[bestbits] [governance] End of the year civil society meeting/ briefing

Mon Dec 17 11:50:40 EST 2018

Dear All,
I was at Friday's meeting and have been following the discussions.
A few points:
1. Are discussion spaces like Internet Governance Caucus/Bestbits still
relevant? I ask because they have fallen very silent over the last year.
This question needs an answer.
2. Civil Society Coordination Group addresses the issue of civil society
representation in internet governance spaces. Internet governance has
become a very broad issue. There are powerful links with other areas of
concern for civil society - climate change, migration, child protection
etc. - and information and communication technologies are often the tools
used by civil society to carry out its business in these areas. How then is
civil society to be brought together to oversee its own interests? Or is
"civil society" only in this case those concerned narrowly with "internet
governance"?
3. "Civil society" is a very diverse creature. Because of this diversity it
is crucial to identify the common values on the foundation of which we can
come together to harness our communal strength to achieve objectives. This
is why it is desirable for us to revisit the 2003 Civil Society
Declaration
https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/docs/geneva/civil-society-declaration.pdf  As
far as I know this is the last time that civil society came together, in
the area that is relevant to this discussion, to make a joint statement of
values and intentions. Using the declaration for comparison - are the
values and intentions still the same?
4. Back at the end of November Sivasubramanian started this discussion.
When I replied then that "... we have been divided (or have divided
ourselves) into subsets of the general issue so there is no longer any
"community of energy"", Siva's response was "If there was an disagreement
between CS participants once or twice, on one or more issues, should we
characterize it as a division?" I think we should all ask ourselves about
this.
5. (Finally) In little Saint Lucia (pop 174,000) where I live we now have
at least 5 organisations concerned with history/culture/heritage which have
evolved from a single originator. It is beginning to be recognised that
this fragmentation impedes collaboration. I'm asking myself if this isn't a
local instance of a global situation - think for example of recent mass
action in France.
Over to you.
Whatever you celebrate or don't celebrate at this time of the year, I hope
it will be a period of peace, harmony and happiness for all of us.
Deirdre
On Mon, 17 Dec 2018 at 10:27, Nadira Alaraj <nadira.araj at gmail.com> wrote:

> Exactly Bruna, as Arsene has written if a merger BB/IGC happened then at
> the CSCG level the new members will discuss to be more inclusive and
> receptive to new members.
>
> The reason I'm mentioning it because I don't want the CS misses the
> discussion on this issue. I'm in support the inclusion of new CS coalition
> that could also be regional coalition and I suggested  the  IGF youth as an
> example.
> Nothing difficult when there is a well.
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 16:10 Bruna Martins dos Santos <
> bruna.mrtns at gmail.com wrote:
>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> Thanks @farzaneh badii <farzaneh.badii at gmail.com> for kickstarting the
>> discussion and @Arsène Tungali <arsenebaguma at gmail.com> for clarifying
>> the doubts about the CSCG.
>>
>> Before we decide on which group is joining CSCG, I believe its important
>> for us to stick to what was agreed on the call  which was: CSCG
>> representation discussion would only be done once we decided on the IGC/BB
>> merger.
>>
>> I personally believe that the decision of welcoming an specific group to
>> CSCG is a rather complicated one and would need to be thoroughly discussed
>> within all the groups represented at CSCG, not only best bits and IGC.
>>
>> best,
>> bruna
>>
>> Em seg, 17 de dez de 2018 às 12:02, Arsène Tungali <
>> governance at lists.riseup.net> escreveu:
>>
>>> This will be a discussion to happen at the CSCG level on the necessity
>>> or the opportunity to bring in new CS groups, which i personally
>>> welcome as a great idea.
>>>
>>> The CSCG ought to be inclusive of all the major civil society groups.
>>>
>>> 2018-12-17 15:47 UTC+02:00, Nadira Alaraj <nadira.araj at gmail.com>:
>>> > Thank you Arsene for your follow up on the CSCG,
>>> > Yes, the number of CS groups will be reduced to 4 if the merge will
>>> > happens.
>>> > However, I  would like to bring to your attention that during my role
>>> at
>>> > the CSCG, Ian Peter was chairing a committee that we worked to
>>> introduce a
>>> > procedures for New CSCG member.
>>> > http://internetgov-cs.org/procedures#C
>>> >
>>> > There would be possibility to add a new global CS as the 5th members
>>> and
>>> > that could be IG for Youth.
>>> > I'm not sure how organized the youth group would be and if it
>>> satisfies the
>>> > thoroughly discussed procedure for new member.
