Re: [107all] Update on IETF 107 Vancouver and COVID-19

[Lou Berger <[e-mail]>]

Also fyi

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/mass-gatherings-risk-assesment.html




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On March 10, 2020 7:07:19 AM Joseph Potvin <[e-mail]> wrote:

> Just an FYI: LibrePlanet 2020 (13-15  March) has shifted to fully online.
> Their announcement is below.
>
> Joseph Potvin
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Zoë Kooyman, FSF <[e-mail]>
> Date: Tue, Mar 10, 2020 at 6:09 AM
> Subject: LibrePlanet 2020: In-person component canceled, but we'll see you
> online
> To: Joseph Potvin <[e-mail]>
>
>
> [image: Free Software Foundation]
>
> *Read and share online:
> https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-in-person-component-canceled-but-well-see-you-online
> <https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/libreplanet-2020-in-person-component-canceled-but-well-see-you-online>*
>
> Dear Joseph Potvin,
>
> It is with deep sadness that we are canceling all of the in-person events
> associated with LibrePlanet 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and
> our corresponding concern for the safety of this community. This includes
> the conference sessions on March 14 and 15, and all Free Software
> Foundation (FSF)-organized social events on March 13, 14, and 15.
>
> However, just because we won't be holding a conference in person this year
> doesn't mean that we've given up our fight to "free the future." Instead,
> LibrePlanet will be a *fully free (as in freedom) virtual conference and
> livestream*. We had an extremely exciting program planned, and we're going
> to try and maintain as much of that schedule as possible with all of the
> speakers who are willing and able to participate remotely. The resulting
> livestream will be run on and entirely accessible via free software, so
> that you can enjoy these amazing talks from the comfort of your home.
>
> With our small staff and the immense amount of other work to be done for
> free software this year, we decided that rescheduling to later this year
> would not be feasible, and that a virtual conference would be much more
> valuable.
>
> We changed our plans since our announcement last week because, over the
> weekend, the number of presumptive coronavirus cases reported in
> Massachusetts grew to 40
> <https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-cases-in-massachusetts/download>. We
> also have been receiving a steady flow of speaker and attendee
> cancellations, indicating concern. The continuous spread of the virus, the
> daily changes to the situation, and its confirmed growth in the Boston area
> all made it impossible for us to sufficiently guarantee people's safety
> attending the event. With this issue out of the way, we can now focus all
> of our energy to deliver the best possible version of the event online.
>
> This decision has not been made lightly; the financial costs already
> incurred in terms of money and staff time are a heavy burden on the
> organization. We ask you for your understanding, and to please consider
> making a donation <https://www.fsf.org/donate> to the FSF, especially as we
> move forward with our plans to bring the conference to thousands of virtual
> participants around the world. To those whose travel plans were disrupted,
> please accept our apologies.
>
> More information will be forthcoming. For now, please follow the World
> Health Organization
> <https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019>
> guidelines about keeping safe during this difficult time. Again, thank you
> for your patience and understanding.
>
> Happy hacking,
>
> Zoë Kooyman
> Program Manager