Europeans: vote for free software in upcoming election

Posted by Cory Doctorow, May 26, 2009 11:48 AM | permalink

James sez, "In the coming European Parliament Elections voters have a chance to influence the wider use and the development of free software across Europe by lobbying potential candidates. Already about 90 MEP candidates are supporting this."

The Free Software Pact is a simple document with which candidates can inform the voting public that they favor the development and use of Free Software, and will protect it from possible threatening EU legislation. The Free Software Pact is also a tool for citizens who value Free Software to educate candidates about the importance of Free Software and why they should, if elected, protect the European Free Software community.

Free Software Pact

posted in:

Favorite This! (0)

Older Canadian think-tank that spent tax-dollars plagiarizing US copyright lobby press-materials ignored its own expert's conflicting research

Newer Guatemala: Mayan Activists Protest Dirty Deeds of a Canadian Mining Giant

Discussion

Take a look at this

#1 posted by Anonymous, May 26, 2009 12:08 PM

Another development with the European Parliament, is the potential of the Pirate Party in Sweden actually getting into the EP. Polls show that about 7% of voters in the country would vote for it!
http://worldwidenewslinks.blogspot.com/2009/05/pirate-party-in-sweden.html

Take a look at this

#2 posted by StRevAlex, May 26, 2009 12:28 PM

Oh, Europe...do you have to be cool all the time??

I guess so.

Take a look at this

#3 posted by dd528, May 26, 2009 12:49 PM

I will be voting in these elections for the candidate that I think has the strongest policies on the widest range of important issues. Free software is not one of those issues.

I don't mean to play down the significance of free software. I think it is very valuable. Compared to trade and defence policy, healthcare, welfare services and economic policy, however, it is fairly low down on my list of priorities.

I will vote for the candidate that I think will represent me best on all issues.

(But I'll probably send them a letter about free software anyway :)

Take a look at this

#4 posted by Chris, May 26, 2009 3:28 PM

Sadly here in Scotland we can't really vote for candidates: instead we have party lists and they cover the whole country, so you just rank the parties in order. (Plus we get less than half the number of MEPs of other countries with smaller populations than ours, but that's a moan for another time...) I'll see if any of them mention this pact though, thanks.

Take a look at this

#5 posted by HotPepperMan, May 26, 2009 4:10 PM

#3: One area that many people undervalue is that of "free". The issues you mention are all worthy elements of a society that should be managed by politicians. However, there is always the focus on "money" / "cost" / "budget" rather than "value" or "worth". Put simply, they think you are too expensive.

Free Software use has far reaching benefits that cover all of the topics you mention and much more. In an economy that is $$$/€€€ based things do not get done that have a high "cost". Taking a simple example...

A hospital needs patient software costing 750k. Consultancy A supplies the software and the development at an additional cost. Project runs over budget and the system is in place with no budget for training or enhancements. There are bugs and features that may not meet the needs now or in the future. The project has to wait until next years budget round to clamor for the money.

Free Software and collaborative development could provide a better solution. One developed an supported by interested parties whose motivation is not purely money but one of benefit and service.

You really need to read the PDFs from the FSP site and this will emphasise the issues.

e.g., do you really want only one choice in the provider of item X? Any government should not be a monopoly.