Arjen P. de Vries @arjenpdevries@mastodon.social

At Public Spaces Conference 2022 at Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam

#EDPS launches pilot phase of two new social media platforms: #EUVoice and #EUVideo.
Based on decentralised, free, Open-Source & privacy-oriented @joinmastodon@twitter.com and @joinpeertube@twitter.com, they connect EU institutions with users of the #Fediverse
👉Press Release https://europa.eu/!8x4DBn

Getting the official Mastodon apps out there was a massive undertaking. More than a year of ongoing design and development, and biggest team that we've ever had. Seeing how talented people bring your vision to life is honestly a real treat.

sports team - r entertainment
https://open.spotify.com/track/1kx7a4BiF5b0KH6pKLpwcJ

New track on our Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2VcOkY7S1DsoTjPNm7yXEn?si=Cl0DDLywTfG-cErQSZ9fVg

#sportsteam #great-britain #spotify #np

If access to information is in the hands of a few companies (think of their leaders as "information oligarchs"), autocratic leaders can blackmail these companies to reduce that access (and oppress their people).

We need to stop letting Big Tech centralise the Web, and build truly decentralised alternatives, owned by all of us.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/12/russia-putin-google-apple-navalny/

"With his talk of protecting human rights and preventing genocide, Putin imitates the language of democratic countries, but the only thing that comes out of his mouth is senseless drivel in the guise of political or historical statements."

https://crisisandcommunitas.com/?crisis=the-ogre-goes-to-ukraine-a-commentary

2/2

“The Ogre does what ogres can,
Deeds quite impossible for Man,
But one prize is beyond his reach:
The Ogre cannot master speech.
About a subjugated plain,
Among its desperate and slain,
The Ogre stalks with hands on hips,
While drivel gushes from his lips.”

– W.H. Auden

1/2

If you are siding with Russia's government during this conflict, please block me.

This is important, so reboosting myself, because shit like this is proposed:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2022/02/27/critics-reject-rep-swalwells-idea-to-expel-all-russian-students/

Russian people are not the aggressor. Students studying in the West are not a threat. Putin is.

And the biggest threat to him is an educated population able and willing to govern itself.

Almost 5000 Russians got arrested in Russia for anti-war and pro-Ukraine protests.

Russian people are not the aggressor. Punishing them (as opposed to Putin) is only going to make matters worse.

It’s appalling how some of the discourse on the left currently boils down to “if you only do as he says, he won’t have to harm you.”

Can you people even hear yourselves right now?

Looking to join a protest against the war? Check (and add more) to http://standwithukraine.live, a grassroots collection.

We have it so easy. We're not fighting, we're not hiding for rockets with our children and dogs in the subway system, we don't have to sleep only to be waken by gunfight and sirens. We will only pay more for oil and gas, see prices rise for things - things we do not need anyways, when you think of the alternative outcome if we do not act firmly now and stop this aggression on our continent.

Putin must not win.

5/5

Many European countries (and I'm happy to see that includes us) have already expressed their desire to up the stakes. Come on Germany and Cyprus, join the plan to isolate Putin completely - zero collaboration, period. Kick that fascist out of Swift now. Let him know: "We do nothing for you, Vladimir, nada, zero, until you withdraw!"

4/5

Our leaders are not doing enough. They mistakenly think rational to decide how to deal with Putin's irrationality. Why not all in, Europe? Do **everything we can** without triggering a nuclear war. We can do more!

3/5

We build Europe on the same values. And who would not share these desires?! I'm sure the majority of Russians thinks exactly the same way! Before this war, I knew very little about the Ukrainian president, but I have been deeply impressed with his leadership throughout these horrible events. If we were only as brave!

Why don't we defend our values with equal courage?

2/5

Zelensky Speech: Ukrainian President's Last Appeal to Russian Public Before Invasion Began
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/02/23/zelenskys-desperate-plea-for-peace/

This a transcript of Zelenski addressing the Russian people, Kiev, Feb 24, 2022. (I read a Dutch translation in our newspaper.)

"We want to determine our own course and build our own history: peacefully, calmly, and honestly."

1/5