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Random thoughts regarding creating the peace initiative web site: (Moving toward barter economy)

Would it be naive to ask eBay if, building a peace projects bartering site based upon their concept, they'd be willing to participate/build/help/give up to us some underlying code?

Scenarios:
Organization adds themselves to database (seller). Solicits money, volunteer hours, specific tasks, materials.

Ie. (A) Local organization is trying to outfit schools with refurbished/used computers. Is asking for money, computers, networking folks, software...

(B) Samaritan (buyer) logs on, has vague notion that as she upgrades, no longer needs her old PC. Sorts by {geography, materials} - finds (A).

Like eBay, they work out shipping. Receipts for donation? Handled by the parties - as eBay doesn't take care of sales taxes.

How would an organization be qualified as a peace initiative organization? Do we filter? (Klu Klux Klan could argue that they are working toward world peace as homogenous societies have less conflict). Who decides?

Not all organizations are considered moral. Ie. Planned Parenthood, by encouraging birth control and having a pro-choice stance would be considered evil by some. Site would have to be near bulletproof.

Additionally, the possibility for laundering and fraud is possibly mediated by such a site as bogus charities do exist. How do we ensure validity?

In eBay the comments creates a climate of checks and balances by peers.

Open vs. closed?

Not sure where to start. Looking for people to point me to the right people. While some of my colleagues are interested in working on this, it seems as unromantic as it sounds, I need to talk to business planners rather than technologists. Talk about structure. Talk about creating an entity to point to. Talk to folks regarding funding, because ultimately, the maintenance of this thing is going to be a full-time job.

So ick. So reality is setting in. Just got to figure out what next?
Posted 10/24/2003
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