Demonstration outside ISO conference
April 7, 2008 8:47 pm StandardizationIt ain’t over until the fat lady sings - and she ain’t gonna sing until the majority of the Norwegian committee is heard and action is taken by ISO. A demonstration will take place outside the plenary meeting of the ISO subcommittee responsible for the roughest ISO landing ever. Here we go:
Steve Pepper, the former Chairman of the Norwegian committee responsible for deciding the Norwegian vote on OOXML, is calling for a demonstration to take place outside the building where SC34, the ISO committee that has been landed with OOXML, is holding its spring plenary.
The demonstration will take place outside Håndverkeren, Rosenkrantzgate 7, Oslo, Norway, on Wednesday April 9 at 12.00. Among the slogans are:
* No to ISO approval of OOXML!
* Defend the integrity of ISO!
* Microsoft: Support ODF!
* Ecma: Withdraw OOXML!
* Norway must say no to OOXML!
Steve Pepper is supported by the majority of the Norwegian technical committee who were against approving OOXML, but who were overruled by the bureaucracy at Standard Norway.
“I call on all those opposed to ISO’s approval of OOXML to join this demonstration”, says Steve Pepper. “Standard Norway defends its scandalous act by pointing to 37 identical letters that were formulated by Microsoft and sent to Standard Norway by Microsoft’s partners and customers during the open hearing.”
“If they want numbers, we can give them numbers. Join me on the street and show your disapproval. Please pass this message on around the globe. Let’s use *our* technology for everything it is worth.”
Hopefully, I will see you in Oslo, it’s a nice city 
For reference, here is a list of process irregularities in Norway.
April 8th, 2008 at 03:19
Yes, Oslo is a nice city.
With regard to the 37 letters, Standard Norway said (paraphrased) that it is not unusual nor unethical that persons with an interest will collaborate together and forward letters that are substantially similar or identical. Standard Norway also confirmed that it is required to take note of these letters. I can see the point of this, and I believe it has validity.
Therefore I propose that those interested citizens who are opposed to the passing of OOXML on technical grounds should write immediately to Standard Norway. Any number of letters over 37 should do it
Then wait for the letters to be heeded. I wonder whether they’ll claim the letters arrived too late?
I applaud the demonstration, but do please take care not to be labelled as crazy fanatics. This could play into the hands of your opponents who have already shown themselves to be consummate politicians (and that’s not a compliment).
April 8th, 2008 at 06:54
Re: the 37 letters: The problem being that in the start of the process, our NB explicitly told us that the letters would not count as there would be no vote. If such a campaign would be counted, some of us would endeed have written letters. Later this (as much else in the process) changed.
April 8th, 2008 at 19:26
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April 9th, 2008 at 14:32
HTML for documents!
I hope the demonstrations don’t just use ODF as the alternative for documents.