[TriLUG] Linux and Politics in Spain

[Sinner from the Prairy]

Back to on-topicness.

"Spaniards Consider Putting on Tux"
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,58764,00.html

This guy, Belloch, was a very good politician. I don't know of any 
equivalent in the US. 

Now, running for mayor of an important city (Zaragoza), he bets for 
Linux, GNU and the OpenSource. Some excerpts:

"We want to be the Redmond of the European free software world," Belloch 
said. 

Belloch began his romance with Linux four months ago, after meeting with 
a local Linux users group. Members were invited to a meeting to discuss 
open-source software and the possibility of providing free wireless 
access to Zaragoza residents.

"These guys were just amazing," Belloch said. "They were very different 
from other kinds of activists I've worked with. They were not 
demanding, shouting or even asking. Instead they were actually doing 
things. 

Belloch has now centered his campaign around free software and free 
wireless Internet access for all. He hands out CD copies of Augustux at 
political events and meetings. And he's assembled a team of technical 
advisers, many of who identify themselves as hackers and cyberpunks.

Belloch's team is now confidently gearing up its PR to counter Microsoft 
CEO Steve Ballmer's visit with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar 
next week. 


Let's see if other politicians world wide *cough*US elections*cough* get 
bought into it.


Salut,
Sinner
-- 
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