process Re: [bestbits] [Meeting Report]: friday meeting with fadi et all

[Eduardo Bertoni]

Dear all,

I jump (late) to this debate. My reaction is, perhaps, more related to the
core of BestBits. Something that I asked in Bali, and frankly, I didn´t get
any answer. For me the core question is about what BestBits is. Is it a
platform, that NGOs and other could use for debate and at some point use
the technological platform to work on letters or statements? Is it a
network, from where ALL the participants have a voice, have the chance to
open deliberations, and at the end, reach to decisions to execute some
concrete actions ON BEHALF of the network, meaning ALL the organizations?
Is it a network where decisions are delegated to some groups?

I was very concern with the language used in the past to present, for
example, the last letters or statements. Concrete example: I heard that the
letter to the President of Brazil was a letter coming from BestBits. Well,
I didn´t signed the letter and I think that I participate in Best Bits. In
fact was a letter signed by a group of people or organizations, not BY Best
Bits. Am I wrong?

Maybe I am introducing a philosophical discussion, maybe is something
already discussed that I don´t know, maybe some people use the word
platform and network as synonymous. What I strongly believe is this: if it
is not clear what BestBits is and how takes decisions, we will have a never
end discussion.

Best

Eduardo

Eduardo


On Thu, Oct 31, 2013 at 12:44 PM, Anja Kovacs <anja at internetdemocracy.in>wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> I have been in favour of keeping some discussions closed, at least in the
> early stages, for quite a while, and have been so for the reasons John and
> Kivuva point out: other stakeholder groups do so all the time, and a
> strategic argument to keep parts of a conversation limited to a smaller
> group does not mean that conversation cannot be reported back on to a
> larger group. As long as the latter happens, need more closed conversations
> really be a problem?
>
> As again confirmed during the Best Bits meeting, two specific
> characteristics of Best Bits as a network are that it is action-oriented
> and that it seeks to bridge the differences and disagreements between the
> Global South and North.
>
> To my mind, the strategy of being transparent at all times is one of the
> main reasons why action is often inhibited and civil society is often less
> effective than it could be. This is not only because we put all our cards
> on the table all the time - something which puts other stakeholders at an
> advantage. It is also because fully open lists do not encourage sharing
> certain kinds of information and ideas that could actually help to
> massively improve effectiveness of civil society action (and as is the case
> so often, perhaps Global South civil society is perhaps more vulnerable
> here than Global North civil society).
>
> In fact, if Best Bits has been working, it is because so much is actually
> done by small groups of people who want to do something, trust each other,
> start coordinating, and then bring their ideas, once crystallised, to the
> main list (what are now called "fluid working groups" in BB lingo ;)
>
> If we ignore this reality, this will only be at our own peril.
>
> I don't see transparency as an end in itself, but is a means to an end,
> which is the creation of a level playing field. Because of power
> differentials, different stakeholder groups are differently placed in this
> field, and whatever strategies we decide on should keep this in mind. The
> redistribution of power should drive our actions, not transparency as such.
>
> Thanks and best regards,
> Anja
>
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