[Fsf-friends] IOSNFOSSINASIA

[Frederick Noronha]

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IOSNFOSSINASIA * IOSNFOSSINASIA * IOSNFOSSINASIA * IOSNFOSSINASIA *
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8  8"""88 8""""8 8"""8   01010101010101010101010101010101010
8  8    8 8      8   8   Compiled by Frederick [FN] Noronha.
8e 8    8 8eeeee 8e  8   Supported by the International Open
88 8    8     88 88  8   Source Network www.iosn.net Copyleft
88 8    8 e   88 88  8   May be reproduced with due credit
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                                                      November 2006
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IOSNFOSSINASIA * IOSNFOSSINASIA * IOSNFOSSINASIA * IOSNFOSSINASIA *
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Spotlight
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START A FOSS PACIFIC RESEARCH PROJECT WITH IOSN PIC

The Pacific Island Countries (PIC) node of the International
Open Source Network (IOSN) is formed by a consortium of 4
regional organizations: Pacific Islands Chapter of the
Internet Society (PICISOC), South Pacific Applied Geoscience
Commission (SOPAC), Secretariat of the South Pacific
Community (SPC), and the University of the South Pacific
(USP). This consortium is led by USP, which coordinates IOSN
PIC from its Faculty of Science and Technology's School of
Computing, Information, and Mathematical Sciences.

IOSN PIC focus areas include: FOSS applications in PIC; FOSS
techniques to support the creation, storage and delivery of
teaching and training materials; incorporation of FOSS in
academic courses; Linux System Administrator Training of
Trainers and certification; legal issues related to FOSS;
localization of FOSS; and awareness raising.

IOSN PIC aims to foster research in the area of FOSS
applications and development in the region, and is currently
seeking ideas and expressions of interest for possible
projects. IOSN will not be involved in every case in managing
and implementing all projects, but it can assist in seeking
funds from donors and providing technical advice. For more
information, please contact Dr. Marko Schütz <schutz_m AT usp
DOT ac DOT fj>.

IOSN PIC is one of three centres of excellence of IOSN.
Others include IOSN ASEAN+3 and IOSN South Asia. For more
information, please visit http://www.iosn.net

Other resources related to FOSS in PIC:

IOSN PIC - http://www.iosn.net/pacific-islands/

Pacific Island Countries Free/Open Source Software
Communities and Activities Report (PICFOSSCAR), first
edition, 22 March 2006 -
http://www.iosn.net/pacific-islands/picfosscarpdf/view

(PICFOSSCAR's third edition is planned for December 2006.
Please share short reports of any activities related to FOSS
in the region.)

USP-IOSN Microgrant Programme for Pacific Island Countries -
This Programme is a competitive grants scheme available to
individuals or teams in the Pacific Island Countries.
http://www.iosn.net/pacific-islands/usp-microgrants/

FOSS Resources for PIC -
http://www.iosn.net/pacific-islands/countries/


Asia-Pacific Reports
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ASIAN TEAMS CELEBRATING SOFTWARE FREEDOM DAY:

Bangladesh Linux Users Alliance
http://www.linux.org.bd/

Bangladesh Open Source Network
http://www.bdosn.org/

Bangla l10n Team (bangla_l10n AT yahoogroups.com)
Jahangirnagar University Open Source Network (ju_osn AT yahoogroups.com)
Chittagong University (cu_osn AT yahoogroups.com)
BUET Open Source Network (buet_osn AT yahoogroups.com)
RUET Open Source Network (ruet_osn AT yahoogroups.com)
SUST Open Source Network (sust_osn AT yahoogroups.com)

Brunei: Brunei LINUX Users Group http://blug.mms2udirect.net
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuala Belait
Local parent organization: Brunei LINUX Users Group
Team Contact: Hj Azaman Hj Suleiman
Contact information: azlinux AT gmail.co

China: http://hackinglinux.org/

Indonesia: OpenSource (http://opensource.3wsi.net) Debian
(http://debian.3wsi.net) Linux-aktivis
(http://www.linux.or.id) kslbl
(http://kslbl.hcm-consultant.com)

Contact Person : [Meta Nurwidyanto] meta AT softhome.net,
[Nasir Simbolon] nasir AT kecapi.com, [Richard Sitompul]
richard.sitompul AT gmail.com [Muhammad Hafizh]
acid20burn_tux AT yahoo.com

