In Copenhagen the leaders of the world are discussing targets for reducing carbon emissions. The actual trend in temperatures seems decisive evidence of actual warming. The issue is how to address the issue. Politicians obviously want to be seen to be "doing something", but is this "something" the right thing?
In New Zealand we are proud of our Forth Estate - the professionals who deliver the news. On Saturday I went on the March on Queen Street. At 2pm about five thousand people marched up Queen Street to the Aotea Centre were we heard several people speak about why they had committed so much time and resources into making the march happen. They were speeches that should have been reported.
Tomorrow there will be a protest on Queen Street, Auckland at 1:30pm. Although the driver for the march was the anti-smacking legislation, the real issue is the Governments failure to recognise that they are our representatives in Parliament, not our owners.
I have always maintained that overloading a plain English term with a secondary meaning is asking for trouble. The term "free software" to me has always been associated with software at no cost. Its an up hill battle to try and explain to people that what you mean when you say "free software" is different to theirs.
Today I saw a classic example of someone using the "free of cost" meaning. Can we be critical of this use? I don't think so, after all it is the Free Software movement that is trying to change the popularly accepted meaning.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 12 November 2009 )
NZOSS Patent Submission
Written by Peter Harrison
Saturday, 12 September 2009
The following submission was prepared by the New Zealand Open Source Society to address the Patent Bill 2351 currently before the Commerce Committee. The New Zealand Open Source Society wishes to be heard relating the the Patent Bill.
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