Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fellowship
Hi Florence I'm sure someone from the staff is going to explain this better later, but I will give it a shot until they do. I fielded questions about this last year, and did some clean-up work on Meta, so I looked up the information about this. I might be wrong on a couple of things, but I will try and explain to the best of my knowledge. Fellows, and their organizational, administrative roles have been fleshed out much better now than they were before. I believe Siko deserves a lot of the credit, along with other staffers. The delineation are becoming more clearer now than they were before. As it stands, there seem to be 2 types of fellows- one is, Research fellows and the other, Community fellows. Research fellows are usually remotely located, who sign on for a limited time and project. Their terms are usually smaller and only for the duration of the project which they sign on for. They are signed on for a specific task or project and supported through it. They are remote contractors, whose purpose is the completion of their research project and WMF supports them through it. Community fellows, which might be more familiar, are usually community members. They are usually located at the WMF office, and usually have one year terms (in majority of the cases). They may or may not have a specific project, or take on more projects during their fellowship. They are usually community resources/representatives at the staff with some familiarity with the staff and inner-workings. The last 3 community fellows incidentally, moved on to staff positions after their terms - Steven, Maryana and James. As far as I know, no past fellow exceeded the one year term. To the best of my knowledge, Community fellows are contractors. They are technically separate from staff, and technically not answerable to a direct superior. Traditionally, fellows are independent of the organization that appoints them. (not sure if that is the same in WMF context) I answered a couple of your questions in-line also. On Thu, May 10, 2012 at 2:15 PM, Florence Devouard anthe...@yahoo.comwrote: Hello Following a conversation started on another mailing list on the meaning of fellowship, I am forwarding here a question that I hope will be answered by someone (I can not help being curious :)). My original question was I have also been wondering myself what the difference is between a fellow and a staff member. The only difference I could personally figure out is that the fellow is there for a very specific mission and for a fixed amount of time, whilst the staff person may have his role and tasks change over time and is supposingly on unlimited time (until he leaves or get fired). Am I correct in my interpretation or is a fellow something different than what I think it is ? I got the following answers From a communications perspective I have no problem defining what a fellow is, and what they're doing. They are receiving compensation from the Foundation to really focus on the work that they do, but I don't believe would we call them 'staff' of the Foundation, nor contractors. Creative Commons has fellows as well, but I've generally seen them communicating and carrying out work within their research or area of activity focus: https://creativecommons.org/**fellowshttps://creativecommons.org/fellows I do believe in either case a fellow does work on a specific project or initiative for a set period of time. as well as See also https://meta.wikimedia.org/**wiki/Wikimedia_Fellowships#** What_a_Fellow_is.https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Fellowships#What_a_Fellow_is... (and the following section, What a Fellow is not...) and In other contexts, one of the important reasons why a fellow might not be considered staff of the organization providing the fellowship is because they would remain on the staff of whatever organization they were affiliated with originally. Somebody at a university who receives a fellowship to pursue research while on sabbatical is still primarily seen as part of the university. (Not that Wikimedia fellowships are designed for purely academic research, but the principle about affiliation applies nevertheless.) Which answers partly to my question indeed. I would be interesting to have not only a communication/management perspective, but also an administrative legal one. Does the fellowship status implies that the WMF pays for health or retirement benefits (as it would for a staff member) or does the fellow receive a lump sum and manages by himself to pay for taxes and benefits depending on the country he lives in (as would a contractor) ? Depends on the type of fellowship. Research fellows don't get other benefits, they are purely contractors. Community fellows are different, the exact nature of benefits was going through a change from what I remember since last year. Since majority of the community fellows have been located in SF, the exact tax and benefit paid,
Re: [Wikimedia-l] No internet censorship in Hong Kong
