<incom> FW: [Gov 482] TR: Open Source in ICT - Bridging the digitaldivide inAfrica
Michael Gurstein
gurstein at gmail.com
Thu Apr 10 20:37:39 CEST 2008
Hi Anriette,
Now we are getting into substance ;-)
Certainly I think that both Open Source and ICT for business are part of a
broader process of economic development which one hopes will do something
about "bridging the digital divide" (although as you know I prefer
"realizing effective use" as the goal rather than "bridging the digital
divide").
But what precisely that relationship is needs to be worked out on a case by
case basis and my own preferred (community informatics) approach (and the
one that I think works best in reality) is through empowering/enabling folks
at the grassroots level with ICTs (including with FOSS).
The role of the folks involved in "top down" approaches is to my mind one of
making sure that infrastructure and enabling environments (policies,
financing, training and so on) are in place. Whether or not those folks use
FOSS or MS or whatever is (and probably should be) a business decision and
doesn't I think have much relevance (except maybe moral) with respect to the
broader issues of ICT4D.
MG
-----Original Message-----
From: incom-l-bounces at incommunicado.info
[mailto:incom-l-bounces at incommunicado.info] On Behalf Of Anriette
Esterhuysen
Sent: April 10, 2008 8:07 AM
To: incom-l at incommunicado.info
Subject: Re: <incom> FW: [Gov 482] TR: Open Source in ICT - Bridging the
digitaldivide inAfrica
Dear Michael
Point on irony and the opportunism of the event
organisers taken... but... is open source and
ICT for business in Africa not part of bridging
the digital divide?
Anriette
From: "Michael Gurstein"
<gurstein at gmail.com>
To: "'Steve Cisler'"
<sacisler at yahoo.com>, <anriette at apc.org>,
<incom-l at incommunicado.info>
Subject: RE: <incom> FW: [Gov 482] TR:
Open Source in ICT - Bridging the digitaldivide
inAfrica
Date sent: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:00:49 -0700
> (Anriette I saw the announcement circulated on a Civil Society list
> and passed it along for irony purposes...
>
> My irony alert was activated primarily by the "Bridging the Digital
> Divide in Africa" part of the title...
>
> FOSS to my mind has long since made its peace with the biz suit crowd
> (for better or for worse), but I really wasn't clear where DD-A came
> into the picture except maybe through one of those old Upstairs
> Downstairs type BBC TV shows...with the servants eavedropping on
> "their betters" (while they were serving the drinks and turning the
> beds) and through natural talent, forebearance and pluck coming
> through in the end to save the day...
>
> (I think the deeper irony BTW is that in the current situation in
> Africa in order to sell a probably useful IT conference there is a
> need to (mis) label it with the DD banner so that IT folks (primarily
> from governments I would expect) can get their travel authorization
> approved (probably under DD or possibly CSR programmes) and for
> staying of course, in some of the most luxurious and expensive hotels
> in the world let alone Africa.
>
> MG
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: incom-l-bounces at incommunicado.info
> [mailto:incom-l-bounces at incommunicado.info] On Behalf Of Steve Cisler
> Sent: April 10, 2008 6:04 AM To: anriette at apc.org;
> incom-l at incommunicado.info Subject: Re: <incom> FW: [Gov 482] TR: Open
> Source in ICT - Bridging the digitaldivide inAfrica
>
>
> I certainly agree with Anriette on each item. The point has been made
> that aside from Red Hat there has been very modest commercialization
> of other open source businesses. Most seem to be design and consulting
> groups. At the drupal conference earlier this year http://acquia.com/
> was introduced with the creator drupal in a key position.
>
> I work with social entrepreneurs and most of them have gotten past the
> ambivalence that many people in NGOs, collaborative projects, have
> about money, but they understand the complexity of these issues.
>
>
> Anriette Esterhuysen <anriette at apc.org> wrote: Hallo Michael
>
> Yes.. this sounds just like a commercial IT
> conference targeting the business community.
> And I am not sure how this message ended up
> on incom.
