Cuba & Linux

[Bob Chandler]

This isn't the first story I've seen on Cuba embracing GNU/Linux, I
guess what made it news was Richard Stallman making a presentation at a
conference there.

I've heard enough Stallman speeches to know that he wouldn't simply be
talking about "technical" reasons for embracing free software but
political reasons as well.   These days Stallman views himself as being
more a "political activist" than software developer.

His main concern is people understanding the "four freedoms" outlined in
the GPL.  Those "four freedoms" which make free software possible for
all of us. And, he's concerned that these values have become lost...and
if we lose those values...we might in the long term lose free software
as well.

It just so happens that the values embraced by the free software
movement happen to coincide with the needs of many third world
countries.    They need to be able to have local software engineers
develop software that meets local needs...and you can't do that with
proprietary software.

Right now Cuban computers mostly run on pirated copies of Windows
obtained in Mexico or China...and they have no easy means to update that
software.   Use of Windows and proprietary software leaves them
dependent.   Free software allows them to become independent
software-wise.

Or maybe even better...it makes them "inter-dependent" on a world-wide
community where folks co-operate to accomplish some very good things!

As for Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, I think that every time he opens his
mouth we win more free software converts ;) 

Cheers,

Bob


> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 09:09:10 -0500
> From: "Scott Blayney" <scottblayney at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: Yahoo! News Story - Cuba embraces open-source software -
> 	Yahoo!	News
> To: "The Canadian Ubuntu Users Community" <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> Message-ID:
> 	<76eed5520702190609h297928acpabeba5089f88cec9 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
> 
> The story shows some hope for the people of Cuba.  But I worry that MS is
> trying to take a new approach at fighting Linux.  MS has labelled Linux as
> communism before<http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/07/31/ms_ballmer_linux_is_communism/>.
> Having communist Cuba adopt Linux isn't really going to endear it to the
> American people.  Maybe this is why they are running the story?  Just read
> how the story opens, "Cuba's communist government is trying to shake off the
> yoke of at least one capitalist empire ? Microsoft Corp. ? by joining with
> socialist Venezuela in converting its computers to open-source software."
> 
> Sounds like they're trying to turn a good technical choice into a decision
> to join the Communist Party, at least in the minds of those who don't know
> the real issues.  One more reason not to adopt Linux?  Am I just being
> paranoid?
> 
> Scott
> 
> On 17 Feb 2007 05:03:59 -0800, Laurie Bell <lveeb at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Laurie Bell (lveeb at yahoo.com) has sent you a news article.
> > (Email address has not been verified.)
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > Personal message:
> >
> > Very Interesting.
> >
> > Cuba embraces open-source software - Yahoo! News
> >
> > http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070216/ap_on_hi_te/cuba_software
> >
> > ============================================================