No OLPCs for Cuba, Ever

An anonymous reader writes "In a move going largely unnoticed by developers, the OLPC project now requires all submissions to be hosted in the RedHat Fedora project. While this may not seem like a big deal, the implications are interesting. First, contributors have to sign the Fedora Project Individual Contributor License Agreement. By being forced to submit contributions to the Fedora repository they automatically fall under the provisions of US export law. So, no OLPC for Cuba, Syria and the like. Ever."

Comments

for always and eternity

[stoolpigeon]

because US laws and export restrictions never change. ever.

Re:for always and eternity

[eln]

They probably won't change during the useful life of the OLPC. The US still is under the impression that sanctions and trade embargoes will actually cause regime change in these countries. Even though they haven't worked at all (and in fact have only served to further entrench the regimes in question) over the more than 40 years they've been in place, we're still convinced that if we keep them around just a little bit longer, democracy will flourish.

Like John Stewart said, we've given up trying to kill Castro with food poison, now we're trying to kill him with "old age poison." If we wait long enough, the regimes will eventually fall, and we can then claim it was all because of the embargo.

Re:for always and eternity

[bloobloo]

It's the US that has the draconian embargoes. In the civilized world we can visit Cuba etc.

Re:for always and eternity

[eln]

I know we like to blame the UN for everything here at Slashdot, but the embargo against Cuba was enacted by President Kennedy in 1961, with the total travel ban enacted in 1963. The UN certainly has its hands in a lot of useless sanctions, but to pretend the UN is responsible for the Cuba situation, or that the US does not exert tremendous influence over the UN, is just flat wrong.

Re:for always and eternity

[speaker of the truth]

If Cuba wants the embargo lifted they need to provide cheap labor like China does. After all, China commits terrible atrocities and yet we continue to trade with them for our cheap electronics. Cuba on the other hand, not so bad in recent times, but they only give us cigars so we keep the embargo.

Re:for always and eternity

[Martin Blank]

The trade embargo with Cuba is US-specific, and the nearly-complete embargoes (such as those with Iran and Syria) are often also US-specific. Europe and Canada trade fairly freely with the island nation, and Russia sells plenty of military gear to both Iran and Syria.

There are places where economic embargoes, or the threat thereof, may have significant benefit. Libya's acquiesence to UN demands regarding the Lockerbie suspects and checmical and nuclear programs probably came about in part due to economic pressures that prevented foreign companies from investing significantly in its oil fields. And Iran instituted fuel rationing a couple of days ago in response to threat of embargo of gasoline trade into the country in an attempt to build up reserves in anticipation of trade sanctions. Iran has extremely limited refining capabilities, and so imports around a third of its gasoline, and then subsidizes it to 20% of its market price. The response was the destruction of several fuel stations, some small riots, and a very divided and irritated parliament taking up the issue.

However, in order for trade embargoes to really work, they usually have to be nearly universal, though even then there is no guarantee. North Korea is a prime example here, where the leaders keep such a tight lid on the people that they don't fear uprisings, while they live in comfort that their people can barely even dream about. However, recent targeting of leadership assets overseas has brought pressure there that tangible results (a scheduled shutdown of DPRK's reactor in July) may be coming about.

Re:for always and eternity

[i]

No. Not necessarely at least.
When Castro dies, his brother Ramon will take over. And he is a stalinist-type communist.

Fidel himself was not a (pure) communist from the beginning, but as Cuba was isolated by USA after the revolution he had to go to Soviet for help (economical and other).
And by that the regime went to communism.

Re:for always and eternity

[ShieldW0lf]

As a Canadian, I like the trade embargo.

It means there's a nice warm international vacation destination with no Americans.

Now, that's something that money just can't buy.

Re:for always and eternity

[WED Fan]

When Castro dies, his brother Ramon will take over.

I thought his brother was Raul?

By the way, did you ever wonder what happened to the other Castro Brothers?

• Chico - Working at a small garage in Havana keeping all the '58 Chevy's runny. And, installing the little nodding dogs in the back window
• Ramone - Last seen doing a drag impersonation of his older brother Fidel in a Miami club
• Harpo - Makes the best Mohitos in Ft. Lauderdale, doesn't talk much
• Julio (now Conchita) - Works a corner in New York City
• Juan - Was standing against a wall, when an entire line of soldiers, cleaning their weapons, accidentally shot him. This had nothing to do with an argument he had with his younger brother Fidel, the night before, about who played the best Darren on "Bewitched"
• Raymondo - Fled Cuba after painting the slogan "Dick York Lives" on the side of Fidel's prized Bel Air sedan

Re:for always and eternity

[nomadic]

It means there's a nice warm international vacation destination with no Americans.

