[TYPES] ETAPS bars Russian researchers from attending

[Jon Sterling]

Neel, thank you for bringing this to the community's attention. I think this is terrible --- and it shows the way that certain European conference organizers divide up imperialist wars of aggression and colonization between those that are "ok" and those that are "not ok".  If we were banning researchers participation because their home countries are carrying out imperialist wars or colonization, I would certainly not be allowed to participate in any conferences. Meanwhile, another large conference is being held in a country that I cannot safely enter because of my public stance against colonization. I wonder why this is?

We must remember that today, in a world that it ruled by imperialism, the ordinary people are not to blame. We are not the disease, but the cure. Basing participation in scientific discourse on the ruling country of people's employers, or on ideological catechisms, is profoundly wrong and counterproductive.

I write with hope that the ETAPS organizers will recognize this as a mistake and change their policy.

Best,
Jon


On Tue, Mar 8, 2022, at 4:01 PM, Neel Krishnaswami wrote:
> [ The Types Forum, http://lists.seas.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/types-list ]
>
> The ETAPS website 
> (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.etaps.org__;!!IBzWLUs!HUevd2N5Ms-2WYC1sMdH93ef4xxRy4BjZ9KD0I8SPwLGGpv-Rk7u_Emgl9qMMyLGK4ex90o0Cm0$ 
> ) has the following text on its 
> front page:
>
>> The ETAPS association strongly condemns the war against Ukraine 
>> launched by President Putin. It is an intolerable breach of 
>> international law and a crime against humanity, unfolding in Europe 
>> now. Therefore, until further notice, ETAPS 2022 cannot accept 
>> registrations from affiliates of Russian research institutions or 
>> companies.
>
> While I'm as opposed to illegal wars of aggression as anyone else, this 
> feels like a serious mistake.
>
> There are many Russians (such as Jetbrains corporation) who have taken 
> the serious personal risk of publically opposing the war, and barring 
> them from our conferences due to their nationality feels wrong to me.
>
> It may well be that the financial sanctions regime means that 
> registration payments cannot be accepted, but that is quite different 
> from barring them personally.
>
> What do the rest of you think?
>
> Best,
> Neel