[discuss] /1net Steering/Coordination Commitee

Sat Dec 21 01:58:42 UTC 2013

Well, I guess these things are in the eye of the beholder although I agree
about the individuals selected.

Sorry, I've been silent for the last while... I'm travelling and yesterday
was spent gaining focus amidst the splendid and evocative ruins of Angkor
Wat and then shepherding the Community Informatics declaration through to
final consensus
http://cirn.wikispaces.com/An+Internet+for+the+Common+Good+-+Engagement%2C+E
mpowerment%2C+and+Justice+for+All (sign-on's are welcome and are just
starting now...

The Community Informatics community started in large part as a response to
the WSIS and earlier of the "high level" ICT4D initiatives.  The feeling was
that the top-down approach to ICT4D which most regrettably carried through
to the WSIS and WSIS outcomes did not provide an opportunity for input/voice
to those at the grassroots including those working as researchers,
practitioners or policy advisers with those at the grassroots.

Even more regrettably this has changed little in the ten years since and as
the technology has changed and evolved and institutions have come and gone
the opportunities and needs at the grassroots for using the Internet and
ICTs for their benefit and the benefit of their communities has not evolved
commensurately.

My own involvement with IG stuff started with an attempt to introduce a
community informatics element into these discussions and to provide a link
between the CI community and Internet Governance primarily through an
involvement in Civil Society.

While I recognize the significance and contribution of the existing IG
oriented CS organizations I must insist that they do not reflect the
interests or concerns of those of whom Community Informatics is for the most
part constituted... marginalized communities in Developed and Developing
Countries, indigenous peoples, older persons, and others for whom the
Internet offers but for the most part has not provided, significant
opportunities for "engagement, empowerment and justice".  As an example,
although there are some 325,000,000 indigenous people in the world apart
from my regular comments I have yet to see anyone in the CS or larger IG
community make any reference to these people or any overtures towards
inclusion of their very specific concerns and interests.

Matters of free expression, human rights, net neutrality and so on and so on
are discussed and pondered but the manner in which the Internet might
provide enhanced life opportunities for Indigenous peoples, marginalized
communities and so on are never ever discussed except in the most abstract
and ultimately condescending terms.

When I came forward to suggest that these voices should be provided an
opportunity through the CI network (which as you know consists of some 1500
researchers, practitioners, grassroots activists and others who of course
are directly serving a base of communities and individuals in all parts of
the world) to be included in these discussions I was rebuffed--not
"miffed"--rebuffed.  

We are, as anyone can observe entering into a crucial round of
meetings/discussions/even decision points concerning the future of the
Internet and thus, I believe ultimately the future shape and even content of
human society as a whole.  These are not trivial matters.

To not insist that the range of additional voices to whom community
informatics is pointing (unfortunately in the absence of other and more
powerful voices) is I believe to act irresponsibly and unconscionably in
relation to those people and to all of those whose voices are not being
given an opportunity to be heard in these forums.

Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at 1net.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at 1net.org] On Behalf
Of Avri Doria
Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2013 5:41 AM
To: discuss at 1net.org
Subject: Re: [discuss] /1net Steering/Coordination Commitee

Hi.

On the contrary, the selection committee was formed by representatives from
several of the most prominent Civil Society organizations contributing to
Internet Governance work.

I believe that it is a very respectable slate of representative picked by as
legitimate a process as can be formed in CS at this point in time.

While I en devour to avoid email exchange with certain parties, I could not
let the falsehood stand.

