[bestbits] Letter to Pres. Rousseff, was, Re: [governance] Dilma Rousseff's speech at UN
michael gurstein
gurstein at gmail.com
Wed Sep 25 12:45:14 EDT 2013
The Brazil statement is I think, an excellent including the references in
the context of governance to MLism rather than to MSism given the ambiguity
and bad faith which can be ascribed to many of the particular uses (and
users) of the latter terminology/methodology.
The multilateral system has earned its spurs if nothing else through the
UNDHR and the work of such agencies as the WHO and UNICEF and in their times
the UNDP and UNESCO.
The quite evidently subverted MSism of the Internet may by my reckoning at
this moment be something of a poisoned challice (if nothing else through the
potentially questionable motives (and ideologies) of its most ardent
governmental and other backers) and we await its redemption through the
(possible) mounting of a suitable response post-Snowden.
At this point I see no overwhelming reason to go with what we don't know
(MSism) and discarding something we do know (MLism) and a lot of potential
risks to democratic governance by doing so, even if we have certain recent
reservations.
M.
-----Original Message-----
From: bestbits-request at lists.bestbits.net
[mailto:bestbits-request at lists.bestbits.net] On Behalf Of Carlos A. Afonso
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 9:02 AM
To: Anja Kovacs; Anne Jellema
Cc: Anriette Esterhuysen; bestbits at lists.bestbits.net
Subject: Re: [bestbits] Letter to Pres. Rousseff, was, Re: [governance]
Dilma Rousseff's speech at UN
Rousseff sees "multilateral" as "among nations", not "among governments".
But I do understand the term in the international diplomatic scene takes a
meaning opposed to what civil society defends and each government has its
own particular interpretation -- BTW, as do different civil society
"tribes".
My IMHO advice: let us not be black-and-white on this. Let us think of the
ways in which we can build bridges. Rousseff has opened a wonderful window
of opportunity, let us not just dismiss it because there is that "12-letter
word" in her statement.
fraternal regards
--c.a.
On 09/25/2013 12:37 PM, Anja Kovacs wrote:
> I agree with Anne that the speech was clever in many ways, but am also
> a little worried about how the continuous references to
> multilateralism will be read in our own domestic context, where the
> importance of these statements from a Brazilian perspective is not
> necessarily fully appreciated or understood in its nuances. The whole
> debate about whether a reformed Internet governance should take a
> multilateral or multistakeholder route *is* gaining momentum at the
> moment, and if we as international civil society are going to make a
> comment on the Brazilian president's speech, I do think we have to
> comment on her remarks on this issue as well - or our own stance on
> the question of multistakeholderism might be misunderstood in our own
countries.
>
> Isn't there a way in which we can do so without undermining the
> Brazilian national agenda (or even better, by supporting that agenda)?
> If so, I'll be very happy to support a letter but if this is not noted
> at all, it might be difficult for us to do so, as silence could be read as
implicit approval.
>
> Thanks and best,
> Anja
>
>
>
>
> On 25 September 2013 20:33, Anne Jellema <anne at webfoundation.org> wrote:
>
>> I support Anriette's suggestion and I hope the international letter
>> could help Brazilian colleagues to secure a meeting with Rousseff's
>> advisors in the near future to better understand her position and
>> lobby on the best ways for Brazil to show international leadership in
this area.
>>
>> As I read Joana and Carlos's remarks, I was remembering that on other
>> global issues (such as trade justice and climate change), Brazil has
>> often managed to punch well above its weight diplomatically by
>> positioning itself very strategically as a bridge-builder between
>> "South" and "North" blocs (to caricature them very crudely). Reading
>> her speech, and the clever way it managed to pick up on key demands
>> and buzzwords from both sides of the internet governance divide, I
>> did wonder whether Brazil is once again angling to set itself up as
>> the player that can broker pragmatic compromises between competing
>> ideologies. If so, I think that's probably good news, especially
>> given that the PT in power has usually been relatively open to working
with civil society.
>>
>> Cheers
>> Anne
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 4:11 PM, Anriette Esterhuysen
<anriette at apc.org>wrote:
>>
>>> Dear all
>>>
>>> I would like to propose that we do a letter from civil society
>>> commending her on her speech. We could mention our support and
>>> wishes for the Marco Civil, and, if we want, the multi-lateral vs.
multi-stakeholder question.
>>>
>>> Anriette
>>>
>>> On 25/09/2013 15:41, Gene Kimmelman wrote:
>>>
>>> Having been in these situations in the U.S., I fully understand the
>>> need to accept and fully embrace progress; I do not want to
>>> interfere in what our Brazilian friends are fully capable of
>>> handling, other than to say I fully support the sentiment expressed by
Joana and Carlos!
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 9:04 AM, Joana Varon
<joana at varonferraz.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>> Dear all,
>>>>
>>>> I totally support Carlos Afonso's view.
>>>>
>>>> One step at the time.
>>>>
>>>> What matters now is that Dilma has clearly mentioned the CGI.br
>>>> principles, including the support for net neutrality. It means a
>>>> LOT for our national scenario and for years of fight to try to pass
Marco Civil.
