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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=219070203-15092009>Ginger
and all,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=219070203-15092009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=219070203-15092009>I've
just finished completing the below mentioned q'aire and I have a few
observations to make on it.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=219070203-15092009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=219070203-15092009>While
the q'aire seems to be reasonably well constructed I'm not sure about the basic
framework of analysis that will be used. It seems from looking at the
q'aire that a (the?) primary independent variable will be the national origin of
the respondent. Also, it seems that the q'aire was constructed so as to see
if respondents could in fact attribute "impact" to the
IGF.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=219070203-15092009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=219070203-15092009>I
think that there are real issues (from the perspective of a "supporter" of the
IGF) in these two elements and they do I think result in
a pre-judging of the outcome of the q'aire unfavourably (and IMHO
unreasonably) in the negative. While I personally have very severe
reservations about the IGF (and have expressed these in this venue from time to
time), my reservations had little or nothing to do with either the direct
perceived "impact" of the IGF or on its specific impact on my own country
Canada. Overall, I see little or no "impact" of the IGF in Canada (nor I
would guess in all the OECD countries and only very selectively outside of
these).</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=219070203-15092009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=219070203-15092009>This
however, should not be taken as a complete negation of the significance of the
IGF which I think lies elsewhere (if for no other reason than that the "impact"
of a body such as the IGF is unlikely to be visible in such a short time period
as is under review).</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=219070203-15092009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=219070203-15092009>Rather
the significance of the IGF should be seen in terms of how it has directly and
indirectly contributed to the creation of a basis for concensus, a language for
discussion, a (suitable) cadre of informed people to carry on the
discussion (it is here where I have my issues with the current IGF but I won't
go into those further at this point), the provision of a venue for the
undertaking of the discussions and so on and so on. None of this is
particularly "national" (in fact little of it is likely to be national which is
the point I think of transnational agencies) and little of it is likely to be
visible as concrete "impacts" (or even outputs--which is what is currently being
discussed in the form of possible IGF "recommendations" etc.). So a quest for
identification/assessment/determination of "impacts" is really beside the
point.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=219070203-15092009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=219070203-15092009>To ask
for (specific policy associated) "impacts" and "impacts" moreover visible at a
national (or even global) level is in IMHO to impose a pre-judgement on the
result of the inquiry and one which as mentioned above is very unlikely to be
positive towards the continuation of the IGF.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=219070203-15092009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=219070203-15092009>My own
feeling is that the major impact/significance of the IGF is that it provides a
relatively open and accessible opportunity for regular dialogue (and issue
focussing) in areas of on-going and very rapidly changing significance and that
IMHO is probably sufficient to warrant its continuation, but unfortunately none
of that is captured or capturable via the q'aire being
presented.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=219070203-15092009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=219070203-15092009>Best
to all,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=219070203-15092009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=219070203-15092009>Mike
Gurstein</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
irp-bounces@lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org
[mailto:irp-bounces@lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>Ginger Paque<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, September 14, 2009 5:49
PM<BR><B>To:</B> irp<BR><B>Subject:</B> [IRP] Please provide your input on the
impact of the IGF<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial>(apologies for
cross-posting)<BR><BR>Hi everyone,<BR></FONT><BR><FONT face=Arial>Diplo
Foundation is conducting an online survey to identify the impact of the IGF
Process. Most of you are both familiar with and involved in this process, and
are ideal candidates to provide valuable input. Please take a few minutes
(10-12) to complete the survey. It will be greatly appreciated.<BR>Thanks,
Gracias, Merci, Hvala, Danke and more.<BR>Ginger<BR><BR><A
class=moz-txt-link-freetext
href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=y7VRGPKsJUE2fJie_2bX2eaA_3d_3d"
moz-do-not-send="true">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=y7VRGPKsJUE2fJie_2bX2eaA_3d_3d</A><BR></FONT>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" dir=ltr class=MsoNormal align=center><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" lang=EN-US>DiploFoundation Begins Research Survey on
the Impact of the IGF<O:P></O:P></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 2cm" dir=ltr class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" lang=EN-US><O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 2cm" dir=ltr class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" lang=EN-US>The Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
process is a direct result of the UN World Summit on the Information Society. It
offers a forum for developing discussions about Internet Governance in a
multistakeholder environment which allows for not only cross-border but
cross-stakeholder sharing on an equal basis of partners from governments, civil
society, business, academia and the technical community.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 2cm" dir=ltr class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" lang=EN-US>The fourth IGF will take place in Sharm El
Sheikh, <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE
w:st="on">Egypt</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> in November, 2009. As it enters
its fourth iteration, the IGF is undergoing a process of review and evaluation,
which makes a survey of its impact particularly relevant and important.
DiploFoundaton has recently begun a research survey to identify this impact.
This information will be valuable for all stakeholders to consider as best
practices, examples or what has worked, and where we need to focus our efforts
to improve.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 2cm" dir=ltr class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" lang=EN-US>The process of developing and analyzing
the results of this survey will be conducted by DiploFoundation and other
partners, supported by a grant from AT&T. </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 13pt" lang=EN-US>The project aims to
collect a wide range of responses to questionnaires in two formats: an online
survey which will provide input for a statistical analysis of trends in impact
(<A class=moz-txt-link-freetext
href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=y7VRGPKsJUE2fJie_2bX2eaA_3d_3d"
moz-do-not-send="true">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=y7VRGPKsJUE2fJie_2bX2eaA_3d_3d</A>),
and an interview survey of stakeholders from government, civil society,
business, academia and host countries which will form the basis for a narrative
report. </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" lang=EN-US>The interviews and
questionnaire will also collect<SPAN class=moz-txt-citetags>
</SPAN>recommendations for future enhancements of the IGF and related
activities. This information will be valuable for all stakeholders to consider
as best practices, examples of what has worked, and where we need to focus our
efforts to improve. </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; FONT-SIZE: 13pt"
lang=EN-US>The project will be conducted during September and October, 2009,
with the release of a report at the IGF in Sharm El Sheikh, November 15, 2009.
Please address any questions to <A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated
href="mailto:IGF.Impact@gmail.com"
moz-do-not-send="true">IGF.Impact@gmail.com</A>.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
lang=EN-US><O:P></O:P></SPAN></P><BR><BR></BODY></HTML>