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Linux Advocacy in Ethiopia: A Traveller's Journal
Jutta Horstmann writes "At the Horn of Africa, little is known about Open Source. To change this, Jan Muehlig and Jutta Horstmann (relevantive AG, authors of last year's Linux Usability Report) set out to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Read their traveller's journal and get more information on Linux and Open Source in Ethiopia at relevantive.de/ethiopia." Their travel report is the most interesting section.
Not sure Open Source is terribly high on the list of priorities for a country like Ethiopia, but the concepts involved - such as the value of sharing exceeding the value of the material shared - are certainly important ones and would go a long way to combat the dangers of corruption and greed.
It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
Not to troll or anything, but what good is open source and computers if the people don't even have food and aren't exactly the most... advanced people around?
---
Never criticize religion on Slashdot. You will be modded down for "Troll" no matter how factual it is.
Forget open source; what about Open Plumbing?
"Skill shows through where genius wears thin." -Wittgenstein || Religion: uniting aviation and architecture.
What are you trying to draw? Looks like an airplane.
Linux advocacy worldwide is clearly important, but i'd like to highlight something far more pressing : poverty, disease, malnutrition. Honestly readers, which is a more pressing problem? The evil genius residing in Seatle, or the thousands of people dieing in Ethiopia?
I know what many might say, but i'm guessing dealing with the social problems there prior to trying to inflict technology on them might be the better option.
hmm i think that spreading linux/oss to other countries, particularly poverty stricken ones, is very important. it allows them to get software that they might otherwise be unable to afford. HOWEVER, im pretty sure that the hiarchy of needs comes into play here. that is, i dont think that most of these people could care less if you gave them a new decked out 'nix box or not. why? because they have to worry about stuff like food, clothing, shelter, and safety. satisfy those and THEN maybe these people will start to care about sharing of information...
Matt
You have 1 Moderator Point! Use it or lose it! Is that a threat? -vapid
Despite the fact that this may not be exactly what Ethiopia needs right now, it could help. If they could get computers and have some form internet access it would be a good way to spread modern farming pratices (if not equipment) to Ethiopia, which could improve hunger and poverty. That and outsourced tech jobs.
_____
Thank you.
The Christians have been trying to convert Ethiopians for decades now... how is this Linux conversion going to happen so quickly?
Well, Christians have a zealot quotient of about 6. OSS advocates on the other hand....
Okay, I could be wrong, but it is only on Slashdot that I believe I could find an article trying to sell a free OS to a populace that's known for its poverty and starvation levels. The religious parallels are pretty plain here, I think, where we've got Linux zealots, like Christians of the nineteenth century, going to "save those poor souls" from the damnation of proprietary software. This reminds me of the Richard Stallman dreck that began, "Well, it's free software, so it's ethical ..."
Now let's all cross ourselves and chant "Hail Stallman."
On Thursday, 1st of April, we first met the head of the School of Information System Technology of AAU. He showed no interest in the possibilities of Open Source Software regarding especially developing countries. Nevertheless he was using Linux as a tool for teaching special features of Operating Systems in his lecture on this topic.
Could it be that he showed no interest because he's grown up in a country where people die of malnutrition and corrupt leaders reserve aid money for their own consumption? But in the face of that he's got some quasi-religious technodipwad pointing out the oh-so-bitter ironies of how open source is viewed in this the-most-needful of nations.
God. It makes me want to go and do an install of Windows XP.
Chr0m0Dr0m!C
Linux is bigger than Jesus.
Sir, you can have this copy of SUSE Standard, or this copy of XP Professional and a corned beef on rye.
We would have also accepted: wealthy
from the article : The average annual income is 108 US$ (2004, [4]), but one has to keep in mind the large gap between poor and super-rich
No wonder why they whould be interested by open source... not even enough to pay for one Microsoft Windows licence...
Doh !
OSS Advocate: No, Kimbah. You install it on your computer!
Kimbah: :(
Hmmmmm, hungry!
