Re: [Wikimedia-l] Greener travel and the ethics of carbon offset for Wikimedia community events

[Bence Damokos]

Even at the scale of the WMF, the costs of offset would not be high.
At the scale of individual travellers where a typical trip would cause less
than 1 tonne of emissions, and offsets available already at the 1$/tonne
price range and below - I would argue that if you or your organisation has
the resources to pay for your flight, you are likely to be able to afford
offsetting your emissions.

In any case, buying offsets or going climate neutral in other ways does not
preclude us contributing to knowledge about climate change - it is merely
one of the ways of being good global citizens (like paying taxes,
respecting copyrights, insisting on inclusive spaces).

Best regards,
Bence


On Sat, 12 Oct 2019, 00:21 Mike Peel,  wrote:

> I would suggest taking a different approach. Paying for carbon offsets
> does not further Wikimedia’s goals. It is, at best, a shortcut to brownie
> points as measured by other organisations. Requiring volunteers to pay
> extra for carbon offsets is doubly worse as they can’t then spend that
> money on their other Wikimedia activities.
>
> Instead, perhaps we could invest in projects that will improve our
> coverage of climate change? Imagine the impact that improving our freely
> licensed information about climate change could make. Good/featured
> articles about the organisations that have been named here already? More
> referenced information in the articles on this topic? More images to
> illustrate those articles? If that doesn’t make a difference, then we have
> to answer a rather more fundamental question about our impact on the world.
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
>
> > On 11 Oct 2019, at 22:27, Bence Damokos  wrote:
> >
> > In case it is interesting, for the tenders at my workplace that require
> > offsetting, we include this requirement:
> >
> > "
> > Carbon offsetting will be achieved by means of projects of the following
> > type: CDM (Clean Development Mechanism), JI (Joint Implementation) or VER
> > (Voluntary Emissions Reduction), all certified as 'Gold Standard' by
> bodies
> > accredited by the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
> > Change)."
> >
> > In practice, https://offset.climateneutralnow.org/ is a place I've used
> > personally where one can easily find projects meeting the above criteria.
> >
> > For more context, to save a bit of Google-ing:
> >
> > CDM projects are those assessed and verified by the United Nations
> > Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in developing countries
> > which can sell certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each one
> > equivalent to one ton of CO2. These CERs can be traded and sold and are
> > currently used by industrialized countries to meet a part of their
> emission
> > reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol(link is external)
> > <
> http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/mechanisms/clean_development_mechanism/items/2718.php
> >
> > .
> >
> > Gold Standard projects are CDM or voluntary offset projects giving an
> > additional guarantee concerning sustainable development benefits. These
> are
> > projects awarded the 'Gold Standard'(link is external)
> >  quality label by a Swiss-based non-profit
> > foundation, supported by a group of 50 NGOs.[1]
> >
> >
> >
> > [1] From
> >
> https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/funding/faqs-toolkit-and-glossary/frequently-asked-questions-general_en
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Bence
> >
> > On Fri, 11 Oct 2019, 22:55 Fæ,  wrote:
> >
> >> Any general questions like catering for virtual attendees can be
> >> raised at the talk page for the 2020 LGBT+ conference.[1] The
> >> conference is at the proposal stage with funding yet to be agreed with
> >> the WMF. The proposers will be happy to receive feedback and respond
> >> to questions.
> >>
> >> If no previous conference within our wider Wikimedia movement has used
> >> carbon offset projects to benefit its green footprint, that's an
> >> interesting fact to confirm as this may well be a great opportunity to
> >> try this out.
> >>
> >> Links
> >> 1.
> >>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants_talk:Conference/Kawayashu/Queering_Wikipedia
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Fae
> >>
> >> On Fri, 11 Oct 2019 at 20:47, Chris Keating  >
> >> wrote:
> >>>
> 
>  This has nothing to do with how green WMF operations might be. It has
>  to do with the greener choices /we/ as volunteers can make for /our/
>  conferences.
> 
> >>>
> >>> Since a fortnight ago you were haranguing* the WMF for using too much
> air
> >>> travel and lacking "any actual measurable commitment to picking up a
> >>> telephone, holding a video conference, or holding a VR conference
> >> session",
> >>> it will be interesting to see what solutions you can come up with for
> >> this
> >>> conference you're organising. Did you consider the options other than
> an
> >>> in-person conference that you recommended the WMF adopt, out of
> interest?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> *
> >>>
> >>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_t

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Greener travel and the ethics of carbon offset for Wikimedia community events

[Pete Forsyth]

+1 to Mike's approach.

