Re: "Open letter to the Board of Worldcon 2023"

On 12/23/2022 7:16 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
> "Open letter to the Board of Worldcon 2023"
> 
> https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/en/chengdu_science_fiction_association_open_letter_to_the_board_of_worldcon_2023_list_otwarty_do_organizatorow_worldconu_2023/
> 
> "Fantasy and science-fiction – whether it be an optimistic vision 
> straight from Star Trek, or Gibson’s dystopian cities – often constitute 
> a reflection of our own world. It tells us about the future we want to 
> see and how to achieve it. Not all opinions on that matter can be left 
> outside when entering a convention space.
> Sergei Lukyanenko appears on Russian TV and fantasizes about beating 
> Ukrainian children until they learn to love mother Russia. He smiles 
> when his conversation partner speaks fondly of genocide. This man is the 
> guest of honour of the most important, theoretically, meeting of our 
> community – he’s the guest of honour of next year’s Worldcon.
> We, the Polish fandom, can see what’s happening across our border. We do 
> not agree with honouring a man who enthusiastically applauds the 
> bombardment of Ukrainian cities and crimes committed by Russian 
> soldiers. Appearing on Russia Today is tantamount to legitimizing the 
> invasion of Ukraine.
> We’re calling on the organisers of Worldcon 2023 to rescind the status 
> of guest of honour from Sergei Lukyanenko, and we’re asking the 
> international community of fans to help us in exerting pressure on that 
> matter."
> 
> Lynn

Hat tip to:
 
https://www.facebook.com/david.weber.5621/posts/pfbid0cfwvCLFta4UjxYyr1Exqs4CVoVYK7qvKbS8tdWSGhqrnx85xugSgJ1PWDXVNoZxLl?from_close_friend=1&notif_id=1671810954842594&notif_t=close_friend_activity&ref=notif

Lynn