I was totally exhilarating when I saw it taking shape. I think a unique momentum was created and Romanians should not waste this chance. I assured them all my support, but I would prefer not to be involved much at this stage. I consider people living in that country should drive this project. I would prefer to be more an observer and a liaison in between them and the outside world. There I can help for sure.

This being said, I updated the information at rosi.ro website and I presented my intention to donate the domain that I own (rosi.ro); if of course, the people there will ask for it. I also recommended to Romi (Agora our eLiberatica pertners enrolled ROSI like a brand) to donate the ROSI ( Romanian Open Source and Free Software Initiative) brand in case this initiative will follow the ideals that ROSI tried to promote when was started. On the other hand, I reserved my right to withdraw my support if I’ll see the initiative failing to attract honest and vertical members that would coordinate the group.

I wish them good luck and determination. Is a unique moment, is a dream – to see the emerging of a real Romanian FLOSS organization that would drive things in the right direction in that part of the world.

There are many capable and honest people in the IT community there, the single condition would be for them to get involved and do the right thing. If not, opportunists, false good willing people, closed source lobbyist and so on, will fail the beautiful thing that started. So be aware. Keep an eye on this initiative, help it if you can.

The most of discussions are taking place on tic-lobby (one of the most respected Romanian IT communities) and rosi-talk, the new launched discussion list. (Please note, Doru Ilasi (one of the initial ROSI group members) is the one who took the initiative to coordinate this project, he is administering the discussions there. Good job Doru!)

Anul acesta am simtit din nou acel entuziasm tineresc al primei editii iar dupa terminarea conferintei, reactia pe net a fost peste asteptari; au inceput comentarii pe diferite liste de discutii privind necesitatea de a infiinta o organizatie NGO care sa sustina si sa promoveze tehnologiile deschise si libere, precum si discutii intense relativ la contractul de sute de milioane pe care Statul Roman doreste sa il acorde Microsoft.

Per total, cred ca eLiberatica a ajuns la o masa critica si incepe sa fie notata de catre autoritatile locale si as scoate in evidenta aici participarea d-lui Adrian Curaj (Consiliul National al Cercetarii Stiintifice din Invatamantul Superior). Este adevarat, prezenta reprezentantilor din guvern este inca foarte slaba, totusi se vad unele semne bune. Dl Constantin Teodorescu, probabil singurul politician roman care are viziune asupra IT-ului si intelege cu adevarat ce beneficii poate aduce Open Soruce si Free Software Romaniei a fost prezent pentru a doua oara la eLiberatica.

Prezente notabile: Monty si David, cei care au adus o afacere bazata pe Open Source – ma refer la MySQL, la valoarea de vanzare de un miliard de dolari. Danese Cooper – asa numita open source diva, probabil una din cele mai influente prezente feminine din Open Source si IT in general – nu atat de cunoscuta la noi pana acum; Danese a avut probabil cel mai mare impact asupra publicului in editia de anul acesta. Alaturi de ei, au fost multi altii, pentru mai multe detalii recomand situl eLiberatica.

“Bottom line”: personal nu m-am asteptat ca editia de anul acesta sa aibe impactul pe care la avut, avand in vedere timpurile vitrege prin care economia mondiala si nationala trece. Cu atat mai mult, succesul de acest an imi intareste convingerea ca ne aflam pe drumul cel bun si ca in final Romania se va alinia trendului mondial care este clar deschis spre Open Source si Free Software.

“For the past three years Romania has been hosting one of the most important Free Software and Open Source events in the region, with a host of international speakers and Romanian success story representatives, the eLiberatica. This year we extended the invitation to participate and discuss how to foster a genuine Romanian IT industry to no less than two ministers: Ms. Ecaterina Andronescu of the Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation and Mr. Gabriel Sandu of the Ministry of Communications and Information Society of Romania.

We were glad to receive the kind response of Ms. Andronescu in which she declared her intent to participate. Unfortunately this was the last we heard from either ministry, no ministry was represented during Romania’s most important event on strategic issues that have become mainstream in countries across Europe and the world.

These last events, spending hundreds of millions for Microsoft licenses is no surprise in this context. The Romanian Government seems out of touch with reality. My last hope is that European Union will open their eyes somehow, because for sure they are not listening nor working in the best interest of people who they represent – the Romanians.”

And here is Georg C. F. Greve’s (president of Free Software Foundation Europe) quote:

“Microsoft’s deals in new EU member states have raised concerns over corruption before, e.g. in Bulgaria. But while Microsoft seems to raise such questions more often than others, it should be noted that the problem of illegal procurement is larger and not limited to Microsoft. Nor is the problem limited to the new EU member states, as the recent irregularities and resulting antitrust complaint filed in Switzerland demonstrate.

Considering the recent freeze of EU funds due to corruption in Bulgaria, this decision of the Romanian government seems careless and dangerous for the sustained economic growth of the country in more than one way: By endangering EU support, by increasing dependency on proprietary software for the economy, and by wasting funds that could have been used for much-needed infrastructure projects.

It seems ironic that the European Commission has to fine Microsoft repeatedly over sustained monopoly abuse, then transfers part of that money to Romania, which enjoyed the highest level of financial support ever granted to a candidate country in the history of the European Union, and the Romanian government then decides to return part of that money to Microsoft with close to no tangible benefit for Romania.”

