Richard Stallman - KTH Stockholm 26th Febuary 2008
I’m really looking forward to Richards talk. It should be interesting hearing a man live whom I’ve read a lot about over the past 5 years. And had the pleasure of using software that he has made it possible for med to use freely.
That one of the Swedish unions is a sponsor for this event is an interesting twist. Considering that I currently work for a Swedish Union organization I’ll enjoy hearing his view on free software use amongst unionists.
So I’ll report back after his talk.
2008-02-26 - Report back
VIDEO - ogg Richard Stallman - Stockholm KTH
AUDIO - ogg Richard Stallman - Stockholm KTH
Swedish computer newspaper article
Wow, what an experience. Richard talked for two hours in a auditorium of over 300 people.
It was a cold, windy and rainy night in Stockholm Sweden last night.
But the warmth of freesoftware curious Stockholmers help Richard to relax and give an inspiring and enlightening presentation.
One of the Swedish white collar unions was the main backer of the evening. But Richard only mentioned “the union” once in regard to a incident in south America regarding the coca cola company and union workers.
Richard went through the main areas of his beliefs including the four freedoms, and the GNU/Linux naming issues and Linux Torvalds not supporting the true spirit of free software and freedom.
There were many digs at large corporations that produce proprietary software. These digs were answered with applause from the the attentive public.
Richard Stallman had a hot water jug and made two cups of tea during his talk. He also auctioned of a book for 1000SEK for which the proceeds went to the Freesoftware fondation.
The talk was held and the Royal Institute of Technology. In 1996 Richard Stallman was named as Honorary Doctorate by the Royal Institute of Technology. Richard Stallman was not present in Stockholm in 1996 to receive his Doctors hat. Last night and elderly member of KTH formally presented Richard Stallman with his doctors hat. This was done before Richard Stallman started his talk and was given a large applause by the present public.
I talked to Richard Stallman shortly after his talk in the foyer and asked him if he had ever been to New Zealand? He replied that he had been the twice.
I asked if he had ever been to my home town of Hamilton and the Waikato University? He replied, no but had given talks in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Richard Stallman said his is traveling down to New Zealand again this year in August to give talks.
This evening was one to really remember, a night of strong words that make one think twice about how the world of computing has evolved and how we want to future to be.
Do we really need the educational system educating our children using proprietary software from the age of two years old and up? This is what is happening in the community I live in.
- Can we change this?
- Are we prepared to change this?
Isn’t our duty to educate our children in a free and open environment and let them make there own choices, not shackle them to multinational companies products that they have little change of freeing themselves from in the future.
This point about Free Software in education was a specific point Richard Stallman addressed last night and feels strongly about.
I’d like to thank Richard Stallman again for coming to Stockholm to talk.
/Roger Sinel