>>> > Best,
>>> > Nadira
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 14:50 Arsène Tungali <arsenebaguma at gmail.com
>>> wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> Hi all,
>>> >>
>>> >> Thanks Farzaneh for starting this thread and thanks everyone who took
>>> >> the time to attend the call.
>>> >>
>>> >> Thanks also for offering to give a hand of support with some task
>>> >> within the IGC, we will take this discussion (as well as the one on
>>> >> merging) to the IGC list soon for a more elaborate discussion.
>>> >>
>>> >> And please do share the recording to give everyone an idea of what was
>>> >> discussed.
>>> >>
>>> >> I wanted to offer a quick reaction to Nadira and Michael's comments.
>>> >>
>>> >> During the call, we did not discuss much about the CSCG which is a
>>> >> coordination group where IGC is a member, alongside other members such
>>> >> as APC, Just Net Coalition, Best Bits and the ICANN's NCSG.
>>> >>
>>> >> About the merging question, this one will affect (if it happens), the
>>> >> number of CSCG members but the CSCG itself cannot be merged with
>>> >> anything (keeping this within the context). If BB and IGC merge, then
>>> >> the CSCG will now have 4 members than 5.
>>> >>
>>> >> R. Hill who is co chair of the CSCG said that once the merging
>>> >> question is cleared, then only a discussion within CSCG's structure
>>> >> and future will happen.
>>> >>
>>> >> Bruna and I, as IGC co-cos agreed to start a discussion within the IGC
>>> >> to explore the possibilities of merging IGC with BB.
>>> >>
>>> >> Hope this helps.
>>> >>
>>> >> Regards,
>>> >> Arsene
>>> >>
>>> >> 2018-12-17 10:33 UTC+02:00, "Michael J. Oghia" <
>>> >> governance at lists.riseup.net>:
>>> >> > He everyone,
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Thank you for this summary Farzi. I think Nadira makes a good point
>>> >> > about
>>> >> > looking into that. I'm it sure how each of these three organisations
>>> >> > are
>>> >> > structured, but perhaps we should consider consolidation of all
>>> three
>>> >> > (if
>>> >> > possible).
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Best,
>>> >> > -Michael
>>> >> >
>>> >> >
>>> >> > On Sun, Dec 16, 2018, 11:09 PM Nadira Alaraj <nadira.araj at gmail.com
>>> >> wrote:
>>> >> >
>>> >> >> Thank you Farzaneh for your briefing.
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >> I would like to comment on the merging consequences that it will
>>> >> >> affect
>>> >> >> the structure of the
>>> >> >> http://internetgov-cs.org or the CSCG. The objective of  "The
>>> CSCG has
>>> >> >> co-operated with such bodies as international Telecomunication
>>> Union,
>>> >> >> WSIS+10, UNDESA, Internet Governance Forum, CSTD Working Group on
>>> >> >> Enhanced
>>> >> >> Cooperation, Netmundial Conference and Intiative and 1Net
>>> Initiative
>>> >> >> to
>>> >> >> nominate a diverse range of civil society members as speakers and
>>> >> members
>>> >> >> of committees and working groups"
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >> I'm not sure if CSCG structure have been discussed or not. It
>>> would be
>>> >> >> good to look into as well.
>>> >> >> Best,
>>> >> >> Nadira
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >> On Sun, Dec 16, 2018, 23:10 farzaneh badii <
>>> farzaneh.badii at gmail.com
>>> >> >> wrote:
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >>> Dear all,
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> We had a good online meeting with up to 25 civil society members
>>> in
>>> >> >>> attendance on 13 December. I have the recording I can share with
>>> you.
>>> >> (I
>>> >> >>> have asked if sharing the recording was ok with the participants
>>> >> >>> there
>>> >> >>> was
>>> >> >>> no objection, but I give it a couple of more days before I share
>>> the
>>> >> >>> recording)
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> There was a brief overview of what was done during last year in
>>> >> >>> venues
>>> >> >>> such as RightsCon etc.
>>> >> >>> The issues that were discussed (as much as I remember):
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> We also discussed the merge of IGC and BestBits. It was decided
>>> that
>>> >> the
>>> >> >>> co-coordinator of BB and IGC discuss and give a couple of weeks
>>> >> deadline
>>> >> >>> to
>>> >> >>> come to a conclusion on whether a merge would be good.