An *option* for carbon offsets seems worthwhile. A *requirement* seems
potentially at odds with our desire to be inclusive and accessible. And I
agree that something specifically tailored to a community built around
making information accessible would be a much better fit.

-Pete
--
[[User:Peteforsyth]]

On Fri, Oct 11, 2019 at 3:21 PM Mike Peel  wrote:

> I would suggest taking a different approach. Paying for carbon offsets
> does not further Wikimedia’s goals. It is, at best, a shortcut to brownie
> points as measured by other organisations. Requiring volunteers to pay
> extra for carbon offsets is doubly worse as they can’t then spend that
> money on their other Wikimedia activities.
>
> Instead, perhaps we could invest in projects that will improve our
> coverage of climate change? Imagine the impact that improving our freely
> licensed information about climate change could make. Good/featured
> articles about the organisations that have been named here already? More
> referenced information in the articles on this topic? More images to
> illustrate those articles? If that doesn’t make a difference, then we have
> to answer a rather more fundamental question about our impact on the world.
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
>
> > On 11 Oct 2019, at 22:27, Bence Damokos  wrote:
> >
> > In case it is interesting, for the tenders at my workplace that require
> > offsetting, we include this requirement:
> >
> > "
> > Carbon offsetting will be achieved by means of projects of the following
> > type: CDM (Clean Development Mechanism), JI (Joint Implementation) or VER
> > (Voluntary Emissions Reduction), all certified as 'Gold Standard' by
> bodies
> > accredited by the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
> > Change)."
> >
> > In practice, https://offset.climateneutralnow.org/ is a place I've used
> > personally where one can easily find projects meeting the above criteria.
> >
> > For more context, to save a bit of Google-ing:
> >
> > CDM projects are those assessed and verified by the United Nations
> > Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in developing countries
> > which can sell certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each one
> > equivalent to one ton of CO2. These CERs can be traded and sold and are
> > currently used by industrialized countries to meet a part of their
> emission
> > reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol(link is external)
> > <
> http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/mechanisms/clean_development_mechanism/items/2718.php
> >
> > .
> >
> > Gold Standard projects are CDM or voluntary offset projects giving an
> > additional guarantee concerning sustainable development benefits. These
> are
> > projects awarded the 'Gold Standard'(link is external)
> >  quality label by a Swiss-based non-profit
> > foundation, supported by a group of 50 NGOs.[1]
> >
> >
> >
> > [1] From
> >
> https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/funding/faqs-toolkit-and-glossary/frequently-asked-questions-general_en
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Bence
> >
> > On Fri, 11 Oct 2019, 22:55 Fæ,  wrote:
> >
> >> Any general questions like catering for virtual attendees can be
> >> raised at the talk page for the 2020 LGBT+ conference.[1] The
> >> conference is at the proposal stage with funding yet to be agreed with
> >> the WMF. The proposers will be happy to receive feedback and respond
> >> to questions.
> >>
> >> If no previous conference within our wider Wikimedia movement has used
> >> carbon offset projects to benefit its green footprint, that's an
> >> interesting fact to confirm as this may well be a great opportunity to
> >> try this out.
> >>
> >> Links
> >> 1.
> >>
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants_talk:Conference/Kawayashu/Queering_Wikipedia
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Fae
> >>
> >> On Fri, 11 Oct 2019 at 20:47, Chris Keating  >
> >> wrote:
> >>>
> 
>  This has nothing to do with how green WMF operations might be. It has
>  to do with the greener choices /we/ as volunteers can make for /our/
>  conferences.
> 
> >>>
> >>> Since a fortnight ago you were haranguing* the WMF for using too much
> air
> >>> travel and lacking "any actual measurable commitment to picking up a
> >>> telephone, holding a video conference, or holding a VR conference
> >> session",
> >>> it will be interesting to see what solutions you can come up with for
> >> this
> >>> conference you're organising. Did you consider the options other than
> an
> >>> in-person conference that you recommended the WMF adopt, out of
> interest?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> *
> >>>
> >>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Wikipedia_Signpost/2019-09-30/News_from_the_WMF
> >>> ___
> >>> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> >>> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> >>> Unsubscribe: https://lists