We're not so bad...

Re:for always and eternity

[Aqua_boy17]

Good luck with that.

If you've travelled abroad lately from the US, you know that the folks at Homeland Security take their jobs very seriously. Also, the State Department has been nailing US citizens who have visited Cuba without authorization with very stiff fines. When they do find out you've visited there from a 3rd country (and they will), expect a registered letter or summons to appear in federal court. It's happened to people I know. Fines and court fees can run in the thousands of dollars.

Cuban products are also considered contraband in the US and therefore are just as illegal as if you were smuggling pot or cocaine. If you are found with cuban made cigars, rum, etc. on your person that you have not declared, you can be detained, prosecuted, fined, and possibly jailed if you get a nasty prosecutor. Not at all worth it for an authentic mojito and a few cojibas IMHO.

Re:for always and eternity

[dharbee]

"In the civilized world we can visit Cuba etc."

So, what about Europeans? Can they visit Cuba too?

Re:for always and eternity

[Grishnakh]

China has nukes pointed at us. China also kills and imprisons people for trying to exercise free speech. Yet China is our most favored nation trading partner.

Not too smart, are you?

Re:for always and eternity

[Kirgin]

lol, you do realize Castro's family was rich and was part of the ruling class in Cuba BEFORE the revolution. Same with Che Guevara's. Guess what plantation was the first one given over to the "people" Castro's mother's. Castro gave everything his family owned to the people.

Castro lives in a shack compared to the average upper middle class in the US.

When I say that children will get the best first in Cuba its just a continuation of their philosophy. Schools have better computers than banks in Cuba. If you aren't working you are in school in Cuba. They know its the best defense against being exploited again. You can't exploit a society thats smarter than yours.

What you need to do is assume everything you hear on Fox news is the opposite of how it is in Cuba.

Re:for always and eternity

[Anonymous Coward]

What gave you that idea? US citizens are banned from traveling to Cuba except for educational or humanitarian purposes. The fines tend to be in the $30,000-$40,000 range. They didn't enforce it very often until the current administration took office, but now it is very common.

Re:for always and eternity

[Anonymous Coward]

And of course you don't also mind your non-American vacation coming at the costs of Cubans under their oppressive government. I'm sure you wouldn't have any problem switching places with the Cubans :) You could still have your problem with Americans!

First off, ram that smug, goddamned smiley back up your rectum where you found it.

Don't give me any of your jingoistic, fascist "love it or leave it" horseshit. Not while we suck the asses of the fucking bastard Saudis (who provided the 9/11 folks), North Korea and the rest of the motherfucking countries willing to accept our "unlawful combatants" for torture, since we want to play Pontius Pilate with them. Sure, let's hear it, America -- "I am innocent of the blood of this beaten, shocked, genitally-mutilated man whom the Turks display to us."

Didn't your mother ever tell you, "Pick on someone your own size"? We fuck over Cuba for the same reason a dog licks it's own asshole -- because he (we) can.

We are a nation of buttfucking, cowardly bullies.

A bit misleading

[The Breeze]

I wouldn't say "ever"...both Cuba and Syria have made steps towards getting removed from the US ban list, and with Fidel teetering on death's edge, who knows what the future will bring.

Re:A bit misleading

[NMerriam]

I guess the rest of the world hasn't had Cuban missile bases a few km off their coast and those missiles pointed at them. It tends to lead to grudges being held, you see.

Most of the world has real borders with their enemies, with tanks and missiles and bombers able to cross at any time, and has learned to deal with it. We live in a little bubble protected by two vast oceans and think that anyone saying "boo" from a thousand miles away is a mortal threat.

Our embargo against Cuba is just a pointless grudge that serves one domestic political group and does a disservice to the people of both nations overall.

This is News How?

[eldavojohn]

While this may not seem like a big deal, the implications are interesting. It's not a big deal. Everything made in America falls under these laws. Whether it be the corn we grow or the software written (in any part) or served within the United States. Even Windows (bullet 7) falls under these restrictions.

Yet, not too surprisingly, Windows has found its way into Cuba and I'm certain the OLPC will also be found there in mass quantities if it is indeed useful/popular. Physical devices may be harder to find there than software but you'll find them there.

This isn't news. The U.S. trade embargos have been in place on Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan and Syria for a while now. Furthermore, if the laptops are made and assembled outside the U.S.

So let's get creative here, you make and manufacture the hardware outside the United States. Then you ship them to restricted countries (I think the parts are going to come from China anyway). You leave it up to people inside Cuba or where ever to install the OLPC image. Who has violated the TOS? The citizens of the country who really don't give a damn what U.S. export laws they're breaking.

