[GNUz] Software Freedom Day survives earthquake

[Rik Tindall]

Software Freedom Day survives earthquake

Media Release:  Software Freedom Day, Team Christchurch, New Zealand

13 September, 2013

The Christchurch Unix community has its annual technical show next 
weekend, as part of international Software Freedom Day celebrations. 
Personal Computer operating systems derived from Unix offer an 
alternative, to Microsoft desktop security issues and costs, and are 
maintained by a large international community. Main variants of Unix are 
GNU/Linux and Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) operating systems. 
BSD is the core of Apple Computer's OS-X. Licensed free software 
installation discs and install help are made available to the public on 
Software Freedom Day.

The local event had to be relocated last year due to earthquake damage 
of the venue, but this year is back at South Learning Centre in the 
South Christchurch Library. Talks,  demonstrations and videos make the 
day focused on education and sharing. It is a familiy-friendly day of 
fun for all, with computers and related technology as the platform. Safe 
use of telecommunication devices is the strong emphasis here, helping 
people become independently secure in their online lives.

Other types of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) can run on top of 
Microsoft Windows, providing extra user choice. The Firefox web browser 
and Open Office suite are popular examples. Firefox has over a quarter 
of the desktop browser market alone, to which other browsers such as 
Apple's add to make big competition for Microsoft's Internet Explorer. 
But the industry playing field is not level, hence the need for Software 
Freedom Day, user support, and publicity.

The Christchurch Software Freedom Day team was the first to get going 
in New Zealand, at the event's gloabl inauguration in 2004, and is the 
only one still standing in 2013 – at the ten-year anniversary next week.

“The practical continuity of SFD here confirms Christchurch as the 
technical innovation capital of New Zealand,” says team leader Rik 
Tindall.  “Christchurch's recovery will be comprehensive and 
influential, going by SFD's nationally-unique survival here under all 
conditions,” Tindall concludes.

Software Freedom Day takes place Saturday 21 September, from 10am to 
4pm at the South Learning Centre, South Christchurch Library, 66 Colombo 
Street, in Beckenham.

ENDS

Further information may be obtained at SFD Christchurch, or from the 
following.

Contact: Rik Tindall, 03-332-1069 or 027-406-0077 or rik at infohelp.co.nz

Refer: http://www.SoftwareFreedomDay.org
http://wiki.softwarefreedomday.org/2013/NewZealand/Christchurch/SFD
http://www.facebook.com/TeamChristchurchSFD
http://www.infohelp.co.nz/sfd13.html
http://www.robertson.net.nz/sfd

-- 
Cheers, Rik