re all,
The problem is with inclusion and accessibility to information.
"appropriation of FOSS by business" is a deviant interpretation of
what FOSS freedom is.
questions to pose:
WHO owns the business?
where are the corporate headquarters?
appropriation of BUSINESS by LOCAL COMMUNITIES. that is.
sorry if it's too obvious, anyway this isn't an interesting
discussion.
in case of a 1.000$ pro person conference: the cost is just imposed by
the silly western standards of conferencing, where a locally organized
meeting would be much more inclusive and lower on costs.
WHO mainstreaming WHAT?
and for which pockets?
open source is not mainstream.
with open source everyone can stream.
ciao
On Thu, Apr 10, 2008 at 06:04:03AM -0700, Steve Cisler wrote:
> I certainly agree with Anriette on each item. The point has been
> made that aside from Red Hat there has been very modest
> commercialization of other open source businesses. Most seem to be
> design and consulting groups. At the drupal conference earlier this
> year http://acquia.com/ was introduced with the creator drupal in a
> key position.
>
> I work with social entrepreneurs and most of them have gotten past
> the ambivalence that many people in NGOs, collaborative projects,
> have about money, but they understand the complexity of these
> issues.
>
>
> Anriette Esterhuysen <anriette@???> wrote: Hallo Michael
>
> Yes.. this sounds just like a commercial IT conference targeting the
> business community. And I am not sure how this message ended up on
> incom.
>
> But, let me be devil's advocate....
>
> Is appropriation of FOSS by business not precisely what we want?
>
> How will things change if alternative models, ideas remain on the
> margins or the preserve of activists?
>
> Of course the struggle continues and we should be aware of how
> innovation rooted in challenging the status quo can be incorporated
> and 'neutralised'. This is true of FOSS as well.
>
> Nevertheless, I think it is great that FOSS has become mainstreamed
> in the places like South Africa, India and Brazil.
>
> This mainstreaming challenges monopolies like Microsoft much more
> effectively than uptake of FOSS in the NGO community.
>
> Anriette
>
> -----Original Message-----
> > From: incom-l-bounces@???
> > [mailto:incom-l-bounces@???] On Behalf Of Michael
> > Gurstein Sent: 09 April 2008 19:36 To: incom-l@???
> > Subject: FW: [Gov 482] TR: Open Source in ICT - Bridging the
> > digitaldivide inAfrica Importance: High
> >
> > Hmmm... An "open source" conference for "Bridging the Digital
> > Divide in Africa" that has a registration fee of (approx.) $1000
> > USD.
> >
> > MG
> >
> >
> > _____
> >
> > De : Michelle Marais
> > Envoyé : mercredi, 9. avril 2008 09:44
> > Objet : Open Source in ICT - Bridging the digital divide in Africa
> > Importance : Haute
> >
> >
> >
> > Open Source in ICT
> >
> > "Bridging the digital divide in Africa"
> >
> > 13th to 14th May,2008
> >
> > FNB Conference Centre, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
> >
> > Please find attached the Open Source programme and registration
> > form as per above.
> >
> > Open Source software presents an opportunity to cut costs, see
> > inside the software, demystify technology and understand the
> > design so that all users can adapt technology to meet their own
> > needs. It is widely seen as the key enabler for developing
> > countries to achieve technological self-determination. Open source
> > can reduce total cost of ownership, enhance security, and create a
> > vendor-independent network based on interoperability and open
> > standards. Open source software also provides the opportunity to
> > break free from the shackles of proprietary systems and expensive
> > upgrades. The use of open source software will "maximise the value
> > of ICT budgets" through savings on dollar-based license costs and
> > efficiency gains.
> >
> > Hear first hand experience of how successfully open source
> > software can work with existing applications, seamlessly
> > integrating into your current infrastructure, and harness the
> > benefits of using open source in the Public Sector.
> >
> >
> >
> > Due to the high demand and interactive nature of this event, seats
> > are limited and seats are only confirmed once the attached, signed
> > registration form is completed and faxed back to Michelle Marais
> > at The Business Zone 1073 on +27(21)557 1218
> >
> > Kind regards
> >
> >
> >
> > Michelle Marais
> >
> > Corporate Sales Line Manager
> >
> > The Business Zone 1073
> > "Conference, Corporate Training & Networking Specialists"
> >
> >
> >
> > Tel :+27(0) 861 829 663
> >
> > Tel: +27(0) 21 521 4400
> >
> > Fax:+27(0) 21 557 1218
> > e-mail: mmarais@???
> > website: www.businesszone.co.za
> >
> >
> >
> > "It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do
> > yourself." Eleanor Roosevelt
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > incom-l mailing list
> > incom-l@???
> > http://mail.kein.org/mailman/listinfo/incom-l
> >
> >
>
> ------------------------------------------------------
> Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director
> Association for Progressive Communications
> anriette@???
> http://www.apc.org
> PO Box 29755, Melville, South Africa. 2109
> Tel. 27 11 726 1692
> Fax 27 11 726 1692
>
> Steve Cisler
> Center for Science, Technology, and Society
> Santa Clara University
> http://scu.edu/sts/
>
> _______________________________________________
> Brico mailing list
> Brico@???
> http://lists.dyne.org/mailman/listinfo/brico
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