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<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://news.northxsouth.com/2009/05/11/first-central-american-free-software-gathering/">http://news.northxsouth.com/2009/05/11/first-central-american-free-software-gathering/</a><br>
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Momentum building around first Central American Free Software Gathering<br>
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<p>The first steps are being taken in
Central America to network free software groups in the region and
develop collaborative relationships with each other. The first <a
href="http://sl-centroamerica.org/wiki/Ecsl2009">Central America Free
Software Gathering (ECSL)</a> is being organized for sometime in June
in Nicaragua. The goal of the event is to:
</p>
<ul>
<li>Share organizational experience from user groups of different
countries,</li>
<li>Exchange technical knowledge based on each group’s skill-set
specialization,</li>
<li>Create social ties and cohesion of ideas between regional
communities,</li>
<li>Set goals for the advancement of Free Software in Central America</li>
</ul>
<p>The <a href="http://ecsl.sl-centroamerica.org/blog/">event’s blog</a>
has posts announcing public IRC meetings, updates and reports as well
as announcements of free software community events around the region.
Examples include the <a
href="http://encuentro.sl-centroamerica.org/blog/2009/02/software-libre-en-guatemala-y-pizza-bash-iii/">pizza-bash
meetings in Nicaragua or the ‘Sabados de Software Libre’</a> (Free
Software Saturdays) as well as pre-<a
href="http://news.northxsouth.com/2009/04/24/flisol-2009-hundreds-of-cities-in-18-latin-american-countries-to-host-install-fests/">FLISOL</a>
events in Guatemala. </p>
<p>The event stands out because of the low cost to participate. The
registration package includes: <strong>-</strong> round-trip costs
from airport/bus-station to the event place; <strong>-</strong>
hosting place during the event; <strong>-</strong> food; <strong>-</strong>
a welcome kit when you arrive at the event. All of his is offered for <a
href="http://sl-centroamerica.org/wiki/Ecsl2009#Costos_de_participaci.C3.B3n">USD
$120</a>, according to the estimates from the organization team.</p>
<p>The event website also includes a comprehensive directory of Central
American free software groups: <a
href="http://sl-centroamerica.org/wiki/Belice#Comunidades">Belize</a>,
<a href="http://sl-centroamerica.org/wiki/Costa_Rica#Comunidades">Costa
Rica</a>, <a
href="http://sl-centroamerica.org/wiki/Guatemala#Comunidades">Guatemala</a>,
<a href="http://sl-centroamerica.org/wiki/Honduras#Comunidades">Honduras</a>,
<a href="http://sl-centroamerica.org/wiki/Nicaragua#Comunidades">Nicaragua</a>,
<a href="http://sl-centroamerica.org/wiki/Panam%C3%A1#Comunidades">Panamá</a>
and <a href="http://sl-centroamerica.org/wiki/El_Salvador#Comunidades">El
Salvador</a>.</p>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
isabela fernandes bagueros
415.887.7690 tel
415.283.5285 cel
san francisco, california
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.northxsouth.com/">http://www.northxsouth.com/</a>
north by south international
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