Hello everyone, just want to keep everyone informed of the Wiki situation
in Belarus.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Gregory Varnum <gvarnum(a)wikimedia.org>
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2022 at 01:21
Subject: [MoveCom] New developments in Belarus
To: <movecom(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Hello all,
As you may have heard, there are reports of an arrest of a community member
in Belarus and other potential risks to volunteers in the area (see below
email for more info). We are deeply concerned about the safety of our
volunteers and are doing all we can to provide support.
The Wikimedia Foundation has a cross-department group which has come
together and is actively looking into this matter. We are in touch with
affiliate leaders in the area, and will continue to work with them on how
to best proceed to protect the safety of volunteers.
At this time, we ask that you forward any media inquiries that you receive
about this to press(a)wikimedia.org. Given the human safety factor, it is
more important than usual that we have a unified message and response.
This situation is incredibly fast moving and also high risk in terms of
safety. We have a group of approximately 30 experts across the Foundation
coordinating our response. Sharing the active tasks of this group would
potentially put some of our fellow Wikimedia contributors in further
danger. For these reasons, we cannot share more information about our
response at this time.
We will keep this group updated, as we are able, on this issue and our
ongoing monitoring of the threat of a block by the Russian government (no
updates at this time). We will also share information on how the wider
movement may be able to support any responses or proactive steps.
Thank you - and please stay safe and well,
-greg
-------
Gregory Varnum
Senior Strategist, Communications
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org>
gvarnum(a)wikimedia.org
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Begin forwarded message:
*From: *Maggie Dennis <mdennis(a)wikimedia.org>
*Subject: **[Wikimedia-l] Emerging human rights concern related to invasion
of Ukraine*
*Date: *March 11, 2022 at 1:45:34 PM PST
*To: *Wikimedia Mailing List <wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
*Reply-To: *Wikimedia Mailing List <wikimedia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Hello, all.
I’m writing to update you all on an emerging human rights concern related
to the invasion of Ukraine. We are concerned that an effort is being made
to identify Wikipedia editors whose activities are seen as opposing the
Russian narrative of the war.
I wanted to let you know that we are aware, we are monitoring, and we are
acting in various ways already. While we cannot discuss the details for the
safety of all involved, over a year ago, we hired a Human Rights Lead
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Team> with experience in
individual safety to help us with such situations. This includes
partnerships with allied organizations experienced in human rights
interventions as well as connecting with appropriate community groups and
functionaries to provide safety support. We care about the safety of
Wikimedians, and I know that you do, too. We have heard as much from many
of you directly.
I want to take this opportunity to raise your awareness of the need to
protect yourselves and each other online. It’s such a cliche that I’m
almost hesitant to write it, but in this world, sharing information is
sometimes a radical act. Because of this, we ask you all to please be aware
of what information you share about yourself on Wikimedia platforms and how
your Wikimedia activities can be connected to your personal identity. Some
Wikimedians have chosen to operate transparently. Others have chosen to
operate under pseudonyms. Whatever path you’ve chosen, there are best
practices for your personal protection. Some guidance has been gathered
here:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Voices_under_Threat
At the same time as I share these recommendations, I want to firmly assert
that all who try to get people vital information in times of crisis -
whether Wikimedian or otherwise - should be celebrated. At the core of our
movement is the belief that knowledge belongs to everyone, and the
Foundation is firmly against efforts by anyone to stand in the way of the
flow of verifiable information in whatever forum it is shared. I believe,
as is the way with all Wikimedians, that the path to a better world is to
ensure people everywhere have access to knowledge, and that we, as
collective societies, should provide them the tools to assess the accuracy
of the information they encounter. Censorship is not the solution.
If you have information to share about this situation or about other
potential threats of persecution to the safety of Wikimedia volunteers due
to their good faith contributions to the projects, please share with
talktohumanrights(a)wikimedia.org. The team is quite busy and may not be able
to respond to all communications because of that, but they do read them,
and your emails do matter.
I wish the best for all of you who read this and for all seekers of
information and sharers of information in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and
beyond. We will share updates of the situation here as we are able within
the framework of prioritizing people’s safety. In the meantime, I’d like to
take the opportunity to highlight the efforts of some Wikimedians related
to the invasion of Ukraine
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine>.
Warm regards,
Maggie
--
Maggie Dennis
She/her/hers
Vice President, Community Resilience & Sustainability
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
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Douglas Ian Scott
司道格
Skype: douglas0scott
South African mobile number: +27 (0)79 515 8727