There is no expressed or implied Linux trolling in this post. However, the obstacles facing anyone trying to bring Linux to Ethiopia are huge. My father taught me to fish where I knew there was fish. To me this is a project a decade too soon, clearly iceboxes to Eskimos.
Oddly though, I think Eskimos do need refrigerators to keep foods at an even temperature :P
Harpo Tunnel Syndrome--my wrist feels funny.
You can't eat a paperclip...
Simple: Food & the basics of Education, NOT expensive computers or software.
Excuse me, but I think that is a lie. I've seen images of those kids on the christian late night commercials, and they all have huge stomachs.
Seems like what they really need is a little excercise!
I think the idea behind it is if the tools to build/base the economy on are good, it'll help facilitate development of a economy that can produce that food/development/etc on its own. Giving food treats the symptoms, not the real problem. It does most certainly help, but ideally we want them to stand on their own two feet.
Making them aware of free, powerful software gives opportunities to people/natives of the country who otherwise may not be able to contribute to making a place in their economy due to the massive fees non-open source software often has. Now, that's not to say telling them about Linux will single-handedly let all sorts of small businesses spring up, but it will help SOME. Or so one would hope. If they can get their hands on a computer, then they won't have to pay through the nose for (say) microsoft on top of it. I'm sure just getting a working computer alone is enough luck for a new would-be businessperson. With open source, they won't have to jump through hoops for lisences on pricy products as well, and yet will still be able to use their computers for computing instead of as ugly uncomfortable stools.
Both food and linux have their place in the grand scheme of things!
There is not yet a single post here which does NOT say something along the lines of "who cares about software, these people need to eat/drink/quit starving to death". Screw your thinking caps on, people.
I'd like to remind everyone that legitimate copies of Windows and Office cost real money, in addition to money that must be spent on the HARDWARE used to educate Ethiopian IT students.
Cutting proprietary software out of the equation means IT workers in developing countries can spend LESS money on software and MORE money on hardware, which increases the availability of hands-on learning tools for these people.
These uncultured, un-evolved animals that inhabit the "countries" of Africa still have people in slavery, just like they did when Europeans got there.
What good is giving them open source or any sense of technology? They still make houses out of dirt.
Positively tasteless. I'm glad I have no mod points because I wouldn't know how to use them. I smiled but then again, I still want to slap you.
Anyone here speak Amharic? (See also Wikipedia: Amharic language.)
From the travel report:
From the Links to African Projects Page:
And the Ge'ez ftp server:
ftp://ftp.ethiopic.org/
Only Women Bleed (Sex, Sharia remix)
why are so many of you ignorant to that?
yes people need clothes, food, housing, water, healthcare etc but EDUCATION helps the people and economy to make those above things happen
My old vice-principal from High School (like, 13 years ago) is from Nigeria. He visits regularly. He lamented the fact that everyone seems to think everyone in Ethiopia is dying of starvation and suffers from famine. The reality is, yes, there are areas of Ethiopia that are hard hit with famine and starvation. However, the vast majority of the population lives in what we'd call "modern cities". They may not have the same living standards that Americans do (who does? We're the land of the obese), but they make do and some make better.
If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai
most of these fat white american nerds havent the slightest concept of africa's needs. they saw "live aid" on tv once
Man, those Ethernopians must be hungrier than I thought... I guess if you went without food long enough, a linux CD might look tasty.
Why don't you try replying to the post that originally posted the statement, not the one responding and merely quoting it?
"but what good is open source and computers if the people don't even have food and aren't exactly the most... advanced people around?"
Food is for their bodies.
Linux and computers are for their minds.
Both need to be fed if a society is to grow.
Bwa ha ha ha!!! Comedy Gold!!!
Well done, sir!
If I didn't know what Linux and Open Source were, I'd assume from stories like this that it's some sort of religion being spread by missionaries.
The timing is interesting. I had just written up a short composition on the digital divide for a class.
