On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 2:21 PM, haynes davis haynesdavis@gmail.com wrote:
On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 9:06 AM, Anivar Aravind anivar.aravind@gmail.com wrote:
On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 3:34 PM, haynes davis haynesdavis@gmail.com wrote:
We have to correct any deviations of Kerala govt from its IT policy. But working together will be really tough (but not impossible) considering your blind anti cpim position which is doing more harm to the free software community.
Haynes,
The it can be a non-cpim position too. But Branding everything other than only -cpim position to Anti-CPIM position will not help for a movement.
right now non-cpim is a big vacuum regarding free software as far as political and government support is considered. Why our struggle does not seem to be productive in the other states and the central government?
Free Software movement is a Social Movement. If some states realised the arguments raised by a movement it is the victory of the Movement. You and me are part of that. You can Find various examples of Free Software & Open standards adoption in Central Govt Policies, 11th 5 year Plan, Knowledge Commission Report etc. On non-left ruled states, Tamil Nadu did some positive steps on Free Software adoption due to ELCOTs intervention. You can find similar examples from Other states.
I did a study about Free Software in Public Enterprises of Kerala for SPACE in 2005 October & November (Before Left Govt coming to power) . It clearly shows more than 95% of successful e-governance projects are on Free Software Platform . Most of them were not political decision and silent adoption by the developers (Report is available at http://space-kerala.org/downloads/foss.pdf )
And Left's adoption of Free Software Policy in Kerala is also a logical follow up of various actions & discussions initiated by Free Software Activists. Even the decision to adopt Free Software in IT@School was decided in an SCERT meeting (with the support of 85% of teachers) much before 2006 elections. But the govt came after election got the political advantage of this decision. and we are very happy about that because they are also helping FS movement by adopting new policies .
But when people are pushing Bush's binary logic of "Either you are with us or You are against us" (only-cpim positions and branding everything else as Anti-CPIM) we have to remind history.
Anivar
Haynes.