[plug] (Fwd) Re: Closure of Open Source WA

[Arie Hol]

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent:      	Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:12:52 +0800
From:           	"Shaun Ratcliff" <sratcliff at mp.wa.gov.au>
To:             	"Arie Hol" <arie99 at ozemail.com.au>
Subject:        	Re: Closure of Open Source WA

Arie,

Mr Simpson has asked me to respond to your email on his behalf. 

Thank you for your email. We had not heard that the Open Source
Software Centre was being closed down until last weekend.

We will endeavour to certify this news and will then get back to you
with a more detailed response. 

If you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact the
office at any time.

Regards,

Shaun Ratcliff
The Office of
Tony Simpson MLA


>>> "Arie Hol" <arie99 at ozemail.com.au> 17/09/2006 3:34:40 pm >>>

Greetings to Anthony Simpson.

Hello Tony,

I have just received an email from a mailing list, to which I
subscribe.

This email tells me that the Open Source Software Centre at The
Bentley
Technology Park, will/may be closed down in the near future.

If this is true I would like to register my protest at the prospect of
this closure.

This centre serves a vital purpose to inform people and demonstrate 
by means of a public venue - the value and availability of open
software -
as well as provide consultation as to the potential that open software

will have for their business/organisation, now and in the future. 

Without it - where would/could people and organisations go to find out
that there are alternative software solutions to meet their computing
requirements - now and in the future ?

Without the knowledge and access to the resources available at the
Open
Source software centre in Bentley - many people and business 
organisations will continue with the misguided thinking that the only
software solutions available are those from large commercial 
organisations
such as Microsoft.

Microsoft in particular is trying desperately to dominate and maintain a
strangle hold on the world of desktop computing from large business
enterprises down to private individuals in their homes.

The Microsoft products are over priced for what they have to offer,
and
not every person can afford the ridiculous costs involved with purchase

of the software and hardware required just to use Microsoft products, and
with the impending release of yet another round of NEW versions from
Microsoft - this problem will be exacerbated even more.

I believe that the government has an obligation to inform the people
of
this state that there are alternatives to ridiculously expensive 
software.

If fact I believe that the government should not only keep the Open 
Source WA centre open - but it should effectively be putting a great
deal
more effort into promoting it to the public and the business sector.

I have been a regular user of Open Source software for several years
and
in the future I will become even more reliant on Open Source software.

I also imagine that there will be many people and organisations in
this
great state who will benefit from the implementation and use of Open
Source software, but they need to know about it in the first place.
They
need somewhere to go for advice and consultation - this I believe is
the
service that the Open Source WA facility provides, and the government is
about to scuttle this vital service.

We live in a time when Information Technology is leading the world
with
innovation and ingenuity, Open Source software is also at the forefront

with innovation and ingenuity, and is not motivated by profit margins.

Open Source software is supported by a dynamic, highly motivated and
dedicated global community of developers and users, many of these
people
live here in W.A.

The government should be embracing this factor and yet they are 
abandoning a vital resource to the people of this state.

Regards Arie Hol (BSc., Dip.IT, LR, LS)
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For the concert of life, nobody has a program.
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------- End of forwarded message -------
Regards Arie
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 For the concert of life, nobody has a program.
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