Greetings to all and thanks for the support of our initiative. I am one of the three ru-wikipedia users, who signed the decision under the poll to blackout ru-wiki. We have a really nasty bill, that is already passed by the Russian parliament. The bill contains a real and an unequivocal clauses, that can lead to an ip-ban of Wikimedia projects in Russia. After the strike we managed to gain a big media-impact and massive support from the public opinion and internet users, but the influence on the legislative process is more than moderate. Actually we have rather appearance of concessions from the authorities, than real effective gains. Though the clear and public acknowledgment from the authorities, that Wikipedia will not be banned, is a sort of a gain. And besides that we have established some links with the authorities and MPs, that can help us in our future work of promoting new provisions to the passed bill. Without the strike that would be impossible. Within the wiki-community now we have a discussion about the past strike. Though the overwhelming majority do not question the strike itself, some editors, including senior and those of an authority, question the organization process and the procedure of taking solutions within the community of the strike. As one of two main organizers of the strike I get a lot off feedback and criticisms of how and by what means the strike took place. That criticism is very important. The organization was really not good. Actually it could not be worse. The main reason for that is extreme lack of time we had to organize. The bill was passed in an utmost haste without even a shadow of public discussion. Actually the community, including myself, got to know of bill hearing only day before its planned time. Therefore we had to act in even bigger haste. Everything, including organizing the strike, conducting of a poll, informing the media and third parties, was made in several hours. It is not a surprise, that within the given circumstances we made much less, than could be done. That is also true for the process of taking decisions within the community. Though we had an overwhelming majority of supporters, the decision had to be taken on consensus, as all the decisions within the community should be based on the consensus of its participants. But the utmost lack of time gave us no opportunity to analyze all the opinions, all the important remarks and views, present in the poll. Therefore the decision was taken upon votes. As a consequence now we have an arbcom case against the organizers, including me, stating that the decision was not taken according to all rules of taking such decisions. I think, that in the crucial point of conducting the strike the taken decision was the only possible one within the given circumstances and utmost lack of time. Though it was a bad decision in terms of traditions of discussion and consensus, any other would be worse. As one of the organizers I take the full responsibility on myself and have tried to do my best in the circumstances. All the mistakes should be avoided in the future; all the criticisms should be taken into consideration. But what is the most important now, is that Wikipedia can act, gain achievements in public space and stand for its interests in an open and clear way. Thanks again for all the comrades for expressed support, Abiyoyo.
On 14/07/12 01:07, abi yoyo wrote:
Greetings to all and thanks for the support of our initiative. I am one of the three ru-wikipedia users, who signed the decision under the poll to blackout ru-wiki. We have a really nasty bill, that is already passed by the Russian parliament. The bill contains a real and an unequivocal clauses, that can lead to an ip-ban of Wikimedia projects in Russia.
Since nobody from the Russian Wikipedia community has stepped up to provide the other side to this story to this list's readers, I thought I'd better post a couple of quotes.
According to ru.wp Arbcom member DR, the danger to Wikipedia was overstated, and the text of the proposed law was misrepresented. Via Google Translate:
"You propose a banner to hang out or close WP in protest (at least on paper) a logical law against child pornography and extremism. Just out of fear that there will be law enforcement practice, which will interpret it too broadly. Well, against the practice (if it suddenly appears) and it will be necessary to protest. And it is a protest against the Criminal Code ... In addition, I have the impression, well, if 5% of the votes 'for' even opened a file with the draft law - because in the header are two entirely hypothetical examples of incorrect application of the law, but more in the whole section 'for' there is no argument (in denotes the best rate per nom, and at worst - a vote solely on the basis of incorrectly formulated SiteNotice 'Speak ... sorry censorship in RuNet'). Well, and, separately, I think that this can not be done on the basis of four hour interview."
http://ru.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?diff=45997947&oldid=45997946
The organization was really not good. Actually it could not be worse. The main reason for that is extreme lack of time we had to organize. The bill was passed in an utmost haste without even a shadow of public discussion. Actually the community, including myself, got to know of bill hearing only day before its planned time.
According to Levg in his Arbcom application, again via Google Translate, "It should be noted that there are no objective reasons for such a 'sprint survey' did not exist, to discuss the bill on second reading has been known since at least last Friday."
Friday was July 6, the poll was held on July 9.
http://ru.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=46209258
-- Tim Starling
It remains possible, due to the nature of the Russian government and the pressures of the opposition on it, that reading between the lines and coming to the conclusion they did was justified. What the Russian government might consider extremist and necessary to suppress is sui generis.
Fred
On 14/07/12 01:07, abi yoyo wrote:
Greetings to all and thanks for the support of our initiative. I am one of the three ru-wikipedia users, who signed the decision under the poll to blackout ru-wiki. We have a really nasty bill, that is already passed by the Russian parliament. The bill contains a real and an unequivocal clauses, that can lead to an ip-ban of Wikimedia projects in Russia.
Since nobody from the Russian Wikipedia community has stepped up to provide the other side to this story to this list's readers, I thought I'd better post a couple of quotes.
According to ru.wp Arbcom member DR, the danger to Wikipedia was overstated, and the text of the proposed law was misrepresented. Via Google Translate:
"You propose a banner to hang out or close WP in protest (at least on paper) a logical law against child pornography and extremism. Just out of fear that there will be law enforcement practice, which will interpret it too broadly. Well, against the practice (if it suddenly appears) and it will be necessary to protest. And it is a protest against the Criminal Code ... In addition, I have the impression, well, if 5% of the votes 'for' even opened a file with the draft law - because in the header are two entirely hypothetical examples of incorrect application of the law, but more in the whole section 'for' there is no argument (in denotes the best rate per nom, and at worst - a vote solely on the basis of incorrectly formulated SiteNotice 'Speak ... sorry censorship in RuNet'). Well, and, separately, I think that this can not be done on the basis of four hour interview."
http://ru.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?diff=45997947&oldid=45997946
The organization was really not good. Actually it could not be worse. The main reason for that is extreme lack of time we had to organize. The bill was passed in an utmost haste without even a shadow of public discussion. Actually the community, including myself, got to know of bill hearing only day before its planned time.
According to Levg in his Arbcom application, again via Google Translate, "It should be noted that there are no objective reasons for such a 'sprint survey' did not exist, to discuss the bill on second reading has been known since at least last Friday."
Friday was July 6, the poll was held on July 9.
http://ru.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=46209258
-- Tim Starling
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Fred Bauder wrote:
It remains possible, due to the nature of the Russian government and the pressures of the opposition on it, that reading between the lines and coming to the conclusion they did was justified. What the Russian government might consider extremist and necessary to suppress is sui generis.
It remains possible for a lot of people to disrupt access to Wikimedia wikis (government agencies, ISPs, et al.). Tim's point (as I've read it, at least) has been that disrupting access ourselves is not the right thing to do. When there's a credible disruption (like the bans in China), working around those disruptions to further Wikimedia's aim of spreading free educational content is a worthwhile endeavor. Purposefully disrupting access to Wikimedia wikis through blackouts is contrary to Wikimedia's primary aim.
MZMcBride
wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org