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As well as in much of the West, most Latin American countries are carrying out a series of Political and popular initiatives in favor of the implementation and use of free software, both from the Administration and by the citizenship . Let’s see what they are.
Policies and proposals that encourage free software
According to the latest ranking VILI (index rating of Free Software) country, conducted annually by PortalProgramas, Costa Rica and Nicaragua are the two most valued Latin American countries this technology , and Mexico, Honduras and, especially, the Dominican Republic, the least. But what policy initiatives in favor of free software is that each country has in place?
Costa Rica have Red Costarricense Free Software a nonprofit group founded in 2007 that promotes the use, study and development of this technology. However, although a draft law in order to save state spending on software is presented, all that has been formalized is a guideline to prioritize the implementation of free software in public administration, but not mandatory.
Nicaragua has communities that promote this technology and has reached agreements with the Foundation I + D of Free Software (FIDeSoL) with FUNDECYT-PCTEX AEXCID Foundation and the three Spanish, to organize the training of human resources in the transfer of technology and increase the quality and equity in education using ICT.
Brazil was the first country to migrate en masse open source (open source) in the public service in the world, starting to legislate from the State of Rio Grande do Sul, is a leader in development of free software in Latin America and, as if that were not enough, migration has progressively established also in the entire education system and even institutions such as the Central Bank.
Venezuela, Uruguay, Cuba, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil itself are the countries that have implemented this technology to develop scientifically and technologically: their governments agree to act against privatization and in favor technological autonomy and saving economic that this entails.
The Government of Venezuela set out with a Presidential Decree in December 2004 on the majority using free software and GNU / Linux systems, IT services and projects across the public administration. In this country developed Canaima GNU / Linux, used in the Canaima Educational project and in the manufacture of desktops that are distributed at low prices.
Uruguay , known by the topic of office, has taken it calmly from 2003 he began to study law in favor of the administrative use of free software that was not approved in full until December 2013. This law priority investment and technology development , giving reasons when proprietary software is chosen, and requires you to distribute and exchange information with at least one free license program and in an open format.
Cuba , the Government favored the use of the operating system (OS) Linux , and the source code he led the development of SO NOVA in the academic environment, which later hosted and sponsored the Government itself. This country became the first in the region in the use of Linux with 6.33% market share.
Ecuador is the implementation of free software as a government policy : in April 2008 a decree was passed to establish the use of this technology in all the teams in the institutions of the central public administration
The Parliament of . Bolivia promulgated in August 2011 the new General Law of Telecommunications, Information Technology and Communication, which indicated that the main political bodies “promote and prioritize the use of free software and open standards”, aiming last migrate completely This technology computer systems of the state.
The Government of Chile offers public software repository since 2007, and the Ministry of Education and the Universidad de la Frontera, located in Temuco, forged EduLinux , a GNU / educational Linux which is already in more than 1,500 schools and more than 90% of school libraries.
Paraguay is immersed in a process of migration to free software for all computer equipment Administration. The Government of Panama created a portal with resources of this technology. Argentina, Mexico, Peru and the Dominican Republic have very partially implemented the free software or are developing legislation. El Salvador and Guatemala want to opt for it with the main reason for budget savings. Colombia , only the capital promotes free software. Haiti only what has been implemented in medical records systems for rural areas. In Honduras does not even seem that their leaders consider this technology.
The Latin American Festival of Free Software Installation

FLISoL.info
The FLISoL is an event organized by local communities, held every year since 2005 19 Latin America (all except Haiti) and in Spain, and since 2008 (with some exceptions), the fourth Saturday April , and it aims to promote, as its name suggests, the use of free software, reporting to the public philosophy , how it is developing, which has advanced and what is its current scope. He can participate in all kinds of people, from academics, students and civil servants to workers and employers, whether passionate free software or do not have too many computer skills; can in fact an event of this nature is as suitable for anyone who has not had the opportunity to learn to use computers do so.
The number of venues where FLISoL is performed between 250 and 300 depending on the year, with strong collaboration of universities. Admission is free, and all wizard who wants to can ask to install on your laptop , in the same way and legally, operating systems and free software programs. In addition and at the same time, given lectures and presentations, discussions between the public and experts concern the relevance and impact of free software in local, national and international key and in fields as diverse as art are organized, teaching , business and social issues, and workshops use are given.
If you are interested enough free software or feel curious about him, that you look every year places where the Festival will take place, which is the largest in the world, and I would not miss it for anything.

