Thanks Chris. To be clear, I did not mean to imply that the position of Wikimedia UK would be synonymous with that of the UK government. I really liked a Wikimedia UK video displayed at Wikimania 2013 which included segments in multiple languages [1]. I did not follow Wikimania 2012 so closely but I would not be surprised if similar problems afflicted Wikimania 2012 in my home country of the US.
Pine [1] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wikimedia_UK_Wikimania_2013_video.webm On Wed, Aug 6, 2014 at 12:02 AM, Chris McKenna < [email protected]> wrote: > The present UK government is not really interested in promoting > multi-culturalism, rather it has attached a higher priority to being > paranoid about immigration, an attitude fuelled by the tabloid press. It is > likely that at least some of the rejections were entirely unavoidable, with > immigration officers actively searching for something to reject people on, > especially if they have recently accepted a higher proportion of applicants > than average. > > As a native of the UK, this is not something that I am at all proud of. > > > On 6 August 2014 07:44, Pine W <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Ah, sorry! I'm tired and it shows. >> >> Pine >> >> >> On Tue, Aug 5, 2014 at 11:40 PM, Alan C Y Lai <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Pine, >>> >>> Ellie said 10, not 10%, so don't be too alarmist. However visa policy >>> should be part of eligibility consideration for venue. >>> >>> Best regards, >>> Alan (not attending this year) >>> Sent on the road >>> >>> >>> ---- Pine W wrote ---- >>> >>> >>> 10% is a large percentage to deny. I am starting to think that in the >>> future a criteria for Wikimania selection should be the ease of obtaining >>> visas, if that isn't already a consideration. Ironically, I think one of >>> the reasons the UK was chosen to host was the supposed ease of obtaining >>> visas for Commonwealth citizens. I'm not sure what the UK is thinking but >>> denying 10% of visa applicants for Wikimania is not a good way to promote >>> tourism or multiculturalism. >>> >>> Pine >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Aug 5, 2014 at 11:03 PM, Ellie Young <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> We have that list going, believe me! I think a lot of the problems >>>> were insurmountable no matter how hard we and >>>> the recipients tried because of the Immigration policies. We have >>>> at least 10 per my count that were denied. >>>> >>>> Ellie >>>> >>>> On Aug 5, 2014, at 5:32 PM, Pine W <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> Some of the issues I know about might have been prevented with better >>>> communication. Ellie, can you ask people to have experienced visa problems >>>> to contact you or someone else at WMF so that WMF can create a list of >>>> problems and work on how to prevent these in future years? >>>> >>>> Pine >>>> On Aug 5, 2014 5:22 PM, "Naureen" <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Sorry you all faced issues with visa. As part of the core volunteer >>>>> team, I was sad to hear of various visa issues. >>>>> >>>>> Night! >>>>> >>>>> On Wednesday, August 6, 2014, Amir Ladsgroup <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> It's not just two visa denials. I'm pretty sure about at least five >>>>>> cases including mine. >>>>>> >>>>>> It was predictable for me so I talked to one of my friends two months >>>>>> ago to take over my presentation in case of visa denial. For the next >>>>>> events I suggest you to be prepared for issues like this. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Best >>>>>> >>>>>> On 8/6/14, Pine W <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> > Hi, >>>>>> > >>>>>> > This is the second report I have heard about last minute visa >>>>>> surprises. >>>>>> > This kind of problem is disruptive not just for those who were >>>>>> denied entry >>>>>> > but for others who were planning on the attendance of the person >>>>>> whose visa >>>>>> > was denied. >>>>>> > >>>>>> > In any case, can you give your presentation remotely? >>>>>> > >>>>>> > Pine >>>>>> > >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Amir >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Wikimania-l mailing list >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> *Naureen Nayyar* >>>>> Norabean.com >>>>> +1.646.481.6672 >>>>> @norabean >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Wikimania-l mailing list >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Wikimania-l mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimania-l mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l >> >> > > > -- > Chris McKenna > Wikimania 2014 Support > Wikimedia UK > [email protected] > > tel: +44 (0) 20 7065 0990 > > Wikimedia UK is a Charitable Company registered in England and Wales. > Registered Company No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513. > Registered Office: 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, > London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. > > Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia movement. The > Wikimedia projects are run by the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate > Wikipedia, amongst other projects). > Wikimedia UK is an independent non-profit charity with no legal control > over Wikipedia nor responsibility for its contents. > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimania-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimania-l > >
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