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> the suggestion to merge comes from the fact that civil society IG
>>> >> >>> activities (especially at IGF) became fragmented. We need to pool
>>> our
>>> >> >>> resources and I think Jeremy mentioned that the reasons behind the
>>> >> >>> creation
>>> >> >>> of BB are not around anymore. I believe we should make a decision
>>> on
>>> >> >>> that
>>> >> >>> soon hopefully and start pooling our resources into one effort.
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> The idea of mapping initiatives and focal points:
>>> >> >>> To keep things going and be more active in 2019, it would be good
>>> to
>>> >> map
>>> >> >>> initiatives (Collin Kurre from Article 19 has good ideas about
>>> that)
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> I also suggested that we have focal points for each event or
>>> forum if
>>> >> we
>>> >> >>> want to for example organize a session or be more coordinated in
>>> our
>>> >> >>> efforts.
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> I volunteered to help IGC with coordination for  IGF 2019, and
>>> civil
>>> >> >>> society pre-event. I will also help IGC with drafting something a
>>> >> public
>>> >> >>> comment for IGF taking stock call.
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> Best
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> Farzaneh
>>> >> >>> ____________________________________________________________
>>> >> >>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>>> >> >>>      bestbits at lists.bestbits.net.
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>>> >> >>>      http://lists.bestbits.net/wws/info/bestbits
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >> ____________________________________________________________
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>>> >> >
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> --
>>> >> ------------------------
>>> >> **Arsène Tungali* <http://about.me/ArseneTungali>*
>>> >> Co-Founder & Executive Director, *Rudi international
>>> >> <http://www.rudiinternational.org>*,
>>> >> CEO,* Smart Services Sarl <https://www.smart-kitoko.com/>*,
>>> >> Tel: +243 993810967
>>> >> GPG: 523644A0
>>> >> *Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo*
>>> >>
>>> >> 2015 Mandela Washington Felllow
>>> >> <
>>> >>
>>> http://tungali.blogspot.com/2015/06/selected-for-2015-mandela-washington.html
>>> >> >
>>> >> (YALI) - ISOC Ambassador (IGF Brazil
>>> >> <
>>> >>
>>> http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-do/education-and-leadership-programmes/next-generation-leaders/igf-ambassadors-programme/Past-Ambassadors
>>> >> >
>>> >> & Mexico
>>> >> <
>>> >>
>>> http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-do/education-and-leadership-programmes/next-generation-leaders/Current-Ambassadors
>>> >> >)
>>> >> - AFRISIG 2016 <http://afrisig.org/afrisig-2016/class-of-2016/> -
>>> Blogger
>>> >> <http://tungali.blogspot.com> - ICANN's GNSO Council
>>> >> <https://gnso.icann.org/en/about/gnso-council.htm> Member. AFRINIC
>>> Fellow
>>> >> (
>>> >> Mauritius
>>> >> <
>>> http://www.afrinic.net/en/library/news/1907-afrinic-25-fellowship-winners
>>> >> >)*
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> ------------------------
>>> **Arsène Tungali* <http://about.me/ArseneTungali>*
>>> Co-Founder & Executive Director, *Rudi international
>>> <http://www.rudiinternational.org>*,
>>> CEO,* Smart Services Sarl <https://www.smart-kitoko.com/>*,
>>> Tel: +243 993810967
>>> GPG: 523644A0
>>> *Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo*
>>>
>>> 2015 Mandela Washington Felllow
>>> <
>>> http://tungali.blogspot.com/2015/06/selected-for-2015-mandela-washington.html
>>> >
>>> (YALI) - ISOC Ambassador (IGF Brazil
>>> <
>>> http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-do/education-and-leadership-programmes/next-generation-leaders/igf-ambassadors-programme/Past-Ambassadors
>>> >
>>> & Mexico
>>> <
>>> http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-do/education-and-leadership-programmes/next-generation-leaders/Current-Ambassadors
>>> >)
>>> - AFRISIG 2016 <http://afrisig.org/afrisig-2016/class-of-2016/> -
>>> Blogger
>>> <http://tungali.blogspot.com> - ICANN's GNSO Council
>>> <https://gnso.icann.org/en/about/gnso-council.htm> Member. AFRINIC
>>> Fellow (
>>> Mauritius
>>> <
>>> http://www.afrinic.net/en/library/news/1907-afrinic-25-fellowship-winners
>>> >)*
>>> ---
>>> To unsubscribe: <mailto:igc-unsubscribe at lists.riseup.net>
>>> List help: <https://riseup.net/lists>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Bruna Martins dos Santos *
>>
>> Skype ID: bruna.martinsantos
>> @boomartins
>>
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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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