__
The general definition of the digital divide, by consensus of websites inquired
on Google[1], seems to be that of a "technological gap" between the
"haves" and "have-nots." The Digital Divide Network defines
the digital divide as "this gap between those who can effectively use new
information and communication tools, such as the Internet, and those who
cannot." A key point to raise is the importance of this "gap"
and whether or not such technological benefits like the Internet are holding the
"have-nots" back. One thing to note is that the "digital
divide" does not necessarily lie upon a line between the rich and the poor,
but even between people who choose not to use new technologies (either through
lack of access or through lack of knowledge and the fear that may come with
that) and those that do. The Digital Divide Network has more information on
this[3].
One major factor that the Internet seems to bring into is the effect it has on
education. The proliferation of information and the speed of that proliferation
on the Internet is often breathtaking. The immediacy and breadth of access that
students, particularly in Western-industrialized nations, is unlike anything we
have had before within human history. This could be an argument in favor of
defining the digital divide, and all attempts to bridge it. However, many times
this does not address more immediate needs that often exacerbate the digital
divide, particularly in poverty. Impoverished nations, especially, have
problems beyond simply lack of access to new technology and the Internet, such
as the quality or lack of education, which, however, could be helped by access
to new technology such as the Internet for the very reasons stated above.
India, the Philippines, Russia, and other such "Third World" nations
have been making headlines for "usurping" American jobs. An argument
could be made that they are simply taking advantage of new technologies and
their lower standard of living, just as any other person would use their
advantages to get a job. With that argument, one could further it by saying
that those nations are taking one route to "bridge the gap of the digital
divide."
Another issue to deal with is simply the lack of access certain areas,
particularly rural areas, have to technology. Getting technology to such areas
is often costly, and uneconomical for commercial entities. Technological access
to such areas must often be "donated" or some clever solution, such as
wireless access, must be conceived.
Finally, the lack of access is often created by a lack of education,
particularly within US schools. There are many who do not use something such as
the Internet simply due to lack of education, and possibly the fear of not
understanding how to use the technology. This is often exacerbated by the
cultures of the Internet that quite often have disdain for those who have little
or no understanding of how to use it. Another problem with the lack of
education is that there can be difficulty in obtaining education due to the fast
pace at which technology advances. However, one could argue that while
technology often advances at blinding speed, the usage of such technology
usually stays the same for long periods of time, and so the education in the
usage of technology is unlikely to be quickly antiquated.
Bridging the digital divide may not be necessary for the "have-nots"
to survive, or, in the case of the impoverished, necessary to find wealth, but
it can be a route out of poverty. The United States went through some horrific
times to get to the point it is at now, as did many other modern industrialized
nations, but many would argue that currently impoverished nations should n
// file: mice.h
#include "frickin_lasers.h"
"To that end, technology is highly relevant. You can't fix the problem by trying to first fix poverty and then second trying to improve the technology. If you don't work on the technology, you'll never fix the poverty."
OK, so what computers came over on the Mayflower?
I've been watching on TV about all the starving African kids for over 10 years. So, by my count, all the starving kids should have died by now and there'd be plenty of food for everyone... But they're still fucking and still having kids that they can't feed. I don't get it. If these people are so hungry they can't swat a fly on their own face, how the hell are they reproducing?
At least Bill Gates and his "foundation" do donate money to the poor and hungry. Sure, its a much (or more) of a PR stunt that actual morality, but it beats a couple of Linux zealots pestering people who are more concerned about living long enough to have children, let alone save $199 by using Open Source.
How many slashes would a slashdot dot, if a slashdot could dot slashes?
You can't really see a US sponsored team going to Africa without peddling chriatianity and Windows, can you?
As someone else pointed out, Ethiopian's have been Christian a lot longer than the English. The country is predomintly Eastern Orthodox Christian and has been since the fall of the Roman Empire. My family was stationed there during the early sixties when I was very young and my parents have a lot of Eastern Orthodox Ethiopian friends still to this day.
Linux is bigger than Jesus.
