Fsf-friends December 2008

fsf-friends@gnu.org.in

44 participants
75 discussions

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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FW: IISC and imposed monopoly rights - add to the debate please
by Senthil Sundaram (sensunda) 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

Hi, this is just a temproary space...to get community participation on material which needs to be added in here.. on one hand we have the issue of 'imposed monopoly rights' - on the other hand a premier institution is promoting this.. rquest knowledgable memebers in fsf-i to state their position on this..so that we can build a debate... -S http://notoimp.wordpress.com/2008/11/23/imp-policy-in-iisc-bangalore/ harish k singh : Can you look at the article at http://osindia.blogspot.com/2008/11/global-patent-troll-comes-to-india.h tml. The patents subsidized by our belowed govt is now in the hands of these trolls. Maybe we need to address these issues when the meeting in IISc happens next month.Incidently, this company's major investor is none other than microsoft. See http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/05/12/080512fa_fact_gladwell?cur rentPage=1. Rehat Venky : "Software patents are an important issue in India right now because there is a heated debate over how to interpret Section 3(k) which says that, "A mathematical or business method or a computer programme per se or algorithms are not patentable." How "computer programme per se" is interpreted is of vital importance to the FOSS community. Therefore a talk by RMS on software patents would be relevant at this point in time and would help raise awareness of how patents prevent independent invention and restrict the freedom of software developers."

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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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Fsf-friends December 2008