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<big><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Courier;">Hi Sala,<span
style=""> <br>
<br>
</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family:
Courier;">Thank you for reminding us that the world is round! It
is definitely not flat, as Freedman claims. It has some strange
shape,
resembling a cube perhaps, when it comes to our experience of
moving around
(travel, costs, visas).<span style=""> <br>
</span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Courier;"><span
style=""></span>Your mail reminds me of getting a visa; an
important -
but very often forgotten - discrimination. It is based on the
fact that you are
born in the 'wrong' place at the 'wrong' time.<span style=""> <br>
</span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Courier;"><span
style=""></span>I had a unique experience because until my
teens I had
one of the best passports in the world (Yugoslavia), which
enabled me to travel
almost anywhere without a visa. Then, like a switch being shut
off, I suddenly
ended up with passport<span style=""> </span>which
required a visa for almost any place in the world. My bad luck
was<span style=""> </span>that I had to travel a lot for my
work.
As an illustration, my passport<span style="">
</span>filled with visas so quickly that I had to get a new
passpoert every six
months. </span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Courier;">In front of
the consular officers, we always seem to
be weighed down with the 'presumption of guilt' trying to prove
that we are not
a criminal, or a terrorist... you name it and<span style=""> </span>you
have it (though, in my rich experience, I have never
once been asked to prove that I was not a cannibal; probably
because I was
often traveling with my vegetarian wife).<span style=""> </span></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Courier;">My worst
memories (today I do not need as many visas)
are of interviews with<span style=""> </span>consular
officers. In an almost Kafka-like atmosphere, we sit opposite<span
style=""> </span>a consular officer who holds our
destiny in his hands (predominantly male profession). He can<span
style=""> </span>decide if our parents can come and see
us and our family; if we can go and study;<span style=""> </span>if
we can attend IGF,... (continue the list). And consular
officer very often<span style=""> </span>happens to be
unhappy with life. Maybe He had different career
ideas/expectations
...<span style=""> </span>perhaps expecting to negotiate
main diplomatic treaties in New York<span style="">
</span>not being stuck in a dusty office of<span style=""> </span>some
complicated and remote country having to deal with some
'strange' people. And here<span style=""> </span>comes
the moment when we, as the applicant, and the officer, as a
demi-god, lock
eyes<span style=""> </span>for a few seconds. That
moment speaks more than all the visa forms ever<span style="">
</span>submitted. We say: 'Give me the damn visa and make my
life
easier'. He/she waits for seconds .... seconds that seem like an
eternity. The
verdict is... We<span style=""> </span>leave the
consulate completely drained emotionally (very often even<span
style=""> </span>physically).<span style=""><br>
</span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Courier;">In my work, I
participate in another forum
(International Forum on<span style=""> </span>Diplomatic
Training) where I always try to promote consular training,
especially in
emotional aspects of communication. It<span style="">
</span>is not easy since the consular function is the
'Cinderella' of modern
diplomacy.<span style=""> </span>In many diplomatic
services, posting to the consular department is seen as a career
“punishment”.
This is changing, although not fast enough. Many<span style="">
</span>countries are realising that a few seconds in the
consulate
can shape<span style=""> </span>people's experience of
their country on a very deep, emotional level. </span></big>
<br>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Courier;"></span><br>
While it is difficult to change big issues,
one can try to make small<span style=""> </span>changes.
At Diplo, we always make sure that we do whatever possible to ensure
that<span style=""> </span>our fellows (most of them from
countries requiring visas) can travel.<span style=""> </span>Our
travel coordinator, Milica, is as well-known among
our fellows as are Ginger and<span style="">
</span>Vlada who teach them. She is almost on 24-hour alert when
people<span style=""> </span>travel (like these days to
Vilnius).<span style=""> </span>Very often, it is not
enough to send invitation letter and let participants deal with let
people sort out their visa problems (send them the letter). We
have to call consulates, explain, put a “gentle pressure”. It helps.
There is a lot that we can do in order to <span style=""></span>ensure
that
people can travel to WSIS 2011 or to any other event.<big><br>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Courier;"> </span></big><br>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Courier;">
Best, Jovan</span><br>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Courier;"></span><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Courier;">
</span><br>
<br>
On 9/12/10 4:23 AM, Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:AANLkTi=DJc5k6i89nXK1coMi9m_OMrGh52WyMi8PLL9J@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Dear All,
I find the advocacy for the venues, interesting. I am from Fiji
Islands and found that the Shengan visas relatively easy to acquire. I
know what it's like to be "Searched" and advised me that I needed to
consent to being searched or not fly at all it was'nt a European
Airport or American Airport but an Australian Airport where I was told
that my forefathers were cannibals...because I wanted to catch my next
flight, I did not make a scene.
