WHAT
\n====
\nEclectic Tech Carnival 2006, a carnival of exchanging
\ncomputer-related skills, ideas and art. By women and for women.
\n\/etc2006, 4-8 September, Timisoara, Romania<\/p>\n
HISTORY
\n=======
\nSince 2001, the network of women who help organize the
\nEclectic Tech Carnival or \/etc has grown both far and wide.
\nWe are geographically some-what diverse and we have varied
\nexperiences and expertise in computing, technology, art
\nand activism. We are an eclectic bunch. Since the northern
\nsummer of 2002, we (or some subset there of) have successfully organized an annual Eclectic Tech Carnival.<\/p>\n
To connect, to network in real life. The global village
\nhas come at the price of community. We are interested in
\ntech things and like to play with it. We know there are
\nother women who are also interested. There is little
\nopportunity for us to get together. And there is even
\nless open space for women to learn new skills. It is
\nespecially hard for those with little resources to make
\na start.
\nWe want to change that!
\nWe want to help women feel confident enough to ‘hack’
\ntheir own way into northern and male domination of digital
\ntechnology.
\nWe can do it!
\nWe want to help women learn to use Free\/Libre and
\nOpen Source Software.<\/p>\n
Why the name \/etc?
\n==================
\nWell, \/etc is a directory of the linux file system. In
\nthis directory called \/etc (short for etcetera) are all
\nthe important configuration files for your computer and
\nits networking (hostname, hosts, networks). We asked
\nourselves, “If we were part of the linux file system,
\nwhat would we be?” The \/etc directory seemed the best
\nplace for a carnival of ideas and then the name Eclectic
\nTech Carnival or \/etc for short was born.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Organisation By using and teaching others to use Free\/Libre and Open \/etc2006 Romania and Partners WHAT ==== Eclectic Tech Carnival 2006, a carnival of exchanging computer-related skills, ideas and art. By women and for women. \/etc2006, 4-8 September, Timisoara, Romania HISTORY ======= Since 2001, the network of women who help organize the Eclectic Tech Carnival … Continue reading
\n============
\nAll people involved work as volunteers. We rely on
\ndonations and accept them with glee ;-) In 2004, we
\nreceived funding from HIVOS for the \/etc in Belgrade.
\nIn 2005 we received funds from Mamacash and HIVOS. This
\nyear NCDO and hopefully also Global Fonds for Women will
\nhelp out too.
\nThe project is a collective action. We think computers and
\ntechnology are not only vital tools in today’s world, but
\nalso a lot of fun. We want it to be fun for those who come
\nto the carnival. If you would like to come to the carnival
\nor to facilitate a workshop, please contact us or fill out
\nour registration form.
\n
\nwww.eclectictechcarnival.org<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSource Software we have more freedom and control over our
\nwork and projects in whatever we do, be it activism, art
\nor technology or a combination thereof. “Free and Open
\nSource” basically means that the code that makes up
\nsoftware or applications is not kept secret. Users and
\nprogrammers have access to the “source code”. This allows
\nthe community of users to adapt, modify and improve the
\nsoftware itself – sometimes at an astonishing rate.
\nWe believe that to be independent of the experts and so
\ncalled authority figures you need to be autodidactic and
\nDIY. Fixing your bicycle, car, computer. In fact women are
\nalready very technical. They use sewing machines, weave,
\nspin and knit (it was weaving that lead to the first
\ncomputer programs).
\nThere will be communication barriers, a good metaphor for
\nICT. We willbecome Information and Communication Teachers
\nin order to break these barriers.
\nBy asking what women want and what they have to offer we
\nstrive to beinclusive. Please contact us if you are
\ninterested in the carnival.
\nIt will be okay to break things.
\nIt will be exhausting.
\nCome join us!<\/p>\n
\n=============================
\nThe fifth Eclectic Tech Carnival will take place in
\nTimisoara, Romania, in collaboration with h.arta
\n(a group of three artists) and D Media (NGO for
\nindependent media).
\nOther participating organizations and individuals are
\nFeramenta (women’s hackers collective in Italy),
\nSysterServer (web hosting and learning server project
\nrun by an international group of women), Gender Changer
\nAcademy (locally based computer hardware training for
\nwomen by women), Creative Catalyst by Helen Varley
\nJamieson (NZ) (playwright, writer, web developer, cyber
\nformer) and SisterO by Nancy Mauro-Flude (AT)
\n(performing artist and associated researcher at
\nInstitute Network Cultures [INC])<\/p>\n<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"