Re: [Libreplanet-dev] Code of Conduct / Charter text

[Peter]

On Wednesday 11 March 2009 22:00, John Sullivan wrote:
> I know there are other open threads that still need replies, they are on
> my to-do list, but I didn't want to delay getting these texts to the
> list so that they can be improved a bit and then moved to the wiki.
>
> So, please have a look at these and suggest improvements, then on Monday
> we will post whatever we have to the wiki so it can be refined further
> there.

I include my alternative remarks in the appropriate section, but also added 
additional comments that should not appear in the document.

>
> I know Peter also worked up some text that should probably be merged
> into this.

Yes, but it needs some reworking, too. I think we're on the same page, I seem 
to be more exact about what I think the group network is about. My proposal 
has become two and the current one I'm working on is a bit more work than I 
expected. 

Your group code of conduct overlaps my previous proposal made in 2006 
(http://groups.fsf.org/index.php/User_talk:Blacky). At that time I had not 
heard of Libre Planet and coined my own name (FUGA - Free User Group 
Association). While the name, slogan, and icons have changed the principle of 
the group network remains. The key points are that: groups should be small 
(10 people), they should be connected (associate member), they should be in 
close proximity (to rally and protest), they should merge and split (to 
maintain member levels). They should run themselves and provide FSF with the 
necessary info to formulate strategies and tactics. I believe intelligence 
gathering will play an important role in changing views and society.

>
>
> = Libre Planet Group Code of Conduct =
>
> To indicate your support for and agreement to this mission statement,
> you can [[sign statement | sign your name]].
>
> == Mission ==
>
> The mission of the Libre Planet project is to build a global network of
> local groups, each of which is working diligently, professionally, and
> competently to raise awareness of free software as an issue of ethics
> and freedom.
[insert]
Every member is expected to:
1- Raise public awareness about the Free Software Foundation.
2- Recruit new members for Libre Planet network.
3- Create Libre Planet groups.
4- Help members do 1-4.
[/insert]
>
> So that the name Libre Planet is strongly associated with a clear goal,
> and so that individual groups can cooperate and collaborate effectively,
> we ask that all individuals and groups agree with this set of founding
> principles.
>
> == Methods ==
>
> === Emphasis ===
>
> Libre Planet groups aren't primarily about promoting the technical
> advantages of free software like GNU/Linux. They are about raising the
> profile of freedom and ethical concerns. To this end, they refer to the
> operating system as GNU/Linux, not Linux. They are clear about the
> distinction between free software and open source, and prefer the term
> free software.

[insert]
Libre Planet is a movement intent on removing software restrictive laws and 
practices, educating the public to the dangers of restrictive legislation by 
providing a platform to act and defend their freedom, and giving them the 
collective power to change their society through coordinated action.
[/insert]

I'd like to avoid the technical stuff, so no one can refer to it, and focus on 
the political issues. While LIbre Planet may provide gnusense (for example), 
it directs technical support to mailing lists or websites. We don't have to 
say any of that here, though.

>
> === Promotion ===
>
> Groups should only promote distributions that are on the list of fully
> free distributions.

[insert]
Libre Planet only promotes Free Software as it is the only community that 
furthers the cause of the Free Software Foundation.
[/insert]

erm, I am leery of distros as they try to be incompatible and create brand 
loyalty rather than promote free software. By generalizing, we don't target 
distros and allow people to homebrew their own GNU system (which is the Unix 
way). However, when I first read this section, I thought it was about 
promoting Free Software ethics and creating public awareness, which again has 
nothing to do with actual software at all.

>
> === Fundraising ===
>
> Groups that want to help support the Libre Planet network and the other
> work of the FSF often encourage their members or attendees at their
> events to [donate to the FSF](http://donate.fsf.org). They pass out FSF
> membership sign-up cards and collect contributions which they then
> forward directly to the FSF.

[insert]
You will have to appoint an approved member with the necessary financial 
skills before engaging in fundraising. Libre Planet provides a distributed 
fundraising system that allows every group to raise funds. However, groups 
must comply with the Libre Planet's financial requirements to audit bank 
account transactions and any fundraising activity. Libre Planet will allocate 
the funds according to group budgets where finance permits.