Crap, how does one mod that? Is it informative, insightful, off-topic, flamebait? Perhaps this is a good time for a +5 Flamebait$> more food
That's why I posted in anonymously. It could have very possibly shot to +5 funny and would have fucked my karma going up and down (no gain for funny but you lose on troll, flame, etc.)
I think that anything that makes access to technologies like the Internet easier can help underdeveloped countries tremendously. The internet for example can provide information on agricultural technology, medical technology, etc. Food security is only one readily apparent aspect of a multi-faceted problem. A sound technolgical/educational base can help provide the necessary support for the development of infrastructure. In many cases, third world economies when making the transition from subsistence farming, experience terrible difficulties because of companies like Microsoft. Their fragile developing economy becomes enmeshed with explotive super-capitalists like Microsoft, which leaves them dependant on overpriced monopoly products that they can ill afford. The alternative is usually then software piracy, which in turn creates "special interest groups" that are essentially paid mouth pieces for these companys to enforce their monopoly by means of getting the country's courts and jails to be tied up punishing their citizens for hardly important crime. Microsoft are doing this all over Asia as we speak. They fund companies that lobby for increased jail time and harsher penalties etc, etc to make sure that the country's laws wield a big stick ensure their markets. In between discounting and free samples, just like a drug pusher really. What these people appear to be doing is not at all trivial or irrelevant. It's big picture stuff, and to me that's what the Internet and Open Source is really all about. It's really not so simple as mere food subsistence.
Si tacuisses philosophus mansisses. If you had kept quiet, you would have remained a philosopher.
When you clear 990$ a year (per capita), Linux makes alot of sense.
. pd f
http://www.worldbank.org/data/databytopic/GNIPC
"Buy Win Xp? Eat? Buy Win Xp?... Eat."
I watched a show called Seriously Funny on the CBC, and there was this American mocking his country when he was joking about gun laws:
...give a man a gun, and he can steal fish to feed himself for today.
"Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime"
(Not trolling or flamebaiting)
"There is no spoon." - The Matrix
The idea when helping underdeveloped countries is 'appropriate technology'. You give people help developing the kind of technology that they can use to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. There are lots of examples of such technology.
i cl e/0,8707,171453,00.html
....
My favorite third world computer project is the 'computer in a wall' experiment in India.
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/technology/art
Give a man a fish
See title.
They might not know about open source in Ethiopia, but I'll bet you the shirt off my back they all know about 'free software' ;-)
Piracy is actually a legitimate reason why open source isn't as easy to spread in poorer countries. People in poorer countries tend to pirate and not have the threat of any punishment hanging over their heads. Of course, I salute the march of open source software the world over, but it won't be until these countries fully step up onto the world stage that they'll get a significant advantage out of it over using pirated stuff.
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I'm not challenging the importance of the OSS movement, but we need to pick our campaigns better. The necessities of life should take higher preference than technology. I can't imagine talking an average member of their population to consider the OSS movement anywhere nearly as important as food, water, or agriculture. Getting an early start is important in this movement, but you don't throw a kindergarten student into SAT prep classes.
I seriously suspect these two men may have been more interested in procuring cheap sex than promoting open source. For a few dollars they can have full blown sex or 8$ for a full night. I would suggest these two sexplorers be more concerned about open sores than open source.
Most Ethiopians are very brand conscious, and no one will buy a computer in Ethiopia if it does not come with MS Office. And every corner you see a computer training schools that has introductory courses for Word/Excel/Access for like 10 - 20 dollars that span a few months.
We tried selling Compaq computers a few years ago, and failed. Now our supplies are limited to the UN, OAU and Embassies.
And besides local assemblers sell a computer most of it based on SIS chipset/motherboards for about Birr 4000 about 450 dollars including a 14" monitor. And these come with all sorts of software including Win XP, MS Office,etc.
Ethopia has in fact been Christian longer than the actual existence of England and the modern English people.
Si tacuisses philosophus mansisses. If you had kept quiet, you would have remained a philosopher.
