[Owasp-leaders] OWASP Board decision that I don't agree with

Sat Jan 4 23:40:01 UTC 2014

Its a different story, it seems like you’re trying to twist the reality here.
-A
On Jan 4, 2014, at 6:36 PM, Jim Manico <jim.manico at owasp.org> wrote:

> Another issue that is tangential.
> 
> We are applying for several big money DHS grants. These help keep the foundation running.
> 
> Should be reject all of these grants because of the Snowden affair? It we abort RSA but continue to take DHS money, then we send a mixed message.
> 
> Aloha,
> Jim
> 
>> I strongly support Sastry on this one.
>> 
>> You might be participating as individuals, but people see you guys as the OWASP Board, and that’s something that many of us don’t like to be the image of OWASP.
>> 
>> Thanks
>> -Abbas
>> On Jan 4, 2014, at 1:18 PM, Eoin Keary <eoin.keary at owasp.org> wrote:
>> 
>>> To be clear, there was no recorded vote on this but a debate.
>>> 
>>> I started the debate after reading about Mikko. (Even though I was delivering the training with Jim and it is my material).
>>> 
>>> The majority of board of OWASP feels getting involved in politics is wrong and wanted to push ahead with the training.
>>> 
>>> So if feelings are strong we need to vote on this ASAP? as leaders of OWASP. A formal board vote? Executive decision from Sarah, our executive director. 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Eoin Keary
>>> Owasp Global Board
>>> +353 87 977 2988
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 4 Jan 2014, at 16:48, Sastry Tumuluri <sastry.tumuluri at owasp.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Friends,
>>>> 
>>>> Please see the following full conversation on twitter: 
>>>> https://twitter.com/EoinKeary/status/419111748424454145
>>>> 
>>>> Eoin Keary and Jim Manico (both OWASP board members) will be presenting/conducting 4 hrs of free-of-cost AppSec training at the RSA Conference, 2014. Michael Coates, Chairman of the OWASP Board is also said to be present. Apparently, this was discussed at the OWASP board level; and the board has decided to go ahead, keeping in mind the benefit to the attending developers.
>>>> 
>>>> As you are aware, RSA is strongly suspected (we'll never be 100% sure, I'm afraid) of being complicit with NSA in enabling fatal weakening of crypto products. RSA has issued a sort of a denial that only deepens the mistrust. As a protest, many leading speakers are cancelling their talks at the upcoming RSAC 2014. Among them are (to my knowledge) Mikko Hypponen, Jeffrey Carr and Josh Thomas.
>>>> 
>>>> At such a time, I am saddened by the OWASP board decision to support RSAC by their presence. At a time when they had the opportunity to let the world know how much they care for the Information Security profession (esp., against weakening crypto); and how much they care about the privacy of people (against NSA's unabashed spying on Americans & non-Americans alike), the board has copped out using a flimsy rationalization ("benefit of (a few) developers", many of who would rethink their attendance had OWASP and more organizations didn't blink!"). 
>>>> 
>>>> I'm sure there was a heated debate. I'm sure all angles were considered. However, this goes too deep for me to take it as "better men than me have considered and decided". As a matter of my personal values, if the situation doesn't change, I would no longer wish to continue as the OWASP Chapter Lead. Please let me know if any of you would like to take over from me. 
>>>> 
>>>> I will also share my feelings with fellow chapter members at our next chapter meeting on Jan 21st. Needless to say, no matter how things go, I remain committed to the principles of our open and open-source infosec community.
>>>> 
>>>> Best regards,
>>>> 
>>>> ==Sas3==
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>>> OWASP-Leaders at lists.owasp.org
>>> https://lists.owasp.org/mailman/listinfo/owasp-leaders
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 

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