[bestbits] Follow-on from survey on the future of Bestbits: next steps

Sheetal Kumar sheetal at gp-digital.org
Tue Apr 2 12:22:12 EDT 2019 

Dear Siva, Deirdre, all

Thanks for your emails and suggestions for how to do some outreach to
relevant CS stakeholders. In terms of why this email just went to the
Bestbits list, that's because it started out as a discussion on the future
of Bestbits. The Steering Committee had been dormant, and last year the
typical pre-IGF meeting didn't happen as usual. It does implicate other
groups and so far the suggestions (for example of 'merging' with IGC) have
implicated others but no decision has been made yet on that way forward.
Saying that, founding IGC members have been part of these discussions so
far. There is cross-over in terms of subscribers but the discussion so far
has considered what the particular mandates/particularities of each group
are and whether they're distinct enough to keep them separate and even if
so, whether there's the will to do the coordination work needed and whether
the current structures are the rights ones to do whatever coordination work
is needed. If we got to the stage of merging/disbanding etc I think that
would be a good juncture at which to look at the membership.

I personally am happy for the discussion to be broadened and would welcome
the sharing of the call with the IGC at least. I see they are looped in
here. The call is scheduled for *10 April at 13:00 UTC.* I'll get back with
meeting room details before the end of the week.

Please do share. It would be great if those who have been attending the
previous calls can also attend these to ensure continuity in discussions.

