= Document Freedom Day 2012: Activists around the world celebrate Open
Standards =
[Read online: http://fsfe.org/news/2012/news-20120328-02.fi.html ]
Free Software advocates worldwide are today celebrating information
accessibility and Open Standards. 48 events in 17 countries are using
demonstrations, talks and workshops to explain why Open Standards[1]and
Free Software are crucial to a free and competitive information society.
1. http://fsfe.org/projects/os/os.fi.html
A network of 34 international partner organisations[2]are carrying this
message to new audiences, from Cairo to Argentina, Poland to Taiwan, and
the European Parliament[3]to Aberystwyth University.
2. http://documentfreedom.org/partners.html
3. http://erikjosefsson.eu/sites/default/files/global_dfd_invite.html
"The growth of support for Document Freedom Day[4]shows growing demand
for accessible formats and unprejudiced standards" says Campaign
Coordinator Matthias Kirschner. "Citizens, businesses, and politicians
alike are calling for adoption of fairer and more compatible
international standards". Prizes are being awarded this year by Document
Freedom Day teams in Germany[5], Italy[6], Slovakia and Poland[7], to
businesses and government offices which have recently adopted Open
Standards within their organisations.
4. http://documentfreedom.org
5. http://fsfe.org/news/2012/news-20120328-01.fi.html
6. http://www.dfd-arezzo.tk/
7. http://www.linux.org.pl/news/kontener-na-newsy-i-eventy/document-freedom-%2…
Open Standards are a common language, publicly documented, that computer
programs can speak. They are central to interoperability and freedom of
choice in technology. Open Standards allow Free Software developers to
create programs that can interoperate with other solutions, so users can
migrate away from proprietary solutions.
"Fresh support from celebrities like Stephen Fry[8], and major community
groups such as Open Rights Group have introduced Open Standards to new
groups this year" said Deputy Campaign Coordinator, Sam Tuke. "We are
delighted by the response we have received, and the additional political
impact Document Freedom Day has achieved".
8. http://documentfreedom.org/testimonials.html#quote-fry
Document Freedom Day 2012 is facilitated by the Free Software Foundation
Europe, and supported by campaign patrons[9]Google and Oracle.
9. http://documentfreedom.org/sponsors.en.html
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a non-profit
non-governmental organisation active in many European countries and
involved in many global activities. Access to software determines
participation in a digital society. To secure equal participation in
the information age, as well as freedom of competition, the Free
Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) pursues and is dedicated to the
furthering of Free Software, defined by the freedoms to use, study,
modify and copy. Founded in 2001, creating awareness for these issues,
securing Free Software politically and legally, and giving people
Freedom by supporting development of Free Software are central issues
of the FSFE.
http://fsfe.org/
== About Document Freedom Day ==
Document Freedom Day (DFD) campaigns to celebrate information accessibility
and introduce non-technical audiences to Open Standards. Open Standards are a
basic condition for freedom and choice in software; ensuring the freedom to
access data, and the freedom to build Free Software to read and write
information. Started in 2008, the campaign has resulted in hundreds of events
worldwide, and this year will take place on March 28th. This year 28 partners
are supporting DFD.
http://documentfreedom.org
Contact: Matthias Kirschner, Free Software Foundation Europe,
Linienstr. 141, 10115 Berlin, t +49-30-27595290, m +49-1577-1780003