[ Thanks to Deivy for this link. ]
“The political decision to adopt and stimulate the use of open
platforms and free software programs in Brazil has already been
taken and was reinforced by important Brazilian government
officials at the opening of the seminar, ‘Free Software and the
Development of Brazil,’ on Tuesday (19), in Brasília.“Speaking on behalf of President Luiz Inácio Lula da
Silva, the head of the Presidential Civilian Advisory Staff,
José Dirceu, defended the government’s use of free software
and announced that on August 25-26, his staff will conclude a
strategic plan for the implantation of the open system in the
federal government.“According to the Minister, the adoption of the open system,
more than a political decision, represents a strategic decision for
the development of the country, which will be able to produce goods
with greater aggregate value and save on royalty payments to owners
of proprietary software. ‘Free software is here to stay,’ affirmed
Dirceu, adding that the federal government already has eight
chambers to discuss matters related to information
technology….”