[ubuntu-uk] [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [lugmaster] Fwd: Linux-refurbished Laptops for Nepal Appeal!]
With the discussion on this list about doing work for charity, and reusing computers I thought this mail on the UK LUGMaster list might be interesting to the group. Cheers, Al. - Forwarded message from Mark Broadbent [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 11:27:38 + From: Mark Broadbent [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [lugmaster] Fwd: Linux-refurbished Laptops for Nepal Appeal! Hi All, I've been asked by a member of my LUG (Herefordshire) if the following notice could be circulated around as many LUGs as possible please. All follow-ups to this should be directed to Matt Rhys-Roberts at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks Mark Broadbent Herefordshire LUG --- A small business in North Wales has hit upon the idea of supplying a school in an impoverished area of Nepal, with refurbished laptop computers running Linux. In their own words: The Shree Garma Secondary School is in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal and is only 40 miles from Everest. It is extremely isolated and there are no roads. It can be reached by an internal flight from Kathmandu followed by a three hour walk. It is obviously very poor and most people are subsistence farmers. The school caters for around 150 children of all ages. They have only the most basic facilities and no electricity. Their main priority is to have computers. Initially we are going to try and supply them with six lap top computers which can be charged in houses which do have electricity and longer term our aim is to develop a hydro power station which could potentially provide electricity to many houses as well as the school. Katlan Trading Company based at The Souk in Llangollen is committed to helping this school through importing goods from Nepal. A percentage of all sales will go direct to the school. We are not a registered charity but instead are aiming to help through direct trade. The company wishes to enlist the help of any UK LUG members who can a) gather unused laptops, b) install Linux on them, and c) send them to a central collection point to be announced. The ideal Linux distro remains to be decided, since equipment will vary greatly. However it is hoped, hardware permitting, that each laptop will have installed on it a minimum of: a working X server, OpenOffice (or smaller office apps for lesser machines), a graphics package, printer and network support, email, IRC, and of course the Nepali language as far as possible. There appears to be a Nepali distro already underway at http://www.nepalinux.org/ , which may be suitable for some hardware. For lesser machines, perhaps Damn Small Linux, Vector Linux or Knoppix may be more appropriate. The village has no phone network yet, but one is anticipated there within the next 2 years! Please contact me if you can contribute in any way to this project. I aim to help coordinate efforts to source donated laptops, test them, install appropriate software, then perform a final quality check. We are still at the planning stage, seeing who's really available to help. No doubt this project could generate some very good publicity for Linux abroad, waste prevention and fair trade. Regards, Matt Rhys-Roberts, Wrexham [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Herefordshire LUG member) PS. Further reading for inspiration (it looks like there's already a good growing Nepalese Linux user base!): http://www.researchut.com/repository/linux-nepal.html A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting GNU/Linux in the kingdom of the Himalayas http://www.nepalinux.org/ The new release NepaLinux 1.1 is a relatively bug-free and revised version of the previous beta release. http://www.linuxnepal.com.np/aboutus/ A Linux enthusiasts' site in Nepal - - -- Mark Broadbent * http://www.wetlettuce.com/ ___ lugmaster mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/lugmaster - End forwarded message - -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
[ubuntu-uk] [Fwd: [SWLUG] Open government IT projects]
Slightly off-topic I'm afraid. Thought this might be interesting to some of the Ubuntu UK team members... Original Message Subject: [SWLUG] Open government IT projects Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:35:24 + (GMT) From: Steve Hill [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I've created a petition on the E-petitions website, promoting the idea that the tax payer should have access to the source code of IT projects we have paid for: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Open-IT-projects/ Please sign it if you agree with the principle (obviously there are exceptions where projects cannot be open, such as defense, etc). Software written using public funds should have it's source code published under a distribution licence that has been declared Free by the Free Software Foundation, rather than remaining a closed secret. This would allow for more of the public to benefit from the development of the software since the code would be available for anyone to use and improve. Furthermore, compatibility with other Free licences (such as the GPL) would promote rapid development and reduced costs through the reuse of existing code. An open development model would also allow the public to be more informed of the progress and quality of these projects, which so frequently seem to end up severely over budget. -- - Steve -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [lugmaster] Fwd: Linux-refurbished Laptops for Nepal Appeal!]
