[GNUz] Press Release: Software Freedom Day, Christchurch team

[Rik Tindall]

"Celebrate software freedom", SFD team invites computer users.

Local technologists hold Free Software education day.

Press Release: Software Freedom Day, Team Christchurch. 11th September 2006.


The third annual Software Freedom Day is this weekend. The international 
festival of Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) is celebrated around 
the world. "FOSS and SFD are especially popular in developing countries, 
where software license costs form a barrier to learning", says SFD 
Christchurch team leader, Rik Tindall. "Software Freedom Day is about 
diversity and skill range in computer education."

"Few people realise that quality PC software is freely available, 
without breaching copyright licences. To remedy this, Software Freedom 
Day publicises Free and Open-Source Software", Tindall says. "Better 
known examples are Firefox web browser, OpenOffice.org office suite, and 
GNU/Linux operating system distributions like Ubuntu. All these will be 
demonstrated at our local event, this weekend."

SFD Christchurch is spread over two afternoons, 16 and 17 September, 
Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 4pm. Its venue is the well-resourced 
South Learning Centre, South Christchurch Library, 66 Colombo Street, 
Beckenham. A workshop will be run continuously, advising on internet 
security and FOSS installation technique. DVDs will be screened, and 
Ubuntu FOSS CDs given out.

"Benefits of running legal free software include greater system 
security, more regular updates, and a supportive community that speeds 
both learning and software development", says Tindall. "Free and 
Open-Source systems are the way of the future, due to distributed 
development's efficiency and enthusiastic support. Most importantly, 
it's just great fun to get 'under the bonnet' of your PC software, and 
make a lot of new friends while doing so", Tindall says.

"A cordial invite is extended to parents and teachers, large and small 
business operators - home and office - and technicians, to sample the 
clean and productive working environment, and the tidy educational 
tools, that FOSS makes available, this Software Freedom Day."


Ends


WHAT: Software Freedom Day - international Free and Open-Source Software 
festival.

WHEN: 12pm to 4pm, Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 September 2006

WHERE: South Learning Centre, South Christchurch Library, 66 Colombo 
Street, Beckenham, Christchurch.

CONTACT: Rik Tindall sfd@infohelp.co.nz Ph 03-332-1069 or 027-406-0077