Hi all, On Tue, Mar 30, 2021 at 11:28:47PM +0100, Jonathan Wiltshire wrote: > This is a late amendment proposal which I hope seconders will feel able to > support in time for it to make the ballot paper. It is late because I feel > strongly that events in the past few days [1] [2] [3] [4] risk overtaking > this GR; Debian already has enough criticism for being slow to respond, and > I want to head off anything which might reinforce that view. > > 1: https://www.fsf.org/news/preliminary-board-statement-on-fsf-governance > 2: https://www.fsf.org/news/update-on-work-to-improve-governance-at-the-fsf > 3: https://www.fsf.org/news/welcoming-ian-kelling-to-staff-seat-on-fsfs-board-of-directors > 4: https://www.fsf.org/news/statement-from-the-fsf-board-of-directors-meeting-on-march-29-2021 > > I acknowledge that this text is not worded so strongly as many people would > like it to be. However, I don't believe in fueling fires and I would like > to see Debian calling for overhaul of FSF governance without joining any > lynch mobs. There are competing extreme opinions at the moment, and I'm > hoping this is a text on which we can have broader agreement. > > CHOICE TEXT FOLLOWS: > > This is a position statement of the Debian Developers in accordance with > our constitution, section 4.1.5. > > The Developers firmly believe that leaders in any prominent organisation > are, and should be, held to the highest standards of accountability. > > We are disappointed that issues of transparency and accountability in the > governance of the Free Software Foundation have led to unresolved and > serious complaints of impropriety by its founder Richard Stallman over a > number of years whilst in the position of president and as a member of the > board. In particular, we are deeply concerned that the board saw fit to > reinstate him without properly considering the effect of its actions on > those complainants. > > The Developers acknowledge that people make mistakes but believe that where > those people are in leadership positions, they must be held accountable for > their mistakes. We believe that the most important part of making mistakes > is learning from them and changing behaviour. We are most concerned that > Richard and the board have not sufficiently acknowledged or learned from > issues which have affected a large number of people and that Richard > remains a significant influence on both the FSF board and the GNU project. > > We call upon the Free Software Foundation to further steps it has taken in > March 2021 to overhaul governance of the organisation, and to work > tirelessly to ensure its aim is fulfilled. We believe that only through > properly accountable governance can members of an organisation ensure their > voice is heard. The Free Software Foundation must do everything in its > power to protect its staff and members, and the wider community, including > a robust and transparent process for dealing with complaints. > > We urge Richard Stallman and the remaining members of the board which > reinstated him, to consider their positions. > > The Developers are proud that contributors to free software come from all > walks of life and that our diverse experience and opinions are a strength > of software freedom. But we must never cease in our efforts to ensure that > all contributors are treated with respect, and that they feel safe and > secure in our communities - including when we meet in person. > > END CHOICE TEXT Seconded. Regards, Micha
Attachment:
signature.asc
Description: PGP signature