So what is the most important aspect this year at eLiberatica?

Despite the harsh financial times, eLiberatica is making a stand again – 400 confirmed participants, 5 inside conference events and over 40 speakers, and an exciting schedule!

I wish to thank publicly to all who helped this event: the eLiberatica Community, Agora Media and it’s great team, Ceata, all Romanian FLOSS communities who chose to support us, all our partners and sponsors, and all who trust in us and are attending this event.

We will publish images and videos from the conference on eLiberatica homepage, in real time, as we did last year, so for the ones who cannot come, check the website on 22 and 23 this month and next days after the conference.

Lot of things to say, but no more time, so see you in Bucharest in a few days!

Check O’Reilly Media website: High-Profile Speakers at “eLiberatica – The Benefits of Open and Free Technologies” Conference

We are more than happy to have O’Reilly Media again at eLiberatica.

Thank you Josette!

eLiberatica 2009 conference schedule published:

eliberatica.ro/2009/conference/schedule

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Mentionez aici cativa dintre cei mai importanti speakeri ai acestei editii, dar lista e mai lunga:

Richard Stallman, The founder of Free Software Movement,
Free Software Foundation, USA  (va trimite o prezentare video, toata lumea stie cine este, nu are rost sa mai insist. La anul a promis sa vina in carne si oase

Danese Cooper, Open Source Diva,
REvolution Computing, USA  (un personaj foarte interesant in lumea open source internationala – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danese_Cooper)

“Monty” Michael Widenius CEO & VP Community,
Monty Program AB, Finland  (da, Monty vine impreuna cu David Axmark, rar-rar sa ii prinzi pe amandoi, mai ales acum

David Axmark Co-Founder of MySQL AB,
Open Source Licensing & Community Relations,

Georg C. F. Greve President,
Free Software Foundation Europe, Switzerland

Valer Mischenko Director,
NLnet Foundation, Nederland (foarte interesant ce fac ei – sponsorizeaza proiecte open source – http://www.nlnet.nl/; daca aveti de gand sa initiati astfel de proiecte, merita sa va intalniti cu Valer)

Ismael Olea OSOR Representative,
IDABC (an European Commission program), Spain (din partea UE anul trecut a fost Barbara, acum vine Ismael Olea)

Matthew “Chewy” Trewhella Developer Advocate,
Google Inc., USA (Google il trimite din nou pe Chewy)

Jeroen van Meeuwen Board Member and Vice President,
Fedora EMEA e.V., Nederland  (din cate stiu, e prima data cand Fedora prezinta la o conferinta nationala in Ro)

John Koetsier The University of British Columbia Delegate,
COO of EasyBits Software, Canada  (o ocazie speciala de a intalni un reprezentant al uneia dintre cele mai bune universitati canadiene. Avem de invatat “A LOT” in ceea ce priveste invatamantul universitar si de business de la ei. Printre altele, John va prezenta un pogram interenational ce ofera o diploma recunoscuta in America de Nord – http://met.ubc.ca/; cei care planuiesc sa emigreze mai ales… face sens sa vina sa asculte)

Zbigniew Branecki Mozilla Representative,
Mozilla Europe, Poland  (unul din cei mai activi dezvoltatori Firefox)

Eng. Ph.D Adrian Curaj Centre for Strategic Management Director,
POLITEHNICA University Bucharest, Romania (in sfarsit avem un reprezentant oficial al invatamantului universitar romanesc

“Teo” Constantin Teodorescu Software Project Manager,
Uranus, Romania (toata lumea il cunoaste pe Teo

Jérôme Velociter Manager for Romania,
XWiki, Romania (un francez ce face business IT in Romania)

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O sectiune speciala anul acesta: vom avea un eveniment Agile si pot sa va spun, deja atrage o gramada de interes:

Maria Diaconu Chair & Event Coordinator,
Open Agile Romania

Ken Schwaber Co-developer of Scrum (Open Agile Event),
Control Chaos, USA (unul din grupul celor care au lansat metodologia Agile – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Schwaber – va face video conferinta)

Corey Haines Software Journeyman (Open Agile Event),
CoreyHaines.com, USA

Jurgen Appelo Chief Information Officer (Open Agile Event),
ISM eCompany, Netherland

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Si sa nu uitam, Microsoft Romania prezinta la eLiberatica.

Au fost tot felul de dezbateri pe tema MS, ODF/OOXML, etc; va invit sa veniti la eLiberatica unde veti putea sa ii intrebati si discutati direct cu dansii despre filozofia open source si free software a Microsoft.

Zoli Herczeg National Technology Officer,
Microsoft Romania

Todi Pruteanu Platform Strategy Manager,
Microsoft Romania

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Mai multe detalii aflati pe situl eLiberatica

http://www.eliberatica.ro/2009/

PS – Anul acesta comitetul de organizare a facut eforturi deosebite pentru a veni cu un bilet extrem de ieftin.Si asta pentru ca dorim sa facem posibila o participare cat mai larga. Iar pana pe 15 Aprilie este 29 euro, dupa aceea – 39 euro. O conferinta de doua zile plus freedom party. http://www.eliberatica.ro/2009/tickets