11:27 a.m.
Hi Ludo,
On Thu, Mar 25, 2021 at 06:39:18PM +0100, Ludovic Courtès wrote:
Unfortunately, the letter also calls to “[r]efuse to contribute to
projects related to the FSF and RMS”. As Andy explained³, this is
something that’s hard for us to sign, as people who maintain and
contribute to “projects related to the FSF”.
Note that several GNU projects and individual contributors (including
some assembly members) have already signed that open letter. It also
says "We urge those in a position to do so..." which implies a
transitional period for those who cannot yet.
Perhaps one workaround for this bug, so to speak, would be for us to
publish a statement expressing our support, reaffirming where we stand
wrt. “GNU leadership” and what it is we seek to build (as Mark wrote⁴),
and calling hackers to join us in building a landmark of free software
actively working to create a welcoming space for all.
Yes, it would be yet another statement in an already long list. But
we’re in a sweet spot and I think our voice needs to be heard. It’s an
opportunity to move forward on our agenda, too.
Thoughts?
First action item is finishing the rules to allow new GNU Assembly
members. We have some requests to join this list that I cannot act
upon because we haven't exactly established what is required to join.
Then, yes, I think it would be good to write a statement from the
Assembly, that we tried to work with the FSF, and would love to make
things work, but that the current situation makes this unworkable.
Note that this does mean we will have to find a solution for those GNU
projects (like the GNU toolchain and GNU Guix) currently using the FSF
Working together fund to start using a different financial setup. This
will be somewhat painful. But associating with a different foundation
(or start our own) can also be seen as a fresh start.
Cheers,
Mark
> ¹ https://rms-open-letter.github.io/
> ² https://guix.gnu.org/en/blog/2019/joint-statement-on-the-gnu-project/
> ³ https://wingolog.org/archives/2021/03/25/here-we-go-again
> ⁴ https://gnu.wildebeest.org/blog/mjw/2021/03/24/fsf-associate-membership/