Best Bits: Agenda Organization Options

[Norbert Bollow]

Parminder <parminder at itforchange.net> wrote:

> I also think than in trying to focus just on two tracks of IG
> principles and WCIT meeting, the proposed best bits meeting is
> loosing its initial focus - on which understanding the groups
> participating/ supporting it came together. Let me quote from the
> initial concept note circulated by Jeremy
> 
> "We therefore propose an inclusive gathering of key civil society 
> organisations from across the world, at which they would have the 
> opportunity to highlight their various initiatives, and provide the 
> opportunity for mutual learning and broader engagement. The gathering
> is to be called “Best Bits” because it does not aim to present a
> single solution for ratification by the assembled groups, but rather
> to offer an open space where each group can present and advocate for
> the initiatives that they believe offer the best positive agenda for 
> advancing broadly shared civil society interests in Internet
> governance."
> 
> 
> I think this initial focus needs to be maintained, while we must 
> certainly see how much we can work towards specific outcomes. In this 
> regard, I am not very sure we can achieve a statement of IG
> principles from the meeting. A possible common position on WCIT is
> however much more doable. Even such a position however should be
> first discussed and debated enough - preferably on this list, and on
> the IGC list, to get an fully informed view on what should be done
> and how.

I strongly agree. The main focus of Best Bits needs to remain on
movement-building. This must not be sacrificed for a focus on drafting
exercises!

I am also not totally sure about the wisdom of splitting
up for two parallel streams of drafting groups. Maybe an alternative to
doing that would be to change the Sunday morning programme so that
instead of splitting up, we would have, for each of the topics that need
drafting work, an introductory explanation of the thoughts that went
into each of the zero drafts, followed by an initial group discussion,
and then just *organizing* how the drafting work will be taken forward
using internet-based collaboration during the weeks following the IGF?

Greetings,
Norbert