1
00:00:01,624 --> 00:00:03,308
Hello Wikimedians!
2
00:00:03,308 --> 00:00:09,758
I’m so happy to be joining you today for the Donostiapedia edit-a-thon. Welcome today in Donostia.
3
00:00:09,758 --> 00:00:14,188
My name is Katherine Maher, and I’m the Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation.
4
00:00:14,188 --> 00:00:18,748
The Wikimedia Foundation helps support Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia projects.
5
00:00:18,748 --> 00:00:21,367
I want to first thank the Basque Wikimedia User Group
6
00:00:21,367 --> 00:00:26,257
and the countless other volunteers and institutions for making this event possible today.
7
00:00:26,257 --> 00:00:32,847
Your gathering and work today is an exercise in sharing across languages, cultures, and communities
8
00:00:32,847 --> 00:00:35,722
- the heart of Wikimedia’s values and purpose.
9
00:00:35,722 --> 00:00:37,899
Together, you bring knowledge and perspectives from
10
00:00:37,899 --> 00:00:43,669
Basque, Galician, Occitan, Asturian, Aragonese, and Maltese Wikimedia projects,
11
00:00:43,669 --> 00:00:50,552
and from a number of Wikimedia affiliates, including Amical Wikimedia, Wikimedia France, Wikimedia Spain.
12
00:00:50,552 --> 00:00:56,585
All of this is an inspiring example of the global collaboration that makes our movement so strong.
13
00:00:56,585 --> 00:01:03,709
And it’s fitting that this takes place in San Sebastián, or Donostia, a 2016 European Capital of Culture.
14
00:01:03,709 --> 00:01:07,113
To be recognized as a capital of culture is a great achievement.
15
00:01:07,113 --> 00:01:12,635
It speaks to the importance of your past, the vibrancy of your present, and the opportunity for the future.
16
00:01:12,635 --> 00:01:15,361
That is also what this editathon represents
17
00:01:15,361 --> 00:01:20,347
the importance of coming together, across countries, languages, and experiences
18
00:01:20,347 --> 00:01:23,879
the importance of our unique histories, and of our common knowledge.
19
00:01:23,879 --> 00:01:29,829
It is a declaration for the bright future of your communities, and the importance of diverse language Wikipedias.
20
00:01:29,834 --> 00:01:34,579
I would like to congratulate Basque Wikipedia today - speaking of diverse Wikipedias.
21
00:01:34,579 --> 00:01:41,222
It has also recently celebrated an important milestone - 250,000 articles. Congratulations!
22
00:01:41,222 --> 00:01:47,975
This edit-a-thon is one important way the Wikimedia movement is involved in Donostia, but it’s not the only way.
23
00:01:47,975 --> 00:01:52,654
Wikipedians in Residence have been working this year at three institutions in San Sebastián,
24
00:01:52,654 --> 00:01:57,339
including the San Telmo Museum where you find yourselves just outside of today.
25
00:01:57,339 --> 00:02:00,288
The Basque Wikimedia User Group has also been working with
26
00:02:00,288 --> 00:02:04,535
teachers, historians, and writers to teach them how to edit Wikipedia.
27
00:02:04,535 --> 00:02:08,256
There have already been several workshops and meetups so far.
28
00:02:08,256 --> 00:02:12,430
I’ve even heard you’re planning to make a book of all the Wikipedia articles that you create?
29
00:02:12,430 --> 00:02:14,225
That is incredible.
30
00:02:14,225 --> 00:02:20,495
Contributions like these, and the everyday contributions of so many Wikimedians, lead to more free knowledge for the world.
31
00:02:20,495 --> 00:02:23,870
And it is your collaboration that makes all of that possible.
32
00:02:23,870 --> 00:02:27,295
From the Wikimedia Foundation in San Francisco, California,
33
00:02:27,295 --> 00:02:31,756
thank you for being a shining example of how we can do more when we do it together.
34
00:02:31,756 --> 00:02:35,033
I look forward to hearing about the outcomes of this edit-a-thon
35
00:02:35,033 --> 00:02:40,717
and what else you accomplish in bringing the Wikimedia projects to San Sebastián in 2016.
36
00:02:40,717 --> 00:02:41,947
Thank you!