_*Too much sugar on my "mate"
*_("mate" is a spanish word too, but in this case it is the name of a typical drink in Argentina, Uruguay and some parts of Brazil. It is the coffee of the "gauchos".).

Once, when I was 14, I went with my high school fellows to help a poor village in the sourroundings of Lima. When we arrive we start to dig and help people that was installing huge water concrete tubes. In 2 hours our hands were damaged, bleeding in some cases. I will never forget that one of the local persons told us... "... hey kids... go back to the city... thanks but no thanks... you are not usefull for this work... and... by the way.. don't you have your own problems to solve? :-[ why you came here without asking what we really need?... we thank you but next time you speak to the locals... we can tell you how the things need to be done...". I will never forget those words.

I will take time this weekend to analyze (and prove) that this OLPC and XO in Peru is under big risk due to the previous behavior that the responsible people and organizations have shown in the last time. I will choose every word very carefully because I don“t want to damage the opportunity for our children, but I think is time that the true (facts, not opinions) come to the light. Just to show you the tip of the iceberg: a) Do you know that the call for a bid, the presentation of the proposals, the approval of the elected one, the presentation of the additional budget in the congress, all has happen in an "abnormal" fast trot ? O:-) b) Do you know that all the "hidden" costs were not recognized as part of the cost of the project?

Now, we can start to dig to find ALL the happenings and find the FACTS that will show you that this OLPC and XO deployment in Peru is managed according to terms of dominance, property, recognition, and not deeply related to the "education for the poorest boys" in Peru.

I never speak "nonsense" words. These are written words and I am old enough to know that they will be kept in some place. So I stand up and I back up my words. If I am in a error that will be an honest error and it will be recognized in public with the due apologies to any involved person or organization.

Just for the record:
* I am not a politician, I don't work for the government or any party.
* I earn my life doing consulting about trouts (nothing related to education, trouts are big business here). * I don't know any person that is related to any possible business related to the computers in educative arena. * I have work with peruvian goverments (my people) by more than 30 years. Not in this moment. I have work with computers since 1979.

Now let's think: why Javier (me!) invest his scarce time writing about the XOs and OLPC? Easy answer: because I need that THOSE KIDS in the remote villages in my country doesn't get involved with terrorism again. My office was bombed in the famous "Tarata Attack" in year 1992, I am alive because I married one week before and I was in honeymoon. In my country terrorism comes from poverty (not religious matters involved), many terrorist on those years were taken (kidnapped) when they were girls and boys just 10 years old. Formed and trained in militar way. 2 of those girls became adults and kidnapped 400 people in the Japan Embassy. All terrorist (including the 2 girls) were down. I don't want to live that again. Not for me, not for my children or future generations.

XOs and OLPC in my country can be done in perfect way IF you have a base line, IF you have a clear target, IF you speak with locals that are related to education without having personal economic or political interest (not me, there are many peruvians that can be CONSULTED before you advance more in what you, or any responsible person, think is right or wrong). When we shut our eyes (and ears) in front of what bad politicians and bureaucrats do then we are doing damage to all the peruvian kids (including ours).

I hope this put more "sense" on my "nonsense" words. If not... Martin... I will not send my "Mirages" again! (kidding! :-) we will send them all the time, Martin... all the time!)

Best regards,

Javier Rodriguez
Lima, Peru


Martin Langhoff wrote:
On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:23 PM, Yama Ploskonka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
 "Al hijo de mi madre nadie le pisa el poncho"
 Rioplatense saying

I _am_ rioplatense and I can tell you - Javier is talking nonsense.


m

_______________________________________________
Server-devel mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/server-devel

Reply via email to