Best
Sheetal

On Tue, 2 Apr 2019 at 14:26, Deirdre Williams <williams.deirdre at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I suspect that the actors that we have are the ones who are "here"; there
> has already been a protest in this discussion against looking to the "old
> ones" for guidance.
> In the matter of the membership lists - my (very unreliable) memory
> suggests that there was formerly an issue of privacy about membership? (Can
> anyone help with this? Imran? Jeremy?) For myself I have always followed
> several of the discussions - IGC, then Bestbits, then JNC. The groups that
> broke away from IGC to an extent carried a particular perspective with
> them; to get a comprehensive view it was important for me to listen to
> everyone in so far as that is possible. However, as Siva pointed out
> earlier, those three groups are NOT the whole of civil society (which is
> part of my concern about CSCG, which includes APC and NCUC but is still a
> long way from "all".)
> We could begin by asking those taking part in this current discussion to
> declare their affiliations?
> That's the best I can suggest at the moment :-)
> Deirdre
>
> On Tue, 2 Apr 2019 at 08:41, sivasubramanian muthusamy <
> 6.internet at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I suggest we reach out to some of the WSIS time CS leaders who built the
>> IGC to step in and direct the course of action.
>>
>> Also, is there a way to draw up a spread sheet to find how many are not
>> subscribed to both the lists?
>>
>> On Tue, Apr 2, 2019, 5:59 PM Deirdre Williams <williams.deirdre at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I agree with Siva and Remmy BUT who is going to bell the cat? (who will
>>> do the things suggested)
>>> Deirdre
>>>
>>> On Tue, 2 Apr 2019 at 03:13, sivasubramanian muthusamy <
>>> 6.internet at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Is there a comparitive list of best bit subscribers and IGC members?
>>>> Who is in bestbits while not being part of IGC?
>>>>
>>>> Also, what are there other related CS lists discussing IG issues, if
>>>> not comprehensively, issues such as Privacy, Security, Community Access?
>>>> Why not invite them to be a part of a larger IG Caucus, irrespective of
>>>> whether they physically and regularly participate in the global IGF?
>>>>
>>>> Is there a way of reaching out to NRIs to ask for the list of CS
>>>> participants in NRIs?
>>>>
>>>> Not merely consolidate, but also expand. A wider CS could bring in
>>>> creative solutions to the IG process and cause a balance.
>>>>
>>>> Sivasubramanian M
>>>>
>>>> Sivasubramanian M
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Apr 1, 2019, 5:56 PM Deirdre Williams <
>>>> williams.deirdre at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Dear Sivasubramanian,
>>>>> (Apologies for cross-posting)
>>>>> Although various people have pointed to the need for a common voice
>>>>> for civil society in this arena it really seems that there is no longer an
>>>>> appetite for the individual effort needed for a successful collaboration of
>>>>> this type. I would be very happy to have this opinion drowned by a chorus
>>>>> of voices proving me wrong, but I am not expecting to hear them.
>>>>> So I wonder if we should be looking for a new means to and a new
>>>>> process for collaboration?
>>>>> Should this be included in the agenda under 2 - Concrete ways forward?
>>>>> I don't have any real suggestions. I think that, more now than before,
>>>>> the process depends on individuals being willing to make a commitment of
>>>>> time energy and effort, and that this is happening in a context where the
>>>>> general ethos has lost its encouragement of sharing and communal energy.
>>>>> It needs to become possible again to perceive a common good. Should
>>>>> this happen by painstakingly linking very small local initiatives, where
>>>>> the "common good" is easy to see, rather than attempting things on a global
>>>>> scale (which in fact is "top down")?
>>>>> Hopefully the discussion on 9th will take us nearer to a solution.
>>>>> Best wishes
>>>>> Deirdre
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sun, 31 Mar 2019 at 16:41, Sivasubramanian M <6.Internet at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> With apologies for cross-posting, I see a limited response, only
>>>>>> about 8 respondents.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Is there a corresponding message on the IGC list?  Possibly the poll
>>>>>> announcement hasn't reached those who are subscribed only to the IGC list.
>>>>>> (or because the title of the message says "future of Bestbits" rather than
>>>>>> say "future of IG Civil Society".
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sivasubramanian M
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Thu, Mar 21, 2019 at 11:41 PM Sheetal Kumar <
>>>>>> sheetal at gp-digital.org> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It's been really great to see the level of engagement in these
>>>>>>> conversations about strengthening civil society coordination, and I know
>>>>>>> there's a lot of interest in not losing motivation. The conversations have
>>>>>>> been premised on a general interest in changing the current situation
>>>>>>> (namely Bestbits being inactive as a coordination network), and
>>>>>>> collectively finding ways to strengthen global civil society coordination
>>>>>>> on the issues we work on.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hopefully the conversations so far, and the survey which gathered a
>>>>>>> broader array of views, have been helpful. I attached a summary report of
>>>>>>> the survey in my last email. At the last IGF in Paris there was discussion
>>>>>>> of holding a meeting at RightsCon this year. Before we do that however, it
>>>>>>> would be good to discuss the responses to the survey and agree a way
>>>>>>> forward.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'm including a doodle below, with a suggested agenda. It would be
>>>>>>> great if you could fill it out by 29 March so I can confirm the date and
>>>>>>> set up a room.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> https://doodle.com/poll/vyfn2zdxzt8wqzis
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *Suggested agenda*
>>>>>>> 1) Responses to the survey: a discussion
>>>>>>> 2) Suggestion of concrete ways forward
>>>>>>> 3) Meeting at RightsCon?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Looking forward to building on your energy and contributions so far!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Thu, 14 Mar 2019 at 13:43, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thank you very much to those who completed the survey. I have
>>>>>>>> attached the anonymised results as a text document, with a summary included
>>>>>>>> at the top in case useful.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> As a next step I would suggest a split call, with the first half
>>>>>>>> spent discussing the results and suggesting a way forward (45 minutes-1
>>>>>>>> hour) and the second half, if deemed necessary, with IGC founders and other
>>>>>>>> key members of IGC. We could arrange that as a separate call too.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The aim of the calls so far and the survey have been to find a way
>>>>>>>> to promote *more* civil society coordination, and thus to change
>>>>>>>> the current state of affairs. I hope that they help in finding a way