>>>> Meaning it wont be easy for telcos to take down net neutrality
>>>> provisions from the draft bill.
>>>>
>>>> Even better, this all has happened right after she opened a channel
>>>> of communication/consulation with CGI.br. That's THE dynamics for
>>>> internet public policies we dreamed about in Brazil. The issue on
>>>> using the word "multilateral" shall NOT be used to loose the focus
>>>> on this major achievement.
>>>>
>>>> It is indeed an issue of concern. But it's not actually something new.
>>>> It has been highlighted in several opportunities in the Brazilian
>>>> positions at ITU, held by Anatel, our regulatory agency. For
>>>> instance, in our previous opinion on the role of States.
>>>> Nevertheless, positions from our Ministry of Foreign Affairs
>>>> towards multistakeholderism are very clear and positive. And now
>>>> CGI.br has the door open with the president to correct explain all
>>>> the important debate of multistakeholder approach on IG. So we have
opportunities to correct this schizophrenic aspect and there is hope.
>>>>
>>>> So, please, people, let's be positive and understand that having
>>>> the President referring to these principles - an to Internet
>>>> Policies - in the UNGA is not a minor thing. I had the lucky to be
>>>> in a panel at the Council of Europe a few minutes after she
>>>> delivered the speech and managed to incorporate some of her quotes
>>>> in my presentation. The public got really impressed.
>>>>
>>>> all the best
>>>>
>>>> joana
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> Joana Varon Ferraz
>>>> @joana_varon
>>>> PGP 0x016B8E73
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 2:28 PM, Carlos A. Afonso <ca at cafonso.ca>
wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Dear people,
>>>>>
>>>>> I am not sure we will go too far (although philosophers can really
>>>>> be far-fetched in this exercise) in doing an exegesis of her
>>>>> discourse. Let us see how the practice goes. The signs are good:
>>>>> she entered the room to talk to us CGI.br folk with our 10
>>>>> Principles in hand and the first thing she told us was she agreed with
them.
>>>>>
>>>>> She also mentioned the Marco Civil as proposed by the rapporteur
>>>>> (result of a 4-year public dialogue) is the one she agrees with
>>>>> (which is the one CGI.br formally supported), and was going to
>>>>> fight for it, although recognizing that as bill of law transiting
>>>>> through Congress it might suffer modifications which she might
>>>>> veto but Congress could reverse and so on -- in summary, normal
>>>>> practice in a democratic State. The big challenge now is the
>>>>> process in Congress, where the transnational telcos and big media have
enormous power.
>>>>>
>>>>> frt rgds
>>>>>
>>>>> --c.a.
>>>>>
>>>>> On 09/24/2013 09:58 PM, Diego Rafael Canabarro wrote:
>>>>>> the Steering Committee principle reads as "Internet governance
>>>>>> must be exercised in a transparent, multilateral and democratic
>>>>>> manner, with
>>>>> the
>>>>>> participation of the various sectors of society, thereby
>>>>>> preserving
>>>>> and
>>>>>> encouraging its character as a collective creation."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Her wording for the UNGA says: "Open, multilateral and democratic
>>>>>> governance, carried out with transparency by stimulating
>>>>>> collective creativity and the participation of society,
>>>>>> Governments and the
>>>>> private
>>>>>> sector."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My reading of that is that: (1) it does not repeat the idea that
>>>>> Internet
>>>>>> governance as a collective creation and (2) the first one defines
>>>>> Internet
>>>>>> governance as something "with the participation of the various
>>>>> sectors of
>>>>>> society", and the second only mentions it should be carried out
>>>>>> with stimuli for "the participation of society, governments and
>>>>>> the private sector."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Can you see my point?
>>>>>> Em português o trem funciona do mesmo jeito.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tue, Sep 24, 2013 at 11:34 AM, Carolina Rossini <
>>>>>> carolina.rossini at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Via Renata Avila, segue discurso da Dilma na UN.
>>>>>>> Coming from Renata Avila, see attached Dilma draft speech at UN.
>>>>>>> C
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>> >> *Carolina Rossini*
>>>>>>> *Project Director, Latin America Resource Center* Open
>>>>>>> Technology Institute *New America Foundation*
>>>>> >> //
>>>>>>> http://carolinarossini.net/
>>>>>>> + 1 6176979389 <%2B%201%206176979389>
>>>>>>> *carolina.rossini at gmail.com*
>>>>>>> skype: carolrossini
>>>>>>> @carolinarossini
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>> --
>>> ------------------------------------------------------
>>> anriette esterhuysen anriette at apc.org executive director,
>>> association for progressive communicationswww.apc.org po box 29755,
>>> melville 2109 south africa tel/fax +27 11 726 1692
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Anne Jellema
>> Chief Executive Officer
>> Cape Town, RSA
>> mob (ZA) +27 61 036 9652
>> tel (ZA) +27 21 788 4585
>> tel (US) +1 202 684 6885
>> Skype anne.jellema
>> @afjellema
>>
>> World Wide Web Foundation | 1889 F Street NW, Washington DC, 20006,
>> USA | www.webfoundation.org | Twitter: @webfoundation
>>
>
>
>
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