[bestbits] [governance] Re: Call for nominations for civil society representatives for the IGF Multistakeholder Advisory group (MAG)

[Deirdre Williams]

I agree completely with Anriette and with Daniel in their concern over
funding. However, it is not only funding (lack of) that can get in the way
of participation, particularly at the physical level. People have lives,
and those lives are often full already of jobs, children, dependent
relatives, the type of minor ill-health that makes travelling a problem, –
even houses and pets, and the intimidation of joining a group where few may
speak your language. This “life baggage”, the list is only of random
examples, encumbers at the virtual level as well, but to a lesser extent.

In taking this perspective which prioritises physical meetings we may be
missing something of great importance. When we speak about this “new
democratic model” powered by the Internet we are talking about the
empowerment that comes from VIRTUAL participation, where anyone with access
can join the debate from anywhere. That is why access must remain at the
top of the priority list, until the majority who lack this empowerment also
share it.

Meanwhile we must be careful not to allow the empowerment to be dissipated
by favouring the physical over the virtual. This is a point that I made at
the BestBits meeting in Istanbul. We need to practise what we preach. Are
we concerned about those who attend meetings virtually as “civil society”?
No – because anyone with access who wishes may attend. Do we attend
meetings when only a “virtual” option is open to us? …

The “other side” in the debate that we are engaged in has the arrangement
of meetings down to a fine art. Meetings are how their world is run.
Physical meetings that is, or meetings run to a “physical meeting” format.
They are not comfortable with the apparent chaos when anyone can speak. The
“physical” environment is much easier to control and manage. It is their
environment after all.

So why do we allow ourselves to be herded and manipulated into their space
to discuss our issues?

Deirdre

On 22 September 2014 08:24, Daniel Pimienta <pimienta at funredes.org> wrote:

>  But Best Bits should also make sure to have some strong names from
> 'developing' countries. Also, keep in mind that people nominated from
> developed countries would need to have access to funding to attend meetings
> of the MAG.  Support for MAG meetings is not easy to get and is generally
> only available for people from developing countries. In my time on the MAG
> from 2012 to 2014 I think I only received UN support to attend a MAG
> meeting on 2 occasions and on one of those the funding did not include
> airfare.
>
> +1000
>
> What Anriette exposes is a fundamental issue of true democratic
> participation in global context and her experience is a crude testimony of
> what is really happening behind the nice discourses.
>
> I would say it is not only an issue for Best Bits, it should be a key
> issue for all and every IGF and ICANN mechanisms of participation as for
> any global multiskakeholder attempt to reach some form of justice... and
> BTW, the actual global economic crisis makes this issue still more acute as
> many (bi or multilateral) support funding have been fading away.
> Transparency of the flow of support and the associated criteria of
> selection is also an important part of this issue.
>
> And to react and connect 2 independant threads in the same mail:
>
> speaking of PrepComs reminds me that they need a Chairman. I have no
> hesitation in stating that Adama Samassekou is the best suited for this
> job.Â
>
> Indeed Jean-Louis, Adama would be the perfect choice... and he is deeply
> aware of the first issue.
>
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-- 
“The fundamental cure for poverty is not money but knowledge" Sir William
Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Economics, 1979
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