AW: [governance] RE: WSIS Forum 2011
Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro
salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro at gmail.com
Mon Sep 13 11:14:22 EDT 2010
Hi Jovan,
Thanks, it helps to know that I am not alone in my experience and that
there are others who go through challenges. Yes, Milica was extremely
helpful.
Warm Regards,
Sala
On 9/13/10, Jovan Kurbalija <jovank at diplomacy.edu> wrote:
> Hi Sala,
>
> Thank you for reminding us that the world is round! It is definitely not
> flat, as Freedman claims. It has some strange shape, resembling a cube
> perhaps, when it comes to our experience of moving around (travel,
> costs, visas).
>
> Your mail reminds me of getting a visa; an important - but very often
> forgotten - discrimination. It is based on the fact that you are born in
> the 'wrong' place at the 'wrong' time.
>
> I had a unique experience because until my teens I had one of the best
> passports in the world (Yugoslavia), which enabled me to travel almost
> anywhere without a visa. Then, like a switch being shut off, I suddenly
> ended up with passport which required a visa for almost any place in the
> world. My bad luck was that I had to travel a lot for my work. As an
> illustration, my passport filled with visas so quickly that I had to get
> a new passpoert every six months.
>
> In front of the consular officers, we always seem to be weighed down
> with the 'presumption of guilt' trying to prove that we are not a
> criminal, or a terrorist... you name it and you have it (though, in my
> rich experience, I have never once been asked to prove that I was not a
> cannibal; probably because I was often traveling with my vegetarian wife).
>
> My worst memories (today I do not need as many visas) are of interviews
> with consular officers. In an almost Kafka-like atmosphere, we sit
> opposite a consular officer who holds our destiny in his hands
> (predominantly male profession). He can decide if our parents can come
> and see us and our family; if we can go and study; if we can attend
> IGF,... (continue the list). And consular officer very often happens to
> be unhappy with life. Maybe He had different career ideas/expectations
> ... perhaps expecting to negotiate main diplomatic treaties in New York
> not being stuck in a dusty office of some complicated and remote country
> having to deal with some 'strange' people. And here comes the moment
> when we, as the applicant, and the officer, as a demi-god, lock eyes for
> a few seconds. That moment speaks more than all the visa forms ever
> submitted. We say: 'Give me the damn visa and make my life easier'.
> He/she waits for seconds .... seconds that seem like an eternity. The
> verdict is... We leave the consulate completely drained emotionally
> (very often even physically).
>
> In my work, I participate in another forum (International Forum on
> Diplomatic Training) where I always try to promote consular training,
> especially in emotional aspects of communication. It is not easy since
> the consular function is the 'Cinderella' of modern diplomacy. In many
> diplomatic services, posting to the consular department is seen as a
> career "punishment". This is changing, although not fast enough. Many
> countries are realising that a few seconds in the consulate can shape
> people's experience of their country on a very deep, emotional level.
>
> While it is difficult to change big issues, one can try to make small
> changes. At Diplo, we always make sure that we do whatever possible to
> ensure that our fellows (most of them from countries requiring visas)
> can travel. Our travel coordinator, Milica, is as well-known among our
> fellows as are Ginger and Vlada who teach them. She is almost on 24-hour
> alert when people travel (like these days to Vilnius). Very often, it is
> not enough to send invitation letter and let participants deal with let
> people sort out their visa problems (send them the letter). We have to
> call consulates, explain, put a "gentle pressure". It helps. There is a
> lot that we can do in order to ensure that people can travel to WSIS
> 2011 or to any other event.
>
> Best, Jovan
>
>
> On 9/12/10 4:23 AM, Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro wrote:
>> Dear All,
>>
>> I find the advocacy for the venues, interesting. I am from Fiji
>> Islands and found that the Shengan visas relatively easy to acquire. I
>> know what it's like to be "Searched" and advised me that I needed to
>> consent to being searched or not fly at all it was'nt a European
>> Airport or American Airport but an Australian Airport where I was told
>> that my forefathers were cannibals...because I wanted to catch my next
>> flight, I did not make a scene.
>>
>> Terror and the fear of terror has impact on national policies that
>> translate into interjurisdictional policy. Sadly sometimes, translate
>> and carry the weight of some prejudices and biases. Terrorism is
>> something that affects all of mankind but the manner and not just some
>> people groups.
>>
>> Either way from the Pacific, since we are in the Southern Hemisphere,
>> it would mean that we would travel equal distances either way and
>> still pay alot.
>>
>> Maybe, they should have a cost analysis study, complete with
>> benchmarking air travel costs, identification of stakeholder
>> partcipation and what cross sectional representative percentage
>> margins the WSIS would wish represented or deem acceptable and then
>> make the decision. The study would no doubt be rational, transparent
>> and whilst people will always have their say but the welfare of the
>> entire Forum would be taken into consideration as well as considering
>> how we can equitably share resources etc.
>>
>> Warm Regards from the cold hotel lobby in Vinius,
>>
>> Sala
>>
>>
>> On 9/11/10, Lee W McKnight<lmcknigh at syr.edu> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> As the GAID meeting the other week bounced from room to room @UN HQ, I
>>> believe Marilyn's warning about how the premium on space at UN HQ may
>>> interfere
>>> with a smooth meeting.
