ESFS Statement on Ukraine

The European Science Fiction Society (ESFS) has released the following statement regarding the war in Ukraine:

War is against the very values on which the ESFS was founded. 50 years ago the ESFS was created during the Cold War to promote understanding between people of different racial, political and religious grounds.

We have received a number of suggestions for actions the society should take in relation to the Russia-Ukraine war. We the Board think that it is important that these decisions are not made solely by the Board, but rather by the mechanisms enshrined in the society constitution.

We propose a motion trying to encapsulate the views expressed to us directly and on our public forums, which will be voted on at the start of the general meeting at Luxcon. However the Board thinks it is important to remember that the ESFS was founded to keep channels open between the borders of our countries, in the belief that the cultural exchange of ideas is a road to peace.

We have received requests for the ESFS Board to make a statement on the Russia-Ukraine war, however the ESFS was founded as a non-political organisation so the Board do not believe that would be appropriate. However, as individuals we may express our own personal opinions on the war.

We condemn the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by the Russian government. We stand with Ukraine – Carolina Gomez Lagerlöf, Saija Kyllönen, Anouk Arnal, Carol Connolly, Fionna O’Sullivan

They also included a proposal that would allow the organization to disallow nominations, bids, and delegates from a particular country in “exceptional circumstances.”

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