Fsf-friends November 2008

fsf-friends@gnu.org.in

47 participants
72 discussions

Way Vision Journey - Swadeshi Jagran Manch - Talk on Free Software Experiences - 29-11-2008 - 6.30 PM - Chennai
by Sri Ramadoss M 10 Dec '08

10 Dec '08

Will be addressing a gathering on Free Software Movement & Tamil Computing Experiences as part of "Way Vision Journey" event organized by Swadeshi Jagran Manch to be held at, Conference Hall, II Floor, Ma Foi Management Consultants, Natarajan Bay City Centre, New No. 309 (Old No. 197) Poonamallee High Road, Chennai - 600 010 Near: Pachiappa's College Land Mark: Kapico Maruthi Showroom on 29.11.2008 Saturday at 18.30 Hrs. Detailed Invitation of SJM can be downloaded from http://amachu.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/sjm_way_vision_journey.pdf -- Regards, Sri Ramadoss M

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Re: [Fsf-friends] [ubuntu-in] [OT slightly] Rant .gvfs & gnome-clock issues (specifically libgweather)
by shirish 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

Reply in-line :- On Sat, Nov 1, 2008 at 22:46, Onkar Shinde <onkarshinde(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Shirish, Omkar, > Your bug report is not very descriptive. It is not easy to understand. > Please update the bug report accordingly. That bug report is just to add the name the existing database, there would be need to be few others to tell the full story. > Also assuming that you are referring to the international airport at > Chakan, is it operating currently? I mean should we really expect the > location to be added in libgweather if it is not in operating state? Nope, the International Airport whose details I've put up is the one at Lohegaon from where limited flights happen. The code VAPO has been given to Lohegaon Airport. Giving below the references :- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pune_International_Airport or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pune_Airport http://www.world-airport-codes.com/india/lohegaon-5918.html http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=IN64220&sch=VAPO http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/civil_op_airports.jsp (This is the Airports Authority India Website) http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/pune_generalinfo.jsp So what I am referring to you is an Airport which is functioning, it also has a weather station whose code is given as VAPO, now whether its functioning or not, don't know, somebody told me its not functioning. That's all I know. > Onkar -- Regards, Shirish Agarwal This email is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ http://flossexperiences.wordpress.com 065C 6D79 A68C E7EA 52B3 8D70 950D 53FB 729A 8B17

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Statement of FSF India board on recent incidents
by sandeep reddy 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

>2. Was the "National Free Software Conference" in Kochi a follow-up to the conference held in Hydrabad in 2007? > No, it cannot be considered so. FSF India came to know about the `Second National Conference in Kochi` only when the organisers started sending mails to various fora about the >conference. We were surprised to see this because FSF India was one of the organisers of the first conference in Hyderabad. We tried to communicate with the organisers of the >conference in Kochi and clarify the situation. The facts will be clear from the communications we had with them in that regard that we are publishing now. >After the communications from FSF India, the organisers removed the reference to the first national convention organised by FSF India and renamed the convention in Kochi as >simply the 'National Free Software Conference'. >The Organisers of the event continued to refer to their event misleadingly as the followup to the first convention organised in Hydrabad by FSF India, jointly with Swecha and >University of Hyderabad. ######################### The one question that came to my mind after reading that post was, 'Does one name an event based on the people organizing it or based on the kind of event being organized?' Does your above stated answer mean that only if FSF India is part of the organizing team, an event can be called a National Conference from now on? Why are you refraining from accepting the 'National Conference in Kochi' as a follow-up to the conference held in Hyderabad, is still not clear. ----------------- I have not seen any active and live participation by FSF-I in any other place but the mailing list here, where you actively participate in warding of the blames put forth on you or simply criticize and comment on other's work. This is really annoying, the position you hold requires you to set an example to all those looking up to you. Don't mind me suggesting but i think it would be much appreciated by all of us if we could get to see some constructive work from your side.

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THE ROAD TO FREEDOM
by Arun M 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

We need some positive stories in between all the flame isnt it ? Here is one from Gudalur. How Adivasi movement relates to free software. http://guss.web4all.in/?p=14 With regards, Arun.

