TECH COMPANIES MUST PUT HUMANITY BEFORE PROFIT AND POWER

Statement from the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association and Global Project Against Hate and Extremism

28 February 2022

As the world watches Putin’s brutal and deadly invasion of Ukraine in horror, tech companies must decide immediately which side of history they are on. They can fulfill their responsibilities as global corporations, on which billions depend, and do all they can to avoid more death and destruction, or they can remain complicit in an illegal act of war that has already led to many deaths, hundreds of thousands of refugees, and massive destruction of cities and towns.

The choice should be an easy one. Tech companies must deplatform Russian propaganda outlets including RT and Sputnik News and key political figures who are spreading hate and disinformation, helping to fuel this war. And search engines need to derank unauthoritative content and disinformation in favor of legitimate sources.

The Putin war propaganda channels are still very prominent on the major social media platforms. Some obvious examples include the Kremlin’s Twitter account, RT and Sputnik’s YouTube channels, and RT and others’ Facebook accounts, among many, many others. This disinformation leads to harms and contributes to the threats against democracies everywhere. These channels and accounts must be removed immediately.

So far, the tech companies have failed to act in any meaningful way. Even as the European Union has banned some Russian propaganda outlets, people across the U.S. and other parts of the globe are being subjected to lies. And dangerous international fascist and white supremacist groups continue to find inspiration in Putin’s propaganda.

Some platforms, including YouTube and Facebook, have announced they will demonetize the Kremlin-funded propaganda machine, RT, but that doesn’t go nearly far enough. We know from experience, and indeed minimum research today, that YouTube is incapable of adequately demonetizing accounts and that Facebook, Twitter, Google, and YouTube are incapable of appropriately labeling accounts with violative content and disinformation. A piecemeal approach by YouTube, Facebook, Google, TikTok, and Twitter is unacceptable. Any channel or account spewing disinformation must be deplatformed altogether, especially those of the politically powerful who would use the loopholes afforded them by companies with a misguided sense of ‘newsworthiness.’

The nearly meaningless steps tech companies have taken since the Russian invasion of Ukraine aren’t good enough, and are a continuation of their failures to protect democracies, users, and the lives that have been lost while they profit. Issuing statements about minimum changes for press coverage is insulting to the world. We’ve seen how discrimination, hate, violence, and even genocide have occurred while big tech fiddles.

This time, these companies must finally step up and do the right thing, take a lesson from the people of Ukraine and all those supporting them, including the Russian peace movement, and put humanity before profit and power.

Launched in 2020, the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) was founded by Heidi Beirich and Wendy Via to address the gap in efforts to stop transnational hate and far-right extremism movements, particularly US-based activity that is exported to other countries and across borders.

The ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association is an independent anti-racist organization founded in Warsaw in 1996. Since 2005, it has led the ‘Racism-Delete’ campaign, which has the objective of removing antisemitic and racist content from the internet. The ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association is a member of the International Network Against Cyber Hate (INACH). The Association also takes part in projects to counteract online hate speech such as ‘Get the Trolls Out’ and ‘Open Code for Hate-Free Communication’.

More information:

https://globalextremism.org

www.nigdywiecej.org

www.facebook.com/Respect.Diversity

www.twitter.com/StowNIGDYWIECEJ

WARSAW’S TRIBUTE TO A POLISH RESISTANCE HERO

The ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association took part in the ‘Rally of Decency’, an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of Wladyslaw Bartoszewski’s birth on 19 February 2022.

Wladyslaw Bartoszewski (born on 19 February 1922 – died on 24 April  2015) was a journalist, historian, writer and politician. From September 1940 to April 1941 he was a prisoner of KL Auschwitz. In the years 1942-1944 he co-organized the secret Council to Aid Jews (‘Zegota’) and participated in the Warsaw Uprising. After the war, he worked with the Main Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes in Poland. He became the chairman of the International Auschwitz Council. Among other awards, Bartoszewski received the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his work for reconciliation between Poles, Germans and Jews. He was also awarded the ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ medal. In the last years of his life he was an outspoken critic of the re-emergence of far-right nationalism.

During the rally, invited representatives of civil society commented on seven messages that Wladyslaw Bartoszewski espoused: ‘Be open’, ‘Do not get carried away by hatred’, ‘Remember’, ‘Be true to yourself and your own convictions’, ‘Get involved for the benefit of others’ and ‘Search for ways of understanding’. On behalf of the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association Dr. Anna Tatar spoke about the value of ‘not being indifferent’: ‘Throughout his life, Wladyslaw Bartoszewski opposed hatred and built a dialogue between nations and people, even when it seemed impossible. May we be able to imitate him in this regard.’