Terror and the fear of terror has impact on national policies that
translate into interjurisdictional policy. Sadly sometimes, translate
and carry the weight of some prejudices and biases. Terrorism is
something that affects all of mankind but the manner and not just some
people groups.
Either way from the Pacific, since we are in the Southern Hemisphere,
it would mean that we would travel equal distances either way and
still pay alot.
Maybe, they should have a cost analysis study, complete with
benchmarking air travel costs, identification of stakeholder
partcipation and what cross sectional representative percentage
margins the WSIS would wish represented or deem acceptable and then
make the decision. The study would no doubt be rational, transparent
and whilst people will always have their say but the welfare of the
entire Forum would be taken into consideration as well as considering
how we can equitably share resources etc.
Warm Regards from the cold hotel lobby in Vinius,
Sala
On 9/11/10, Lee W McKnight <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:lmcknigh@syr.edu"><lmcknigh@syr.edu></a> wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Hi,
As the GAID meeting the other week bounced from room to room @UN HQ, I
believe Marilyn's warning about how the premium on space@UN HQ may interfere
with a smooth meeting.
Which does not change Mawaki's hypothesis: ITU wants to be in NY - and UN HQ
staff/diplomats agreed - because ITU wants visibility and UN diplomat types
want to learn more about ICTs and development.
Because heads of state/UN ambassadors (finally) realize icts/bband/Internet
are important for reaching Millennium Development Goals.
A suggested cs strategy: give them what they want.
Like CS's toehold into OECD thanks to CSISAC establishment, let's change NY
next - if that's where meeting ends up.
Instead of worrying about venue and room logistics headaches, my 2 cents are
we should fight mainly for multi-stakeholder participation.
Strategic issue is - how far can we push in next phase, a proper
participatory/cs-inclusive model, not just rhetorically but in practice.
Lee
________________________________________
From: Marilyn Cade [<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:marilynscade@hotmail.com">marilynscade@hotmail.com</a>]
Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2010 3:15 PM
To: Mawaki Chango ; <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:governance@lists.cpsr.org">governance@lists.cpsr.org</a> ; <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:meryem@marzouki.info">meryem@marzouki.info</a>
Subject: Re: AW: [governance] RE: WSIS Forum 2011
Having attended four Action line forums, and supported the consolidation
into a week in GVA, I wld prefer to keep the correct title - WSIS Action
Line Forum-- it is after not the WSIS Forum, regardless of the hope of some
to make it so, and try to turn it into a egic outcome of Tunis than it is.
Maybe we should focus more intently -- all of us -- on encouraging the other
three major co facilatators of action lines to stand up and play an equal
coordinating role and sponsorship role.
As they were trying to do in the 2010 WSIS 'Action line' Forum in May.
The action lines are about hightlighting "on ground" efforts, and the
purpose of the role of facilatators seems to being lost, perhaps accidently
or ... Perhaps due to expediency... But needs to return. The last Action
line forum in GVA in May was a better example of collaboration and spotlight
sharing across the four UN agencies and had some great examples of successes
and activities "on ground/national level" relevant to the Action Lines.
I do not support moving to NY Hdqtrs. Would be btr to host at UNESCO, or
again in GVA.
As to rotating about the world - actually there is benefit to organizing in
conjunction w the May IGF consultation and CSTD meetings, and that synergy
gets lost. But of more signficance is losing the purpose of the "action
lines" themselves, and sacrificing the focus on networking, leveraging best
practices and sharing and building relationships that can advance the
achievements in action lines for political agendas.
Locating space with multiple rooms, display area, large plen room, etc,
takes staff time. Rotating actually adds to burden of admintration, eating
away at resourced that shld focus on identifyong participants for each
action line....
Having attended events both in GVA at all the UN agencies (by now) and also
NY UN headquarters, the space, flexibility at headquarters just isn't there.
It is simply a fact. And not a criticism of UN hdqts. Is a lovely set of
buildings. Was just there for GAID.
I am concerned about getting a week of suitable space (several rooms) at
headquarters-- seems overly challenging. Every time I have participated in
events there, space is at a premium and getting space over five days for
breakouts, action line sessions simultaneously seems improbable. Perhaps
that was not yet factored into the proposal, or perhaps we need to raise the
concerns. It is a risk that the shift will change the Sessions - to make
this into more of an intergovernmental high level set of speeches. I am not
confident that will advance the purpose of the Action line Forum.
