[eside-ghost] GNU/Linux en el Foro Social Mundial de Bombay

[Pablo Garaizar Sagarminaga]

No to Globalisation, no to Microsoft
By Bindi Menhta, Yugantar Newspaper, 3/January 19,2004

Distributed with permission of the author

GNU Linux is the buzzword at the Media Center of the WSF 2004 as
journalists try to lear to use this operating system even as eager
volunteers are always around to help them. The whole lot of 140 desktop
computers in the media center work on GNU Linux, an operating system and
software package distributed by Free Software Foundation India (FSF
India).

The Free Software movement is based on the idea that software is not a
commodity; when a person gives software to someone else, he is only
making a copy, he's not losing anything. Based on this idea, there
should be no restrictions about how many people should use the software
or how it is used. Free software is always distributed with its source
code. Thus, free software grants its users the freedom to use software
for any purpose. The whole idea of freedom meets the WSF ideals of a
free fair and just world.

When Dr. Nagarjuna, Director, FSF India and Scientist at TIFR (Tata
Institute of Fundamental Research) came to know that the WSF 2004 was
happening in Mumbai, he went and approached the Organising Committee and
put forth a proposal before them. He told them that: "You cannot build
another world without freedom. Software is made of symbols and it should
be free. Distributing software is like disseminating knowledge where the
giver does not lose anything. If you want to change the way people work
and if you don't want multinationals to dominate the world, free
software is your best option". The organizing Committe of thw WSF
accepted his proposal and the media center is now running successfully.

FSF India has customised the GNU Linux OS (Operating System) to meet the
requirements of the WSF 2004. A unique feature of this customised
version is that it allows users to choose the language of operation;
there is a wide choice of languages ranging from Indian ones like Hindi
to foreign ones like Spanish, Japanese and more. The software at the WSF
2004 definitely seems to be playing its role in social change.

Com Gautam Modi, media and communication in-change at the WSF 2004 says
that they went in for GNU Linux as it is an open source software as
against proprietary software which is sold without its source code. "We
are making a statement when we choose GNU Linux, we are saying that we
don't want patents and copyrights for technology. GNU Linux is
distributed for free and its source code is publicly available. Contrary
to this, Microsoft represents the worst case of monopolistic capitalism
and it upgrades ever so often that you are forced to change your
software. GNU Linux is also less suceptible to viruses which has helped
the co-ordination of a large-scale event like ours," explains a
satisfied Modi.

Journalist at the media center are showing mixed reactions towards the
operating system. The main needs of journalists are to transfer pictures
from digital cameras to the computer, file and format text adn send
e-mail i.e. use the Internet. Ana Paula Stock, a media person form
Brazil, who works with the World Social Library feels that if these
functions are simplified, then using Linux becomes very easy. She has a
Brazilian version of GNU Linux on her laptop, which she is learning to
use. As far as the switch from Windows is concerned, she says: " This is
a great step. I am afraid to mess up sometimes but I want to learn.
There should be more workshops and publicity for GNU Linux." Philip
Joseph, and Indian journalist with Lokmat group says that choosing GNU
Linux is a good step as it's easy to use, it's free and it's quick.

Volunteers have a touch job to handle as journalists keep them at their
beck and call while they learn to use the new system. However, they
don't seem to be complaining.  Neha Tikiya, a computer engineering
student and a vulunteer at the media center says: "Using a system like
GNU Linux gives us a lot of freedom for innovation. We have the source
code so we can changes in the basis structure. Free software means that
the software is mukt and not muft" The WSF spirit definitely seems to
have penetrated across all segments of its participants as the above
opinions show.

"Don't use any technology that doesn't give you the right to repair it.
Code cannot be a commodity, it should be a service.". Dr. Nagarjuna,
Director, FSF India

-- 
Agur
  Pablo Garaizar Sagarminaga
  garaizar en eside.deusto.es