These people need to be educated to get them out of poverty Giving them access to computers helps them get an education. I think places like this should have internet cafe style places where they can plug in their equipment and get an education. Ask any recent 1sy world homeschooler and they will tell you how important a computer was in their education. Yes there are other priorities like medicine and water, but as computer experts we can also contribute with what we are experts in. They should not be left behind in the digital age. Computers and the internet are a big part of todays world infrastructure. --- alan c [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: (thanks for the information) I very much welcome the efforts by the organisers, although there are unanswered questions implied - I cannot really understand the apparent priority need for computers when the local communications (telephone, internet connection) are not in place yet. A similar thought occurs relating to power, where a priority would come to mind for a power generator first, maybe for facilities other than computers. The suggestion of various distros is also a little unrealistic - to my mind anyway - for a learning situation in a remote location - each distro will make very different demands on the users (in)experience. I note this possibility but I will be continuing to look for other possibilities. alan cocks Alan Pope wrote: With the discussion on this list about doing work for charity, and reusing computers I thought this mail on the UK LUGMaster list might be interesting to the group. Cheers, Al. - Forwarded message from Mark Broadbent [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 11:27:38 + From: Mark Broadbent [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [lugmaster] Fwd: Linux-refurbished Laptops for Nepal Appeal! Hi All, I've been asked by a member of my LUG (Herefordshire) if the following notice could be circulated around as many LUGs as possible please. All follow-ups to this should be directed to Matt Rhys-Roberts at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks Mark Broadbent Herefordshire LUG --- A small business in North Wales has hit upon the idea of supplying a school in an impoverished area of Nepal, with refurbished laptop computers running Linux. In their own words: The Shree Garma Secondary School is in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal and is only 40 miles from Everest. It is extremely isolated and there are no roads. It can be reached by an internal flight from Kathmandu followed by a three hour walk. It is obviously very poor and most people are subsistence farmers. The school caters for around 150 children of all ages. They have only the most basic facilities and no electricity. Their main priority is to have computers. Initially we are going to try and supply them with six lap top computers which can be charged in houses which do have electricity and longer term our aim is to develop a hydro power station which could potentially provide electricity to many houses as well as the school. Katlan Trading Company based at The Souk in Llangollen is committed to helping this school through importing goods from Nepal. A percentage of all sales will go direct to the school. We are not a registered charity but instead are aiming to help through direct trade. The company wishes to enlist the help of any UK LUG members who can a) gather unused laptops, b) install Linux on them, and c) send them to a central collection point to be announced. The ideal Linux distro remains to be decided, since equipment will vary greatly. However it is hoped, hardware permitting, that each laptop will have installed on it a minimum of: a working X server, OpenOffice (or smaller office apps for lesser machines), a graphics package, printer and network support, email, IRC, and of course the Nepali language as far as possible. There appears to be a Nepali distro already underway at http://www.nepalinux.org/ , which may be suitable for some hardware. For lesser machines, perhaps Damn Small Linux, Vector Linux or Knoppix may be more appropriate. The village has no phone network yet, but one is anticipated there within the next 2 years! Please contact me if you can contribute in any way to this project. I aim to help coordinate efforts to source donated laptops, test them, install appropriate software, then perform a final quality check. We are still at the planning stage, seeing who's really available to help. No doubt this project could generate some very good publicity for Linux abroad, waste prevention and fair trade. Regards, Matt Rhys-Roberts, Wrexham [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Herefordshire LUG member) PS. Further reading for inspiration (it looks like there's already a good
Re: [ubuntu-uk] [Fwd: [SWLUG] Open government IT projects]
