Archive:Stories: Difference between revisions

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+{{cquote|For years I have been using Wikipedia as one of the main sources I use whenever I need to access information about the world that surrounds me.
+I conceive it as the best contemporary example of what collaboration based on a volunteer basis can yield. I admire all those people who devote time and energy to make information and knowledge available to others. The result is a great resource which is available to millions of people, in their own languages, for free.
+As a volunteer myself who has done minor contributions so far, I am aware that the process does not always run smoothly. It is complicated to coordinate such an enormous collective effort. And even more, when one wants to remain faithful and commited to the principles that founded the project –openness, free availability, free accesibility, independence, collective and free participation–. In that sense, Wikipedia is important not only because it is (we are) managing to build itself and grow, out of a previously non–existing model. It is also important because it is showing the way (one possible way) to many other people who will embark in similar collective, open projects in the future.
+Wikipedia makes us stronger, more powerful, more independent, freer, as global society, as global citizens. I contributed and will do again in the future.
+Thank you all and keep up the good work!}}
+<hr>
 {{cquote|This last  thanksgiving two of my kids, one in graduate school at Stanford, one graduating from Georgetown, and my high school sophomore were all around the dinner table and we were talking about  what we were thankful for (and the difference between my husband and my experiences studying and the access to information), and we ended up talking about the miracle of wikipedia, the democratic,  extremely high quality, depth and breadth of it, and how it is the very first place my smart kids go for information... and i resolved to use it too. It makes my heart happy that it exists. I wish the collaborative, generous and superb energy that underlies its creation and implementation could inform more of our human endeavors. Wikipedia's existence  gives me faith that there is more than greed, profit motive and selfishness in the world. Thank you for making access to information and knowledge available and giving people everywhere the possibility of sharing their knowledge and best selves.}}