[governance] Workshops update, and decisions needed

[Jeremy Malcolm]

In the wake of this month's IGF planning meeting, I understand that the situation with our workshops is as earlier forecast: two of our three workshop proposals were accepted, but we have some decisions to make about one of them.

The workshop on "Revolutionary Internet governance ideas that can help change the developing world" was accepted, except that we are to add developed countries to the scope of the workshop, and Nitin Desai and Markus Kummer also asked us to drop the word "revolutionary".  The result would be simply "Internet governance ideas that can help change the world".

Fouad was asked to discuss that within this group, actually by 29 June 2010.  We are a few days late, already.  So we really need to do that now: what do we think about dropping the reference to developing countries, and losing "revolutionary"?  Or should another title be used altogether such as "Open space for new ideas on Internet governance" as proposed by Nitin or "Innovative Internet governance ideas and approaches" by Fouad?

The other thing about this workshop is that there are no panelists for it; its content is entirely dependent upon participation from the floor.  However, as I have discussed with Fouad, I am loathe that we should open the workshop without any idea about who is going to speak.  So, I have taken the liberty of starting a wiki page for those who would like to speak to list their names and planned topics of discussion.  Please visit the page if you are interested in participating, and also please circulate the URL widely:

http://wiki.igf-online.net/wiki/Open_space_for_Internet_governance_ideas

The other workshop which was accepted was "Transnational (or trans-border) enforcement of a new information order – Issues of rights and democracy", and planning for that is well in hand.  Thanks to those who spoke up for this workshop during the open consultation.

"Successes and failures of Internet governance, 1995 - 2010, and looking forward to WSIS 2015" was not accepted, and no feedback was given as to why... a shame.

I am going to suggest that we recommend that the Secretariat's conclusions on approval of workshops be publicly posted online, because at present this process is not sufficiently transparent.  Moreover the rapid chopping and changing of the schedule during the open consultation session inevitably disadvantages those who are remote, despite the availability of Twitter and email.  For one thing, those in the room were working off a document that the remote participants did not (and still don't) have.  A prior, more open process of posting and responding to comments on workshops online would be far preferable in my opinion.

-- 
Jeremy Malcolm
Project Coordinator
Consumers International
Kuala Lumpur Office for Asia Pacific and the Middle East
Lot 5-1 Wisma WIM, 7 Jalan Abang Haji Openg, TTDI, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +60 3 7726 1599

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