>>>>>>>> forward which does this and in so doing, responds to the widest possible
>>>>>>>> range of opinion. Should you have any other suggestions on how to proceed,
>>>>>>>> please do chime in! Otherwise, I'll send around a doodle for a follow up
>>>>>>>> call.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks again.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Wed, 6 Mar 2019 at 15:02, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> We've received a useful number of responses but it would be great
>>>>>>>>> to hear from more people about the future of Bestbits. If you could fill
>>>>>>>>> out the survey by COB this Friday that would be much appreciated.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> http://bestbits.net/
>>>>>>>>> <http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319>
>>>>>>>>> limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/
>>>>>>>>> <http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319>
>>>>>>>>> index&sid=528319
>>>>>>>>> <http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319>
>>>>>>>>> I'll then likely send out a doodle for another call to decide next
>>>>>>>>> steps next week.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Thank you!
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Thu, 28 Feb 2019 at 11:58, Sheetal Kumar <
>>>>>>>>> sheetal at gp-digital.org> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> We've got some great responses to the survey so thank you to
>>>>>>>>>> those who have responded already.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The survey is still open so please do lend your views if you can,
>>>>>>>>>> by using the link below. The survey responses will feed into the next set
>>>>>>>>>> of discussions on the future of Bestbits.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> http://bestbits.net/
>>>>>>>>>> <http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319>
>>>>>>>>>> limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/
>>>>>>>>>> <http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319>
>>>>>>>>>> index&sid=528319
>>>>>>>>>> <http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319>
>>>>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Thu, 21 Feb 2019 at 09:37, Sheetal Kumar <
>>>>>>>>>> sheetal at gp-digital.org> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Following a call and discussion on this thread, please see a
>>>>>>>>>>> survey below to gather your views on the future of Bestbits. Following a
>>>>>>>>>>> call on February 11 with members of Bestbits, as well as members of IGC, it
>>>>>>>>>>> was agreed that a survey would be circulated to gather views of all members.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> The survey is preceded by a background information note which
>>>>>>>>>>> includes a summary of the discussions so far, and links to the summaries of
>>>>>>>>>>> calls.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319&lang=en
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> As a member of the Bestbits mailing list, you are invited to
>>>>>>>>>>> complete the survey. To inform future discussions in a timely way, please
>>>>>>>>>>> complete the survey *by 08 March*. Should you have any
>>>>>>>>>>> questions at all, don't hesitate to get in touch.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Looking forward to hearing your views!
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On Tue, 12 Feb 2019 at 20:08, Sheetal Kumar <
>>>>>>>>>>> sheetal at gp-digital.org> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Thank you to those who participated in the call yesterday. For
>>>>>>>>>>>> those who couldn't attend the call, you'll find the list of participants
>>>>>>>>>>>> and notes here:
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/Bestbitscallfuture
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> We had a rich discussion about the possible ways forward for
>>>>>>>>>>>> Bestbits, building on the previous conversation in December and the
>>>>>>>>>>>> discussion on this thread since.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> In essence, there was general agreement that both Bestbits and
>>>>>>>>>>>> IGC have been facing challenges in fulfilling their objectives,
>>>>>>>>>>>> particularly when it comes to coordination and we agreed to circulate a
>>>>>>>>>>>> survey to both lists to gather perspectives on four suggested ways forward
>>>>>>>>>>>> which were discussed on the call. It was suggested that this survey with
>>>>>>>>>>>> the broader communities feed into a decision on the future of the
>>>>>>>>>>>> platforms. The survey will be circulated shortly to both lists shortly,
>>>>>>>>>>>> and your participation would be greatly appreciated.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> On Thu, 7 Feb 2019 at 16:47, Sheetal Kumar <
>>>>>>>>>>>> sheetal at gp-digital.org> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> This is just a gentle reminder that the call on next steps is
>>>>>>>>>>>>> this coming Monday, 11 February from* 4- 6 PM UTC*. The full
>>>>>>>>>>>>> details are included in my previous email and I've updated the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> etherpad <https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/Bestbitscallfuture>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> with those planning to attend.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Looking forward to speaking to you then!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Wed, 30 Jan 2019 at 10:07, Sheetal Kumar <
>>>>>>>>>>>>> sheetal at gp-digital.org> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Thank you for filling out the doodle! It seems the best time
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> for the call is* 4-6 PM UTC on February 11*. The full
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> details of the call, including how to join, are below.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks to Farzaneh for setting up the room. Looking forward
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to speaking to as many of you as possible on the 11th!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *Bestbits call: Future pathways *
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *Date and time: *
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 11 February, 4:00-6:00 PM UTC <http://worldtimebuddy.com/>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *Online Meeting room: *
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To join the Meeting:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> https://bluejeans.com/819760256
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To join via Room System:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Video Conferencing System: bjn.vc -or-199.48.152.152
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Meeting ID : 819760256
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To join via phone :
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 1)  Dial:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> +1.408.740.7256 (US (San Jose))
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> +1.888.240.2560 (US Toll Free)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> +1.408.317.9253 (US (Primary, San Jose))
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> (see all numbers - http://bluejeans.com/numbers)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2)  Enter Conference ID : 819760256