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Greener travel and the ethics of carbon offset for Wikimedia community events

[Mike Peel]

I would suggest taking a different approach. Paying for carbon offsets does not 
further Wikimedia’s goals. It is, at best, a shortcut to brownie points as 
measured by other organisations. Requiring volunteers to pay extra for carbon 
offsets is doubly worse as they can’t then spend that money on their other 
Wikimedia activities.

Instead, perhaps we could invest in projects that will improve our coverage of 
climate change? Imagine the impact that improving our freely licensed 
information about climate change could make. Good/featured articles about the 
organisations that have been named here already? More referenced information in 
the articles on this topic? More images to illustrate those articles? If that 
doesn’t make a difference, then we have to answer a rather more fundamental 
question about our impact on the world.

Thanks,
Mike

> On 11 Oct 2019, at 22:27, Bence Damokos  wrote:
> 
> In case it is interesting, for the tenders at my workplace that require
> offsetting, we include this requirement:
> 
> "
> Carbon offsetting will be achieved by means of projects of the following
> type: CDM (Clean Development Mechanism), JI (Joint Implementation) or VER
> (Voluntary Emissions Reduction), all certified as 'Gold Standard' by bodies
> accredited by the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
> Change)."
> 
> In practice, https://offset.climateneutralnow.org/ is a place I've used
> personally where one can easily find projects meeting the above criteria.
> 
> For more context, to save a bit of Google-ing:
> 
> CDM projects are those assessed and verified by the United Nations
> Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in developing countries
> which can sell certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each one
> equivalent to one ton of CO2. These CERs can be traded and sold and are
> currently used by industrialized countries to meet a part of their emission
> reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol(link is external)
> 
> .
> 
> Gold Standard projects are CDM or voluntary offset projects giving an
> additional guarantee concerning sustainable development benefits. These are
> projects awarded the 'Gold Standard'(link is external)
>  quality label by a Swiss-based non-profit
> foundation, supported by a group of 50 NGOs.[1]
> 
> 
> 
> [1] From
> https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/funding/faqs-toolkit-and-glossary/frequently-asked-questions-general_en
> 
> Best regards,
> Bence
> 
> On Fri, 11 Oct 2019, 22:55 Fæ,  wrote:
> 
>> Any general questions like catering for virtual attendees can be
>> raised at the talk page for the 2020 LGBT+ conference.[1] The
>> conference is at the proposal stage with funding yet to be agreed with
>> the WMF. The proposers will be happy to receive feedback and respond
>> to questions.
>> 
>> If no previous conference within our wider Wikimedia movement has used
>> carbon offset projects to benefit its green footprint, that's an
>> interesting fact to confirm as this may well be a great opportunity to
>> try this out.
>> 
>> Links
>> 1.
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants_talk:Conference/Kawayashu/Queering_Wikipedia
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Fae
>> 
>> On Fri, 11 Oct 2019 at 20:47, Chris Keating 
>> wrote:
>>> 
 
 This has nothing to do with how green WMF operations might be. It has
 to do with the greener choices /we/ as volunteers can make for /our/
 conferences.
 
