OpenFest 2007

OpenFest is an idea for a celebration, which should exceed the boundaries set by differences and morals. Let there be a day each year in which we, the upholders of free software all over the world try to make this a day when all people could get in touch with the freedom on the Internet, with the freedom of open source software, with free software. Lets all do something for other people on this day – not only on the net but person to person in real life as well.

OpenFest 2007 will take place at the Military club in Sofia, from October 27 to October 28 th. You are welcome.This is our 5th OpenFest, a little anniversary for conference and all the people involved in the organization.

As most of you know OpenFest is an annual conference dedicated to free and open source software, free culture and free knowledge share. It is marked by high professional lectures and presentations.The concept of free software is very old – even older than the idea about software itself, because this is not a technology -this is a view of life, human, simple, and natural. Because this is the idea and feeling of freedom. This unimpaired freedom with which we are born and which we carry with us in the course of our lives. This is the same freedom, which leads our feelings of humanity and justice.

The Internet is a child of this freedom. The free software is its manifestation. Regardless of its statute as an innermost human right,
freedom is constantly under the attack of politicians, organizations, companies or separate persons while they try to adapt it to their
morals and views. However, limited freedom is no freedom at all! The best way to protect this freedom is to share it with others. To make them remember that they carry this freedom within and that they can and have the chance to choose and eventually stand by your side.

What is OpenFest
OpenFest is an idea for a celebration, which should exceed the boundaries set by differences and morals. Let there be a day each year in which we, the upholders of free software all over the world try to make this a day when all people could get in touch with the freedom on the Internet, with the freedom of open source software, with free software. Lets all do something for other people on this day – not only on the net but person to person in real life as well.

Let’s leave our monitors and forget the complex terminology and explain to someone in simple terms how he or she can use the free software just like us – the people who’ve fallen in its spell forever.

Lets find a person and tell him about the idea and philosophy and organize lectures, meetings,
expositions, demonstration seminars or installation festivals. Lets all do this in our hometowns – lets invite journalists, guests,
businessmen, and politicians. Lets organize a world day for free software – all together – each year – during the second Sunday of
September and forget for a day that some of us prefer GNU/Linux, others *BSD and others still GNU/Hurd – lets put our differences behind and let each one of us simply do what he or she can and feels accessible.

It’s not necessary to organize this day yourselves – try to do it with friends or with the help of public organizations.

Let’s share our freedom!

Maybe someone, somewhere close to you is waiting for a little push in order to start searching for an alternative, someone who’s waiting for somebody to give him a little encouragement. Help this person! Show him your computer! Make him/her your friend! In this way you’ll give him a little piece of freedom! And don’t forget to have a beer together in the evening! We can organize this OpenFest in the same way that we write software and documentation without getting together or being acquainted.

When
OpenFest 2007 will take place at the Military club in Sofia, from October 27 to October 28 th. You are welcome.

Anniversary
This is our 5th OpenFest, a little anniversary for conference and all the people involved in the organization.

As most of you know OpenFest is an annual conference dedicated to free and open source software, free culture and free knowledge share. It is marked by high professional lectures and presentations.

The conference program this year is again, divided into three panels:

OpenTech – technical lectures, presentations and discussions about the essence and use of free and open source software
OpenBiz – a panel dedicated to business projects based on free and open source software
OpenArt – a forum dedicated to free culture
The program also includes the annual BSDcon conference of the BSD operating systems fans.

Since its first organizing in 2003 the OpenFest’s idea got the approval and support of the Bulgarian President Mr. George Parvanov and is leaded under the President’s aegis.