LINK: Taking the FLOSS debate into the 'development' campaign...

Just to share with you: I've come across this fascinating presentation by=
 an
EU official in Vietnam, who argues that 'development' organisation in the
First World should throw their weight behind Free/Libre and Open Source
Software.=20

This is a fascinating set of arguments. So far, few in the 'development/N=
GO
network' (apart from rare exceptions like Sunil Abraham of Mahiti.org in
Bangalore and the Sarai network in Delhi, and the Dehradun-based
publishers of 'Software Freedom') have appreciate the power of, or worked
seriously on, FLOSS.=20

[Disclosure of interest: I have received a print-media fellowship from
Sarai in the past year.]

Interestingly, this document is released under the terms and conditions o=
f
the GNU Free Documentation License. Surely a worthy read. I would
encourage everyone interested in taking this debate forward to please
persue it.

If you would like a copy, just send mail to [email protected] with the
subjectline FLOSS-PRESENTATION. Thank you. FN

PS: My apologies for reducing very interesting arguments to a few bytes o=
f
poorly-represented text. My limited abilities did not allow me to convert
the speaker notes, words he used and graphics into extracts in text
suitably. The presentation does a better job of that.=20

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *=20

FREE/LIBRE OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE AS OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT AID

Jordi Carrasco-Mu=F1oz
EC Delegation to Vietnam
[email protected]
[email protected]
_________________

Disclaimer:=20
	- The text represents the author's opinions only
	- Text released under GNU Free Documentation License
	- Request copies to the author
	- FORTHCOMING: Global Implementation Plan

Developing countries can neither miss the benefits of the IT revolution, =
nor
afford its cost (IPRs in particular)

Donors and multilaterals have a responsibility to provide an alternative,=
 if
available

FLOSS is today the only alternative available=20

PROPOSAL

ODA-FLOSS will be implemented. Why?=20

The question is: Who will be the first to do it?
I.T. REVOLUTION IN=20
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

IT is today's Industrial Revolution
Ability to leapfrog into latest technology
Complement Industrial Development
Small IT clusters, even in remote areas...

Quotes:=20

"Cost Windows XP + MS Office: Standard Version $560. Professional Version
$800. a) COST (for a country like) VIETNAM (where the GDP per capita
$440/year) XP+Office =3D 1 Year 3 months. XP+Office (Pro) =3D 1 Year 10 m=
onths.=20
a) COST (III) Cost-Equivalent for the US (GDP per capita $30,200/Year).
XP+Office =3D $38,436 XP+Office (Pro) =3D $54,909. (Is it very surprising=
 that
the) percentage of pirated Software in Vietnam (is) 97%" Source of
information: Amazon.com (13 May 2002)

"Microsoft 2000 localised in 24 languages. There are 8,500 languages in t=
he
world.... Open Office can be localised in 2 weeks."

"Like science, FLOSS builds as a community, on top of past work."

"No backdoors + No spyware."

"All software (on a sponsored distro) must be Free/Libre as defined by th=
e
Free Software Foundation.... All applications must be fully localised and
documented... Include Open Office. Why? ... The first version must be
Windows-based. Why?"

"Pareto's 80/20 Rule applied to software -- (20% of applications solve 80=
%
of needs). Substitutes a key application. Example for users that Open Sou=
rce
works. Other candidates: Mozilla, MySQL, Gimp, ... (suggestions welcome) =
Why
a Windows FLOSS CD-ROM? MS Windows is the way towards a full FLOSS system
(for private users).... Microsoft Windows runs on 94% of desktops. Privat=
e
users cannot be forced into FLOSS. We must earn their trust in FLOSS."


"Cost of a FLOSS CD-Rom: (quotation: www.goldenrom.com).  10.000 Copies -
$4,600 50,000 Copies - $17,500 100,000 Copies - $32,000 500,000 Copies -
$135,000 1,000,000 Copies - $250,000. Cost of ODA-FLOSS CD-Rom for
one-fourth of 'pirate' computers."

"Recycling legislation: Cheaper shipping PCs to developing countries than
recycling them (also tax deductible). Donated PCs tend to be stripped of
parts, software or licenses, using a FLOSS OS is an obvious choice."

"India (Simputer), Brazil, etc... are creating low-cost computers targete=
d
to low-income communities"