Battlemesh v16 & OpenWrt Summit 2024

• Dates: Wednesday 2024-05-15 to Sunday 2024-05-19

• OpenWrt Summit Dates: Saturday 2024-05-18 to Sunday 2024-05-19

• Location: Cyprus
• Organisation team mail: battlemeshv16 at ml.ninux.org

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The Wireless Battle Mesh is a non-commercial, volunteer-organized annual convention.

The convention features a variety of talks and workshops on technical and political issues related to mesh networking, wireless community networks and OpenWrt firmware development.

The purpose of the event is to further topics such as right to connectivity, community-owned infrastructure and related free open source projects.

Registering

Add yourself to the participants list. If you'd rather not have your name there, please send an email to the organisation team with the same information displayed on the participants list.

We have visits to very special places on 15 and 19 May. We suggest arriving in Cyprus on 14 May and departing on 20 May. The event is free of charge and open for all.

Cyprus Disclosure from Arınç and Organisers

Is Cyprus safe?

Yes, it is. Although Cyprus has got left-hand traffic.

Why make the event in Cyprus?

In Battlemesh v15 in Barcelona, I proposed to host the next Battlemesh in Cyprus. There are certain reasons I proposed Cyprus. As the Battlemesh community is majorly European, I want to bring European attention to the situation Cyprus, a European Union member state, is in. If you've never heard of "The Cyprus Problem" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_problem), this will be a great event to bring awareness to it.

Cyprus is an island country located in the Mediterranean, east of Greece and south of Türkiye. It has been divided into two parts, with a "Green Line" buffer zone controlled by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The Green Line goes through the middle of the capital city, Nicosia, dividing the round shaped city center into two half circles.

The southern part of Cyprus is governed by the Cyprus Government as defined by the constitution of Cyprus Ratified August 16, 1960 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Cyprus). The northern part of the island is governed by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) recognised only by Türkiye.

There's no active conflict. Crossing points are open. Cypriots and tourists can visit the both sides of the island.

The first crossing point across the Green Line was opened in 23 April 2003. https://cyprus-mail.com/2023/04/23/keeping-hope-alive-two-decades-of-crossings/

The Nicosia International Airport is stuck in the buffer zone. It's like a time capsule in there, the ad posters from the 70s are still there.

The point of this event is to present Cyprus as a whole. I want to bring Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots together in this event. I want people to hear their problems, what they hope to happen in Cyprus in the future. It will be great to make the Cypriots feel included in a European event like ours. More people aware of the Cyprus problem means more eyes on the situation which will help reaching a long overdue solution to this problem.

Are we taking sides?

We support the negotiation efforts by the UN, EU and the Republic of Cyprus. We're contributing to this effort by bringing international attention, and providing opportunities of social interaction between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

The locations of the event?

We're planning to do the event on both sides. We encourage Turkish Cypriots to cross to the southern location and Greek Cypriots to the northern location. Most Turkish Cypriots are already citizens of the Republic of Cyprus so they can get to south just as Greek Cypriots can go north.

I am in talks with the UNFICYP to get a permit to visit the Nicosia International Airport in the buffer zone. Our visit there will be a part of the event.

Everyone can attend to the event, safely. The northern part depends a lot on tourism so the safety of the tourists is the top priority of the authorities there. And there's no discontent against any foreigners in particular. My aim with this event is to increase social interaction between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots so making the event safe and peaceful is my top priority as well.

We encourage everyone to come here, see the situation themselves, and spread awareness so that we can get rid of the walls in Cyprus just like in Berlin.

Regarding visas and entry to Cyprus. Anyone who respects international law and the national laws of the Republic of Cyprus which is the only recognised state on the island should enter Cyprus with respect to these laws. That is why I suggest everyone to enter Cyprus via the Larnaca International Airport. Anyone from anywhere that enters Cyprus legally can cross to the northern part without any requirements, except nationals of the Syrian Arab Republic, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Armenia. Citizens of the European Union and Schengen Area Countries can enter the northern part with a national identity card.

Cyprus is an EU member state, but they're not in the Schengen Area. So the visa they issue are only for entering Cyprus. It is much easier to get a short-stay visa for Cyprus compared to a visa for the Schengen Area.

Locations

• 15 May: Home for Cooperation

• 16-18 May: Villa

• 19 May: CYENS Makerspace (location), Pyla, Varosha

Villa Footage

Catering

• 15 May: Home for Cooperation will provide catering.
• 16-18 May: We will have a catering company deliver to the villa.
• 19 May: We will visit a restaurant.