>
> But, let me be devil's advocate....
>
> Is appropriation of FOSS by business not
> precisely what we want?
>
> How will things change if alternative models,
> ideas remain on the margins or the preserve of
> activists?
>
> Of course the struggle continues and we
> should be aware of how innovation rooted in
> challenging the status quo can be incorporated
> and 'neutralised'. This is true of FOSS as well.
>
> Nevertheless, I think it is great that FOSS has
> become mainstreamed in the places like South
> Africa, India and Brazil.
>
> This mainstreaming challenges monopolies like
> Microsoft much more effectively than uptake of
> FOSS in the NGO community.
>
> Anriette
>
> -----Original Message-----
> > From: incom-l-bounces at incommunicado.info
> > [mailto:incom-l-bounces at incommunicado.info] On Behalf Of Michael
> > Gurstein Sent: 09 April 2008 19:36 To: incom-l at incommunicado.info
> > Subject: FW: [Gov 482] TR: Open Source in ICT - Bridging the
> > digitaldivide inAfrica Importance: High
> >
> > Hmmm... An "open source" conference for "Bridging the Digital Divide
> > in Africa" that has a registration fee of (approx.) $1000 USD.
> >
> > MG
> >
> >
> > _____
> >
> > De : Michelle Marais
> > Envoyé : mercredi, 9. avril 2008 09:44
> > Objet : Open Source in ICT - Bridging the digital divide in Africa
> > Importance : Haute
> >
> >
> >
> > Open Source in ICT
> >
> > "Bridging the digital divide in Africa"
> >
> > 13th to 14th May,2008
> >
> > FNB Conference Centre, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
> >
> > Please find attached the Open Source programme and registration form
> > as per above.
> >
> > Open Source software presents an opportunity to cut costs, see
> > inside the software, demystify technology and understand the design
> > so that all users can adapt technology to meet their own needs. It
> > is widely seen as the key enabler for developing countries to
> > achieve technological self-determination. Open source can reduce
> > total cost of ownership, enhance security, and create a
> > vendor-independent network based on interoperability and open
> > standards. Open source software also provides the opportunity to
> > break free from the shackles of proprietary systems and expensive
> > upgrades. The use of open source software will "maximise the value
> > of ICT budgets" through savings on dollar-based license costs and
> > efficiency gains.
> >
> > Hear first hand experience of how successfully open source software
> > can work with existing applications, seamlessly integrating into
> > your current infrastructure, and harness the benefits of using open
> > source in the Public Sector.
> >
> >
> >
> > Due to the high demand and interactive nature of this event, seats
> > are limited and seats are only confirmed once the attached, signed
> > registration form is completed and faxed back to Michelle Marais at
> > The Business Zone 1073 on +27(21)557 1218
> >
> > Kind regards
> >
> >
> >
> > Michelle Marais
> >
> > Corporate Sales Line Manager
> >
> > The Business Zone 1073
> > "Conference, Corporate Training & Networking Specialists"
> >
> >
> >
> > Tel :+27(0) 861 829 663
> >
> > Tel: +27(0) 21 521 4400
> >
> > Fax:+27(0) 21 557 1218
> > e-mail: mmarais at businesszone.co.za
> > website: www.businesszone.co.za
> >
> >
> >
> > "It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do
> > yourself." Eleanor Roosevelt
> >
> > Electronic Communications Disclaimer: The information contained in
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>
> ------------------------------------------------------
> Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director
> Association for Progressive Communications
> anriette at apc.org
> http://www.apc.org
> PO Box 29755, Melville, South Africa. 2109
> Tel. 27 11 726 1692
> Fax 27 11 726 1692
>
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>
> Steve Cisler
> Center for Science, Technology, and Society
> Santa Clara University
> http://scu.edu/sts/ _______________________________________________
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------------------------------------------------------
Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director
Association for Progressive Communications
anriette at apc.org
http://www.apc.org
PO Box 29755, Melville, South Africa. 2109
Tel. 27 11 726 1692
Fax 27 11 726 1692
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