Dear all, It has come to the attention of the Wikimania 2013 Hong Kong organizing team that there may be confusion over the situation of internet censorship in China and whether it affects Hong Kong. [1] We would like to clarify that, although Hong Kong has been nominally part of the People's Republic of China since 1997, the city-state of Hong Kong retains complete independence over civilian affairs. This, of course, means that internet regulation in Hong Kong is completely separate from that of Mainland China, and therefore internet censorship in Mainland China (the Great Firewall of China, [2]) does not apply to Hong Kong. We would like to reassure all Wikimedians, especially those considering to attend Wikimania 2013, that *Wikipedia has never been censored in Hong Kong*. Visitors to Hong Kong will enjoy, among other things such as exuberant local cuisine and efficient public transport, uncensored internet connection and unhindered access to Wikimedia projects. We hope to see you all at Wikimania 2012 in Washington DC and Wikimania 2013 in Hong Kong. With best wishes, Deryck Chan Global engagement coordinator Wikimania 2013 organizing team / Wikimedia Hong Kong [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Wikipedia_Signpost/2012-05-07/News_and_notes [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Firewall (cross-posted to wikimania-l, internal-l and wikimedia-l) ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
Re: [Wikimedia-l] No internet censorship in Hong Kong
Hi, Todd and all, I don't think WMF support any regime implicitly which censor the online speech. I am from Mainland China, I hate the censorship, I had did some small steps to against it just as lots of our friends on Chinese Wikipedia. The only thing I want to talk is that small changes are taking place in the country, and the access of Wikimedia projects inside China will help the process. Be confident for the young people here. Regards, Mingli On Fri, May 11, 2012 at 5:27 AM, Todd Allen toddmal...@gmail.com wrote: On Thu, May 10, 2012 at 2:39 PM, Deryck Chan deryckc...@wikimedia.hk wrote: Dear all, It has come to the attention of the Wikimania 2013 Hong Kong organizing team that there may be confusion over the situation of internet censorship in China and whether it affects Hong Kong. [1] We would like to clarify that, although Hong Kong has been nominally part of the People's Republic of China since 1997, the city-state of Hong Kong retains complete independence over civilian affairs. This, of course, means that internet regulation in Hong Kong is completely separate from that of Mainland China, and therefore internet censorship in Mainland China (the Great Firewall of China, [2]) does not apply to Hong Kong. We would like to reassure all Wikimedians, especially those considering to attend Wikimania 2013, that *Wikipedia has never been censored in Hong Kong*. Visitors to Hong Kong will enjoy, among other things such as exuberant local cuisine and efficient public transport, uncensored internet connection and unhindered access to Wikimedia projects. We hope to see you all at Wikimania 2012 in Washington DC and Wikimania 2013 in Hong Kong. With best wishes, Deryck Chan Global engagement coordinator Wikimania 2013 organizing team / Wikimedia Hong Kong [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Wikipedia_Signpost/2012-05-07/News_and_notes [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Firewall (cross-posted to wikimania-l, internal-l and wikimedia-l) ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l It is still disgraceful that WMF, an organization supposedly devoted to free information, is implicitly supporting a regime that routinely and as a matter of policy refuses free information flow to its citizens. Hong Kong in particular may not do that, but Hong Kong is part of China, and China does. China will receive money from this event. Perhaps Google and the like are concerned only with profit and will do business in China regardless of ethical considerations, but WMF is a nonprofit dedicated to the exact opposite of China's policies, and should refuse to provide any monetary support for China until and unless China removes all censorship from its population. The fact that it has failed to do so, and is indeed implicitly supporting China, has me strongly reconsidering both my editorial and monetary support. -- Freedom is the right to say that 2+2=4. From this all else follows. ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
Re: [Wikimedia-l] No internet censorship in Hong Kong
Todd, I'm afraid you've mistaken. Hong Kong is fiscally independent from the rest of China, and not a single cent of the Hong Kong government's income is passed on to the PRC government in Beijing. Deryck On 10 May 2012 22:27, Todd Allen toddmal...@gmail.com wrote: On Thu, May 10, 2012 at 2:39 PM, Deryck Chan deryckc...