Dear all
I wrote to the Wikimedia UK membership on Saturday to outline some of the
activities that are taking place in relation to the terrible events in
Ukraine. In that email, I asked members to contact me if they are able to
offer accommodation for people seeking refuge from the war, and three
people have already been in touch. These offers are listed on this page
<https://uk.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4472720> and I've been in touch
with the Chair of Wikimedia Ukraine in case he is able to help connect us
to people.
Early on in the conflict, I signed CILIP's Statement of Solidarity
<https://www.cilip.org.uk/news/597028/Statement-of-solidarity-with-librarians-archivists-and-information-professionals-in-Ukraine.htm>
on behalf of Wikimedia UK in support of Librarian and Information
professionals across Ukraine. The Ukrainian Library Association responded
immediately, saying that “the support of the CILIP community, Government
and people of the UK is highly appreciated in Ukraine.”
As you will probably already know, the wider Wikimedia community has
self-organised extremely quickly to ensure that information related to the
conflict on Wikipedia is as accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive as
possible. In my email to the membership I highlighted the main meta page
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine> about
Wikimedia's response to the invasion, as well as the meta page
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Saving_Ukrainian_Cultural_Heritage_Online>
outlining ways to get involved with the campaign to save Ukrainian’s
cultural heritage.
Thank you to everyone who is continuing to stand in solidarity with
Ukraine. If you have any suggestions for other things that Wikimedia UK
could be doing (within the bounds of our charitable remit), please do let
me know.
With warm wishes
Lucy
--
Lucy Crompton-Reid (she/her)
Chief Executive