[governance] IGC participation was CIVIL SOCIETY MEDIA GUIDELINESTUNIS2005

[Gurstein, Michael]

Avri, Ronda and all,

I'm also in close touch with a range of those with a very strong
interest in ICT issues at the "grassroots"... 

It is I think, unrealistic (and perhaps not very uesful) to think of or
expect these folks to be involved in the types of discussions that have
been taking place here... They are rather too abstract and too distant
from the immediate considerations/requirements of these end users.
However, it certainly doesn't mean that there is no interest or
involvement in the area (in fact many of these people are devoting their
lives/careers to ICT4D matters); it is rather that the way in which the
issues are framed is such as to not impinge on them in ways where they
would or could usefully respond.

Structuring governance processes so as to (transparently) include some
of the more immediate/practical implications would directly stimulate
involvement and equally providing a means for facilitiating involvement
as at the time of agenda setting would I expect quite directly result in
a structuring of these processes so as to encompass decisions and
outcomes with which grassroots folks would have a direct and immediate
interest in participation.

That this hasn't as yet been done represents a significant reason for
the degree to which these processes and here I include both the formal
and the CS processes have fallen short of their potential as
contributory to the achievement of the lofty ideals expressed in the
WSIS I formal and CS declarations.

The letter that I circulated earlier on behalf of the Telecenters of the
Americas Partnership represents a first step towards righting these
imbalances.

Mike Gurstein 

-----Original Message-----
From: governance-bounces at lists.cpsr.org
[mailto:governance-bounces at lists.cpsr.org] On Behalf Of Avri Doria
Sent: November 3, 2005 10:47 PM
To: WSIS Internet Governance Caucus
Subject: [governance] IGC participation was CIVIL SOCIETY MEDIA
GUIDELINESTUNIS2005



On 3 nov 2005, at 16.27, Ronda Hauben wrote:

> I am still proposing that there be some way to open up the processes 
> of this caucus and mailing list, rather than continuing to claim that 
> the small set of people, most of whom have been able to go to previous
rn
> WSIS meetings, are representative of something larger than themselves.
>

Well the list exists and the wiki has now been opened up, though I  
don't think many people are using yet.

Is there some specific measures you are proposing?

And although few people speak on this list, there are 288 members on  
the list, and looking at their addresses, many come from the economic  
and global south.  Is there some way you suggest to get the people on  
this list to be more active?  It is something I would like to explore  
especially as we move into a post WSIS period.  One of the goals we  
push is capacity building in internet governance, but I am still not  
sure any of us has a clear idea as to how this should be done.

It is a difficult problem.  In one of my day jobs, I work with  
indigenous people.  While they are very interested in the governance  
topics when we sit and talk about them, no amount of encouragement  
convinces most of them to get involved in the discussions - even  
though some actually do attend the prepcom and WSIS meetings.

a.

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