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Somebody vandalised the FSF-friends and FSUG Bangalore mailing lists
by Vikram Vincent 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

The mails I had posted in response to the statement by the FSF-I Board on the FSF-friends and FSUG-Bangalore mailing lists have been vandalised. See http://mm.gnu.org.in/pipermail/fsug-bangalore/2008-November/002447.html http://mm.gnu.org.in/pipermail/fsf-friends/2008-November/005788.html I am CC'ing all the currently listed list admins and RMS. To whoever did this: You cannot silence our voices by simply deleting mail content. I am resending my response. Greetings, >From http://www.gnu.org.in/board-statement-on-recent-issues <quote> * * *9. Are the members of the Director Board of FSF India elected? * <snip> As mentioned in the answer to an earlier question, FSF India is not a mass movement and is not a democratic organisation. The purpose of FSF India, as of FSF, is to provide guidance to the Free Software movement. This purpose could be easily defeated if it is made into an elected body. </quote> India is considered one of the biggest democracies in the world and the Free Software Movement is for the democratisation of technology and knowledge. However, the namesake of FSF in India ie., FSF-India, whose role is to lead the Free Software Movement has clearly defined itself as undemocratic. Let us take things objectively to analyse, debate and come to some sort of an understanding. Democracy, transparency and openness are considered the pillars of the free software movement. We talk about free(or open) standards, free knowledge, etc.. and then we hear "Democracy? That is only for theory." How can one ensure democratisation of knowledge if one is undemocratic? The Board of FSF-I may have to (re)read the works of Eben Moglen and actually implement it in their functioning. I think the following quote of Eben Moglen is important in this context. From http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Transcript_of_The_System_Of_Ownership_Of_Ideas "Haven't you heard," we say, "The era of presidents for life is over. We are holding elections, here. Here, we made this, its called democracy. Would you like some? Take it, its free." In solidarity with the Free Software Movement, Vikram Vincent

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FSF-I as a unifying force(WasRe: Statement of FSF India board on recent incidents)
by Vikram Vincent 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

Greetings, My observations are at the end. 2008/11/30 Nagarjuna G. <nagarjun(a)gnowledge.org>: <snip> > FSF was founded in 1985. What kind of hindrance did it create for not > letting democracy or freedom flourish? On the contrary it took the > lead in promoting and protecting these virtues. It gave the direction > to the movement. FSM created tools that help create social networks > to let this happen. It is therefore an enabler of freedom. <snip> > Political parties on the other hand want to administer social change, > but we do not do that. They want power and control but we don't. > > Free software movement is possible without creating any large > political groups. The most important identity that we respect is the > human being and that beings' freedom. When we have a large number of > small groups at every part of the country (an FSUG in every town, > district, we don't have them now.) FSM will flourish. FSFI will > support their formation, provide them direction, give them > infrastructure, invite the leads of such groups into the working > group, generate consensus etc. and support each other. <snip> > Let us all work towards such an organic growth, instead of creating > one large network of FSF chapters. let me repeat, FSFs do not want to > become a political powers, and does not want to govern. That will be > self-defeating to the ideals of freedom. FSF-I was formed in July 2001. The I-Lugs existed years before that. Now FSF-I should have worked for the conversion of the "Linux" to "Libre" as done in certain groups. Why divide the Movement by promoting FSUGs etc? To take free software(free knowledge) to the last (wo)man in the most backward villages of our country we need people of different backgrounds. I don't think that differences on the issue of Free vs. Open should have been a devisive issue. -- Vikram Vincent +919448810822 http://swatantra.org/

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Re: [Fsf-friends] Statement of FSF India board on recent incidents
by ajay kumar 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

