Tech Matters: Using tech for positive social change

The Landmine Problem: introduction

We have been studying the landmine problem for some time. The Benetech approach is similar to the standard high technology approach: try to understand the customer's needs and see if a novel solution can deliver a better solution. Different members of our team have spent time with leaders in the humanitarian landmine field, and we have learned a great deal. As we begin planning for such a solution, synthesizing some of that learning is important. There is a great deal of information out there, but our point of view is different and we hope useful.

I hope to share some of this learning from our team in the BeneBlog in this and future blog posts.

Point One. It's complicated.

The landmine problem is complex and multifaceted. Surprise. However, it's even more complicated than we guessed, even in the narrow area we are looking at, which is mine detection and removal/destruction. We aren't even dealing with the other parts of the mine action …

Benetech likes to respond to customer demand, and this sometimes is surprising. We've never had the ability to donate to Benetech or its programs as a link on our website. Lately, this has come up from people who have been looking for that link and unable to find it, especially for Bookshare.org, where a specific donation can be linked to a tangible benefit, such as the purchase and scanning of a book for people with disabilities.

We looked at this, and have chosen to partner with Groundspring.org, an organization with common values and methods to Benetech, to implement this functionality on Bookshare.org. They do a good job of delivering both the security we require and the Bookshare.org look we desire. If it works out well, we'll expand it to our other projects and Benetech itself. If you make a donation, let me know how it went. Customer feedback is critical!

Bookshare.org - Donate Now page.

I'm very proud of the people who work at Benetech, and that pride extends to our alumni. Brendan Nyhan was an outstanding member of our team, doing great things for us while running the Spinsanity website. Spinsanity has been one of the nation's leading political websites, deconstructing spin from both sides of political aisle. Brendan is now getting his doctorate in political science at Duke, and just published his first book.

All the President's Spin is just out, and promises to deliver the same kind of analysis that has made Spinsanity an important part of the political debate. It's already in Amazon's Top 50 Sales Rank. Check it out!

Benetech is pleased to announce that we have finalized a contract with the Commission for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation (CAVR) of Timor-Leste (East Timor). Benetech will conduct statistical analysis of the Commission's four databases, including personal testimonies, gravesite registries, military unit deployment records and a retrospective mortality survey. Our goal is to assist the Commission in making scientifically defensible findings about the total extent, patterns, and levels of responsibility for fatal violations which occurred between 1974-1999. Our analysis extends the fieldwork and technical advice in information management, data collection and data processing that Benetech field consultants have provided to the CAVR over the past 18 months. Our analysis will complement the CAVR's legal, qualitative and historical findings.