Greetings, all --

I would like to invite Linux and FOSS advocates to participate in a project in which we can uplift Linux and FOSS locally, where I live and work, and uplift Linux and FOSS in your own communities whenever and wherever this project is repeated.

Lindependence 2008 introduces Linux to the town of Felton, California -- about 6,000 people who live at the foot of the San Lorenzo Valley in Santa Cruz County, California. The plan behind Lindependence 2008 involves assisting those wishing to declare their digital independence for an entire week -- starting on Independence Day 2008 -- by using their choice of distro and FOSS programs.

I expect that most of the people who participate in this project will continue to stay "proprietary free" after the week is over, because they will discover what we already know: Linux, FOSS and the freedom to choose in our digital pursuits far outweigh the software hegemony provided by the digital mandarins in Redmond and Cupertino.

The idea for the project takes its cue from a recent Nikon television ad campaign, where the Japanese camera maker gave digital cameras to a small town in South Carolina and promoted the results. Replacing cameras with LiveCDs and thumb drives, this project introduces people to Linux and FOSS programs and allows them a chance to have a computing experience that we all have and that we all know is superior to what most people are forced to use because they're unaware that they have alternatives.

Currently, town meetings and installfests are planned to be held during May and June of this year to familiarize the people in Felton with Linux and FOSS programs and, as stated, those who participate start a week of Linux and FOSS use from July 4 through July 11, and possibly longer. We have the media involved and two documentary makers have already expressed an interest in taking footage in the area between now and July with the intention of making a documentary.

Here's where you come in:

-- Represent your distro or software program: We are seeking representatives from various distros and FOSS programs to lend their expertise at the meetings and installfests. These folks can either be people from the distro itself, or people from a distro's or FOSS's user group who live nearby.

-- Support the project: Talk about it with your friends. Mention it in the forums of the distros and FOSS programs that you frequent. Get your distro or FOSS program to support the project.

-- Help: One of the larger distros had proposed to foot the bill for this project, under the provision that the project would be distro specific for the sponsor. We wanted the concept of choice to prevail, so we graciously turned them down (although I am expecting this distro to participate anyway). Without violating any forum protocols, I won't mention the "d-word" -- donations -- but I will mention that we do need help in this department, and if anyone wants more information on this, you can e-mail me at the address below.

You may have questions, observations and comments, and because this e-mail only scratches the surface, I welcome them. I will gladly answer them here, or off-list at the e-mail below.

Thank you for your time and I hope you will help us uplift Linux and FOSS going forward.

Sincerely,
Larry Cafiero
HeliOS Solutions West
6116 Highway 9, Suite 4B
Felton, California 95018 U.S.A.
1-831-335-7303
lcafiero@fixedbylinux.com