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<DIV>may all your birthday wishes come true, Nnenna!</DIV>
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=nnenna75@gmail.com
href="mailto:nnenna75@gmail.com">Nnenna Nwakanma</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, March 05, 2015 3:56 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=bestbits@lists.bestbits.net
href="mailto:bestbits@lists.bestbits.net">mailto:bestbits@lists.bestbits.net</A>
; <A title=governance@lists.igcaucus.org
href="mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org">Governance</A> ; <A
title=edetaen@gmail.com href="mailto:edetaen@gmail.com">Edetaen Ojo</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [bestbits] Text of speech - losing remarks at UNESCO
Connecting the Dots Conference</DIV></DIV></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">Connecting the Dots: Options for Future
Action</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">UNESCO headquarters, Paris, France.<BR>Closing Remarks
by Nnenna Nwakanma</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">Africa Regional Coordinator</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">The World Wide Web Foundation.</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">March 4, 2015</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"></SPAN></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">Deputy Director General<BR>Friends and
colleagues<BR>Onsite and online</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"></SPAN></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"></SPAN></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">My name is Nnenna.<SPAN> </SPAN>I<SPAN>
</SPAN>come from the Internet. And I have been asked to say a few words to us,
as a member of the civil society, before we leave. I coordinate the activities
of the World Wide Web Foundation in my continent, Africa. The Web Foundation
is<SPAN> </SPAN>that organization that believes that the Internet is for
everyone.<SPAN> </SPAN>Therefore we work on affordable access to all, we
work on opening up data for participation and <SPAN> </SPAN>we
support<SPAN> </SPAN>the global Web We Want
Coalition.</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"></SPAN></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">I have three things to say.<SPAN> </SPAN>The
first is on the UNESCO study itself.<SPAN> </SPAN>The second is on one of
the issues raised.<SPAN> </SPAN>The third is<SPAN> </SPAN>on where
we go from here.<BR><BR>From the Civil Society end, we recognize that UNESCO’s
consultation towards the study was open, online, multistakeholder and tried to
be as inclusive as could be. This for me, lends trust. Trust in the
organization, trust in its capacity to bring key actors to the table. The
</SPAN><SPAN style="BACKGROUND: white; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">R-O-A-M principles of
the study (Rights based, Open, Accessible, Multistakeholder
participation</SPAN>) are not just important for the study, but they also are
key in implementing its recommendations.<SPAN> </SPAN>So<SPAN>
</SPAN>it is only natural that we engage as civil society, during, now and going
forward.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><BR></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="BACKGROUND: white; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">Do we endorse the
outcome<SPAN> </SPAN>document? I do.<SPAN> </SPAN>But the Civil
Society is too large a constituency for just one person to say yes on behalf of
all others.</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="BACKGROUND: white; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"></SPAN></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="BACKGROUND: white; LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">On the issues, I will settle for
one. Just one. Access.<SPAN> </SPAN>Just today, the Alliance for
Affordable Internet launched the Affordability report. </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">Affordability Report shows that Over 2 billion people
living in poverty cannot access the Internet affordably and that a fixed
broadband connection costs on average 40% of monthly income across 51 developing
countries. <BR></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"><BR></SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">And we are working
<SPAN> </SPAN>towards access for everyone.</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"></SPAN></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">To UNESCO,<SPAN> </SPAN>I must say,
that the Global Internet is of global importance and we must<SPAN>
</SPAN>seek at all times, to manage it for global interest, global benefit and
global utility. <SPAN> </SPAN>So,<SPAN> </SPAN>many thanks for
putting Internet Governance <SPAN> </SPAN>and the IGF in the heart of the
process.</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"><SPAN>-<SPAN
style="FONT-VARIANT: normal; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: normal; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal">
- </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"><SPAN></SPAN>In working for<SPAN> </SPAN>access
to knowledge and information, </SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"><SPAN>-<SPAN
style="FONT-VARIANT: normal; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: normal; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal">
- </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">in
working<SPAN> </SPAN>for freedom of expression</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"><SPAN>-<SPAN
style="FONT-VARIANT: normal; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: normal; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal">
- </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">in working for
privacy</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"><SPAN>-<SPAN
style="FONT-VARIANT: normal; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: normal; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal">
- </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">in working for
ethics</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">We are not<SPAN> </SPAN>just
connecting dots. We are connecting people. We are connecting cultures, we are
extending science by connecting knowledge to knowledge, <SPAN> </SPAN>men
and women, we are connecting continents.<SPAN> </SPAN>We are righting the
wrongs of the past, <SPAN> </SPAN>consolidating the present and
<SPAN> </SPAN>building a viable future.</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"><BR></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">We have a heritage.<SPAN> </SPAN>A
global heritage. <SPAN> </SPAN>The Internet.</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">The Internet represents a masterpiece of human
creative genius</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">It is<SPAN> </SPAN>the most important
<SPAN> </SPAN>tool of interchange of human values</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">And an exceptional testimony to our common
civilization</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">These are the basis on which UNESCO<SPAN>
</SPAN>selects sites as heritage. And here, we have more than a heritage. The
Internet is our global heritage</SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"></SPAN></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">Ladies and gentlemen, friends here and
online.<SPAN> </SPAN>Tomorrow is my birthday. And my sister told me to
make a wish.<SPAN> </SPAN><SPAN> </SPAN>I asked if I should keep my
eyes open or closed and she said “any way”.<SPAN> </SPAN>So I will close
an eye and keep one open, for security purposes.<SPAN> </SPAN>And here is
my wish..</SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%"><BR></SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana,sans-serif"><I><U><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 107%">That the open Internet, the open web, will be
established as global public good and a basic right of all men and women, all
humans and that everyone can access it can use it
<SPAN> </SPAN>freely.</SPAN></U></I></SPAN></P></DIV>
<P>
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