avri

On 20-Dec-13 03:42, Klaus Stoll wrote:
> strongly +++1
>
> Klaus
>
> On 12/20/2013 12:27 AM, michael gurstein wrote:
>>
>> Adiel and all,
>>
>> I don't know what process you went through to do this selection but 
>> you should be aware that the process undertaken by  "Civil Society" 
>> in the selection of their nominees was so flawed as to render any 
>> nomination from the "Civil Society" grouping as illegitimate.
>>
>> The CS "Nominating Committee" was self-selected within the extremely 
>> limited set of civil society organizations currently active in the 
>> Internet Governance space (many of which have little or no actual 
>> membership or visible networking into the broader global Civil 
>> Society community).
>>
>> In the process of constituting their "Nominating Committee" there was 
>> no attempt to reach out to additional organizations with interests or 
>> activities in the broad IG area but which were not directly active in 
>> the very limited existing CS IG spaces.  Where groupings such as the 
>> Community Informatics network*, of which I am a part indicated an 
>> interest in participation in the Nominating Committee and or of being 
>> nominated we were rebuffed without appropriate explanation, appeal or 
>> an indication that due transparent and accountable processes had been 
>> undertaken.
>>
>> It is notable that all of the nominees from this self-selected 
>> nominating group are senior actors in the groups which 
>> self-constituted themselves as the nominating group and no others--a 
>> process of self-dealing, startling in its audacity if nothing else.
>>
>> As I've mentioned before on this list and to the Civil Society 
>> grouping, the Community Informatics community consists of a large 
>> number of practitioners, academics, researchers, and technical and 
>> policy activists, concerned with community based and grassroots users 
>> and NON-Users of the Internet including marginalized communities in 
>> Developed and Developing Countries, indigenous peoples, older 
>> persons, those with disabilities among others and thus look to 
>> provide an opportunity for "voice" for a very very significant 
>> constituency  of those who are either under-represented or not 
>> represented at all in current IG discussions.
>>
>> I would strongly suggest that you reconsider your decision in this 
>> matter, go back to the "CS" "nominating committee" and insist that 
>> they conduct an appropriate, transparent, and accountable process 
>> inclusive of ALL those in Civil Society with an active interest and 
>> "stake" in Internet Governance matters.
>>
>> In the absence of this, unfortunately your process itself will be 
>> equally contaminated as was the "CS" process and the outcome of your 
>> activities will be equally unrepresentative of those globally who are 
>> impacted by and thus "stakeholders" in the Internet.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Mike
>>
>> *The Community Informatics community--thelarger Community Informatics 
>> community <http://vancouvercommunity.net/lists/info/ciresearchers>
>> (consisting of both the general email list and specialized lists for 
>> Canada <http://vancouvercommunity.net/lists/info/cracin-canada>,
>> Southern Africa
>> <http://vancouvercommunity.net/lists/info/ci-research-sa>, Older 
>> Persons, 
>> <http://vancouvercommunity.net/lists/info/ci-for-older-persons> and 
>> Indigenous peoples <mailto:ci-indigenous at lists.knet.ca> as well as 
>> the Editorial Board of the Journal of Community Informatics 
>> <http://ci-journal.net/index.php/ciej/about/editorialTeam>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: discuss-bounces at 1net.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at 1net.org] On 
>> Behalf Of Adiel Akplogan
>> Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2013 11:32 PM
>> To: discuss at 1net.org
>> Subject: [discuss] /1net Steering/Coordination Commitee
>>
>> Dear colleagues,
>>
>> At the end of the deadline for receiving names for the 
>> Coordination/Steering committee (many wrote to tell me that they 
>> prefer it to be a coordination committee instead of a steering one  - 
>> Personally I don't mind as the most important for me is to have a 
>> multi-interest/stakeholder group that will help us in shaping the 
>> discussions and the campaign along with creating a sustainable bridge 
>> with every parties and interest group).
>>
>> The following names were submitted:
>>
>> ** from Business:
>>
>> 1. Aparna Sridhar, Telecom Policy Counsel, Google 2. David Fares, 
>> Senior Vice President, Government Relations, 21st Century Fox 3.
>> Marilyn Cade, President, ICT Strategies mCade 4. Sarah Wynn-Williams, 
>> Manager, Global Public Policy, Facebook 5. Paul Mitchell, Senior 
>> Director, Technology Policy, Microsoft Corporation
>>
>> *** from Civil Society:
>>
>> 1. Joana Varon
>>
>> 2. Rafik Dammak
>>
>> 3. Anriette Esterhuysen
>>
>> 4. Vladimir Radunovik
>>
>> 5. Anja Kovacs
>>
>> The Technical community have requested additional time to complete 
>> their selection mechanism and I'm expecting to hear from Academic 
>> community anytime.
>>
>> In order to keep thing moving and start giving some structure to this 
>> initiative, I would like to suggest that we setup the coordination 
>> committee with the names we have while waiting for other to join.
>> Hopefully very soon.
>>
>> As for the nominations related to Brazil meeting's committees, 
>> nothing has really progressed from the local committee side. We have 
>> names from Business constancy that will be forward to them. We will 
>> forward the other as I receive them. I have shared with you on this 
>> list all the information I have on that. Any further authoritative 
>> information regarding this and the way forward should be coming from
CGI.BR.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> - a.
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> discuss mailing list
>> discuss at 1net.org
>> http://1net.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> discuss mailing list
> discuss at 1net.org
> http://1net.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>

_______________________________________________
discuss mailing list
discuss at 1net.org
http://1net.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss