Open Letter from Hipatia1 to the Governments, Social Movements, and Citizens of the world

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At this moment we have  249 Sign's.

The down signatory ones we showed our adhesion to the Letter of HYPATIA.

For The Freedom Of Knowledge, Against Inequality And Poverty, FREE SOFTWARE FOR ALL

We are aware of the need and urgency for the governments of the world to take an effective stand in the struggle against inequality and poverty. We are also aware of the international concern caused by the deepening of the divides created by the new information and communication technologies(ICTs). We wish to warn definitively that the solution is not to train the poor in information technology, but to eradicate poverty, using all available resources, including ICTs, and allowing each group of people to decide how to invest these resources, whether or not to use ICTs, and how and in what proportion to do so. We are therefore worried to see that the dangerous fantasy of connecting everyone 'down to the last village' is being accepted without argument by the cabinets of the governments of the world, driven by the corporations and international bodies in the shadow of the World Summit on the Information Society, and deploying huge resources with no evaluation of alternatives, results, or social and educational methodologies. There are many issues to discuss and consider hidden behind this concept. In particular, we are concerned that these just claims are beingused as a means of consolidating the current software monopoly, on a scale which places all of humanity in a situation of absolute dependence on one person, one company, and ruthless business methods. We believe in freedom of knowledge. We believe that software must be free because it is the only valid means to realise these goals without hidden catches. Only software developed in collaboration by people all over the world can be used to achieve full democratization. Only software which allows the basic human rights related to knowledge to be achieved can guarantee the creation of social justice. Only software which all can understand, share, and make freely available is suitable for this cause. We know that the route is not simple and that there are still many technical, political, social, educational, economic and cultural questions to resolve, but every challenge is an opportunity. That is how we understand things as prosumers2 and advocates of free software. The battle against poverty and inequality is above all a battle for the men and women of this world to become daily more free. And the current choices are clear: there are technologies that restrict and others that liberate. Hipatia therefore calls on the governments of the world to use, sponsor, and promote free software. ----- [1] Hipatia emerged as a spontaneous grouping of people from around the world sharing a vision and objective. The vision is one of a global knowledge society based on freedom, equality in diversity, and solidarity. The Hipatia manifestos describe this vision in detail. They can be found at:
First manifesto
Second manifesto
# Hipatia takes its name in homage to Hypatia of Alexandria, philosopher, astronomer, mathematician and great teacher, the daughter of Theon, the last teacher of the library of Alexander. Hipatia passionately defended freedom, the spirit of scientific investigation, and the spreading of knowledge. Shortly after her tragic death, the last remains of the Library of Alexandria were destroyed. Europe fell into the Dark Ages and it took hundreds of years of the sacrifice of many men and women to escape that darkness. Hipatians respect the memory of these great men and women whose sacrifice brought us the freedom and development we enjoy today.↑ # We understand by the term 'prosumers' - producers and consumers - that we are all simultaneously creators and participants in knowledge.

The signers we invited to organizations and individuals to adhere to this letter, entering its data in the form at botton of this page.

Aclaración: Los datos ingresados serán utilizados solamente a fin de adherir a esta propuesta y nos comprometemos a no divulgarlos con ningun otro fin.

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