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76 lines
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76 lines
2.9 KiB
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> |
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<html newsdate="2021-03-24"> |
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<version>1</version> |
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<head> |
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<title>Statement on Richard Stallman rejoining the FSF board</title> |
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</head> |
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<body> |
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<h1>Statement on Richard Stallman rejoining the FSF board</h1> |
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<p> |
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We learnt through a public announcement that Richard Stallman is |
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again part of the board of directors of the Free Software Foundation, |
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one of our independent sister organisations. We disapprove of this |
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step that came without any message of remorse or willingness to |
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change. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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In 2019, Richard Stallman resigned as president and board member of |
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the Free Software Foundation. On 21 March 2021 Stallman announced he |
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is member of the board again. The FSFE only learnt about that fact |
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through his public announcement. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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We believe this step and how it was communicated harms the future of |
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the Free Software movement. The goal of the software freedom movement |
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is to empower all people to control technology and thereby create a |
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better society for everyone. Free Software is meant to serve everyone |
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regardless of their age, ability or disability, gender identity, sex, |
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ethnicity, nationality, religion or sexual orientation. This requires |
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an inclusive and diverse environment that welcomes all contributors |
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equally. The FSFE realises that we ourselves and the Free Software |
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movement still have to work hard to be that place where everyone |
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feels safe and respected to participate in it in order to fulfill the |
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movement's mission. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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One crucial factor in making our community more inclusive is to |
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recognise and reflect when other people are offended or harmed by our |
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own actions and consider this feedback in future actions. The way |
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Richard Stallman announced his return to the board unfortunately |
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lacks any acknowledgement of this kind of thought process, and we are |
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deeply disappointed that the FSF board did not address these concerns |
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before electing him a board member again. Overall, we feel the |
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current step sends the wrong signal to existing and future community |
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members. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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That is why, as a legally and financially independent organisation, |
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in which Richard Stallman has not had any decision-making powers, we |
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call for his resignation from all FSF bodies. The FSF needs to |
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seriously reflect on this decision as well as their decision-making |
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process to prevent similar issues from happening again. Therefore, in |
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the current situation we see ourselves unable to collaborate both |
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with the FSF and any other organisation in which Richard Stallman has |
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a leading position. Instead, we will continue to work with groups and |
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individuals who foster diversity and equality in the Free Software |
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movement in order to achieve our joint goal of empowering all users |
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to control technology. |
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</p> |
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</body> |
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<tags> |
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<tag key="front-page"/> |
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</tags> |
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<image url="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/736a16997c086b8995b79b14378d06b2.png"/> |
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</html>
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