[wsfii-discuss] Onward to Africa

Wed Nov 8 15:56:55 UTC 2006

wonderful and true!

I had this conversation as well - re local participation and emergent 
communities and open source coding for and by the community in India and 
the response i got was the same as you posted here Ashish.  Thanks for 
the reminder! and TCV was awesome!

Ashish Saboo wrote:
> Dear Jurgen, Tracey, Thomas & all ,
>     You just gave me one more reason to love the WSFII initiative, Thanks
> for expressing your thoughts frankly.
>
> Permit me to share one of the Indian's perspective: For Advocacy groups like
> us & many others have always witnessed to a bland affair, we ( India & all
> less developed countries) are comfortable with paradox of holding dialogues
> on poverty alleviation in 5 star comforts cause they are funded by the
> various kindred souls in well endowed countries.
> 	In the daily grind of running for the bread, voluntary actions are actually
> well funded by advocacy group or by mavericks. Times are hard for us to come
> above & offer the luxury or generosity of a broader outlook. This is not an
> excuse to address your disappointment but to just to state the matter of
> fact. I was keen posing a question to Richard Stellmar, India is the largest
> contributor of Techies but why its contribution to open source movement is
> negligible ? . WSFII was for the first times held in the emerging countries
> and I hope this may address what you all mention about the cultural gap.
>
> Now does that mean voluntary action has no meaning for emerging countries ?
> I feel we need it a lot more than ever before, it is just sustainability is
> more immediate concern . Its a long way before we climb the ' Maslow's
> hierarchy of needs.
>
> So I am sorry for you or Jimmy carter, Brad Pitt
> http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061031/people_nm/leisure_pitt_dc  If you are
> disappointed. We do need your generosity in sharing your skill but at the
> same time we need a direction to become independent. I am sorry if you find
> ' profit' a hard word interfering with your all  objectives which made you
> come down to this small village.  Hope if you understand this , I assure you
> won't be disappointed at the next WSFII.
>
> The WSFII gathering was a pleasant surprise to me to get to hear some real
> good people. & the excitement was a good change, yes there was a muted
> animosity, but it always happens in large extended family.
>
> Yahel himself a non Indian & TCV group have still done a wonderful job.
>
>  Frankly  possibility of community wifi mesh & of that matter airjaldi is
> still unheard of in India. now there is a lot more awareness , unfortunately
> its too late to recreate.
>
> Concrete pointers :
>
> # The managing committee should be clearly identified for the next wsfii.
> The group is important & roles assigned & it should be fairly broad based. I
> felt sad for punstok running around every where
> # we got to make aware of the event much more in advance, Indian press is
> still unaware.
> # WSFII web site resources is fine but we need local contact points too. At
> the closing days of the event, I met 3 groups who wanted wifi installation &
> 4 groups hunting to know the know how! . So we need a platform to grow over
> the spirit which the gathering has created. It is still not very late.
> # Lastly just be prepared to accept a large family. it takes time from
> chaotic to chaordic
>
> Jurgen if WSFII breaks down at this point than it will further re strengthen
> our lost faith in community initiatives . We are looking for the next Gandhi
> from your country.
>
> sincerely
>
> Ashish
>
> http://www.apiap.org
>
>
>
>   
>> Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 12:43:15 +0100
>> From: "Juergen Neumann" <j.neumann at ergomedia.de>
>> Subject: RE: [wsfii-discuss] Onward to Africa
>> To: <armin at easynet.co.uk>,	"Discuss list on the World Summit on Free
>> 	Information Infrastructure"	<wsfii-discuss at lists.okfn.org>
>> Message-ID:
>> 	<7E43D4CFD0F7F94C87BBDE1B1E4094182238E5 at ergomicro.ergomedia.local>
>> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
>>
>>
>> Hi Armin and all,
>>
>>     
>>> as plans are already made for Africa, those who did not make it to
>>> India like me still wonder how it was. Could anyone post a report?
>>>       
>> I can only speek for myself here, but others can always join
>> in/disagree, of course - please!
>>
>> This answer will be al little longer and needs to be split in some
>> sections I think:
>>
>> - The people who came
>>
>> Where all great! I made so many new friends and the whole atmosphere
>> amongst us, the late night sessions, the party - everything about that
>> was great. I am very happy I went there, as I thought to be happy
>> meeting just a few I could get along with - that turned into everyone
>> who came!!! I am very much looking forward to seeing you all again!
>> Thanks again to Fred and Thomas and many others for their engagement to
>> make the socializing happen! It also gave us a change to meet some of
>> the local helpers/supporters from the staff and make friends.
>>
>> - The place and local hosting
>>
>>     
>
>
>
>   