consumables such as food, drink or clothing. Fair Trade Software is a new initiative getting under way in the Netherlands and the UK. Modern software is highly modular, and the production process allows for components to be written in developing countries whilst the overall end-product is designed, assembled and delivered in the OECD country. This new way of working has been enabled by two developments: -> Open Source technologies and the Open Source philosophy of Internet teams (“communities”) -> increasing availability of necessary telecommunications links to and within developing countries. This is not charity or low cost outsourcing – it is for-profit and can be regarded as leveraged aid. The structural results will be sustained economic partnership with, and technology transfer to, entities and individuals in developing countries. As with the use of Open Source software, the Fair Trade Software model can become part of corporate social responsibility - a trade system based on justice & fairness will be better for all. The talk will describe current status and plans and is planned to take place at the iHub <http://ihub.co.ke/> on Tuesday the 22nd at 5.30 to 7pm and this session will engage Developers only. The next session will be the next morning of Wednesday the 23rd from 9am to 12pm and this session will engage Entrepreneurs in general. Debate will be encouraged. *Kindly make sure you RSVP here <http://fairtradetalk.eventbrite.com/> to make sure you can attend. There are two tickets for these sessions and if you choose developer / Entrepreneur, this means you will attend the separate days and times as mentioned earlier. You can also reserve to attend both.* -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki | T: +254 734 810 802 | E: pkariuki@gmail.com | Twitter: kaboro | Skype: kariukiphares | B: http://www.kaboro.com/ |