MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-02-12 |
| FROM | Ruben I Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Re: [fairuse] Re: [hangout] Status
|
President announces free software for schools
Issued by: Text 100 Quick Print Send to Friend
[Johannesburg, 8 February 2002] - Today President Thabo Mbeki announced
in his State of the Nation address at the opening of Parliament that
Microsoft South Africa will be making the company's software available
for free to South African government schools and at a significant
reduction in price to private schools, universities and technikons. This
initiative is expected to potentially save the Government up to R 100
million per annum. 32 000 South African government schools stand to
benefit from this initiative, which includes a broad range of Microsoft
software products.
"For many years Microsoft South Africa has invested in youth and
education related programmes, and we believe that if you provide people
with the resources they need, they will accomplish great things," says
Mark Hill, Managing Director of Microsoft Sub-Sahara African Region. "We
are convinced of the power of information technology as the greatest
enabler in developing social and economic well-being and we urge all
technology players to join us in empowering the youth of South Africa
and shaping the country's future."
"I am truly proud to be part of the team that will make a tremendous
impact in bridging the digital divide in South Africa, making technology
in schools more accessible for learners and educators," says Hill.
"Today, some 20 years after the birth of the PC, millions of people in
South Africa still have not been able to harness the potential of
technology to realise their dreams. By making our software available to
government schools for free, we are hoping to make a difference to the
lives of learners throughout the country."
For more information on Microsoft South Africa's community investment
programme visit http://www.microsoft.com/southafrica/community/.
Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide
range of products and services designed to empower people through great
software - any time, any place and on any device.
If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft,
please visit the Microsoft Web page at www.microsoft.com and the
Microsoft South Africa home page at www.microsoft.com/southafrica.
5:43 Dave Williams wrote:
>
> Yes, the editorial he released today states that he was pressured by
> both Microsoft and the Federal Government to include Jason Matusow and
> representatives of "Software Choice". I don't feel too paranoid in
> assuming that the government pressure came from Microsoft indirectly.
>
> There is an article in eWeek today about a speech Bill Gates gave to
his
> "MVP" associates (by the way, I wasn't invited to speak at that --
> anybody else?):
>
> http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,885490,00.asp
>
> In it he specifically mentions the threat of "mandated" Open Source
> Software in government. If the man at the top is talking about it
then
> obviously it is a priority.
>
> If Mr. Stanco is given a way out he should take it. "We have the way
> out." Funny.
>
> - Dave
>
> On Wed, 2003-02-12 at 15:32, Richard Stallman wrote:
> > Well, I certainly have no problem with tacking on a _long_ Q&A
period onto
> > this program.
> >
> > That is just a detail. The problem is that they invited Microsoft
at
> > all.
> >
> > Microsoft is saying that they would be glad to pull out;
> > Stanco is saying that he begs Microsoft to stay.
> > (I expect this has been published by now.)
> >
> > Given that they are saying this, if you insist that Tony should stop
> > trying so hard, and just let them go, maybe that will occur.
> >
>
> To stop the messages from coming see
http://www2.mrbrklyn.com/appl/fairuse/gone.html
> ____________________________
> New Yorkers for Fair Use -
> because it's either fair use or useless....
>
--
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____________________________
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Fair Use -
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