Groups may raise funds for special activities and to defray unusual expenses. 
However, these monies will be offset against their budget unless the 
activities/expenses were not included in it.
[/insert]

If we get the ngo donation software working, we can provide a network 
financial database to manage all financial matters. I have studied software 
that does something very similar to this (hierarchical accounts, summarized 
and detailed reporting), but we should get a qualified accountant or auditor 
to oversee the project. My thinking is that all monies will be handed over to 
Libre Planet who then distributes the funds where needed. However, it may be 
more practical to have groups open their own accounts, which Libre Planet can 
access (perhaps read only). I do anticipate some unethical use of any system, 
though, and am not entirely confident in fundraising at all.

>
> Groups are of course also welcome to fundraise for themselves. They
> should be clear about where the money is going. They should not give the
> impression that money they are raising is going to the Free Software
> Foundation, the GNU Project, or Libre Planet unless that is actually the
> case.
>
> === Advertising ===
>
> Sites should not have advertising for proprietary software on their
> pages. This means that having things like Google Ads will require
> filters.

[insert]
Advertising is discouraged as it leads to commercial incentives inconsistent 
with the mission of Libre Planet. However, advertising free software, the 
FSF, Libre Planet, the GNU Project, or similar, may be approved as part of a 
marketing campaign to attract commercial interest in free software or its 
ethics.
[/insert]

Again advertising involves money which can put pressure on members. However, 
Libre Planet needs to advertise itself, so this type of advertising might 
work.

>
> === Resources ===
>
[delete]
> Groups should not depend on any nonfree resources. They shouldn't use
> things like Launchpad, or proprietary web services.
[/delete]
[insert]
The Libre Planet will provide all the necessary resources to create and 
operate a group. However, each group should have a local copy which they can 
pass on to new groups. The resources include software, training, and 
operation manuals. These resources are updated by all members themselves via 
Libre Planet's wiki.
[/insert]

We should create a group package that provides a turn-key solution for every 
group. This ensures all groups use the same software and reduce network 
troubleshooting and technical training. This should allow non-technical users 
to run their own group without needing to know what they're using.

>
> === Organization ===
>
> If you need to step down from a role you have in your group, especially
> if you are the official group contact, please do so in a way that
> minimizes impact on the group. We know that people want to sometimes
> move on and do different things -- if you give us some notice that
> you'll be leaving your role, we can help find a new contact for the
> group.

Each person is expected to become a member of a group. Every member is 
expected to create their own group. Thus, groups are connected by associate 
members, forming a group network. A group consists of about ten people, so if 
more members join, it should divide into two new groups. If two local groups 
have less than five members, they should merge into one.

A group consists of ten people, a family consists of ten groups, a clan 
consists of ten families, a tribe consists of ten clans, and a region 
consists of ten tribes (about 100 000 people). A continent consists of ten 
regions (1 mill) and six continents gives us 6 million people. Note that 
Libre Planet need only talk to six associate members to access every single 
person (continent, region, tribe, clan, family, group), and vice verse. The 
inter-continental group (LibrePlanet) consists of FSF staff members who 
report directly to the FSF itself. Clearly the regional and continental group 
members cannot be in geographical proximity and must conduct virtual meetings 
rather than real ones. Nevertheless, they should also meet physically 
bi-annually.

While all groups are autonomous in their daily operations, they are all 
connected to Libre Planet and each other. Each member, however, need only 
focus on their group members and associated group, limiting direct contact to 
about twenty people.

[comment]
Financially, if each member pays a monthly subscription of $5, this totals $30 
000 000, or $360 000 000 a year for 6 million members. In four years this 
amounts to $1 billion. The costs, however, may easily reach $300 mill, 
leaving about $60 mill p.a. for allocation.  It is interesting to note that 
$30m per month is a useful amount to engage in lawsuits or similar legal 
battles, or fund hardware projects, such as graphic cards, cell phones, or 
wireless networks. The members therefore can fund their own technology, build 
it, and consume it.
[/comment]

>
> == Specific resources ==

Since the group resources includes irc, news, mail, wiki, and other servers, 
these form an internal network that tunnels through the internet and limits 
access to members only. Members access the network via their local group or 
family host, thereby limiting access to about 100 people. This internal 
network stream is designed to disseminate pertinent information quickly and 
efficiently, without compromising security. The actual network structure may 
differ substantially from the group structure. Furthermore, the close 
proximity of groups may enable them to route through each other, rather than 
commercial access points.

>
> === IRC ===
>
> http://www.gnu.org/server/irc-rules.html
>
> === Mailing lists ===
>
> === Wiki ===