@wikimedia.hk wrote: Dear all, It has come to the attention of the Wikimania 2013 Hong Kong organizing team that there may be confusion over the situation of internet censorship in China and whether it affects Hong Kong. [1] We would like to clarify that, although Hong Kong has been nominally part of the People's Republic of China since 1997, the city-state of Hong Kong retains complete independence over civilian affairs. This, of course, means that internet regulation in Hong Kong is completely separate from that of Mainland China, and therefore internet censorship in Mainland China (the Great Firewall of China, [2]) does not apply to Hong Kong. We would like to reassure all Wikimedians, especially those considering to attend Wikimania 2013, that *Wikipedia has never been censored in Hong Kong*. Visitors to Hong Kong will enjoy, among other things such as exuberant local cuisine and efficient public transport, uncensored internet connection and unhindered access to Wikimedia projects. We hope to see you all at Wikimania 2012 in Washington DC and Wikimania 2013 in Hong Kong. With best wishes, Deryck Chan Global engagement coordinator Wikimania 2013 organizing team / Wikimedia Hong Kong [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:Wikipedia_Signpost/2012-05-07/News_and_notes [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Firewall (cross-posted to wikimania-l, internal-l and wikimedia-l) ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l It is still disgraceful that WMF, an organization supposedly devoted to free information, is implicitly supporting a regime that routinely and as a matter of policy refuses free information flow to its citizens. Hong Kong in particular may not do that, but Hong Kong is part of China, and China does. China will receive money from this event. Perhaps Google and the like are concerned only with profit and will do business in China regardless of ethical considerations, but WMF is a nonprofit dedicated to the exact opposite of China's policies, and should refuse to provide any monetary support for China until and unless China removes all censorship from its population. The fact that it has failed to do so, and is indeed implicitly supporting China, has me strongly reconsidering both my editorial and monetary support. -- Freedom is the right to say that 2+2=4. From this all else follows. ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
Re: [Wikimedia-l] No internet censorship in Hong Kong
This is a similar argument to those made against Egypt or Israel etc. It's a facile and false notion that holding Wikimania in a particular city is an implicit political endorsement for the national government of the host city. You could just as easily interpret it in the opposite manner - holding a Wikimania event in Egypt, Israel, China, the U.S. or elsewhere supports knowledge liberalism and draws attention to the mission of the WMF in the areas where it may be most poignant. More likely, the decision of where to hold the event is made independent of political concerns and the WMF, as well as the host Wikimedians, take no political positions implicit or otherwise. ~Nathan ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
Re: [Wikimedia-l] No internet censorship in Hong Kong
+1. I totally agree with Nathan. On Fri, May 11, 2012 at 12:49 AM, Nathan nawr...@gmail.com wrote: This is a similar argument to those made against Egypt or Israel etc. It's a facile and false notion that holding Wikimania in a particular city is an implicit political endorsement for the national government of the host city. You could just as easily interpret it in the opposite manner - holding a Wikimania event in Egypt, Israel, China, the U.S. or elsewhere supports knowledge liberalism and draws attention to the mission of the WMF in the areas where it may be most poignant. More likely, the decision of where to hold the event is made independent of political concerns and the WMF, as well as the host Wikimedians, take no political positions implicit or otherwise. ~Nathan ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
Re: [Wikimedia-l] No internet censorship in Hong Kong
It does, at least at some level, seem to be an argument (usually from different people) every Wikimania. There just isn't a way to have it in a place that everyone is happy with (especially if you want to rotate around the world. I'd also point remind people that among all of the places Wikimania has been it's also been in Taiwan in 07. It has seemed to be much better to do the selection non-politically (while not being shy about who we are and what we believe). James On Thu, May 10, 2012 at 3:25 PM, Itzik Edri it...@infra.co.il wrote: +1. I totally agree with Nathan. On Fri, May 11, 2012 at 12:49 AM, Nathan nawr...@gmail.com wrote: This is a similar argument to those made against Egypt or Israel etc. It's a facile and false notion that holding Wikimania in a particular city is an implicit political endorsement for the national government of the host city. You could just as easily interpret it in the opposite manner - holding a Wikimania event in Egypt, Israel, China, the U.S. or elsewhere supports knowledge liberalism and draws attention to the mission of the WMF in the areas where it may be most poignant. More likely, the decision of where to hold the event is made independent of political concerns and the WMF, as well as the host Wikimedians, take no political positions implicit or otherwise. ~Nathan ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
Re: [Wikimedia-l] No internet censorship in Hong Kong
