The grievances of those who have got power, the influence of those who have got power commands a great deal of attention; but the wrongs and the grievances of those people who have no power at all are apt to be absolutely ignored. That is the history of humanity right from the beginning.
Emmeline Pankhurst, Freedom or Death a speech delivered in Hartford, Connecticut, USA 13 Nov 1913
THE law does treat race differently: it is not unlawful to publish an article that insults, offends, humiliates or intimidates old people, for instance, or women, or disabled people. Professor Joseph, director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law at Monash University, said in principle ''humiliate and intimidate'' could be extended to other anti-discrimination laws. But historically, racial and religious discrimination is treated more seriously because of the perceived potential for greater public order problems and violence.
The first Ada Initiative fundraising campaign is underway. For the month of June, Mary Gardiner and Valerie Aurora are focusing their efforts on seeding their operational fund by inviting 100 people to sign up as foundational donors - the seed 100.
By contributing $512, the donor will be listed as a difference engineer, or by donating $1024 the donor will be listed as an analytical engineer. The FAQ explains:
Q. Why “Difference Engineer” and “Analytical Engineer?”
A. The pioneering inventor Charles Babbage designed two calculating machines beginning in the 1820’s, the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine.
The Difference Engine was essentially a very large mechanical calculator – capable of generating tables of numbers but not programmable and not a general-purpose computer.
The Analytical Engine was the world’s first design for a general-purpose, Turing-complete computer. Countess Ada Lovelace, the Ada Initiative’s namesake, wrote the world’s first computer program for the (as yet unbuilt) Analytical Engine in 1843.
“Difference Engineer” and “Analytical Engineer” are imaginary titles for the people who would have programmed and run Babbage’s engines if they had been built in his time.
Women are under represented, and under acknowledged in Open Source. The Ada Initiative is working to take practical action to change this.
Please help spread the word and if you can, please donate.
Mary Gardiner and Valerie Aurora have launched The Ada Initiative.
They really want to tackle the under representation of women in open technology and culture and the want to do it full time.
I was honoured they asked me to join the advisory board, and utterly humbled when I saw the list of other women on the board. It's an extraordinary crew of talented, accomplished women. Do I really belong there? Or is that just my imposter syndrome at work?