2019:Advocacy/Defending heritage through free knowledge: the importance of Wikimedia projects against cultural predation
 | This is an Accepted submission for the Advocacy space at Wikimania 2019. |
Defending heritage through free knowledge: the importance of Wikimedia projects against cultural predation
Topic
Cultural predation, such as gentrification and/or urban expansion, is threatening heritage through the destruction of historical buildings. Some of these places are not documented into the Wikimedia projects, especially in Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons. In this sense, free knowledge has a political importance in the preservation of these spaces, especially those whose history is not publicly known. First, keeping the memory of buildings that have been destroyed or reconditioned, allowing future generations to remember the heritage. Besides, we believe that documentation could help advocates and activists to oppose cultural predation, since public opinion may find reliable information about the historical and architectural relevance of the endangered heritage though Wiki projects.
SDG
This session will address the conference theme — Wikimedia, Free Knowledge and the Sustainable Development Goals — in the following manner: This session will address the conference theme of sustainable cities and communities, since gentrification is reshaping our cities and displacing people. We think that Wik imedia projects can be a tool for helping heritage activists to leverage these policies.
Achievements expected
At the end of the session, the following will have been achieved: By the end of the session, we want to raise awareness about the political importance of creating projects for documenting heritage, focusing on places in imminent danger. We will develop a collaborative methodology with the feedback of the session.
Session leader(s)
- Pepe Flores
- Iván Martínez
Usernames
- padaguan
- ProtoplasmaKid
Affiliation/country (if any)
- Wikimedia Mexico
- Wikimedia Mexico
E-mail contact (optional)
- pepe.fls@gmail.com
- galaver@gmail.com
Session type
Each Space at Wikimania 2019 will have specific format requests. The program design prioritises submissions which are future-oriented and directly engage the audience. The format of this submission is a:
- Discussion-based training
- Workshop to identify and try to solve problem
- Panel with audience Question & Answer session
Requirements
The session will work best with these conditions:
- Room: Small room, projector + screen
- Audience: 25-30, no prior knowledge required
- Recording: Appropriate