[Am-info] Greenpeace throws out Windows --- a social trend?

[John Poltorak]

On Wed, May 15, 2002 at 04:10:31AM +0400, Hans Reiser wrote:
> John Poltorak wrote:
> 
> >Looks like Peru is setting a trend...
> >
> >Now Greenpeace is going Open Source
> >
> >http://www.vnunet.com/News/1131731
> >
> >
> >Maybe the United Nations should declare Open Source as the standard for 
> >the Third World...
> >
> >
> >Just think, the cost of one Windows licence saved would probably buy 
> >enough food to feed a starving African for a month.
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> This may be an important milestone in Microsoft software becoming seen 
> as socially unacceptable among mainstream (not computer focused) 
> leftwing organizations.

I have been hoping for some time that various Anti-capitalist and 
Anti-globalisation groups would get the point about Microsoft. This 
company should be at the forefront of any hostility. I would love to see 
some of these groups targetting Windows computers with the same venom  as 
they have for Macdonalds 'restaurants'.

The decisions reached by Greenpeace and the government of Peru are 
significant and it would be nice to see a snowball effect, but it does 
need more publicity, and most of these organisations are completely 
ignorant about technology since they will have been brainwashed into using 
Microsoft products by the education system.
 
> Remember, critical mass can be very important in these matters, and once 
> MS drops below 50% I predict it will go into a total tailspin.
 
> It is important not to underestimate the importance of average persons 
> seeing MS as unfashionable, and leftwing organizations like Greenpeace 
> may be early movers regarding MS becoming unfashionable and socially 
> awkward to be seen using.  If so, this is a very promising development.

Yes, it's very promising, but it is not getting reported. Bill Gates is 
still the darling of the opinion formers and media owners/controllers and 
they consistently fail to report anything which is unfavourable to 
Microsoft.

The other day I saw some stupid item on the BBC where they mentioned that 
the EU were looking into Microsoft's abuse of its monopoly and that they 
were considering taking 'even harsher' penalties. This is quite 
staggering.. Even harsher that what? AFAICS the 'harsh' penalties which 
Microsoft are being asked to accept are the removal of one or two icons 
from the Windows desktop.

Sheesh! That is soooooo harsh! These American Anti-trust legislators 
really know how to use their teeth.    

When reputable news organisation are failing so badly to inform the public 
then we have a very serious problem.

I just wish I could get a transcript of that item and I would send a 
complaint about it to the BBC.

 
> Hans


-- 
John