And if these laws are broken, who's going to enforce them? Redhat/Fedora? The U.S. government is going to show up and stop laptops from going to children? The U.S. government is going to shutdown a free open source software hosting site? I highly doubt it.

Re:This is News How?

[rborek]

Yet, not too surprisingly, Windows has found its way into Cuba

Most likely from Canada, which prohibits complying with the US Cuba export restrictions laws. Complying with US law with regards to Cuba can land you in jail for up to 5 years.

That'd teach those kids...

[Anonymous Coward]

That'd teach those kids for living in the wrong countries.

Re:Good.

[mujo]

"They don't really give a shit about their people anyway."

unlike the us government who gives much shit about their people, plunging 400 billions of dollars in a war for the oil industry, refuse to give health insurance to sick americans to cater for private insurance business, wiretap their citizens, ...

land of the free!

Re:not forever

[Dancindan84]

Yeah, but Castro is some kind of immortal zombie communist.

Re:Good.

[butlerdi]

Why ? Have you been there ? They have a much better society than they would have had the American Mafia continued running it. They have good education, reasonable health care and while not so much stuff, they do not have foreclosures and bankruptcies the likes that you have been experiencing. Not to mention the next round coming on about now. Even after all these years of embargo by their ever so caring neighbors to the North, they still smile much more than anywhere I have ever seen in the US. I think sir it is you who ought to read a book.

With Cuba, it's personal (plus sugar lobby...)

[billstewart]

The Cuba embargo is mostly around because fanatics in Florida take it very personally, and there are enough votes in Florida that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are willing to mess with it. Eventually Castro's going to die, and that might change things.

But Cuba's main agricultural product, besides tobacco, is sugar, and the US has had high tariffs on sugar for a long time. Not only does that prop up US sugar producers (mainly Louisiana, Hawaii, Florida_) by keeping the US sugar price far higher than the world average, but the High-Fructose Corn Syrup lobby likes high sugar prices because they can put their dreck into our soda, while the rest of the world gets to have Coke with real sugar in it. So the Archer Daniels Midland gang also don't want free trade with Cuba.

I'd recommend that next time you're in Canada, you get some Cuban cigars, except for the problem that they put carcinogenic flammable tobacco products in the things....

Re:With Cuba, it's personal (plus sugar lobby...)

[randomjohndoe]

This is true

The Cuba embargo is mostly around because fanatics in Florida take it very personally, and there are enough votes in Florida that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are willing to mess with it.
Florida has 25 elecotoral votes, 4th behind California (54), New York (33) and Texas (32).

The US Electoral College is a winner takes all system, so the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote in any state, no matter how small the margin, gets all the electoral votes for that state. In 2000 Bush beat Gore in FL by a tiny fraction of a percent, winning all 25 of FL's electoral votes, and thus the election. Anti-Castro Cubans are not a big group, but they are concentrated in FL and they are single issue voters (whereas anti-embargo voters are neither), so they can swing a close presidential election. So their influence on Cuba policy is disproportionate.

Something that is overlooked is that even if Castro lives to be 120, the US policy will change eventually because the Anti-Castro Cubans are getting older too, and their children are more moderate. And a lot of them would like to visit their homeland some day.

the embargo is a two-edged sword

[gobbo]

You bet! Cuban rum is great, that Bacardi shit they sell us everywhere sucks.

Here's a perk of living in (even rural) Canada: I go down to the garage/general/liquor store, and there on the shelf is Havana Club, "Ron puro Cubano," mmm, great is right. And cuban coffee in the cupboard, it's only pretty good but it's organic.

There may be long-term competitive benefits accruing to Cuba out of the blockade and its hardships.

The whole island has pretty much gone organic, as part of the austerity produced by the embargo, and they're trying to turn that constraint into a strength. When the embargo finally drops in the US, watch for cuban specialty products showing up in the organic food stores.

They need an internationally credible domestic certification system to really flourish, however the embargo has forced them to look hard at their local food security, so they'd be okay if international trade was interrupted. They have international trade in things like organic fruits and coffee, and they've made interesting innovations with domestic distribution in mind, like the Organopónicos.

The embargo has created constraints that make it an interesting testbed for development without the overwhelming influence of large transnationals. It's a race between the international organic sector to help establish Cuba as an entrenched organic ag system and the influx of Life Sciences transnationals that might happen if there's regime change.

Cuba's ripe turf for donated linux-ready systems, so support that goal in some way. There's enough real zeal for independence and common interests to make it a interesting test bed for a society running on open-source software.