The other speakers included former Ombudsman Adam Bodnar, a long-time supporter of the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association. The jazz singer Aga Zaryan performed a song with lyrics by Krystyna Krahelska, a young poet who died during the Warsaw Uprising. Actor and writer Joanna Szczepkowska recited a Holocaust-themed poem by Czeslaw Milosz entitled ‘Campo di Fiori’.

The event took place on Bartoszewski Square by Biala Street in Warsaw. During the Nazi occupation, the street was adjacent to the Warsaw Ghetto. It led to the court building in Leszno (today Aleja Solidarnosci), where Jews could secretly exit to the ‘Aryan’ side with the help of organizations such as Zegota, in which Wladyslaw Bartoszewski was active.

In the square named after him, a monument is going to be erected of the young Bartoszewski on a bicycle. The following inscription will be placed next to the monument: ‘Young Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, after leaving the concentration camp, became involved in helping persecuted Jews, and working for Poland. He was also able to combat the hatred towards the German nation within himself. It shaped him for life.

By a resolution of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, 2022 was proclaimed the Year of Wladyslaw Bartoszewski. The celebrations, organized by the Wladyslaw Bartoszewski Square Association, began on 19th February.

The ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association is an independent anti-racist organization founded in Warsaw in 1996. It has campaigned against antisemitism, racism and xenophobia, for peace, intercultural dialogue and human rights both in Poland and internationally. It is a member of the Alliance Against Genocide made up of over 65 organizations from around the world.

More information:

www.NeverAgainAssociation.org

https://www.facebook.com/respect.diversity

twitter.com/StowNIGDYWIECEJ

WIEC PRZYZWOITOŚCI NA STULECIE URODZIN W. BARTOSZEWSKIEGO

Stowarzyszenie ‘NIGDY WIĘCEJ’ wzięło udział w Wiecu Przyzwoitości zorganizowanym w setną rocznicę urodzin Władysława Bartoszewskiego 19 lutego 2022.

Zaproszeni przedstawiciele organizacji obywatelskich wypowiedzieli się na temat siedmiu wartości, jakie realizował profesor Bartoszewski: ‘Bądź otwarty’, ‘Nie daj się ponieść nienawiści’, ‘Pamiętaj’, ‘Bądź wierny sobie i własnym przekonaniom’, ‘Angażuj się na rzecz ludzi’ i ‘Szukaj dróg porozumienia’. Dr Anna Tatar ze Stowarzyszenia ‘NIGDY WIĘCEJ’ zabrała głos na temat wartości ‘Nie pozostawaj obojętny’: – ‘Władysław Bartoszewski przez całe swoje życie przeciwstawiał się nienawiści i budował dialog pomiędzy narodami, pomiędzy ludźmi nawet wtedy, gdy wydawało się to niemożliwe. Obyśmy potrafili go w tym naśladować’.

Podczas Wiecu Przyzwoitości wystąpił między innymi były Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich Adam Bodnar. Ponadto wokalistka jazzowa Aga Zaryan wykonała piosenkę ‘Miłość’ do słów poetki Krystyny Krahelskiej, która służyła w Armii Krajowej, zginęła podczas powstania warszawskiego. Aktorka i pisarka Joanna Szczepkowska zadeklamowała wiersz Czesława Miłosza pt. ‘Campo di Fiori’.

Wydarzenie odbyło się na warszawskim Skwerze Bartoszewskiego przy ulicy Białej. Podczas wojny została ona wyłączona z getta warszawskiego. Prowadziła do budynku sądów na Lesznie (dziś aleja Solidarności), gdzie Żydzi mogli wydostać się na stronę aryjską z pomocą organizacji takich jak Żegota, w której działał Władysław Bartoszewski.

Na terenie skweru jego imienia na Woli powstanie pomnik, który przedstawiać będzie młodego Bartoszewskiego na rowerze. Autorem projektu jest Jacek Kiciński. Przy monumencie zostanie umieszczony napis: ‘Młody Władysław Bartoszewski po wyjściu z obozu koncentracyjnego zaangażował się w pomoc prześladowanym Żydom i pracę dla Polski. Potrafił też zwalczyć w sobie nienawiść do narodu niemieckiego. To uformowało go na całe życie’.

Uchwałą Senatu RP rok 2022 został ogłoszony Rokiem Władysława Bartoszewskiego. Obchody organizowane przez Stowarzyszenie Skwer Władysława Bartoszewskiego zostały zainaugurowane 19 lutego.