Similar idea to the bill referenced in: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/05/19/ms_in_peruvian_opensource_nightmare/ a very good read ! On Mon, 2007-01-22 at 15:55 +, Benjamin Webb wrote: Interesting idea, I think I might sign it. Just one thing so, could you give me some examples of the programs this would apply to - just want to know what I'm asking to be freed up by putting my name on there. --Bjwebb On 22/01/07, Andrew Price [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Slightly off-topic I'm afraid. Thought this might be interesting to some of the Ubuntu UK team members... Original Message Subject: [SWLUG] Open government IT projects Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:35:24 + (GMT) From: Steve Hill [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I've created a petition on the E-petitions website, promoting the idea that the tax payer should have access to the source code of IT projects we have paid for: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Open-IT-projects/ Please sign it if you agree with the principle (obviously there are exceptions where projects cannot be open, such as defense, etc). Software written using public funds should have it's source code published under a distribution licence that has been declared Free by the Free Software Foundation, rather than remaining a closed secret. This would allow for more of the public to benefit from the development of the software since the code would be available for anyone to use and improve. Furthermore, compatibility with other Free licences (such as the GPL) would promote rapid development and reduced costs through the reuse of existing code. An open development model would also allow the public to be more informed of the progress and quality of these projects, which so frequently seem to end up severely over budget. -- - Steve -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/ -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
[ubuntu-uk] [Fwd: [SWLUG] Open government IT projects]
Disclaimer: I'm not an Ubuntu user, but I was pointed at this response by Andrew Price so thought I would join the list to reply in the open. Interesting idea, I think I might sign it. Just one thing so, could you give me some examples of the programs this would apply to - just want to know what I'm asking to be freed up by putting my name on there. I'm thinking of any government IT project in general, excluding things like military projects in which national security would be harmed by embracing an open development model. So stuff like the (massively overbudget) NHS database, etc. The general thought is three-fold: 1. As tax payers, we have paid for some source code to be developed, so unless there's a really good reason, shouldn't we be allowed the use of that code? 2. By choosing a suitable Free licence, it is possible to reuse code (both from old government projects and from other Free projects), which would hopefully reduce the ongoing costs of developing these systems. Using existing, high quality code as the basis for projects may also enable smaller businesses to compete with the large companies who have been used previously to build software for scratch (e.g. EDS). 3. An open development model would allow technical members of the public to see what the state of a project is and what problems are being encountered. Also, for things like the biometric passport database, security is very important, and I for one trust the security of open systems more than closed systems (whilest I may not agree with databases like this, if I'm going to be required to submit data for storage in it I want to be sure that data is as secure as possible). -- - Steve xmpp:[EMAIL PROTECTED] sip:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.nexusuk.org/ Servatis a periculum, servatis a maleficum - Whisper, Evanescence -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] [Fwd: [SWLUG] Open government IT projects]
Alistair Crust wrote: Similar idea to the bill referenced in: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/05/19/ms_in_peruvian_opensource_nightmare/ a very good read ! absolutely. I chanced across it recently and even though it took ages to read (long) it was quite riveting! -- alan cocks Kubuntu user#10391 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [lugmaster] Fwd: Linux-refurbished Laptops for Nepal Appeal!]
John McCourt wrote: These people need to be educated to get them out of poverty Giving them access to computers helps them get an education. I think places like this should have internet cafe style places where they can plug in their equipment and get an education. Ask any recent 1sy world homeschooler and they will tell you how important a computer was in their education. Yes there are other priorities like medicine and water, but as computer experts we can also contribute with what we are experts in. They should not be left behind in the digital age. Computers and the internet are a big part of todays world infrastructure. I do not disagree with your points at all. However, I think that putting limited effort - focused onto the actual computers- may be unrealistic for the stage they are at. I am a long time supporter of Intermediate Technology, wateraid, and I have recycled many pcs here for the elderly or others. And we gave a goat (note 1) via oxfam for xmas I certainly believe action needs to be taken. Somewhere there will be a need for computers and help where they have already taken two years to get power and a have a phone line, and now all they need are computers and software and help. The judgement about how effort is to be spent is not one that computer know how is good at. Some charity efforts may be well meaning but if ill judged may be perhaps wasted. At the Linux World show at Olympia last october we found that an international charity (computeraid.org) was sending out PCs with ubuntu. They have contacts, field workers, etc. there will be other charities also. Note 1: In our family, the goat was given the hopefully inappropriate name of 'Barbecue' -- alan cocks Kubuntu user#10391 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [lugmaster] Fwd: Linux-refurbished Laptops for Nepal Appeal!]