We will provide the pricing of Home for Cooperation and the catering company for the villa. Restaurant will be covered.

Accommodation Package

We've agreed on a discounted price with the Olive Tree Hotel. Single room 60€ per night, double room 80€ per night. Breakfast and dinner is included.

The hotel guarantees availability to host 50 people for a 6-night stay; check-in on 14 May and check-out on 20 May. Please make a reservation by adding yourself to the participants list two days prior to your check-in date.

Taking the accomodation package is, of course, optional.

We will collect the payment by IBAN transfer. We accept cash on the dates of the event if we didn't receive the full amount by IBAN transfer.

Transportation between the hotel and locations are covered.

Transportation

Arrive to Cyprus by the Larnaca International Airport. You can also arrive by Paphos International Airport but we can't document coming from there very well. Check out the Intercity Buses Paphos - Nicosia route for details. https://intercity-buses.com/en/routes/nicosia-paphos-paphos-nicosia/

From Larnaca International Airport to Nicosia Solomou/Solomos Square - Less Expensive Method

Ignore the bus signs inside the airport terminal and climb to the upper floor. Exit the terminal and go next to the car road. Turn left and follow the pedestrian road. At the end of the private buses is the public bus stop. Every 20 minutes, bus 425 to Deryneia departs. Get on it, then leave the bus at the Foinikoudes (Larnaka Marina) stop. The bus always stops at this stop and the bus driver will announce the stop name. The bus driver will announce Old Hospital first. You can leave here too but the Foinikoudes stop is more scenic and comfortable to wait. At the same stop, get onto the intercity bus to Nicosia. This bus does not have a number. It may display "NIC TO: NICOSIA" and "Intercity Buses". Leave at the last stop which is the Solomou/Solomos Square.

Make sure to check the timetable for the first and last buses of the day.

Intercity Buses timetable and prices. I recommend saving the PDF document after tapping the Print Timetable button. https://intercity-buses.com/en/routes/larnaca-nicosia-nicosia-larnaca/

Cyprus Public Transport timetable. Look for the Larnaca - Airport Routes section. https://www.publictransport.com.cy/routes/page/routes-and-timetables

2.40€ for Cyprus Public Transport buses. 1.80€ with payment by Motion card. 4€ for Intercity Buses.

Pay on the bus. Pay by cash or Motion card. Motion card costs 5€ and can be bought at the airport.

Ticket Fares: https://www.publictransport.com.cy/cms/page/cash-tickets

Motion Card Sale Points: https://www.publictransport.com.cy/cms/page/sales-offices

Use the public transportation app to plan a trip on the go. Intercity buses are not included. https://www.publictransport.com.cy/cms/page/mobile-app-information

Finikoudes Bus Stop: https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/5327616642

Solomou/Solomos Square, Central Bus Station: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/318027302

From Larnaca International Airport to Nicosia Solomou/Solomos Square - More Expensive Method

Follow the bus signs in the terminal to get to the ticket sales office of the Kapnos Airport Shuttle company. A one way ticket is 9€.

In 100 meters from the Nicosia station and after crossing the bridge over Limassol Avenue, there is a bus stop. You may use the Cyprus Public Transport Buses - number 3 and 4 to Solomos Square. Buses with route number 3 pass every 20 minutes (05:00 - 21:30), and buses with number 4 pass every 20 minutes (05:15 - 20:15).

The bus stop: https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/6204259088

FAQ: https://kapnosairportshuttle.com/faq

From Nicosia Solomou/Solomos Square to Hotel

Cross the Ledra Street or Ledra Palace crossing point. From then on, if you're arriving earlier than 15 May, either take a taxi or reach out to Arınç from the organisation team for a lift.

Ledra Street crossing point: https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/271051414

Ledra Palace crossing point: https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/2171712479

Olive Tree Hotel: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/283137229

From Larnaca International Airport to Hotel - Premium Method

90€ for up to 5 people. Pick up car is Vito or Viano. Reach out to the organisation team for booking.

Proposed talks

Directly edit the wiki to add your proposed talks or send the information to Jésica so she can add it (giudicejesica@altermundi.net).

Call for Participation

There's no hard deadline. Came up with an idea while the event is traversing? Reach out to the organisation team and we'll put you in an opening.

Sponsors

We received funding and resources from the following entities that helped to make this v16 edition.