>>> 
>>> Since a fortnight ago you were haranguing* the WMF for using too much air
>>> travel and lacking "any actual measurable commitment to picking up a
>>> telephone, holding a video conference, or holding a VR conference
>> session",
>>> it will be interesting to see what solutions you can come up with for
>> this
>>> conference you're organising. Did you consider the options other than an
>>> in-person conference that you recommended the WMF adopt, out of interest?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> *
>>> 
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Wikipedia_Signpost/2019-09-30/News_from_the_WMF
>>> ___
>>> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
>>> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
>>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> fae...@gmail.com https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fae
>> 
>> ___
>> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
>> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
>> 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Greener travel and the ethics of carbon offset for Wikimedia community events

[Bence Damokos]

In case it is interesting, for the tenders at my workplace that require
offsetting, we include this requirement:

"
Carbon offsetting will be achieved by means of projects of the following
type: CDM (Clean Development Mechanism), JI (Joint Implementation) or VER
(Voluntary Emissions Reduction), all certified as 'Gold Standard' by bodies
accredited by the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change)."

In practice, https://offset.climateneutralnow.org/ is a place I've used
personally where one can easily find projects meeting the above criteria.

For more context, to save a bit of Google-ing:

CDM projects are those assessed and verified by the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in developing countries
which can sell certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each one
equivalent to one ton of CO2. These CERs can be traded and sold and are
currently used by industrialized countries to meet a part of their emission
reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol(link is external)

.

Gold Standard projects are CDM or voluntary offset projects giving an
additional guarantee concerning sustainable development benefits. These are
projects awarded the 'Gold Standard'(link is external)
 quality label by a Swiss-based non-profit
foundation, supported by a group of 50 NGOs.[1]



[1] From
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/funding/faqs-toolkit-and-glossary/frequently-asked-questions-general_en

Best regards,
Bence

On Fri, 11 Oct 2019, 22:55 Fæ,  wrote:

> Any general questions like catering for virtual attendees can be
> raised at the talk page for the 2020 LGBT+ conference.[1] The
> conference is at the proposal stage with funding yet to be agreed with
> the WMF. The proposers will be happy to receive feedback and respond
> to questions.
>
> If no previous conference within our wider Wikimedia movement has used
> carbon offset projects to benefit its green footprint, that's an
> interesting fact to confirm as this may well be a great opportunity to
> try this out.
>
> Links
> 1.
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants_talk:Conference/Kawayashu/Queering_Wikipedia
>
> Thanks,
> Fae
>
> On Fri, 11 Oct 2019 at 20:47, Chris Keating 
> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > This has nothing to do with how green WMF operations might be. It has
> > > to do with the greener choices /we/ as volunteers can make for /our/
> > > conferences.
> > >
> >
> > Since a fortnight ago you were haranguing* the WMF for using too much air
> > travel and lacking "any actual measurable commitment to picking up a
> > telephone, holding a video conference, or holding a VR conference
> session",
> > it will be interesting to see what solutions you can come up with for
> this
> > conference you're organising. Did you consider the options other than an
> > in-person conference that you recommended the WMF adopt, out of interest?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > *
> >
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Wikipedia_Signpost/2019-09-30/News_from_the_WMF
> > ___
> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> 
>
> --
> fae...@gmail.com https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fae
>
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> 
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Greener travel and the ethics of carbon offset for Wikimedia community events

[Fæ]

Any general questions like catering for virtual attendees can be
raised at the talk page for the 2020 LGBT+ conference.[1] The
conference is at the proposal stage with funding yet to be agreed with
the WMF. The proposers will be happy to receive feedback and respond
to questions.

If no previous conference within our wider Wikimedia movement has used
carbon offset projects to benefit its green footprint, that's an
interesting fact to confirm as this may well be a great opportunity to
try this out.

