How can computer, Internet and network technologies be used by the staff and supporters of mission-based organizations - nonprofits, non-governmental organizations/NGOs, civil society, public sector agencies, schools - to benefit individuals, communities and the environment? What tech tools, resources, systems and practices are proving most valuable to these organizations, includi their volunteers? What are the cultural and financial conditions, legislation, and other factors that can and do influence tech use by these groups?

Each month, Tech4Impact attempts to answer some of these questions. Tech4Impact is less about techno-jargon and more about the human factors in using computer and Internet technology to benefit people, communities and the environment.

Tech4Impact is produced by Jayne Cravens. It includes references to resources she has developed for her own web site [ www.coyotecommunications.com ], and many other organizations and initiatives. Much of the content of Tech4Impact is eventually incorporated into www.coyotecommunications.com

IMPORTANT NOTICE THAT WILL REMAIN HERE UNTIL YAHOO CHANGES: I use many of Yahoo's tools (YahooGroups, YahooMail & Flickr), thereby contributing a great deal to the company's resources and, as a result, its bottom line. I am DEEPLY disturbed that Yahoo has admitted to providing Chinese authorities with information that led to the imprisonment of journalist Shi Tao; he is now serving a 10-year prison sentence for sending an email using his Yahoo account that included information on the Tiananmen Square massacre. Sadly, Shi Tao's case isn't the only one where Yahoo has helped a government imprison someone for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression, a right entrenched in international law and the Chinese Constitution. Yahoo is contributing to human rights violations. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. Please take action! See this Amnesty International site: http://web.amnesty.org/pages/chn-310106-action-eng