[Foundation-l] (Flashback) A short (and revised) FAQ about Wikimania in Alexandria

[Guillaume Paumier]

Hello,

On Sat, Apr 19, 2008 at 6:44 PM, Mike Godwin <mgodwin at wikimedia.org> wrote:
>
>  Guillaume writes:
>
>  > Thank you Mike for this FAQ. However, it seems to me this is the
>  > result of an "internal" assessment conducted by Foundation employees,
>  > with the help of local organizers.
>
>  I'm not sure what you mean by "internal" here, but I consulted with a
>  number of outside experts with relevant experience.  I expect to
>  continue consulting with them and others as the conference gets
>  nearer. The focus on the local team's responses in the FAQ reflects
>  the Egyptian consulate's advice -- that all international conferences
>  work with their local partners to get local advice about how to reduce
>  risk.

I thought the meaning was understandable with the rest of my email :

>  Though I deeply value the work of
>  Foundation employees, they are not risk assessments specialists, and
>  this FAQ is not an "assessment from a professional firm", as promised
>  by Sue in her February report to the board (see quote below). So, I'd
>  like you to confirm that there actually is an additional assessment
>  being conducted by a professional firm.

I understand you have consulted various outside experts. And although
I am convinced you know you have a variety of competences besides
being an attorney, I am not aware of "risk assessment expert" being
one of them. In March, Sue told she had asked you to have a
professional firm assess the security at Wikimania. I would like to
know if that was just a calming promise nobody really intends to keep,
or if there is actually an assessment being conducted by a
professional firm.

>
>  <quote>
>  The board has asked me to review the Wikimania security issues. I've
>  asked Mike to commission a routine conference site assessment from a
>  professional firm, with a special focus on issues facing LGBT
>  participants, and within the context of us being an organization that's
>  highly-visible and not uncontroversial (e.g., Muhammad pictures, etc.).
>  We'll ask for an overall threat assessment, as well as a set of
>  recommendations on how to best reduce risk. I'll report progress to the
>  board in April.
>  </quote>
>
>  http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2008-March/039460.html

-- 
Guillaume Paumier
[[m:User:guillom]]
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you
have imagined." Henry David Thoreau