Marilyn Cade
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
-----Original Message-----
From: Mawaki Chango <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:kichango@gmail.com"><kichango@gmail.com></a>
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:47:04
To: <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:governance@lists.cpsr.org"><governance@lists.cpsr.org></a>; <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:meryem@marzouki.info"><meryem@marzouki.info></a>
Subject: Re: AW: [governance] RE: WSIS Forum 2011
Yeah... no, ITU involvement in WSIS wasn't an accident. WSIS wouldn't have
seen the light of day were it not for the ITU's resolution at the 1998
plenipotentiary conference in Minneapolis (which then led to the related UN
General Assembly's resolution in 2001). And as far as the UN system as a
whole, ITU is the home and the linchpin of the summit, which is not to say
other UN orgs./bodies do not make decisions related to WSIS and its
follow-up in terms of their respective responsibilities. It'd be a little
bit of stretch to think that because IGF is the summit's most substantial
outcome, it exhausts or fulfills the whole of WSIS agenda as per its
intergovernmental origins.
So I agree with Meryem that each one of those arrangements has their
specific goal commanding different strategies. Obviously if ITU wants to see
the WSIS Forum held at UN-HQ it probably not for the excitement of a visit
at "the Big Apple" but more likely because they hope to mobilize UN
resources to achieve something, notwithstanding the price of sacrificing a
bit of CS participation (in quantity).
Let's also not forget that NYC is the single capital where (due to UN) the
largest diplomatic body from across the world is concentrated or converges
(sorry, that's not the case for Geneva as some may want to believe). And
although we're getting used to "multistakeholderism," the UN's GA -- where
those diplomats convene, discuss, negotiate and vote -- is still the
ultimate authoritative body to make decisions before anything of a global
legitimacy (exit, the security council) is enacted in the name of the UN. So
it may also just be that at a critical juncture when important decisions may
have to be made by all or a large section of those diplomats about WSIS, it
is simple pragmatism to secure their participation and a chance for them to
fully understand the issues (now, that may not justify a *permanent*
transfer to NYC, see last paragr. below).
CS can still do two things: i) strategize in order to get its inclusively
prepared quality input through, wherever a relevant meeting takes place
--especially for a crucial one as may be the 2011's WSIS Forum; ii)
continuously voice the need to take special/additional measures to
facilitate visas for a global CS to the meetings.
Propositions could also be made as a compromise between ITU's current choice
and Wolfgang's suggestion: 1. alternate every year between the chosen UN
base and other places around the world; 2. rotate around the world with the
possibility any year to host it back at UN HQ or in other UN capital if the
agenda and schedule of international affairs make the venue potentially
favorable to the Forum's order of business; 3. rotate between UN capitals;
4. etcetera.
Best,
Mawaki
On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 4:31 AM, Meryem Marzouki <<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:meryem@marzouki.info">meryem@marzouki.info</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:meryem@marzouki.info"><mailto:meryem@marzouki.info></a> > wrote:
Le 7 sept. 10 à 08:25, Kleinwächter, Wolfgang a écrit :
ICANN is travelling around the world doing outreach, IGF is travelling
around the world doing outreach, why the WSIS Forum, which needs outreach,
should stay in traditional places?
Because, and this is obvious, they are of a different nature and they have
different objectives.
- ICANN is a private organization which attendance is mainly corporate
business organizations, and has the needed money to bring some CS on board
(seatbelt fastened).
- IGF is still an UFO (institutionally speaking) which raison d'etre is
heavily relying on CS (and IGOs). Conversely, CS and IGOs find it the unique
place where they may rise their profile in the IG and related fields.
Both ICANN and IGF, in order to justify the necessity of their existence
and unicity, *have* to reach out to (or to organize meetings in, at least)
different countries [on a side note, who can seriously state that IGF 2009
has changed anything in Egypt re: IG matters?]
- WSIS Forum is the (recently) institutionalized follow-up to WSIS, which
was, if I'm not wrong, a UN intergovernmental process led by the ITU (and
this was by no mean an accident, contrarily to what someone said on this
list). Since the end of WSIS, well before becoming the "WSIS Forum", it has
been struggling for its existence and necessity and for taking over the
other two. Now, what it needs is certainly not to travel around the world,
but to seat itself as such at the UN headquarters (which is in NYC).
ICANN showing its own well know problems, and considering the fact that
whether it travels around the world or not, this doesn't change the essence
of the organization and its decisions, let's talk about IGF and WSIS Forum:
The former is more inclusive, but is toothless, the latter is likely to
mainstream IG issues and make decisions, but is above all an
intergovernmental process, in pure UN sense.
CS may be part of both, but probably not showing the same profile (and
consequently not the same framing of issues) at each venue. It's not
necessarily about the height of this profile, but really about its
orientation (susbtance) and its nature (mainly CSOs or mainly individuals).
In my opinion, there is the strategic choice. Not in counting CS
participation from different countries at one venue or the other.
As regards IGOs, they can survive (in this field) only at IGF.
Best,
Meryem
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">
</pre>
</blockquote>
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