[OSM-talk] Some thoughts against remote mapping

[Jóhannes Birgir Jensson]

Þann 14.6.2015 12:57, skrifaði Frederik Ramm:
> Hi,
>
> On 06/14/2015 02:12 PM, Jóhannes Birgir Jensson wrote:
>> I find this point of view to be astounding in its arrogance and indeed
>> blatant colonialistic spirit.
> Harsh words.
>
> In the final paragraph of your blog post, you write:
>
> "In addition the locals are not the only people who will need to use a
> map. Tourists, passers-by, people moving their goods or offering their
> services also need maps of places where they go. Everyone needs a map
> even if not everyone wants to make it or use it."
>
> But this is exactly the criticism we're facing - bluntly put:
> "Westerners need maps of places so they can conquer them by selling
> their products and services."
Who said anything about Westerners? Projects like mapping entire 
Botswana and Lesotho is not for HOT issues, acute distress. It is for 
making it easier for the local economies to grow, to use maps like the 
Western world does to great effect.

My words were harsh because the original premise was harsh, that by 
mapping remote places we are colonising them. We are not and to think I 
was referring to Westerners when I referred to who could use the map 
just show that the viewpoint is still misguided.

I'm thinking of the people that take their produce to market, using SMS 
they get prices from places and using offline OSM maps they can plot a 
route to the destination, even if it is in a nearby town they haven't 
been before - it allows them to calculate the travel time so they can 
see if it is cost effective to go a longer route for a small gain in 
sale price. They are using bicycles, scooters or they can band together 
and several of them buy a bigger vehicle that makes it more cost 
effective for several farmers to find a better market.

I've never been to Botswana and I'll probably never go to Botswana and 
I'm not starting a business in Botswana nor am I involved with a company 
doing business there. Once we get enough locals interested and 
contributing I'll gladly stop contributing there and find another area 
that needs a helping hand.

--Remote mapping from 10.000 km away