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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 09/22/2014 09:36 AM, Deirdre
Williams wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAMz5XN7oFxW5+=Rgy=jQt1B5PLXrW5ick+hzLKiusVKdw1qCfw@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
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<p style="margin-bottom:0in">I agree completely with Anriette
and
with Daniel in their concern over funding. However, it is not
only
funding (lack of) that can get in the way of participation,
particularly at the physical level. People have lives, and
those
lives are often full already of jobs, children, dependent
relatives,
the type of minor ill-health that makes travelling a problem,
–
even houses and pets, and the intimidation of joining a group
where
few may speak your language. This “life baggage”, the list is
only of random examples, encumbers at the virtual level as
well, but
to a lesser extent.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in">In taking this perspective which
prioritises physical meetings we may be missing something of
great
importance. When we speak about this “new democratic model”
powered by the Internet we are talking about the empowerment
that
comes from VIRTUAL participation, where anyone with access can
join
the debate from anywhere. That is why access must remain at
the top
of the priority list, until the majority who lack this
empowerment
also share it.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in">Meanwhile we must be careful not to
allow the empowerment to be dissipated by favouring the
physical over
the virtual. This is a point that I made at the BestBits
meeting in
Istanbul. We need to practise what we preach. Are we concerned
about
those who attend meetings virtually as “civil society”? No –
because anyone with access who wishes may attend. Do we attend
meetings when only a “virtual” option is open to us? …</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in">The “other side” in the debate that
we are engaged in has the arrangement of meetings down to a
fine art.
Meetings are how their world is run. Physical meetings that
is, or
meetings run to a “physical meeting” format. They are not
comfortable with the apparent chaos when anyone can speak. The
“physical” environment is much easier to control and manage.
It
is their environment after all.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in">So why do we allow ourselves to be
herded and manipulated into their space to discuss our issues?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in">Deirdre</p>
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</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
I support all the issues that Deirdre raises and would benefit
immensely from hearing about solutions for the problems she
presents.<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAMz5XN7oFxW5+=Rgy=jQt1B5PLXrW5ick+hzLKiusVKdw1qCfw@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On 22 September 2014 08:24, Daniel
Pimienta <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:pimienta@funredes.org" target="_blank">pimienta@funredes.org</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div class="HOEnZb">
<div class="h5">
<div>
<blockquote type="cite"><font size="4">But Best Bits
should also make sure to have some strong names
from 'developing'
countries. Also, keep in mind that people
nominated from developed
countries would need to have access to funding to
attend meetings of the
MAG. Support for MAG meetings is not easy to get
and is generally
only available for people from developing
countries. In my time on the
MAG from 2012 to 2014 I think I only received UN
support to attend a MAG
meeting on 2 occasions and on one of those the
funding did not include
airfare.</font></blockquote>
+1000<br>
<br>
What Anriette exposes is a fundamental issue of true
democratic
participation in global context and her experience is
a crude testimony
of what is really happening behind the nice
discourses.<br>
<br>
I would say it is not only an issue for Best Bits, it
should be a key
issue for all and every IGF and ICANN mechanisms of
participation as for
any global multiskakeholder attempt to reach some form
of justice... and
BTW, the actual global economic crisis makes this
issue still more acute
as many (bi or multilateral) support funding have been
fading away.<br>
Transparency of the flow of support and the associated
criteria of
selection is also an important part of this issue.<br>
<br>
And to react and connect 2 independant threads in the
same mail:<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">speaking of PrepComs reminds
me
that they need a Chairman. I have no hesitation in
stating that Adama
Samassekou is the best suited for this job. </blockquote>
Indeed
Jean-Louis, Adama would be the perfect choice... and
he is deeply aware
of the first issue.<br>
<br>
-- <br>
This message has been scanned for viruses and
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believed to be clean.
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-- <br>
“The fundamental cure for poverty is not money but knowledge"
Sir William Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Economics, 1979
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Warm Regards
Mishi Choudhary, Esq.
Legal Director
Software Freedom Law Center
1995 Broadway Floor 17
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