An experiment in Nicaragua shows just how powerful Open Source software can be in leveling the playing field. The second poorest country of the Americas now has one of the best software solutions for displaying agricultural data in the western hemisphere. It all started about a year ago.

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 Central America Free Software Gathering (ECSL) is being organized for sometime in June in Nicaragua. The goal of the event is to:

While many today see Linux as a "just download it" or "just buy it" product, it hasn't always been that way. Installfests were actually the norm. Well, that's what is happening in Nicaragua. I received the following announcement in email—not from a geek mailing list but from the list of a social rights activists.