[Linux-aus] The Ada Initiative - Should Linux Australia support it?

[Noel Butler]

On Mon, 2011-02-21 at 19:27 +1100, Brent Wallis wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> 
> 
> Let me first pretext with the fact that I support the idea.
> However, posts so far indicate that that there is an uneasy feeling
> about the matter.
> 
> 
> I have just read this article:
> http://www.linux.com/news/enterprise/biz-enterprise/410922-news-ada-initiative-supports-women-in-free-software
> 
> 
> Which points to this:
> http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/newss/7293/1/
> 
> 
> In which is contained these 2 consecutive paragraphs:
> 
> 
> "The current plan is to find funding for two years' full time work for
> at least Aurora and Gardiner. Others may be hired as funding permits,
> or for special projects.
> 
> "We're hoping to rely on corporate donations, probably with some early
> funds raised through individual donations" says Gardiner. The Ada
> Initiative has already announced its first sponsor, Linux Australia,
> and its founders hope to announce other sponsors shortly."
> 
> LA in the past have required individuals to tout their cause on list
> when requesting donations...
> 
> Why oh why has this happened without there being community discussion?
> 
> What have I missed? 
> 
> Can no one see how this could work against the intent?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Rgds
> 
> BW
> 
> 
> 
> 


I agree with Brent, Russell and others. There must be a business plan
put forward for scrutiny before such approval is given, just because
someone is known to some, does not, and should not, ever, automatically
green light such donations.

I also see David Newalls comments:

"I'm generally opposed to discrimination on the basis of irrelevant 
factors, such as age, race, sex, sexual orientation, and religion.  So 
called "affirmative action" policies fall clearly into this area in 
that, despite how they might be worded, they do seek to employ a 
minority even when a better candidate is on offer."

as being a very good point.

We are all in this now because we want to be, I'd stop short of saying
"it's in our blood", so, this could be seen as an attempt to entice
people who currently have no interest, to gain an interest.

The Human Rights commission who deal with such things as discrimination,
could find it interesting, should, say, another organisation pop up next
week wanting to entice more males and be refused a grant because '
there's enough of us here already' , a refusal for a grant to get "old
folks" interested, the list is endless ...  I am all for equality
regardless of sex/race/etc... but, you have to look at it from outside
the box as well as from inside, once a precedence is set.

But I'd have no problems in supporting all such schemes, so long as, a
satisfactory business plan is put forward, the banks require these
things for business loans etc for a reason.

That's my 2c worth.
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