Esteban Mendieta Jara - Blog

Today marks 2 years of the meeting between Rafael Correa and Richard Stallman , why Rafael Bonifaz and I have decided to write about how this event happened. Here you can read the version of Rafael on history.

During the election campaign of 2006, I worked one day receive mail the following message:

--- Forwarded message ----
From: Rafael Bonifaz
Date: October 4, 2006 11:53
Subject: Free Software
To: Rafael Correa

Dear Rafael,

My name is Rafael Bonifaz and I am a Systems Engineer. Currently in addition to my professional work I am active in free software communities of Ecuador. In this country little is spoken on the subject, but countries like Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, parts of Spain and Europe are moving to the use of Free Software. To win you the election, propose a plan regarding the use of free software in the state?

To cite one example, now the municipality of Quito should pay IBM a value close to $ 200 000 per year for the use of your email server and that the mayor can share your calendar with the councilors. We can offer a similar solution, with some software development and use of free software for a cost of nearly $ 20 000 for a single time. Hence, the municipality can hire us to support us or any other company that knows the subject. Do not stay locked to us.

With $ 200 000 a year can do more for the benefit of the community rather than pay a fee for use of computers. This is only a servant of a municipality. Imagine the cost of all licenses of windows, office and other programs used by the state. How could we save by using free software and the money spent would stay in training national professionals, instead of paying multinationals.

Sincerely,

Rafael Bonifaz

PD. The main community of free software in Ecuador is:
www.ecualug.org

One person who was responsible for reviewing the emails told me and what I do with this?, I read the message and said, give it to me I answer.

Read the rest »