I must admit I had concerns, but they're allayed considerably by the statement that HK is fiscally independent from the PRC. Hopefully having such a free event in an area of the world where freedom of information is in relatively short supply will do wonderful things for the movement and the world! Thank you to WMHK for clarifying things. Richard Symonds On May 10, 2012 11:47 PM, James Alexander jameso...@gmail.com wrote: It does, at least at some level, seem to be an argument (usually from different people) every Wikimania. There just isn't a way to have it in a place that everyone is happy with (especially if you want to rotate around the world. I'd also point remind people that among all of the places Wikimania has been it's also been in Taiwan in 07. It has seemed to be much better to do the selection non-politically (while not being shy about who we are and what we believe). James On Thu, May 10, 2012 at 3:25 PM, Itzik Edri it...@infra.co.il wrote: +1. I totally agree with Nathan. On Fri, May 11, 2012 at 12:49 AM, Nathan nawr...@gmail.com wrote: This is a similar argument to those made against Egypt or Israel etc. It's a facile and false notion that holding Wikimania in a particular city is an implicit political endorsement for the national government of the host city. You could just as easily interpret it in the opposite manner - holding a Wikimania event in Egypt, Israel, China, the U.S. or elsewhere supports knowledge liberalism and draws attention to the mission of the WMF in the areas where it may be most poignant. More likely, the decision of where to hold the event is made independent of political concerns and the WMF, as well as the host Wikimedians, take no political positions implicit or otherwise. ~Nathan ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
Re: [Wikimedia-l] No internet censorship in Hong Kong
On Thursday, 10 May 2012 at 22:49, Nathan wrote: This is a similar argument to those made against Egypt or Israel etc. It's a facile and false notion that holding Wikimania in a particular city is an implicit political endorsement for the national government of the host city. You could just as easily interpret it in the opposite manner - holding a Wikimania event in Egypt, Israel, China, the U.S. or elsewhere supports knowledge liberalism and draws attention to the mission of the WMF in the areas where it may be most poignant. More likely, the decision of where to hold the event is made independent of political concerns and the WMF, as well as the host Wikimedians, take no political positions implicit or otherwise. As one of the people who worked on and supported the London bid, I agree. I would hope that if London had got it, people wouldn't have inferred support for the UK's planned internet censorship regime (or, indeed, the Digital Economy Act, the enormous and growing gap between the rich and poor, the presence of unelected clerics in our legislature—a trait we share only with Iran, our government's horrible mistreatment of disabled people, the lack of full civil equality for LGBT citizens, indoctrination in religious schools, our terrible libel laws, or seventeen other issues I can and do get angry about very frequently). Spending a week or so in a country for a conference is not the same as living there, becoming a citizen, pledging allegiance to the flag or the Queen or the Party or whatever. In the bidding process, there rightly are some minimum standards, specifically with regards to freedom of speech laws and whether or not the cities in question are welcoming to religious and LGBT minorities. If we wish to include anti-censorship as one of those requirements, it'd be worth knowing that up-front so Wikimedians who wish to bid in the future can take that into account rather than have it brought up after the bidding process is complete. -- Tom Morris http://tommorris.org/ ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
Re: [Wikimedia-l] No internet censorship in Hong Kong
On 11/05/2012 00:14, Tom Morris wrote: In the bidding process, there rightly are some minimum standards, specifically with regards to freedom of speech laws and whether or not the cities in question are welcoming to religious and LGBT minorities. If we wish to include anti-censorship as one of those requirements, it'd be worth knowing that up-front so Wikimedians who wish to bid in the future can take that into account rather than have it brought up after the bidding process is complete. If the community want to include anti-censorship (and or numerous other possible complaints) as one of the requirements, then good luck finding any city in the world to host Wikimania. On 11/05/2012 00:07, Richard Symonds wrote: I must admit I had concerns, but they're allayed considerably by the statement that HK is fiscally independent from the PRC. Hopefully having such a free event in an area of the world where freedom of information is in relatively short supply will do wonderful things for the movement and the world! Or one can just read [[Special administrative region]] (among other related articles) and see Currently, the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macau are responsible for all issues except diplomatic relations and national defence. If people have a problem with one of the most multi-ethnic, multicultural number 1 ranked index of economic freedom place in the world with constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech and press, then I give up. KTC -- Experience is a good school but the fees are high. - Heinrich Heine ___ Wikimedia-l mailing list Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
