Do the Egyptian authorities care if two people of the same sex share a double room?

On 11/10/2007, Brian McNeil <brian.mcneil(a)wikinewsie.org> wrote: actually is This topic was argued and addressed in quite substantial detail by the jury, the bid team and interested parties before the jury voted. The jury voted having seen the extensive questioning about it and the responses, so we can take their decision as having considered this all. It's now, in my opinion, counterproductive to argue about what the jury *should* have decided, because it's already been done. The best move, I feel, for those aggrieved by the result is to talk about the selection process, jury composition and criteria with the aim of ensuring the Wikimania 2009 selection process reflects what the Wikimedia community would prefer. ~Mark Ryan _______________________________________________ Wikinews-l mailing list Wikinews-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org http://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikinews-l

Florence Devouard wrote: 1) The fact we will hold Wikimania in a country does not mean we support the politics of a country. 2) Freedom is not only about dealing with those who have freedom, it is also about helping the poorly free to be more free. This is not a political conference. The WMF projects don't exist to create a political solution to a government. When it comes to diversity, everyone needs to be considered. I think the title of Jimbo's speech he plans says enough about "politics" Free knowledge and human rights I can relate to the free knowledge..... 3) Egypt is in too close proximity to several areas which are in a near constant war: Israel and Palestine, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan...not to mention holding this is the Middle East puts (for the most part) Americans at risk and the rest at risk for a prime target of violence or an attack. Was safety considered when making this decision? Yes As several people already mentionned, there is violence everywhere. Most places are a bit unsafe when one does not have the right color, the right gender or the right religion. There is a slight difference. We are talking about extremists. People who make a living out of blowing people up. They are born to kill. And when you are in a region where that is happening on almost a daily basis, I think that needs to be taken into consideration. Here, I will try very very very hard to stay polite and calm, but I think this comment somehow implying that jury members are picking the place to go on holidays at the right place, is seriously offending. In general, those organizing Wikimania work like HELL during Wikimania. This is not holidays. They work a lot, they sleep little and they do not have the time to have fun around. Second, regarding travel costs, whatever the place we will choose on Earth, it will always be more expensive for some and less expensive for others. Which is one of the reason for rotation. 5) The "jury" was composed of, from what I see, 12 individuals who in some way or another "work" for WMF (and that does NOT necessarily mean getting paid). I see IMO a conflict of interest. The other 2 seem to be just contributers, which is what most of this jury should have been composed of. After all this is a conference for all Wikis. No. The Foundation is ultimately responsible for this conference. By responsible, for example, understand that if money is necessary, the WMF pays for it. There is no way WMF will agree to be ultimately responsible for the organization of a conference in a location where it has not had any right of say. There is no conflict of interest here. When an organization hold a conference, it is normal it is involved in the decision making of that conference. For example, WMF will approve the budget. There will be no conflict of interest there. Incidently, this is not a conference for all Wikis, this is the conference of Wikimedia Foundation projects. Makes a huge difference. Now, if YOU want to organize a conference on wikis in the USA, please do. But be aware you will be responsible of the set up, of the budget, of the program etc... We should not forget that besides the server side and what not...including the organization of Wikimania, the contributers are what drive the WMF's projects. Without contributers, where would the projects be? I am NOT against ever having a Wikimania in the Middle East or eventually in Egypt. But right now, it's not the right time. We need to think about how diverse our contributers are and base a decision off that. In my opinion there are a lot better, safer and more "geo-diversed" places than somewhere where there is a potential for people to be injured or killed or go broke just getting there. Jason Safoutin, (a.k.a. DragonFire1024 on en.wikinews) Right now, Wikimania will occur in the Middle East. Period. If you are not happy about that, you may * not come * organize a conference in the USA as well Both options are fine by me. Ant

I am not the only one not happy about it. I think that the jury may not have realized the extent of the LGBT community on WMF projects.

I know I did. But as much as anyone else, I can speak out against such decision. I have that freedom....some people don't. _______________________________________________ Wikinews-l mailing list Wikinews-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org http://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikinews-l