On Sun, 2012-01-08 at 00:16 +0200, Shai Berger wrote: > Hi Zeev and all, > > On Saturday 07 January 2012, Zeev Pekar wrote: > > Shalom, > > > > camping time might be over but not the struggle for lowering living > > costs. Hereby I appeal to the Hamakor leadership to start an online > > campaign to lobby government to adopt Linux and other FOSS in all its > > institutions [...] What do > > think about sending a chain email (CC to all Israeli FOSS mailing lists) > > with a link to an online petition form(/Facebook page) and > > emails/fax/telephone numbers of Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and > > Minister of Science and Technology asking [...] to stop wasting tax payers' > > money [...]? > > > Hamakor leaders should be ready to speak to the ministers once they are > > ready to listen. > > > Before starting an online petition and mass-mailing campaign, please read some > of this interesting thread on the Open Knesset list: > http://groups.google.com/group/open-knesset/browse_thread/thread/0adc67b2e726dd6b# > > Pay speciall attention to the first message by Lior Sheffer, explaining the > limited effect of such campaigns.
Hi Shai :) thank you for your remarks. I think that our case is a bit different from that described by Lior Sheffer. We do not look for personal benefit (at least not direct one) and we are talking about a matter of national importance while those guys in the message represented very specific group of the society. The issue with the credit cards created pressure on the government and I think they need and want to undertake decisive steps in order to show that they care however I doubt they know what to do. I'm afraid they will buy some ugly expensive software (from your tax money!) instead of going FOSS and investing money into peoples' expertise thus leaving capital at home. Considering the background of summer protests the opportunity for the national wide migration to FOSS is quite unique and it is a pity to miss this. If the things will continue this way there will be better IT experts in Zimbabwe within a decade than here (provided that Dimona will not be blown up by another Stuxnet so here will be somebody to compare to). Lior is right that simply sending copy-pasted emails will not work. That's why I also provided fax numbers - you can't delete a fax :) but most important is to call and try to reach relevant people by phone and talk to them personally. I'm pretty sure they will listen once there is enough momentum. They are interested in finding a solution you just have to guide them in the right direction. So all the messages sent to them (through whatever media) should be personal in nature and explain why FOSS is of good quality and secure (providing proofs - USA) and how it can then be free of charge (see Cuba and Peru). Online petitions can work very well - see recent successful attempt to avoid Israel Electric Company being put under the supervision of rabbinate. I'll start calling, but me alone is not enough. Any volunteers? Zeev _______________________________________________ Discussions mailing list [email protected] http://hamakor.org.il/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discussions
