[OSM-talk] OSMF silently sides with Russia?

[Martijn van Exel]

Resending from my personal email address, see below. 

> On Nov 26, 2018, at 2:56 PM, Martijn van Exel <martijn at osmfoundation.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all, 
> 
> This is to inform you that the OSMF board did receive a formal request last week to appeal the DWG decision referred to in this thread. 
> We are gathering information and are deliberating. We will let the community know once we have an update.
> 
> Respectfully,
> Martijn van Exel
> Secretary, OSM Foundation 
> 
>> On Nov 19, 2018, at 11:15 PM, Tomas Straupis <tomasstraupis at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello
>> 
>> I think this needs more attention and should not be silently buried
>> in archives.
>> 
>> OSMF/DWG has sided with Moscow to recognise illegal annexation of
>> Ukraine's territory - Crimea.
>> https://wiki.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Working_Group_Minutes/DWG_2018-11-14_Crimea
>> 
>> Note that there was a vote in UN on this:
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assembly_Resolution_68/262
>> only few countries on the level of North Korea, Zimbabwe, Russia,
>> Venezuela have recognised this international crime. Does OSMF/DWG want
>> to be in this group? Does OpenStreetMap has to be in this group?
>> 
>> PRACTICAL1: this will make it impossible to create a correct
>> political map using OSM data.
>> 
>> PRACTICAL2: It is also EXTREMELY damaging to OpenStreetMap
>> reputation. Now all opponents of OSM will be able to point fingers at
>> this decision - "OSM recognises Crimeas annexation". And it now makes
>> us all participate in Russian (ruled) project.
>> 
>> PRACTICAL3: While there are some talks about using OSM instead or
>> alongside of commercial GIS solutions in the context of EU INSPIRE
>> directive, such intentions will be seriously damaged by OSMF/DWG
>> actions, because Europe has a very clear position of not recognising
>> Crimeas annexation.
>> 
>> It would also be nice to know how members of DWG voted, to have more
>> information on their attitudes towards Russian aggression. This would
>> be important for those having a vote. But I do not know how to do that
>> correctly, so that not to cause personal damage and avoid bullying.
>> 
>> I personally do not know how/if I can proceed with pushing
>> OpenStreetMap to government or educational use...
>> 
>> -- 
>> Tomas
>> 
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>