>>>
>>> Which does not change Mawaki's hypothesis: ITU wants to be in NY - and UN
>>> HQ
>>> staff/diplomats agreed - because ITU wants visibility and UN diplomat
>>> types
>>> want to learn more about ICTs and development.
>>>
>>> Because heads of state/UN ambassadors (finally) realize
>>> icts/bband/Internet
>>> are important for reaching Millennium Development Goals.
>>>
>>> A suggested cs strategy: give them what they want.
>>>
>>> Like CS's toehold into OECD thanks to CSISAC establishment, let's change
>>> NY
>>> next - if that's where meeting ends up.
>>>
>>> Instead of worrying about venue and room logistics headaches, my 2 cents
>>> are
>>> we should fight mainly for multi-stakeholder participation.
>>>
>>> Strategic issue is - how far can we push in next phase, a proper
>>> participatory/cs-inclusive model, not just rhetorically but in practice.
>>>
>>> Lee
>>>
>>> ________________________________________
>>> From: Marilyn Cade [marilynscade at hotmail.com]
>>> Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2010 3:15 PM
>>> To: Mawaki Chango ; governance at lists.cpsr.org ; meryem at marzouki.info
>>> Subject: Re: AW: [governance] RE: WSIS Forum 2011
>>>
>>> Having attended four Action line forums, and supported the consolidation
>>> into a week in GVA, I wld prefer to keep the correct title - WSIS Action
>>> Line Forum-- it is after not the WSIS Forum, regardless of the hope of
>>> some
>>> to make it so, and try to turn it into a egic outcome of Tunis than it
>>> is.
>>> Maybe we should focus more intently -- all of us -- on encouraging the
>>> other
>>> three major co facilatators of action lines to stand up and play an equal
>>> coordinating role and sponsorship role.
>>> As they were trying to do in the 2010 WSIS 'Action line' Forum in May.
>>>
>>> The action lines are about hightlighting "on ground" efforts, and the
>>> purpose of the role of facilatators seems to being lost, perhaps
>>> accidently
>>> or ... Perhaps due to expediency... But needs to return. The last Action
>>> line forum in GVA in May was a better example of collaboration and
>>> spotlight
>>> sharing across the four UN agencies and had some great examples of
>>> successes
>>> and activities "on ground/national level" relevant to the Action Lines.
>>>
>>> I do not support moving to NY Hdqtrs. Would be btr to host at UNESCO, or
>>> again in GVA.
>>>
>>> As to rotating about the world - actually there is benefit to organizing
>>> in
>>> conjunction w the May IGF consultation and CSTD meetings, and that
>>> synergy
>>> gets lost. But of more signficance is losing the purpose of the "action
>>> lines" themselves, and sacrificing the focus on networking, leveraging
>>> best
>>> practices and sharing and building relationships that can advance the
>>> achievements in action lines for political agendas.
>>>
>>>
>>> Locating space with multiple rooms, display area, large plen room, etc,
>>> takes staff time. Rotating actually adds to burden of admintration,
>>> eating
>>> away at resourced that shld focus on identifyong participants for each
>>> action line....
>>>
>>> Having attended events both in GVA at all the UN agencies (by now) and
>>> also
>>> NY UN headquarters, the space, flexibility at headquarters just isn't
>>> there.
>>> It is simply a fact. And not a criticism of UN hdqts. Is a lovely set of
>>> buildings. Was just there for GAID.
>>>
>>> I am concerned about getting a week of suitable space (several rooms) at
>>> headquarters-- seems overly challenging. Every time I have participated
>>> in
>>> events there, space is at a premium and getting space over five days for
>>> breakouts, action line sessions simultaneously seems improbable. Perhaps
>>> that was not yet factored into the proposal, or perhaps we need to raise
>>> the
>>> concerns. It is a risk that the shift will change the Sessions - to
>>> make
>>> this into more of an intergovernmental high level set of speeches. I am
>>> not
>>> confident that will advance the purpose of the Action line Forum.
>>>
>>> Marilyn Cade
>>> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Mawaki Chango<kichango at gmail.com>
>>> Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:47:04
>>> To:<governance at lists.cpsr.org>;<meryem at marzouki.info>
>>> Subject: Re: AW: [governance] RE: WSIS Forum 2011
>>>
>>> Yeah... no, ITU involvement in WSIS wasn't an accident. WSIS wouldn't
>>> have
>>> seen the light of day were it not for the ITU's resolution at the 1998
>>> plenipotentiary conference in Minneapolis (which then led to the related
>>> UN
>>> General Assembly's resolution in 2001). And as far as the UN system as a
>>> whole, ITU is the home and the linchpin of the summit, which is not to
>>> say
>>> other UN orgs./bodies do not make decisions related to WSIS and its
>>> follow-up in terms of their respective responsibilities. It'd be a little
>>> bit of stretch to think that because IGF is the summit's most substantial
>>> outcome, it exhausts or fulfills the whole of WSIS agenda as per its
>>> intergovernmental origins.