Władysław Bartoszewski (ur. 19.02.1922 – zm. 24.04.2015) był dziennikarzem, historykiem, pisarzem i politykiem. Od września 1940 do kwietnia 1941 był więźniem KL Auschwitz. W latach 1942-1944 współorganizował tajną Radę Pomocy Żydom (‘Żegota’), uczestniczył w Powstaniu Warszawskim. Po wojnie był współpracownikiem Głównej Komisji Badania Zbrodni Niemieckich w Polsce. Został przewodniczącym Międzynarodowej Rady Oświęcimskiej i Rady Ochrony Pamięci Walk i Męczeństwa. Bartoszewski za swoje zasługi otrzymał między innymi Order Orła Białego, Krzyż Wielki Orderu Zasługi RFN za pracę na rzecz pojednania między Polakami, Niemcami i Żydami oraz Wielki Krzyż Zakonu Rycerskiego i Szpitalnego św. Łazarza z Jerozolimy. Został odznaczonym medalem ‘Sprawiedliwy wśród Narodów Świata’.

Stowarzyszenie ‘NIGDY WIĘCEJ’ jest powstałą w 1996 roku niezależną organizacją antyrasistowską, która prowadzi ‘Brunatną Księgę’ – dokumentację zdarzeń na tle ksenofobicznym i antysemickim. Prowadzi też kampanie społeczne, m.in. ‘Muzyka Przeciwko Rasizmowi’ i ‘Wykopmy Rasizm ze Stadionów’ oraz uczestniczy w projektach przeciwdziałających mowie nienawiści w internecie.

Anna Tatar ze Stowarzyszenia ‘NIGDY WIĘCEJ’ na Wiecu Przyzwoitości – stulecie urodzin prof. Władysława Bartoszewskiego:

Dodatkowe informacje:

www.nigdywiecej.org
www.facebook.com/Respect.Diversity
www.twitter.com/StowNIGDYWIECEJ

INDIA GENOCIDE WARNING

Fifty-four renowned intellectuals, musicians, scholars, and activists from 24 countries gathered in a 6-hours live online public event entitled ‘A Scream from Global Civil Society: India Genocide Warning!’

The event took place on 4 February 2022, it was organized by Forces of Renewal for Southeast Asia (FORSEA) in cooperation with Genocide Watch (US), Documentation Centre Cambodia, International State Crime Initiative (UK), Noor Cultural Centre (Canada), Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), Hindus for Human Rights (US), and the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association (Poland).

The meeting was chaired by Tapan Kumar Bose, an Indian filmmaker, human rights and peace activist, author and co-founder of, among others, the Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy. It was hosted by Maung Zarni, an exiled Burmese activist and intellectual, fellow of the Documentation Centre Cambodia and coordinator of the Free Rohingya Coalition.

The programme featured activists and scholars from across the world, including Noam Chomsky (a renowned linguist and social critic), Irwin Cotler (international chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights), Dina Siddiqi (anthropologist and advisory council member of the South Asian feminist network, Sangat), and Gregory Stanton (founding president and chairman of Genocide Watch).

Co-founder of the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association Rafal Pankowski invoked the symbolic message of peace from Mahatma Gandhi for the readers of a Polish cultural weekly, published in Warsaw on the brink of the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. Pankowski also said in his speech: – ‘Today the motto Never Again relates to commemoration of the victims of genocide and totalitarianism, the fight against genocide denial and distortion as well as active solidarity with oppressed minorities everywhere, solidarity with the struggles for dignity, equality and respect.’

Numerous speakers noted with alarm the reports of the recent escalation of anti-Muslim and anti-minority rhetoric and violence as well as calls for genocide in India. Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation’s Article-14.com reported: ‘Hindu extremists have organised 12 events over 24 months in four states calling for genocide of Muslims, attacks on Christians and insurrection against the government. As more events are planned, we track how their events are unimpeded, main organisers are free and police see no conspiracy or incitement, in contrast to the quick arrests and action against dissidents, peace activists and journalists.’

Harsh Mander, Director of Centre for Equality Studies in New Delhi and founder of Karwan-e-Mohabbat (‘Caravan of Love’) said: – ‘India is hurtling into a frighteningly dark place of hate, fear and violence for its minorities. It has badly lost its way from the inclusive and egalitarian country that was promised in its freedom struggle and constitution. The present climate of hate for minorities is engineered by the ruling leadership, that normalises, legitimises and valorises hatred and bigotry. There are many warning signs that echo the 1930s in Germany. If we don’t learn from history, we will be complicit in an immense crime against humanity.’

The ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association is an independent anti-racist organization founded in Warsaw in 1996. It has campaigned against antisemitism, racism and xenophobia, for peace, intercultural dialogue and human rights both in Poland and internationally. It is a member of the Alliance Against Genocide made up of over 65 organizations from around the world.

More information:

https://forsea.co/a-scream-from-global-civil-society-india-genocide-warning

www.NeverAgainAssociation.org

https://www.facebook.com/respect.diversity/

https://twitter.com/StowNIGDYWIECEJ

Video links:

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-f133_iFjQ
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO68Nx_IJkU