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Please note that if you call in, your phone number will
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> appear on the Bluejeans room page. We would like to record and share the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> link with the BestBits network on the mailing list. Please let us know if
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> you do not want the recording to be shared on an open mailing list if you
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> call in.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *Proposed agenda: *
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *Aim: *to discuss the future of the Bestbits and IGC lists,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> including the possibility of a merger + other options
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 1) Identification/agreement of challenges and issues faced in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> each network
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2) Discussion of options, e.g merger of lists/establishment
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of new/maintenance of status quo - using lists as information sharing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> devices: pros and cons of each
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 3) Discussion of next steps/agreement on process for decision
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> making regarding future of the lists
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *RSVP on etherpad*
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I've put the agenda in this pad
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> <https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/Bestbitscallfuture>and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I've also added the names of those who indicated they were available for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the call at this time. Of course, as a Bestbits member you can join the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> call without indicating that in the pad, this is just to have a vague idea
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of numbers.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Fri, 18 Jan 2019 at 14:13, Sheetal Kumar <
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> sheetal at gp-digital.org> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Dear all
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It's been great to see the engagement on this topic, and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> thanks to those who have shared their perspectives and the relevant
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> documents too.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> In December when we had the call we agreed to touch base
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> again in the middle of January to agree a way forward. The discussions here
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> provide rich ground for the discussion, and Farzaneh has kindly offered to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> set up a conference call space for us.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I am circulating below a doodle for our second call to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> decide next steps. This is a suggested agenda:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 1) Identification/agreement of challenges and issues faced
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> in each network
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2) Discussion of options, e.g merger of lists/establishment
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of new/maintenance of status quo, e.g using lists as information sharing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> devices: pros and cons of each approach
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 3) Discussion of next steps/agreement on process for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> decision making regarding future of Bestbits
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Having spoken to those who arranged the last call, we
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> suggest only Bestbits members are invited but that we also reach out to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> some IGC folks to help provide some background and inform the discussion
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> only.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> https://doodle.com/poll/yzmbvibwp6n4s976
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If everyone could fill out the doodle by the end of next
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> week (Friday, 25 Jan) we can set a time and send the conference room link
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> too.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Fri, 11 Jan 2019 at 13:10, Deirdre Williams <
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> williams.deirdre at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Please excuse the cross-posting.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I've been following this discussion with care, and have a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> couple of questions which seem to fall in line with what Nnenna and Jeremy
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> are saying.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 1. If we had more or less stopped sharing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> information/discussing things/ working together within IGC and Bestbits
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> separately, would merging the two groups again really improve participation?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2. Is there a way for us to look at what needs to be done,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> what we want to do, how we want to do it?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 3. Who are "we"? Are we the same as the people who started
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> IGC and Bestbits - same objectives, same perceptions and perspectives, same
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> priorities?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Without answers to these questions it seems unlikely that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> we would make much progress.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Purely as an illustration please consider IRPC (which many
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of us also belong to) which is currently having some difficulty with
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> identifying volunteers to carry out management tasks for the group.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Civil society still needs a means to discuss issues and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> find a common voice, but is this the right way to do that now or do we need
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to devise something different?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Best wishes for 2019