Surabaya Linux User Group (http://surabaya.linux.or.id)
[Moh. Noor Al 'Azam] noorazam AT rad.net.id, [Cahyo Darujati]
darujati AT rad.net.id

Jogjakarta Linux/FOSS User Group (http://jogja.linux.or.id)
info at jogja dot linux dot or dot id

Java User Group Indonesia (http://www.jug.or.id)
jug-indonesia AT yahoogroups.com

BlueOxygen Federation (http://www.blueoxygen.org)
Project: Cimande (http://cimande.dev.java.net)
Komodo - Digital Library System (with Minister of R&D)
Kresna (http://kresna.ristek.go.id)
Contact: frans AT blueoxygen.org

Iran: Isfahan Linux Users Group. ziaee AT itland.ir (Majid
Ziaee) Farsi Linux Project Ebadiebadi AT aictc.com

Israel: Hamakor, an Israeli FLOSS NPO Action Plan for SFD.
See discussion here (english mostly): Softwre Freedom Day -
Call for Help [http://linmagazine.co.il/node/view/3436]

Chameleon.org.il Technical Howto Documents Writting Contest:
Chameleon is holding a Technical Howto Documents Writting
Contest day. Main Prize: SuSE Linux 10.1. every participant
will get a Linux Technical Kit Resource Kit.

Malaysia: Malaysian Open Source Group (http://my-opensource.org)
Free/Open Source Society Malaysia (http://foss.org.my)
Aizat <aizat.faiz at gmail.com>

Mongolian Open Source Initiative: Week of FOSS is one week
event a part of SFD that will educate computer science
students about FOSS at their universities. During this week
we will give talk on topics what is FOSS, what are benefits,
how does it develops, how I can get involved to the students
of 10 major computer science teaching universities in
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. http://www.mnosi.org/

Nepal: Team Name: FOSS Nepal Community
Contact: fossnepal AT gmail dot com

Pakistan: Team Islamabad. Location: Pakistan Software Export
Board, Ministry of IT & Telecom. Open Source Resource Center
(http://www.osrc.org.pk)
Team Contact: Sufyan Kakakhel skakakhel AT pseb.org.pk

Team Karachi. Local parent organization: Department of
Computer Science - UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI. NUCES-FAST Karachi.
Date: September 10th, 2005.

Team Lahore. FOSSFP: Free and Open Source Software Foundation
of Pakistan. [http://www.fossfp.org] Team Contacts: Dr. M
Anwar-ur-Rehman Pasha, Chairman Fouad Riaz Bajwa, General Secretary.

Singapore: Harish Pillay will be speaking on "The Importance
of Open Source in Education". Both Red Hat and LUGS are
participating in this event.
http://wiki.lugs.org.sg/SoftwareFreedomDay2006
Contact information: harish.pillay AT gmail.com

Sri Lanka: The Lanka Linux User Group (LKLUG)
[http://www.lug.lk/] and the Sri Lankan FOSS community
[http://www.foss.lk/]
BLOGS:
http://budlite.blogspot.com/2006/09/open-invitation-to-celebrate-software.html
http://nirmaljayasinghe.wordpress.com/2006/09/17/free-and-open-source/
http://chaarmax.blogspot.com/2006/09/software-freedom-day-tomorrow.html
http://budlite.blogspot.com/2006/09/freedom-lost-at-software-freedom-day.html
http://chanux.wordpress.com/2006/09/21/software-freedom-day-2006-1-2/
http://chanux.wordpress.com/2006/09/21/software-freedom-day-2006-2/

Philippines: Vizcayano Linux Users Group V.L.U.G
http://vlug.vizcayano.com

Pangasinan Linux Users Group P.L.U.G
http://www.plugz.cjb.net

baguiocity philippines
http://CLANph.farvista.net

Vietnam: http://www.hanoilug.org/

IOSN News
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FOSS at WORK

An International Workshop for Small and Medium IT
Enterprises, Heritage Hotel, Manila, Philippines, 12-15
November 2006

The International Open Source Network (IOSN) ASEAN+3,
UNDP-APDIP, InWEnt-Capacity Building International of Germany
and University of the Philippines Manila are hosting a
workshop on FOSS for Small and Medium Enterprises in the IT
industry (SMITE).

While there are many SMITEs working with and on FOSS
solutions, many others in the region are still unfamiliar
with FOSS. IOSN ASEAN+3 is organizing a workshop for
developers, senior IT staff and IT decision makers of SMITES,
to provide orientation and technical training on FOSS
architecture and community management skills.

The workshop will:

be an opportunity to network experienced FOSS developers with
potential FOSS developers;
be an opportunity to share experiences and best practices,
and promote collaboration; and
enhance the technical skills of developers through power
training

Topics

Overview of FOSS
Business models for FOSS
FOSS collaboration and project management tools
Content management systems
Productivity (OpenOffice + localization)
IP-based voice services
Developing multimedia with FOSS
SMS programming with FOSS
And more

Workshop participation fee is Php 5,500.00 (or USD$100.00) -
subsidies are available for qualified applicants.

Register online at
http://www.iosn.net/asean-3/countries/philippines/events/foss-at-work/registration-form.

Find out more at
http://www.iosn.net/asean-3/countries/philippines/events/foss-at-work
or email asean3 at iosn.net

Linux System Administrator Training of Trainers
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Bangkok, Thailand, 28 August – 9 September 2006
Quezon City, Philippines, 9 – 21 October 2006

Two regional training of trainers sessions were held over the
last two months in Bangkok, Thailand and Quezon City,
Philippines.

A major barrier against adoption and deployment of FOSS in
developing countries is the lack of human resources with FOSS
skills. These introductory programmes aims to address the
problem by training trainers so that they can train others in
their countries, and therefore kick-start a self-sustaining
development of FOSS human resources. The course introduces
Linux trainers to training with open content Linux system
administration training materials and low-cost certification
examinations of the Linux Professional Institute (LPI).

The training of trainers session held in Bangkok attracted 20
participants from Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia and Thailand.
It was co-organized by IOSN, the National Electronics and
Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), NECTEC Human Resources
Development Center and Linux Professional Institute. The
session in the Philippines was co-organized by IOSN ASEAN+3
and Linux Professional Institute. Both events were supported
by InWEnt-Capacity Building International of Germany and Open
Society Institute.

For more information, please visit

http://www.iosn.net/asean-3/countries/thailand/tot/linux-training-of-trainers
http://www.iosn.net/asean-3/countries/philippines/events/tot/training-of-trainers

Asia Source II
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Free and Open Source Technologies for NGOs and SMEs,
Sukabumi, Indonesia 22-30 January 2007

This follows the much-remembered and talked-of eight-day Asia
Source held in Bangalore in January 2005. This camp was one
in a series of international camps on the use of free and
open source software being organized across the developing
world.

Asia Source II seeks to build the skills and networks of
those in the region who are working in the non-governmental
organization (NGO) and small- and medium-sized enterprise
(SME) sectors. The event will bring together people from the
more technical to the more content-oriented. These range from
software developers and system administrators, to trainers,
consultants and FOSS advocates, as well as technology/NGO
project managers, and tech-savvy activists/NGO workers.

Areas of focus will include the following:

TRACK ONE: Open Publishing and Broadcasting: Communication
Strategies and Writing Effectively. Graphic Design, Web Tools
[Content Management Systems, Blogs, Wikis] and Audio/Video
Production and Streaming. Script Writing and Story Boarding.
File Formats and Conversion Utilities. Shooting and Editing
Methodologies Who should attend: Campaigners, Content
Developers, Web Masters, Activists, Fundraisers, Graphic
Designers, Film Makers, Radio Professionals, New Media
Practitioners and Archivists.

TRACK TWO: Alternative Hardware and Access: Refurbished
Hardware, Thin Clients, Hardware Hacking, Wireless Solutions
and Community Radio. Who should attend: Server
Administrators, Network Administrators, Trainers, E-Riders,
Rural Community Organisers, Relief Workers, Privacy Activists
and ICT4D Professionals.

TRACK THREE: FOSS Implementation and Migration: Moving an NGO
or SME from proprietary software to FOSS. Participatory
Design and Planning, Evaluating FOSS, End-User Training and
Support Techniques, Dealing with Desktops, Proxy Server,
Firewall, Mail Server and Groupware. Change management and
migration strategies. Who should attend: Server
Administrators, Network Administrators, Trainers, E-Riders,
ICT4D Professionals and Software Developers

TRACK FOUR: Information Management: Mapping Information
Sources and Requirements. Best practices for Creating
Specifications, Information Architecture and User Interface
Design. Web-based Databases, Geographical Information
Systems, Customer Relationship Management,
Application/Communication Security and Disaster Management
Systems. Who should attend: Heads of Organisations, Senior
Management, Campaigners, Activists, Fundraisers, Archivists,
Community Organisers, Environmentalists, Relief Workers and
Health Workers.

Workshop participation fee is USD$75.00 – subsidies to cover
the participation fee is available for qualified applicants.
The deadline for application is 17 NOVEMBER 2006.

Find out more and register online at
http://www.iosn.net/regional/asiasource-2007, or email
asiasource2 at iosn.net

NEW FOSS CASE STUDIES
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14 new case studies from across the world are available on
http://www.iosn.net/publications/case-studies

The case studies looks at the successful deployment of FOSS
in select projects from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and
Latin America. In each case study, the reasons for choosing
to use FOSS together with the development, implementation and
impact of the FOSS applications are discussed. The benefits
obtained and challenges encountered as well as any valuable
lessons learned are also highlighted.

These case studies are from a forthcoming IOSN publication
entitled, "Breaking Barriers: The Potential of Free and Open
Source Software for Sustainable Human Development – A
Compilation of Case Studies from Across the World."

To submit a case study on how your project has successfully
deployed FOSS, please email info at iosn.net. The case study
should follow the same format as follows:

Summary; Background of Organization; Objectives of Project;
FOSS Application (Description, Choice of FOSS, Development
and Implementation, Deployment, Impact); Lessons Learned;
Current Status of Project; Benefits and Challenges; Other
Information; Conclusion; Contact Information (Project Name,
Organization, Contact Person(s), Street/Postal Address,
Email(s), Telephone, Fax) Website(s)

Links from Asia-Pacific
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OPTIONS AND SOLUTIONS: OLD HARDWARE
http://polishlinux.org/choose/linux-on-old-hardware/
By Borys Musielak
Is [GNU]Linux a good choice for your old PC? This article
examines the main issues connected with using GNU/Linux on
some very old hardware. The article also covers choosing a
distro, a desktop and the key applications for such a
configuration. An article by

FROM BANGLADESH: Ubuntu Bangladesh
http://www.ubuntu-bd.org/

FROM VIETNAM: Hacao Linux
http://hacao.com/
Hacao Linux is a small Vietnamese Linux distribution, based
on Puppy Linux (http://www.puppylinux.org/) by Nguyễn Quang
Trường. The Hacao Office.2.01 VN version integrates the free
office suite OpenOffice.org 2.0.3 in Vietnamese and can be
installed to a 256 MB USB drive.

FROM PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES: Pacific Island Countries FOSS
mailing list –
http://lists.apdip.net/mailman/listinfo/iosn-pacific
[iosn-pacific] provides a forum to discuss FOSS issues in
Pacific Island Countries.
Archives: http://lists.apdip.net/pipermail/iosn-pacific/

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IOSN NEWSLETTER: FOSS in Asia-Pacific is compiled by
Frederick Noronha and supported by the International Open
Source Network <http://www.iosn.net>

IOSN promotes the adoption of free/open source software, open
standards and open content for sustainable human development
in the Asia-Pacific region. IOSN is a network with a small
secretariat based at the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok and
three centre of excellence -- IOSN ASEAN+3, IOSN PIC (Pacific
Island Countries) and IOSN South Asia, based in Manila, Suva
and Chennai respectively. To find out more, contact the
centres of excellence.

IOSN ASEAN+3: asean3 at iosn.net
IOSN PIC: pic at iosn.net
IOSN South Asia: southasia at iosn.net

IOSN is an initiative of UNDP Asia-Pacific Development
Information, and supported by the International Development
Reserch Centre of Canada.

To include Asia-Pacific related news about FOSS in this
newsletter, please email frededericknoronha at gmail.com

This newsletter is released under the Creative Commons
Attribute 2.5 license. Reproduction of the contents of this
newsletter is encouraged, provided acknowledgement of the
source(s) is made.
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