[Foundation-l] Wikimania 2008 will happen, in Alexandria, Egypt

[Jason Safoutin]

Well I am going to put my two cents in because I have read just about 
enough.

Here is why I am entirely opposed to Wikimania being in Egypt.

1) Since the announcement of this, the LGBT wikimedians have expressed 
grave concern. As mentioned previously, this is a regime in which 
"opresses" homosexuals and imprisons them. Me being gay, I am not sure I 
would want to risk that. Not to mention my partner, if I had one and he 
came, but yet the WMF states that they picked Egypt because of its 
"geo-diversity 
<http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimania-l/2007-October/000719.html>."

2) Human rights and "free" speech (free being the key word). Why hold a 
conference of a foundation that is based entirely on FREE media when 
that country and the government don't even support free speech? Why in 
an country that limits the rights of women and humans in general? What 
is so "free" about that?

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?

4) Who are these people on the "jury"? I mean I know their names, but 
who are they. Are they wealthy? Travel the world frequently? Seems like 
it because in my opinion this place was picked because it was somewhere 
they decided it would be nice to visit. More than half of all 
wikimedians will likely NOT be able to afford the trip, in some cases 
from literally on the other side of the globe. Might as well rob a bank 
for the finances.

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.

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)