[vox-outreach] [education@wef.ucdavis.edu: Re: [Fwd: booth application]]

[Harold Lee]

The message from the WEF Education email seems to have missed the 
freedom, social justice and community building aspects of Open Source 
software. As computers become more and more integral to daily life, we 
need to ensure there are computing options available that are not 
controlled by corporate or government interests. Open Source software 
empowers people to express themselves, explore, share and discover in 
ways that no other software does.

Consider that many software license agreements have clauses that say:
* If you do not like our software, you may not publically critisize it.
* If you measure how well the software works, you may not share that 
information.
* You may not look at how the software works.
* Your right to use the software may be revoked for no reason, at any 
time, without a refund.

It is not safe to write these terms off saying "Yeah, but they'd never 
enforce them." When Microsoft was unhappy with the number of illegal 
copies of Windows being used in South Korea, they threatened the South 
Korean government that they'd take Microsoft software away from all of 
South Korea - legal users as well as illegal users.

With Open Source / Free software, nobody can take away your right to use 
it, or tell you how you may or may not use it, or what you can say about it.

 From the WEF page [ wef.ucdavis.edu ]:

"The mission of the Whole Earth Festival is to envision and create a 
community driven festival of education, music, and art." ... "We will 
rely on each other more and rely on corporations and oil less"

I think software is a critical area for people to consider if they want 
to fulfill this mission.

Consider also that using Open Source software like Linux also helps the 
environment. Because this software is more efficient, computers need to 
be replaced less often, saving the environment from the heavy metals and 
other toxic chemicals that are in computer hardware. Linux has far 
better support for old hardware than commercial operating systems.

Look at the requirement for Windows and Linux:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/systemrequirements.mspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_(Linux_distribution)#System_requirements

Windows requires 512 MB of RAM, and recommends 1024 MB to use all 
features. By contrast, Ubuntu Linux only asks for 256 MB of RAM for the 
same functionality. That means less consumerism and less harsh chemicals 
in the environment.

Nick Schmalenberger wrote:
> This sucks. I called their office and the guy I talked to said he
> thought we should have a booth, so it will probably be okay, but he said
> they should call me back next week. Gah. 
> ----- Forwarded message from Whole Earth Education <education at wef.ucdavis.edu> -----
>
> Subject: Re: [Fwd: booth application]
> From: Whole Earth Education <education at wef.ucdavis.edu>
> To: nick at schmalenberger.us
>
>   
>> Hi there Nick,
>>
>> I'm so sorry I haven't informed you earlier, but I've looked into Linux
>> Users Group of Davis, and it does not exactly relate to Appropriate
>> Technology.  The Atech booths mainly involve innovations like fuel cell
>> cars, solar panels, etc.  Sorry
>>
>> -Ayse
>>
>>     
>>> ---------------------------- Original Message
>>> ----------------------------
>>> Subject: booth application
>>> From:    "Nick Schmalenberger" <nick at schmalenberger.us>
>>> Date:    Sat, March 31, 2007 2:26 am
>>> To:      education at wef.ucdavis.edu
>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> Hello,
>>> I am coordinating the Linux Users Group of Davis booth at the Whole
>>> Earth Festival. Attached is our completed application. Thanks!
>>> Nick Schmalenberger
>>>
>>>