Links
1. 
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants_talk:Conference/Kawayashu/Queering_Wikipedia

Thanks,
Fae

On Fri, 11 Oct 2019 at 20:47, Chris Keating  wrote:
>
> >
> > This has nothing to do with how green WMF operations might be. It has
> > to do with the greener choices /we/ as volunteers can make for /our/
> > conferences.
> >
>
> Since a fortnight ago you were haranguing* the WMF for using too much air
> travel and lacking "any actual measurable commitment to picking up a
> telephone, holding a video conference, or holding a VR conference session",
> it will be interesting to see what solutions you can come up with for this
> conference you're organising. Did you consider the options other than an
> in-person conference that you recommended the WMF adopt, out of interest?
>
>
>
>
> *
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Wikipedia_Signpost/2019-09-30/News_from_the_WMF
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: 
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and 
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, 
> 

-- 
fae...@gmail.com https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fae

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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Greener travel and the ethics of carbon offset for Wikimedia community events

[Chris Keating]

>
> This has nothing to do with how green WMF operations might be. It has
> to do with the greener choices /we/ as volunteers can make for /our/
> conferences.
>

Since a fortnight ago you were haranguing* the WMF for using too much air
travel and lacking "any actual measurable commitment to picking up a
telephone, holding a video conference, or holding a VR conference session",
it will be interesting to see what solutions you can come up with for this
conference you're organising. Did you consider the options other than an
in-person conference that you recommended the WMF adopt, out of interest?




*
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Wikipedia_Signpost/2019-09-30/News_from_the_WMF
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[Wikimedia-l] Yahoo/AOL warning

[effe iets anders]

(I'm not the most technical person, so feel free to correct imprecisions or
add better suggestions)
It feels like a blast from the past, but it turns out there's still a fair
amount of Yahoo/AOL users that are part of our community.

Just a fair warning: as has been known for a while now (at least 2013
), yahoo (and AOL?) emails
through mailman lists are often treated as spam by gmail email recipients.

This has gotten worse: I understand Yahoo may have blacklisted
lists.wikimedia.org altogether, and emails are bouncing. I noticed for some
50-100 email Yahoo and AOL addresses on the Wiki Loves Monuments mailing
list that they bounced back, and eventually got automatically unsubscribed.

So if you or a friend has a Yahoo or AOL email address - you/they may be at
risk of being unsubscribed from (some?) Wikimedia mailing lists without
notification. The only 'fix' that you can do, that I'm aware of, is slowly
moving to a different provider, if you want to be active on these lists.

The issue is being tracked without much visible activity here:
https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T232417 (there may be more relevant
tickets).

Best,
Lodewijk
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Greener travel and the ethics of carbon offset for Wikimedia community events

[Fæ]

To clarify, the topic was "planning a conference for next year, we
could ask or require participants to factor in payments for carbon
offset"

This has nothing to do with how green WMF operations might be. It has
to do with the greener choices /we/ as volunteers can make for /our/
conferences.

Thanks,
Fae

On Fri, 11 Oct 2019 at 14:33, Gerard Meijssen  wrote:
>
> Hoi,
> When the WMF wants to "green" itself, the most effective way is to make its
> software and operations greener. The software will reduce the need for
> energy, the operations ensure that green energy is used. Reducing the need
> for energy is an investment that will reduce the overall cost and has an
> effect not only in the datacentres of the WMF but also in the transport of
> data all over the world. It is only an investment in the time of engineers,
> there are no other downsides.
>
> In addition you may consider our travels because we want to be green. The
> biggest problem is that as an organisation that NEEDS to bring our
> community together, such an aim is like digging a hole we are bound to be
> unable to climb out of.
> Thanks,
>GerardM
>
>
> On Fri, 11 Oct 2019 at 13:16, Fæ  wrote:
>
> > In the discussion about the report from the WMF relating to
> > sustainability, mention was made of the potential use of carbon
> > offset. As part of planning a conference for next year, we could ask
> > or require participants to factor in payments for carbon offset. With
> > no experience in examining carbon offset projects, we are cautious
> > about making any policy to do this, in particular it would be a bad
> > blunder if we start paying in to a carbon offset project that turns
> > out to be a bad or controversial choice later on.
> >
> > Has the WMF or Affiliates made any prior choices for carbon offset
> > projects, or could the community work out which of the many projects
> > might be the most ethically responsible and well governed to choose
> > from?
> >
> > An a bonus to tack on, we have used phrases like ''encouraging greener
> > travel options'', which one might interpret as doing things like
> > preferring train travel rather than using flights within the same
> > country. However if, say, a participant can fly within the country at
> > half the cost and get to an event in a couple of hours rather than
> > spending several times longer travelling, is it a reasonable/ethical
> > approach to just fly for convenience and buy some carbon offset
> > "points" (and so flying may well still be significantly cheaper than
> > going by train).
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Fae
> > --
> > fae...@gmail.com https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fae
> >
> > ___
> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > 
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> 



