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

[Mishi Choudhary]

On 09/22/2014 09:36 AM, Deirdre Williams wrote:
>
> 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
>


I support all the issues that Deirdre raises and would benefit immensely
from hearing about solutions for the problems she presents.
>
> On 22 September 2014 08:24, Daniel Pimienta <pimienta at funredes.org
> <mailto: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.  
>     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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-- 
Warm Regards
Mishi Choudhary, Esq.
Legal Director
Software Freedom Law Center
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