[Fsfe-uk] Re: Possible Event

[Paul Mobbs]

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On Sunday 14 September 2003 13:51, MJ Ray <address@hidden> wrote:

> > Are people aware of 'Aktivix' hat's taking place in Lancaster next
> > weekend?
>
> Personally, I think it's the first I've heard of it.  My fault for
> missing the link on Indymedia.org.uk which I should have seen.  The
> speakers aren't listed.  Who's giving the free software talks?  Were
> we asked?

I don't think so. This is heavy grassroots stuff. There's a whole load of 
community-based interest in Linux that bypasses most LUGs, mags, and other 
places where geeks congregate.

This is mainly being organised just for people who want to migrate, or extend 
what little Linux experience they have to work on small networks, setting up 
Smoothwall boxes to share 'Net access, etc. There's a very distinct movement 
emerging, linking local electronic arts and campaigns activists, who see 
Gnu/Linux as a means of using trash equipment to solve the digital deficit 
between corporates/government and unfunded community organisations. Having 
feet in both camps, what I find interesting is the wholly different emphasis 
in techno. priorities between the mainstream Linux users (e.g., my local LUG, 
Oxford) and some of the small groups I'm helping out at the moment. Most 
importantly, the important of trash-tech solutions to ICT access problems and 
the key role of Linux in enabling that.

I'm not sure of the full speakers list.. but I'm there doing some sessions on 
networks and security (have you seen my stuff?... 
http://www.fraw.org.uk/cltc/  + http://www.fraw.org.uk/salvageserver/ + 
http://www.fraw.org.uk/jamaica/index.shtml).

I think the value of an event like this is that it will provide and entry 
point for more "general"-public interest in Linux. The analogy I use is that 
in the late 80s, it was the activist community, after industry and academia, 
that provided the first major public use of the Internet. I have a feeling 
that Gnu/Linux may go the same way.



> This is off-list.

Not now - as you posted to the list, I will too. I just thought you might be 
interested to know that theres other things happen t'up n'th too.

Also, if anyone's in Lancaster, try and get into The Folly Gallery near 
Lancaster Castle. They've had a Linux access and training programme on the go 
since mid-2002.



P.



==========

"We are not for names, nor men, nor titles of Government, nor are we for
this party nor against the other but we are for justice and mercy and
truth and peace and true freedom, that these may be exalted in our nation,
and that goodness, righteousness, meekness, temperance, peace and unity
with God, and with one another, that these things may abound."
(Edward Burroughs, 1659 - from 'Quaker Faith and Practice')


Paul Mobbs, Mobbs' Environmental Investigations,
3 Grosvenor Road, Banbury OX16 5HN, England
tel./fax (+44/0)1295 261864

email - address@hidden
website - http://www.fraw.org.uk/mobbsey.html
public key - http://www.fraw.org.uk/keylist.html



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