What a really brilliant idea. I am so proud of everyone. Wish I could help. I hope lots of people come forward. Caroline On 22/01/07, Alan Pope [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: With the discussion on this list about doing work for charity, and reusing computers I thought this mail on the UK LUGMaster list might be interesting to the group. Cheers, Al. - Forwarded message from Mark Broadbent [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 11:27:38 + From: Mark Broadbent [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [lugmaster] Fwd: Linux-refurbished Laptops for Nepal Appeal! Hi All, I've been asked by a member of my LUG (Herefordshire) if the following notice could be circulated around as many LUGs as possible please. All follow-ups to this should be directed to Matt Rhys-Roberts at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks Mark Broadbent Herefordshire LUG --- A small business in North Wales has hit upon the idea of supplying a school in an impoverished area of Nepal, with refurbished laptop computers running Linux. In their own words: The Shree Garma Secondary School is in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal and is only 40 miles from Everest. It is extremely isolated and there are no roads. It can be reached by an internal flight from Kathmandu followed by a three hour walk. It is obviously very poor and most people are subsistence farmers. The school caters for around 150 children of all ages. They have only the most basic facilities and no electricity. Their main priority is to have computers. Initially we are going to try and supply them with six lap top computers which can be charged in houses which do have electricity and longer term our aim is to develop a hydro power station which could potentially provide electricity to many houses as well as the school. Katlan Trading Company based at The Souk in Llangollen is committed to helping this school through importing goods from Nepal. A percentage of all sales will go direct to the school. We are not a registered charity but instead are aiming to help through direct trade. The company wishes to enlist the help of any UK LUG members who can a) gather unused laptops, b) install Linux on them, and c) send them to a central collection point to be announced. The ideal Linux distro remains to be decided, since equipment will vary greatly. However it is hoped, hardware permitting, that each laptop will have installed on it a minimum of: a working X server, OpenOffice (or smaller office apps for lesser machines), a graphics package, printer and network support, email, IRC, and of course the Nepali language as far as possible. There appears to be a Nepali distro already underway at http://www.nepalinux.org/ , which may be suitable for some hardware. For lesser machines, perhaps Damn Small Linux, Vector Linux or Knoppix may be more appropriate. The village has no phone network yet, but one is anticipated there within the next 2 years! Please contact me if you can contribute in any way to this project. I aim to help coordinate efforts to source donated laptops, test them, install appropriate software, then perform a final quality check. We are still at the planning stage, seeing who's really available to help. No doubt this project could generate some very good publicity for Linux abroad, waste prevention and fair trade. Regards, Matt Rhys-Roberts, Wrexham [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Herefordshire LUG member) PS. Further reading for inspiration (it looks like there's already a good growing Nepalese Linux user base!): http://www.researchut.com/repository/linux-nepal.html A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting GNU/Linux in the kingdom of the Himalayas http://www.nepalinux.org/ The new release NepaLinux 1.1 is a relatively bug-free and revised version of the previous beta release. http://www.linuxnepal.com.np/aboutus/ A Linux enthusiasts' site in Nepal - - -- Mark Broadbent * http://www.wetlettuce.com/ ___ lugmaster mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/lugmaster - End forwarded message - -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/ -- --- London School of Puppetry www.londonschoolofpuppetry.com -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
