Fwd: [Board] International Participation in OSGeo

[Brian Hamlin]

> From: Brian Hamlin <maplabs at light42.com>
> Date: August 9, 2010 12:54:35 PM PDT
> To: Jeff McKenna <jmckenna at gatewaygeomatics.com>
> Subject: Re: [Board] International Participation in OSGeo
>
> Hi Jeff-
>
>   thanks for the reply
>   one clarification though - I was trying to politely suggest that 
> OSGeo *not* cooperate with China at all.
> Those members listed in the China chapter are almost all National 
> Academy of Sciences members as far as I can tell, which is an 
> instrument of the state. One reason I speak out is that the way I got 
> involved with Geo in the first place was because of an almost fluke, 
> where I became steering committe member for a huge conference on 
> Digital Earth, via the International Society for Digital Earth. There 
> was a China conneciton from the very beginning, but due to lack of 
> funding and chaotic, part-time leadership, the body has now been 
> almost completely taken over by these National Academy people from 
> China. Needless to say I don't have anything to do with that 
> organization any more.
>
>   I have had some good talks with Arnulf.. I think we agree on a lot 
> of things..
>
> Since I am here in the Bay Area, I run into the Autodesk people here 
> and there.. as well as core Google people. I was informal liason 
> between some google engineers and gdal/FrankW when they were doing a 
> libkml rev a while back..
>
>   all for now
>     -Brian
>
>
>
> On Aug 9, 2010, at 12:13 PM, Jeff McKenna wrote:
>
>> Hello Brian,
>>
>> Thanks for this insight into the current status of activity of OSGeo 
>> across the globe.  In fact right after the last FOSS4G, Arnulf and I 
>> had a similar discussion on doing some outreach to India (we both 
>> feel that meeting face to face with local chapters is a critical part 
>> of OSGeo's growth).  Ravi Kumar, another board member, has also been 
>> actively looking at events in India where OSGeo-India can participate 
>> in.  So, it seems we are building some momentum there.
>>
>> Regarding China, I am in contact with several OSGeo-China members and 
>> they are very active - unfortunately not as visible as other 
>> chapters. (for example, they very quickly translated the Sol Katz 
>> Award wiki recently http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Sol_Katz_Award_cn)  
>> Sometimes the quietness is a cultural issue, due to language or 
>> respecting the existing developer's code - but I find once you invite 
>> these other cultures to contribute they are more than willing to 
>> participate.  I do agree with you though that we need to make sure 
>> our outreach includes China.
>>
>> I will be sure to mention these points during the upcoming 
>> face-to-face OSGeo Board meeting in Barcelona.  Thanks for the 
>> perspective.
>>
>> -jeff
>>
>>
>>
>> Brian Hamlin wrote:
>>> Board Members and List Subscribers..
>>>   Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Silicon Valley, the 
>>> international confluence is unmistakable..
>>> I am struck by the broad international demographic of OSGeo 
>>> participation as well..  For historical / political reasons, the 
>>> membership among Commonwealth countries is strong I think. Adding to 
>>> that the very strong contribution of the DACH countries, and France, 
>>> the Netherlands, and Italy (!), a good cross section of active OSGeo 
>>> participants can be seen...
>>>   OSGeo is on the brink of perhaps the biggest FOSS4G to date, in 
>>> Spain. The spanish speaking world is vast, and increasingly active 
>>> in FOSS. Of course, the Spanish Government's investment in Geo OSS 
>>> is well known, and bearing great fruit. However, it is not the 
>>> excellent opportunities in the Spanish language world that I write 
>>> about today.
>>>   The largest population centers in the world are by far, India and 
>>> China. Before I cast stones regarding the Communist government in 
>>> China, I will confess that my own government, the United States of 
>>> America, has at times been a powerfully bad actor internationally, 
>>> using the largest military in the world, and a lot of cash, to shape 
>>> the world politically.. I understand there is a lot of legitimate 
>>> criticism there..
>>>   However, with that said, I say emphatically, that the Red Chinese 
>>> Government is repeatedly and obviously mining FOSS for its own ends, 
>>> while denying the right to use and benefit from Geospatial tech to 
>>> its own people.. I am sure there are different opinions about how to 
>>> respond, but I doubt there is much disagreement that this is the 
>>> case... In particular, I must speak out for the case of the Tibetan 
>>> people, and the legitimate government of Taiwan. At any rate, enough 
>>> about the Chinese Government.
>>>   Which brings us to India..
>>>   India is the home to a very substantial portion of the world's 
>>> population, and, is regarded across the world for its scholarship, 
>>> piety and intellectual achievements. Yet there seem to me to be 
>>> precious few developers there active in OSGeo projects !  I do not 
>>> understand this. If there is opportunity in India, some kind of 
>>> fundamentals have to be addressed. I dont know that they are, or how 
>>> to do it. But I suggest to you, the Board of OSGeo, that aside from 
>>> the growth potential in the Spanish language world, India in 
>>> particular is a sleeping giant.
>>>   Although I will not be attending FOSS4G 2010 in Barcelona, I wish 
>>> all attendees a splendid conference, great networking, and the best 
>>> possible foundation for the crucial developments to come. In 
>>> particular, I point out the opportunity to take meaningful action 
>>> regarding Climate Change.
>>>   very best regards from California
>>>   Brian Hamlin
>>>   planetwork.net
>>>   OSGeo California Chapter
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