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Deirdre
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Thu, 10 Jan 2019 at 14:09, Jeremy Malcolm <
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> jeremy at malcolm.id.au> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 1/10/19 2:01 AM, Sheetal Kumar wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > For those who were part of the first Steering Committee
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of Bestbits -
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > could you share more information about how it was
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> constituted and why?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It was because IGC discourse had become toxic and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> dysfunctional, and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> people were dropping out. It had been a while since it had
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> been able to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> agree on a joint statement. At the same time, the 2012 ITU
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> WCIT was
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> coming up, and being able to collaborate on joint action
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> was important,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> so a few conversations between people both inside and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> outside of IGC
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> resulted in them becoming the first volunteer steering
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> committee.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> But then the same civil society politics that had driven
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the IGC into
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the ground started to disrupt Best Bits too. There were
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> (misplaced but
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> damaging) allegations about various participants having
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> hidden agendas
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> or not being transparent enough about their own funding.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> So whereas the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> original committee had been fairly lightweight and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> informal, pressure to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> adopt more formal mechanisms of accountability resulted in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> us investing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> a lot of time in creating a more elaborate set of rules
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and processes.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> As it turned out, this was too heavy and people weren't
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> motivated to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> engage in these new processes, indicating that the more
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> lightweight
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> structure had probably been better.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If there was a group of willing people who could
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> resuscitate Best Bits,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> even without formal elections, I'd be all for that. But I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> don't think
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> there is. I personally have given as much time to it as
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I'd like to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> give, because I'm focusing my energy on my new nonprofit
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Prostasia
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Foundation now.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jeremy Malcolm PhD LLB (Hons) B Com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Internet lawyer, ICT policy advocate, geek
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> echo "9EEAi^^;6C6]>J^=^>6"|tr '\!-~' 'P-~\!-O'|wget -q -i
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> - -O -
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>      bestbits at lists.bestbits.net.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe or change your settings, visit:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>      http://lists.bestbits.net/wws/info/bestbits
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> “The fundamental cure for poverty is not money but
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> knowledge" Sir William Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Economics, 1979
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> E9E2 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> E9E2 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>>>>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>>>>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B
>>>>>>>>>>>>> E9E2 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>>>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>>>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>>>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>>>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B
>>>>>>>>>>>> E9E2 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B
>>>>>>>>>>> E9E2 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2
>>>>>>>>>> 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2
>>>>>>>>> 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2
>>>>>>>> 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2
>>>>>>> 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>>>>>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>>>>>>>      bestbits at lists.bestbits.net.
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe or change your settings, visit:
>>>>>>>      http://lists.bestbits.net/wws/info/bestbits
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Sivasubramanian M
>>>>>> Please send all replies to 6.Internet at gmail.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>>>>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>>>>>>      bestbits at lists.bestbits.net.
>>>>>> To unsubscribe or change your settings, visit:
>>>>>>      http://lists.bestbits.net/wws/info/bestbits
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> “The fundamental cure for poverty is not money but knowledge" Sir
>>>>> William Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Economics, 1979
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> “The fundamental cure for poverty is not money but knowledge" Sir
>>> William Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Economics, 1979
>>>
>>
>
> --
> “The fundamental cure for poverty is not money but knowledge" Sir William
> Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Economics, 1979
>


-- 


*Sheetal Kumar*
Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2 0603 DD7F
E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
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