01.28.09
Gemini version available ♊︎Microsoft Colonialises Uganda with States Help
EDUCATION in Uganda seems to have just been hijacked by Microsoft, assisted by the United States government. This is an excellent example of imperialism, which also requires seeing the following antitrust exhibits about a programme that Microsoft calls EDGI and accompanying MOUs (codenamed “Project Marshall”).
- Is Microsoft ‘Pulling an EDGI’ on Kerala? (Updated)
- Microsoft Vice President Teaches PR People How to Spin Anti-Linux Programme
- Microsoft Dumps on India, South Africa, Malta
- At Microsoft, “Fear Uncertainty Doubt (TALKING POINTS)” is Formal Strategy
- Microsoft’s Dumping Strategy Versus GNU/Linux (EDGI Continued)
- Extended Windows 98 EOL to Block Government Migrations to GNU/Linux and Free Software; More ‘Donations’
- Microsoft on “Maintaining Gap vs Linux” Using “Patents“, “Children’s Software“
- Microsoft’s Internal Presentation on How to Fight GNU/Linux
- Microsoft Chief: “Under NO Circumstances Lose Against Linux”
- Microsoft’s EDGI in India: Fighting GNU/Linux in Education
- EDGI Finale: Microsoft’s “Linux Compete Squad”
How can this type of thing be ethical? Is Uganda delegating control for Microsoft to handle its children’s education? Is this an offshoring of minds?
The United States is working with Microsoft to improve education management with computer technology. The U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, will provide two million dollars to purchase equipment for the project. Microsoft will design software that will help gather data in the education ministry. The alliance is expected to provide educators and students with online resources.
Ten years ago Uganda introduced free primary education for all children, opening doors for millions who would have been too poor to go to school. Under the Universal Primary Education program, the number of children between six and 15 years tripled over the past decade.
Why are the Ugandan authorities permitting digital colonialism by a company that committed so many crimes and continues to commit them? Microsoft has no place in Africa because it only exploits and insults the continent. It’s a fight against Free software and GNU/Linux, which would empower the local population rather than use it. █
“They’ll get sort of addicted, and then we’ll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade.”
The Mad Hatter said,
January 28, 2009 at 10:49 pm
OLPC is still having it’s effects I see. I suspect that we are going to see a lot more of this in Africa and Asia, as Microsoft moves to try and block Free Software uptake.