Why would the ability to pirate not free (Windows) software affect use of open source (Linux)? Are you saying that Linux isn't as good as Windows? Fucking troll!
Some friends and I did a similar thing in Burma a couple of years ago, except focusing on opensource's security aspects and handing out OpenBSD distros.
or somewhere in orbit above us
lmfao
Sorry, Ethiopian has more Muslims than Christians, although you're correct in stating that the Eastern Orthodox Church is important and widespread there. Nevertheless, Islam is predominant.
Chr0m0Dr0m!C
Get in my tummy!
Get in my tummy!
Saying Java is nice because it works on all OS's is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders.
I just heard some sad news on talk radio -- TV host Sean Hannity was found dead in his hotel room tonight after a book signing. The coroner has not yet officially ruled it a suicide, but apparently that's what it's going to be ruled.
I'm sure everyone in the Slashdot community will mourn his passing -- even if you didn't agree with him, there's no denying his contributions to popular culture. Truly an American icon.
Capital is indeed the problem in Ethiopia, as it is with most of the world's poor.
If someone wants to start a shoeshine business in Addis they need a box, some soap and a rag. To get a shoeshine box you need capital. You can get money from moneylenders who often charge upwards 100% interest per day. Even if you do manage to start a business, there is no secure way to save the money you earn. Money under the mattress is still the dominant savings scheme throughout much of the world.
Most development methods have been utter failures, but the concept of Microfinance is a revolution in development that tackles this specific problem. Basically the poor are given loans (on the order of $10 for 3 months) to start small businesses. Loans must be paid back, with interest. Loans are typically given to women, who invest the money in businesses that will make money which then goes directly back to the needs of the family. There are millions of people around the world that are pulling themselves up out of povert thanks to this great idea.
If you are interested in Microfinance check out Opportunity International, or read this excellent book: Banker to the Poor
What people often seem to overlook is the fact that underdeveloped countries are not undeveloped countries.
I've been to places where the average wage is US $40/mo, yet manage to sustain things like internet cafes and cellphone coverage. Obviously there must be a very wide income spread, but things like this surely mark the start of something better.
When people talk of bringing internet access to the developing world, they don't dream of bringing them icq and porn. It's a practical way to spread knowledge and also allows local businesses to open up wider markets.
I wonder how long it'll take 'til western IT jobs get outsourced to ethiopia, that kind of aid is worth far more than tins of anchovies.
I was in Ethiopia in January . It is a place rich in history, culture, wildlife and adventure. The potential for tourism is great, and the infrastructure to support such an industry is growing. Enterprising individuals are spending their life savings to get a computer and an internet connection so that tourists can check their email from remote mountain villages. Yet they know little about what they are buying or what to do with it once they have bought it.
Every computer I used in Ethiopia was Windows and full of every type of Spyware and "click this button to speed up your computer" program you can imagine. Multiple times I was asked to come in and help fix somebody's computer, merely because I was a Westerner (they had no idea I work on computers for a living). If there was a simple Linux distribution that provided dial up web access with the normal internet cafe type tools (a timer, restricted access rights, etc) a major difference could be made in Ethiopia and indeed all over the tourist trail. If it was in the local language, well even better.
Tourism is a valid way to develop and support a country (6th largest industry in the UK), and is indeed one of the top priorities of Ethiopia. Open Source is a great enabler for this.
I really doubt it.
I really don't know if you are rather naive or blissfully and completely misinformed.....
As long as the Ethiopian goverment does not settle with Eritrea and balk at agreements by independents organizations, all the rest is secondary, since oportunities of development will never exsit because the few resources of the country will be squandered in the war effort....
IANAL but write like a drunk one.
Of course, Geek Corps have been trying to promote IT development in parts of Africa for several years. I don't think they've gone to Ethiopia, but they have certainly been busy elsewhere.
For such non-profit organizations, Linux and OSS provide a very nice platform.
Note: Geek Corps was founded by a good friend of mine.
-John.
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Uh, not just decades. It's been done since the first century AD - and more successfully than in the Western world.