[discuss] /1net Steering/Coordination Commitee

Sun Dec 22 10:04:06 UTC 2013

George, 

Thanks for this.. I think the issue, as someone else (Jeremy?) may already
have said is that rather than focusing on/accepting formalized categories
(stakeholder groups) it probably makes more sense to focus on issue/problem
areas.  

Some thoughts. CI/Internet Justice folks are defined/delimited not by their
formal designation (whether as academics, technical people, CS or whatever).
Rather they are defined (find their commonality) by the issues/problems they
choose to address and to a lesser degree what means they choose to address
them.  

I have a feeling that folks concerned with Free Expression/Human Rights may
be in a somewhat similar situation (hence the significant overlap between
the various CS IG groupings and the IRP group for example, although the
latter is more "academic" while the former is more "CS".

I think there may be similar clusters (in the real world although not (yet)
in the IG space) around "open source/open everything" and "peer-to-peer" but
again of course there is considerable overlap between these and various
other groupings.

Best,

Mike

An internet for the common good - a Community Informatics Declaration: to
read and endorse http://tinyurl.com/kfaacqn

From: George Sadowsky [mailto:george.sadowsky at gmail.com] 
Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2013 10:29 PM
To: michael gurstein
Cc: Adiel Akplogan; discuss at 1net.org
Subject: Re: [discuss] /1net Steering/Coordination Commitee

I think that this is a very good first step at disaggregating the types of
concerns that exist within people working within civil society movements. 

Having an understanding of what the various more homogeneous issue clusters
are not only helps to address the representation issue, but helps to ensure
that a more full range of issues becomes visible for acknowledgement and
understanding  --  not only among those working for civil society causes,
but also among people involved in the larger discussion.

Thanks for this, Michael.  In your opinion, is it possible that there are a
couple of more breakdowns that would improve the situation even further?

George

On Dec 21, 2013, at 7:08 AM, michael gurstein wrote:

As a matter of fact a number of IG CS people are already part of various
aspects of the CI network, and we of course, are pleased at their presence
and participation. However, that doesn't mean that the interests and
concerns as now formalized in the consensus CI Declaration
<http://cirn.wikispaces.com/An+Internet+for+the+Common+Good+-+Engagement%2C+
Empowerment%2C+and+Justice+for+All> , are in any way being transmitted
through them to the larger IG CS community although we would be delighted if
they were.

Following on from Milton's observation concerning the imbalance in the
representation from the business community I would propose to Inet that
there are two groupings within CS.  One that articulates the interests and
concerns of those with a primary vocation in the area of free expression,
human rights and related matters, and a second which articulates the
interests and concerns of those with a primary vocation in the area of
"Internet Justice" as for example identified in the CI Declaration.

That being the case a second "nominating committee" in the Internet Justice
area would be created to nominate representation in the various forums
emerging out of the Brazil conference and elsewhere.  Off the top I would
see including in this nominating committee those such as Ann-Kristin
Hakansson of the Indigenous ICT Task Force, Ahmed (Smiley) Ismael of
Siyafunda (the largest network of independent telecenters in Southern
Africa), Martin Wolske of the Center for Digital Inclusion, University of
Illinois who is using Community Informatics to work with inner city youth in
Chicago, among others.

I look forward to a positive response to this proposal at which time we
would work diligently to constitute this NomCom and provide appropriate
nominees for CS representation as well as Academic representation. The issue
of whether we would seek to nominate representation for the technical
positions from among technical actors active in the CI/Internet Justice
community will require further discussion.

-----Original Message-----
From: John Curran [mailto:jcurran at arin.net] 
Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2013 10:41 AM
To: michael gurstein
Cc: Avri Doria; discuss at 1net.org
Subject: Re: [discuss] /1net Steering/Coordination Commitee

On Dec 20, 2013, at 8:58 PM, michael gurstein < <mailto:gurstein at gmail.com>
gurstein at gmail.com> wrote:

> Well, I guess these things are in the eye of the beholder although I

> agree about the individuals selected.

> ...

> 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.

Given the importance of this matter, why don't you invite one of chosen CS
individuals to participate in the CI network?  It should not be that
difficult for someone to bring issues up and seek insights from the CI
community, and that is no different than what these folks will likely be
doing when coalescing input from other communities.

Thoughts?

/John

Disclaimer: My views alone.=

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