[Noisebridge-discuss] #FreeBassel Day SF Event this Saturday @ Wikipedia HQ

[niki korth]

Greetings Noisebridge Community -



This Saturday, March 15, is a #FreeBassel <http://freebassel.org/> Day
event in San Francisco at the Wikimedia Foundation offices.



If you don't know Bassel
Khartabil<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassel_Khartabil>(known online
as Bassel Safadi): he is an open web developer and dedicated
Internet volunteer who has been imprisoned (without charge) in Syria since
March 2012. He was Creative Commons lead in Syria, played a large role in
the translation of CC licenses into Arabic, and started the first
hackerspace (Aiki Lab, Damascus) in the so-called Arab world. You can hear
him discuss the hackerspace as well as the role of open source and maker
culture in Syria in this podcast from early
2011<http://www.talkinganthropology.com/2011/01/28/ta24-arabic-hackerspaces/>
.



Following the outbreak of violence in Syria in spring 2011, he converted
the hackerspace into a triage center, using it to provide first aid care
and training until it was no longer safe to do so.



This Saturday 15 March marks the second anniversary of his arrest, as well
as the third anniversary of the Syrian uprising. In support of Bassel and
in efforts to raise the profile of his case, #FreeBassel Day events are
being held around the world to mark this date.



Here in SF, the event will involve a Wikipedia
edit-a-thon<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup/San_Francisco_19>,
a potluck, the sharing of art, stories, and conversation about Bassel, and
whatever else you might bring. Given Bassel's involvement with
hackerspaces, making culture, and open source projects, we hope that NB
folks will attend - to learn about Bassel, discuss common interests, and/or
improve Wikipedia's coverage of hackerspaces and making culture.



Read more about the event here<http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/42267>

Learn more about Bassel through letters and videos from his
friends<http://lettersforbassel.tumblr.com/>




== Details ==

* Date: Saturday, March 15

* Time: 12-4 pm

* Location: Wikimedia Foundation offices (149 New Montgomery Street, 3rd
Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105), near Montgomery Bart

* Event: An edit-a-thon, pot luck, and more! Learn how to contribute to
Wikipedia and collaborate with others to show your support for Bassel.

* Hashtag: #freebassel


If you have any questions, please let me know. Hope to see some of you on
Saturday.


Cheers,

niki
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