<div dir="ltr"><div>Hi all,</div><div><br></div><div>May I suggest that we stop this thread here - and try to fight the Russian aggression in different ways / different channels? This is not the right channel to make a meaningful difference in this horrible war.<br></div><div><br></div><div>As an example, we can try to influence / put some pressure on our local governments. Both the German and the Swiss governments are blocking more effective sanctions on Russia. By not buying Russian energy and raw materials and by freezing bank accounts of Russian oligarchs who support this war - this is where we can make a difference. So the pressure needs to be put on our European governments - and not in the QGIS user community.</div><div><br></div><div>As an example: in Berne / Switzerland there will be a demonstration tomorrow at noon to put pressure on our Swiss government to freeze Russian bank accounts and to prohibit raw material trading (a lot of Russian raw materials are traded in Switzerland). I believe this is where we can make a difference.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Wish you all the best,</div><div>Andreas<br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, 25 Feb 2022 at 10:50, <a href="mailto:landconsult@freenet.de">landconsult@freenet.de</a> <<a href="mailto:landconsult@freenet.de">landconsult@freenet.de</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<p><font face="Verdana">Dear Andreas, dear list,</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">Andreas, you wrote "</font><font face="Verdana"><i>If we start excluding countries and
organizations on such assumptions</i>" I wished you could
understand that Putin´s aggression is not stopping in Ukraina
(starting in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, Ukraina,
...whats next). The only non-atomic power that can stop this is
the Russian people. <br>
</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">And yes, I know, Russia is not a democracy,
and maybe some Russians are "suffering from Putin´s politics"
(if it were the "majority" like you say, I had no need to write
this letter and Putin never dared to invade the Ukraine).</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">I can also imagine, that many of the Russian
QGIS users really appreciate the freedom they feel when they
co-operate with the QGIS community. But I am sure the invasion
of their army into Ukraine is not a reason for them to start
thinking about the legality to kill civilians in independant
neighbouring countries.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">It´s not a reason unless we (the free,
democratic and peaceful QGIS community) give them such a reason,
which is the boycott of Russian members as long as their troops
are in the Ukraine.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">And, Andreas, when you are asking where to
draw a "<i>red line</i>", you are not seriously comparing the
bombing of Kiev with the "oil exploration" ???? This is cynical.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">We must not be passive and hoping "</font><font face="Verdana"><i>that this situation can soon be deescalated</i>"
is not enough. The time is now to make it absolutely clear that
military force against democratic countries will have
consequences for the agressors.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">And finally to all Russian QGIS users: I
like your country and your culture and really appreciate all
Russian colleagues I met in the scope of my professional work,
this includes all the great QGIS Plugins and Tools that came
from you. <br>
Please help us to stop this war and make your contribution to
secure freedom and peace in Europe and wordlwide!</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">Best regards,</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">Markus </font></p>
<br>
<div>Am 24.02.2022 um 13:29 schrieb Andreas
Neumann:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>Dear Markus,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>This is a really difficult topic that you raise here. While
I agree that the aggression from the Putin regime should be
condemned, I am against excluding Russian QGIS contributors
and sustaining members. If we start excluding countries and
organizations on such assumptions - where do we draw the line?
The majority of today's world population unfortunately has to
live in problematic conditions, when it concerns democracy and
dictators. Also - where should be draw the line on what is
ethical use of QGIS and what not? Is oil exploration utilizing
QGIS software allowed, as an example?<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>As the current <a href="http://QGIS.ORG" target="_blank">QGIS.ORG</a> treasurer I can say that
we had a sustaining member from Russia last year - there is no
indication that this company is collaborating with the Putin
government - though it is of course a bit hard to judge - of
course - for outsiders.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The vast majority of the Russian population is probably
suffering from Putin's politics - my guess is that the
majority of the Russian population would like to live in peace
and prosperity and not be involved in such war and aggression.
But do they have a real choice? Fair elections? I doubt it ...
In that sense I am against excluding Russian QGIS users and
contributors based on these events.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>We also have QGIS contributors from Ukraine who are now
affected by this aggression - let's be supportive when there
could be Ukrainian refugees in the coming months - and let's
hope that this situation can soon be deescalated.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Greetings,</div>
<div>Andreas<br>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, 24 Feb 2022 at 10:09,
<a href="mailto:landconsult@freenet.de" target="_blank">landconsult@freenet.de</a>
<<a href="mailto:landconsult@freenet.de" target="_blank">landconsult@freenet.de</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<p><font face="Verdana">Dear List,</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">like all free people in the world I
totally condemn the Russian invasion in Ukraine this
morning. This is an attack on the free world and
especially on Europe and on all values of freedom which
we all represent in a global, peaceful open source
community.</font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">- So, what can each individual do to
defend this freedom? <br>
- What can the QGIS community do?<br>
- How can we be sure, that the know-how we develop will
not be used for Russian military purposes against the
Ukraine?</font></p>
<p id="gmail-m_-8981385428085980910gmail-m_-1625811684074762361tw-target-text" style="text-align:left" dir="ltr"><font face="Verdana">The
invasion was confirmed by the Duma, the Russian
parliament which is the representative body of the
Russian people. Consequently the Russian population
bears responsibility for the invasion and we should led
them know, that <span lang="en">military force against
an independent, free and democratic European country
goes against all the values we stand for in the open
source community.</span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:left" dir="ltr"><font face="Verdana"><span lang="en">The least we can do is starting to think
about a boycott of Russian products and Russian
co-operations to express our opinion to all Russian
companies and partners we know. Finally its up to the
ordinary Russian man to change this unbearable
situation which is becoming a permanent threat to free
Europe. <br>
</span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:left" dir="ltr"><font face="Verdana"><span lang="en">With this respect the QGIS developer
community should also think about excluding Russian
partners and sponsors from all QGIS activities as long
as Russian troops are in the Ukraine. <br>
</span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:left" dir="ltr"><font face="Verdana"><span lang="en">I think, the values of freedom we stand for,
is the highest good we must defend!</span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:left" dir="ltr"><font face="Verdana"><span lang="en">How do you think about it?</span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:left" dir="ltr"><font face="Verdana"><span lang="en">Very concerned greeting.</span></font></p>
<p style="text-align:left" dir="ltr"><font face="Verdana"><span lang="en">Markus Weidenbach<br>
landConsult.de<br>
Bühl/Germany</span></font></p>
</div>
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</blockquote>
</div>
<br clear="all">
<br>
-- <br>
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
<div><br>
--<br>
Andreas Neumann<br>
</div>
<a href="http://QGIS.ORG" target="_blank">QGIS.ORG</a> board member (treasurer)<br>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><br>--<br>Andreas Neumann<br></div><a href="http://QGIS.ORG" target="_blank">QGIS.ORG</a> board member (treasurer)<br></div></div>