Wau
Numerous documentaries and texts on and by data philosopher and visionary Wau Holland show how he influenced the world both as a public figure and the doyen and co-founder of the Chaos Computer Club throughout several decades until his untimely death on July 29, 2001.
The area of conflict between new technology and media on the one hand, and ubiquitous surveillance on the other, risks and opportunities in information technology: these were key points Wau covered in his copious talks and public speeches. He developed and refined concepts like hacker ethics and teaching young people about the joy and passion in technology while stressing and howing the society's role therein.
Through founding the Chaos Computer Club in 1981, Wau Holland paved the way for hackers into legality and social responsibility. He continued to be a huge influence and a voice to be heard.
It was on the day of Wau's funeral in Marburg that five of his closest friends set up the Wau Holland Foundation in his memory, supported by his family who also gave the initial funding. In December 2003, the Foundation was registered as a tax-privileged charity.
Our mission
The Foundation carries on the courageous works of Wau Holland (Herwart Holland-Moritz) against totalitarian structures, and for the unconditional upholding of human rights in order to reinforce the peaceful coexistence of peoples.
To this end, the Foundation promotes global freedom-of-information and informational self-determination. The objective is to archive and further Wau Holland's enlightened body of ideas, and to make them accessible to the public in a suitable format. The Foundation also promotes worldwide scientific discourse through conferences and the dissemination of scholarly materials. In the interests of freedom-of-information, it particularly supports the distribution of materials for scientific & scholarly purposes that would otherwise be inaccessible to the public, through technical and legal methods.
The Foundation regards itself as a non-profit institution that empowers responsible individuals and organisations with the opportunity to dedicate themselves toward these goals. Donations are collected and utilized to accomplish the Foundation's tasks / objectives.
Endowment
The foundation's endowment currently is ca. € 62000, mostly invested in savings bonds. Furthermore, it holds land as an asset (valued about € 1500), currently leased to a public institution.
We use the yearly interest of the endowment to finance the work of the foundation and support projects. In order to support more projects, we need donations.
Board
The board of directors currently consists of the following persons:
- Winfried Motzkus, Bielefeld (founding member, President)
- Andy-Müller-Maguhn, Berlin (since 2012, VP)
- Bernd Fix, Berlin (founding member)
- Klaus Schleisiek, Hamburg (since 2009)
- Peter Franck, Hamburg (since 2014)
Former members of the board:
- Melanie Wahl, Mannheim, Germany (founding member, until 2005)
- Gerriet Hellwig ✝, Dornach, Switzerland (founding member, until 2005)
- Ursel Reichhard, Guxhagen, Germany (founding member, until 2007)
- Jens Ohlig, Bonn (from 2007 until 2012)
- Hendrik Heye Fulda, Hamburg, Germany (from 2007 to 2014)