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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Greener travel and the ethics of carbon offset for Wikimedia community events

[Gerard Meijssen]

Hoi,
When the WMF wants to "green" itself, the most effective way is to make its
software and operations greener. The software will reduce the need for
energy, the operations ensure that green energy is used. Reducing the need
for energy is an investment that will reduce the overall cost and has an
effect not only in the datacentres of the WMF but also in the transport of
data all over the world. It is only an investment in the time of engineers,
there are no other downsides.

In addition you may consider our travels because we want to be green. The
biggest problem is that as an organisation that NEEDS to bring our
community together, such an aim is like digging a hole we are bound to be
unable to climb out of.
Thanks,
   GerardM


On Fri, 11 Oct 2019 at 13:16, Fæ  wrote:

> In the discussion about the report from the WMF relating to
> sustainability, mention was made of the potential use of carbon
> offset. As part of planning a conference for next year, we could ask
> or require participants to factor in payments for carbon offset. With
> no experience in examining carbon offset projects, we are cautious
> about making any policy to do this, in particular it would be a bad
> blunder if we start paying in to a carbon offset project that turns
> out to be a bad or controversial choice later on.
>
> Has the WMF or Affiliates made any prior choices for carbon offset
> projects, or could the community work out which of the many projects
> might be the most ethically responsible and well governed to choose
> from?
>
> An a bonus to tack on, we have used phrases like ''encouraging greener
> travel options'', which one might interpret as doing things like
> preferring train travel rather than using flights within the same
> country. However if, say, a participant can fly within the country at
> half the cost and get to an event in a couple of hours rather than
> spending several times longer travelling, is it a reasonable/ethical
> approach to just fly for convenience and buy some carbon offset
> "points" (and so flying may well still be significantly cheaper than
> going by train).
>
> Thanks,
> Fae
> --
> fae...@gmail.com https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fae
>
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Що робить вас щасливими цього тижня? / What’s making you happy this week? (Week of 6 October 2019)

[Vira Motorko]

Yay, it's turn for the Ukrainian language in the topic!

That's actually the thing that immediately makes me [even more] happy =)

This week I have personally more time to serve my community translating
relevant information, and this feels good.
Besides, any time someone uses 'thank' button to thank for a translation
edit, I receive an emotional boost.

Not that I'm trying to make everything about me, but if you see some Meta
page available in your language, different from English, and appreciate
this fact — don't forget to show your appreciation to the translator. It
means A LOT.
*--*
*Vira Motorko // Віра Моторко*
mobile: +380667740499 | facebook: vira.motorko
 | wikipedia: Ата


If this email is about your daily job and it reaches you outside of the
working hours, please, feel free to answer when it's appropriate! // Якщо
це робочий лист і Ви отримали його не в робочий час, будь ласка,
відповідайте, коли вважаєте за потрібне!


пт, 11 жовт. 2019 о 10:38 Pine W  пише:

> Hello,
>
> This week's email is late and short, for which I apologize. I have a
> collection of information to share but I am trying to catch up on a backlog
> of email and today is already so late in the week that I decided to send a
> short email.
>
> I thank WMF Engineering and Site Reliability Engineering (specifically
> MArostegui
> , Samwilson
> , and Joe
> ) for timely engagement with a
> problem that some users encountered in September. See
> https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T232698. Also see
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikitech-l/2019-October/092638.html
> for the "Wikimedia Production Excellence" newsletter for August 2019.
>
> The Commons Picture of the Day for 11 October 2019
>  was
> taken in Ukraine. The description is "Meadow at dawn near Desenka railway
> halt. Ukraine, Vinnytsia Oblast, Vinnytsia Raion." The photo was taken
> by User:George
> Chernilevsky  >.
>
> Also, I would like to thank User:Ата
>  for making rapid
> translations into Ukranian on the few occasions that I have requested them,
> including the Ukranian translation for this email's subject line. Ата
> appears to be a frequent translator.
>
> Additional translations of the subject line of this email would be
> appreciated on Meta
> .
>
> What’s making you happy this week? You are welcome to write in any
> language. You are also welcome to start a WMYHTW thread next week.
> Pine
> ( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pine )
> ___
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> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> 
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[Wikimedia-l] Greener travel and the ethics of carbon offset for Wikimedia community events

[Fæ]

In the discussion about the report from the WMF relating to
sustainability, mention was made of the potential use of carbon
offset. As part of planning a conference for next year, we could ask
or require participants to factor in payments for carbon offset. With
no experience in examining carbon offset projects, we are cautious
about making any policy to do this, in particular it would be a bad
blunder if we start paying in to a carbon offset project that turns
out to be a bad or controversial choice later on.

Has the WMF or Affiliates made any prior choices for carbon offset
projects, or could the community work out which of the many projects
might be the most ethically responsible and well governed to choose
from?

An a bonus to tack on, we have used phrases like ''encouraging greener
travel options'', which one might interpret as doing things like
preferring train travel rather than using flights within the same
country. However if, say, a participant can fly within the country at
half the cost and get to an event in a couple of hours rather than
spending several times longer travelling, is it a reasonable/ethical
approach to just fly for convenience and buy some carbon offset
"points" (and so flying may well still be significantly cheaper than
going by train).

Thanks,
Fae
-- 
fae...@gmail.com https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fae

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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Ombuds Commission now accepting nominations for 2020

[Dan Garry (Deskana)]

On Fri, 11 Oct 2019 at 08:52, Henry Wood  wrote:

> So the Ombudsman Commission is managed by a department that they are
> likely to want to report on?
>

No. The Ombudsman Commission oversees volunteer actions only. Complaints
about staff should be sent directly to the Wikimedia Foundation.

I should note that the Ombudsman Commission page on Meta
 does not explicitly
state what I have said above; I am basing my comment on my past experience
when I was on the Ombudsman Commission.

Dan
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Ombuds Commission now accepting nominations for 2020

[Henry Wood]

> Just noting in passing that, technically, the Ombudsman Commission formally
> reports to the WMF Board of Trustees, which has in turn delegated the
> ongoing management and responsibility for the commission to the WMF Trust &
> Safety Department.

So the Ombudsman Commission is managed by a department that they are
likely to want to report on?

Henry

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[Wikimedia-l] Що робить вас щасливими цього тижня? / What’s making you happy this week? (Week of 6 October 2019)

[Pine W]

Hello,

This week's email is late and short, for which I apologize. I have a
collection of information to share but I am trying to catch up on a backlog
of email and today is already so late in the week that I decided to send a
short email.

I thank WMF Engineering and Site Reliability Engineering (specifically
MArostegui
, Samwilson
, and Joe
) for timely engagement with a
problem that some users encountered in September. See
https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T232698. Also see
https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikitech-l/2019-October/092638.html
for the "Wikimedia Production Excellence" newsletter for August 2019.

The Commons Picture of the Day for 11 October 2019
 was
taken in Ukraine. The description is "Meadow at dawn near Desenka railway
halt. Ukraine, Vinnytsia Oblast, Vinnytsia Raion." The photo was taken
by User:George
Chernilevsky .

Also, I would like to thank User:Ата
 for making rapid
translations into Ukranian on the few occasions that I have requested them,
including the Ukranian translation for this email's subject line. Ата
appears to be a frequent translator.

Additional translations of the subject line of this email would be
appreciated on Meta
.

What’s making you happy this week? You are welcome to write in any
language. You are also welcome to start a WMYHTW thread next week.
Pine
( https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pine )
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