<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">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">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 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_-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" 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>