dear friends local chapters are you saying that FSF-I should run like its run in Europe, Americas? that means we are trying to force solutions meant for other countries to that of ours! in order to have more people (in general terms we call "mass base") FSF-I must have local chapters. I mean considering your own views Just see the number of population in indian states they are as equal in population to that in each country in europe, this clearly shows the importance of having local chapters. On an average I think people sleep for 6 hours else if a person sleeps for months and years together, wake up a fine morning find themselves in losing there control over the foundation, obviously it makes them irritated, uncomfortable and the consequence is FAQ's in gnu.org. You people didn't even bother inform organisations that are mentioned in the FAQ's. board of directors When is the so called Board of Directors going to so called NOMINATE there new Board? most of the current board of directors are the same onces who are there since its inception which needs a change. (well power and control over FSF-I need to change) for everything that is old has to go and something new will always come into place and this transition dosn't happen smoothly. Well as the mails start poring in and that board of directors feel that they are baring the peoples quest for clarity, they are actually undermining the larger interest of the people. And to say "when you have a responsibility you don't bare things or say "patiently replying", rather you need to understand the pulse of the people". How long can you guys go on dictating terms like this? who can speak on behalf of fsf india? ha thats such a big joke. first you say that what ever the fsf-i board members say becomes the stand of fsf-i and then you say that fsf-i board will discuss it first and then say that "ITS THE BOARDS DECISSION". Well I need some more clarity the mails that arun, sasi and nagarjuna have mailed to this mailing list, are they the official stand and official statements of FSF-I? or are they just some personal views? Why do you guys make the rules and then break them? (by going on your own words "WE THE *BOARD OF DIRECTORS FSF INDIA* have the only right to dictate) i haven't seen any of you guys mention weather the statement that you are making is an official stand of fsf-i or its just personal views. other than the mention of "For instance, this FAQ is a statement from the Board." in the page that is on the gnu.org.in website there is no mention of it any were else. For instance http://www.google.com/search?q=satement+from+the+board+inurl%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2… when people at the top look bellow there feet they find lilliputs. When these lilliputs come face to face they suddenly become big, this is called as mass base and this mass base has to be organised in a democratic way. I am proud to be in a democratic country were i can express my views freely. I want that freedom back to the very organisation which i believed for and trusted for so many years has motivated and kept me free from escapism, opportunism. with love for freedom ajay kumar

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History of Free Software movement in India
by Anivar Aravind 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

Dear Friends In kochi conference I did a presentation on History of Free Software movement in India. (I presented my session after the boycott novell campaign and manhandling ) The slide of the presentation is available at http://anivar.movingrepublic.org/wp-content/uploads/storydom.pdf (Thanks Hiran for the Theme & design) I am planning to make this as an article. Please go through it and point if i missed any groups So please send your feedback Also it will help the people in this list to get the name of various groups contributed to the Free Software movement Anivar Aravind -- Any responsible politician should be encouraging a home grown Free Software industry because it creates the basis for future jobs. Learning Windows is like learning to eat every meal at McDonalds.

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Statement of FSF India board on recent incidents
by Arun M 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

Dear Friends Please find FSF India's statement on recent developments. http://www.gnu.org.in/board-statement-on-recent-issues I hope this addresses some, if not all, the questions. More documents will be published in the coming days. regards arun

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SAY NO TO M$-VTU CAMPAIGN : Blr : 29th Nov 2008
by Senthil Sundaram (sensunda) 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

Hi, I guess it was a good programme yesterday for free software ...we have to concentrate on the long term aspects...please do write on what we could do better..please make this a community report on what you thought is good and bad.. We had many people saying "NO TO M$-VTU" Lock In. the nice thing was we were able to have some new people From colleges : both lecturers and students ..a good representation from all sections of civil socitey i think somebody will have the media report and picutres.. thanks senthil 0) we started with a 1 minute silence for all the tragedy in bombay 1) Lecturers : RVCE(renuka) , Chirst(viki) , CMRIT(pramode) ( one new college) , 2) Students : christ , Amrita , bms-it, ait participated 3) We had research scholars from IISc 4) We had Dr Anja from IT for Change 5) We had a good number of programmers and people from the [proprietary] software industry - I think many companies were repesented ;) 6) the children from the slum computing center , wanted to make this a day out, to see what their teachers were upto..and sang a nice little song to end the program - a song which means "we are building the dreams for a new future" - they planned a visit to cubbon park, got late - but enjoyed the picnic of sorts..they were happy to see the encouragement they got from so many 'Drs and scientists" in blr.. 7) some students from bmsit came - but didn't like the 'street mode' - we explained to them why its important to take streets at times - we will work with them and are sure they will relaise the importance of this... 8) a good amount of material - press notes , fliers were in kannada this time - this is important - thanks to the suggestion of sri ramadoss 9) we also had some t.v channels covering it this time apart from the press..i do know the press people who came - please update 10) Dr Vijoo Krishnan, Head of Political Science . 11) Dr chaterjee - a scientist with Astro Physics 12) Parth from NRCFOSS also helped with the material. 13) Anivar from SMC 14) Renuka lecturer from RVCE 12) The student fedaration of india also had lent its support and said that it will take the issue of free software [ the left naturally takes to free software i guess ] 13) if we could have had a teachers union that would have been great.. 14) NRCFOSS also lent its support 15) There were folks from the kannada blogging community as well Thanks senthil

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Fsf-friends November 2008