2019/06/23

Cooperation between Ubuntu communities in the Nordic and Baltic countries? (Samarbete, koostöö, yhteistyö)

Interested in FOSS promotion in Northern Europe 

Greetings from Hämeenlinna (Tavastehus), Finland!

I've been thinking it would be good to have more communication and cooperation between the Ubuntu and broader Linux communities in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Last year and this year, I have had some discussions with Nordic Linux users (using mailing lists, web forums, Telegram/Facebook groups and IRC channels).

One of my aims is to increase general knowledge of FOSS alternatives to revive old computers for example. According to my experience in recent years many elderly people will find Linux Mint or a similar distribution even easier to learn and use than Windows to meet most basic needs.

Previous attempts


There seem to have been efforts to organize cross-border cooperation as I have suggested. However the activity appears to have almost ended. The comments and ideas I've seen have not yet been formulated into more specific initiatives so I will start with a question and a few suggestions.

Would it be practical to found an official association or consortium in this northeastern part of Europe? There is an official national Ubuntu association in Denmark but not in other countries. There are Linux and/or Unix users' groups in more countries, though (such as nuug.no and flug.fi). It might be better to have these more general Linux associations included.

Personal thoughts and background 

I have several grassroot-level aims:
  • FOSS information dissemination to the general public and nonprofit organizations 
  • arranging practical workshops to learn about Linux
  • promoting service businesses such as PC repair and recycle companies that focus on Ubuntu (I know a few in Finland)
  • helping the poor and beginners to overcome digital obstacles cost-effectively using Linux, perhaps something similar as in Germany https://computertruhe.de/kurzinformation-in-anderen-sprachen/englisch/
  • innovating new business endeavours
I have organized a few workshops in my home town - info in Finnish and pictures at https://www.kaupunkiuutiset.com/jutut/tietokoneelle-uusi-elama-22488 and https://www.instagram.com/p/BkQTpMalQLy/ - info in English, Russian and Somali at http://akutalikka.vapaavuoro.uusisuomi.fi/kulttuuri/254623-ubuntu-tyopaja-easy-computer-using-and-recycling-workshop-in-hameenlinna (I've got some international friends who have helped me with translations; a few languages more to be expected if all goes well). 

I have a part-time work in a related association https://coss.fi/en/ but this Ubuntu cooperation idea has been brewing longer. I also do this partly as a hobby/activism. Additionally, I work partly in a Finnish startup company Robuntu which shares some of these objectives. 

A Nordic Linux laptop?


A few colleagues have been planning to start importing new and good-quality Linux laptops into Finland. It has not been possible to buy such Linux laptops with Finnish keyboard layout. Letter stickers can solve the problem partly but e.g. US keyboard has one key too few to allow for certain symbols to be typed easily. UK and DE options are better. I'm not sure if any company is offering Linux laptops with FI/SE keyboard nowadays. In any case I think there could be interesting markets in the Nordic countries for this kind of importing business. Estonia might fit in (regarding the physical layout) as well but I am not sure about Latvian and Lithuanian keyboards.

Biz idea: Linux adoption and ICT recycling in various places

I am also partaking a startup business project to start exporting Linux-powered used, refurbished hardware and know-how to SMEs and other organizations in emerging markets (and also in Finland). In Finnish at https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6453583181496094721 and in English at https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6454689036626993152 and a group in English at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13657630/ (we nowadays have a company with skilled personnel but perhaps some more assistants will be needed).

 Contact details and reaching regional communities 

Aku Talikka

akutalikka@gmail.com

IRC nick (freenode and ircnet): Talikka
IRC channel in freenode: #ubuntu-nordic

username in most social media services: akutalikka

This post in other forums/groups/languages


I will copy this post to national Ubuntu forums and/or other similar and relevant groups. We can carry on planning here on this blog or in IRC network freenode at #ubuntu-nordic and later perhaps in Slack or MeWe or somewhere if one platform gains enough popularity. Feel free to suggest.
UPDATE 31 AUG: LINUX MINT FORUMS ARE TO BE INCLUDED SOON TO ATTRACT MORE COMMENTS.

 FINNISH:https://www.facebook.com/groups/283853515760/permalink/10157312758940761/
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