Introducción

Hi again friends!

Today I want to tell you what is CRISOL (Strategic Meeting of Free/Libre Software), at least from my point of view and experience. 

CRISOL is an event that happens once a year and at different places in our country (Argentina), so It is one of the few federated events about free/libre software in Argentina.

My personal experience: Argentina 2001 crack

To tell you what is CRISOL, first I have to tell you my experience and how I knew the Free/Libre Software Movement.

I must go back to the year 2001 in Argentina, who doesn't know what happen that year?? Each of us know where have we been that fateful day which the Argentinian goverment disapeared and the argentinian society made a crack...the famous "cacerolazo" and the "que se vayan todos!". Did you remember?. Where were you?.

That day I went to run at the saavedra park (a park where people go to exercise). When I went back to my home I realise, by the tv news, that we didn't have any president and the people took to the streets and shouth "Que se vayan todos!" ("Down with all! all=political people"), all the world saw this event in Argentina and in my country began a new phase.

In this transformation the popular assembly begins to rise, a type of assembly where self-convened neighborhood, without political sign, came to discuss what country we want, What could we do to get out of chaos, What could we do to change the direction of the country, How can we contribute?. Time passed and I could not continue to militate in these assemblies.

My personal experience: How do I know about the Free/Libre Movement?

I keep in my work, as a software developer, but I had that seed inside me: "contribute with something to the community", "doing something WITH others". 

From year 1999 to year 2002 I developed with propietary/closed software, I mean in the dark side jeje. In those platforms or tools is too difficult to share and help other collegues and users, and I don't tell that just in theory but in practice too.

I began to think that to share was "piracy", that concept was opposed to what I learnt in faculty that "Do not re-invent the wheel", "re-use code and no re-write" Not because we are lazy but for the simple reason not to lose energy uselessly and that we didn't contribute with something new. 

By the year 2002 I know (thanks to the Faculty and the migrations to web tecnologies) the Java and PHP languages and the new way to develop applications, in this free/libre world...I knew the free/libre software movement which bring to me the common sense again.

In addition to this I began to notice how much more productive, fast and quality was developing software in this new world, simply because there were thousands of libraries tested and documented (not always 100% but hey, what else can we ask!!??) Free with the source code ready for use. I started to make more money, There were more freelance work on these platforms and the government had begun to point in that direction, so, or followed the change or. .. I was locked up.

At that moment I decided to try to contribute a little to the community, go to events, make my personal work place better.

By the year 2006 I went to the second CRISOL that is made in my city La Plata. Is an amazing meeting! It make me think about those popular assembly of the year 2001! the sensation of living and contribute to something bigger than me, bigger than my ego :) , contribute to the community...So there, in crisol I experimented the meeting face to face with others partners that were in the same position than me, discuss, share ideas, courses of action and then drafted the documents were to define the strategic lines of action.

Three important features about CISOL

Meeting: It's a meeting with people face to face that share the same principles, without wired in the middle je

Strategic: Because here we evaluate the current year and we define the goals to the next year. Courses of action are agreed among all, each contributing with something, share ideas and opinions.

Evangelization: Yes!! Evangelize, to make known to the world what is the free/libre software and what it does and what is the base philosophy. Advertise, expand the values of the free software community in every area where you can: State, Education, Business, Social Organizations.

In summary CRISOL is to live the community from inside, to debate, sharing ideas, build proposals, tell experiences. 

Today the country is reaching a crucial point about Free/Libre software strategy, Great!! the politicians realized that the free/libre software movement is the road we must to travel if we want a technological sovereignty, the free/libre software is profitable, sustainable, generates local development and the knowledge remains within the country and not outside.

Freeing music and books!

In this CRISOL we are going to free books and music!!, share and inter-change without being "pirates". So if you have some book that you don't read anymore and you want to share with someone I invite you to came to CRISOL sign the book and free it!.

Also bring with you the pen drive that the friends of RedPanal.com will copy free/libre music.

Conclusion

So dear readers, friends, colleagues ... I invite you to attend the IV CRISOL, there will be doing many activities, free books!, Music! and we will discuss a lot!...in summary a meeting face to face.

If you want to join the conversation on twitter (hashtag #CRISOL2010) or click on:https://twitter.com/#!/search/crisol2010

See you (this time without quotes) in the in the CRISOL! ;)

A hug!