>>>
>>>
>>> So I agree with Meryem that each one of those arrangements has their
>>> specific goal commanding different strategies. Obviously if ITU wants to
>>> see
>>> the WSIS Forum held at UN-HQ it probably not for the excitement of a
>>> visit
>>> at "the Big Apple" but more likely because they hope to mobilize UN
>>> resources to achieve something, notwithstanding the price of sacrificing
>>> a
>>> bit of CS participation (in quantity).
>>>
>>>
>>> Let's also not forget that NYC is the single capital where (due to UN)
>>> the
>>> largest diplomatic body from across the world is concentrated or
>>> converges
>>> (sorry, that's not the case for Geneva as some may want to believe). And
>>> although we're getting used to "multistakeholderism," the UN's GA --
>>> where
>>> those diplomats convene, discuss, negotiate and vote -- is still the
>>> ultimate authoritative body to make decisions before anything of a global
>>> legitimacy (exit, the security council) is enacted in the name of the UN.
>>> So
>>> it may also just be that at a critical juncture when important decisions
>>> may
>>> have to be made by all or a large section of those diplomats about WSIS,
>>> it
>>> is simple pragmatism to secure their participation and a chance for them
>>> to
>>> fully understand the issues (now, that may not justify a *permanent*
>>> transfer to NYC, see last paragr. below).
>>>
>>>
>>> CS can still do two things: i) strategize in order to get its inclusively
>>> prepared quality input through, wherever a relevant meeting takes place
>>> --especially for a crucial one as may be the 2011's WSIS Forum; ii)
>>> continuously voice the need to take special/additional measures to
>>> facilitate visas for a global CS to the meetings.
>>>
>>>
>>> Propositions could also be made as a compromise between ITU's current
>>> choice
>>> and Wolfgang's suggestion: 1. alternate every year between the chosen UN
>>> base and other places around the world; 2. rotate around the world with
>>> the
>>> possibility any year to host it back at UN HQ or in other UN capital if
>>> the
>>> agenda and schedule of international affairs make the venue potentially
>>> favorable to the Forum's order of business; 3. rotate between UN
>>> capitals;
>>> 4. etcetera.
>>>
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> Mawaki
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 4:31 AM, Meryem Marzouki<meryem at marzouki.info
>>> <mailto:meryem at marzouki.info> > wrote:
>>>
>>> Le 7 sept. 10 à 08:25, Kleinwächter, Wolfgang a écrit :
>>>
>>>
>>> ICANN is travelling around the world doing outreach, IGF is travelling
>>> around the world doing outreach, why the WSIS Forum, which needs
>>> outreach,
>>> should stay in traditional places?
>>>
>>> Because, and this is obvious, they are of a different nature and they
>>> have
>>> different objectives.
>>>
>>> - ICANN is a private organization which attendance is mainly corporate
>>> business organizations, and has the needed money to bring some CS on
>>> board
>>> (seatbelt fastened).
>>>
>>> - IGF is still an UFO (institutionally speaking) which raison d'etre is
>>> heavily relying on CS (and IGOs). Conversely, CS and IGOs find it the
>>> unique
>>> place where they may rise their profile in the IG and related fields.
>>> Both ICANN and IGF, in order to justify the necessity of their
>>> existence
>>> and unicity, *have* to reach out to (or to organize meetings in, at
>>> least)
>>> different countries [on a side note, who can seriously state that IGF
>>> 2009
>>> has changed anything in Egypt re: IG matters?]
>>>
>>> - WSIS Forum is the (recently) institutionalized follow-up to WSIS,
>>> which
>>> was, if I'm not wrong, a UN intergovernmental process led by the ITU (and
>>> this was by no mean an accident, contrarily to what someone said on this
>>> list). Since the end of WSIS, well before becoming the "WSIS Forum", it
>>> has
>>> been struggling for its existence and necessity and for taking over the
>>> other two. Now, what it needs is certainly not to travel around the
>>> world,
>>> but to seat itself as such at the UN headquarters (which is in NYC).
>>>
>>> ICANN showing its own well know problems, and considering the fact that
>>> whether it travels around the world or not, this doesn't change the
>>> essence
>>> of the organization and its decisions, let's talk about IGF and WSIS
>>> Forum:
>>>
>>> The former is more inclusive, but is toothless, the latter is likely to
>>> mainstream IG issues and make decisions, but is above all an
>>> intergovernmental process, in pure UN sense.
>>> CS may be part of both, but probably not showing the same profile (and
>>> consequently not the same framing of issues) at each venue. It's not
>>> necessarily about the height of this profile, but really about its
>>> orientation (susbtance) and its nature (mainly CSOs or mainly
>>> individuals).
>>>
>>> In my opinion, there is the strategic choice. Not in counting CS
>>> participation from different countries at one venue or the other.
>>>
>>> As regards IGOs, they can survive (in this field) only at IGF.
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> Meryem
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>
--
Salanieta Tudrau Tamanikaiwaimaro
P.O.Box 17862
Suva
Fiji Islands
Cell: +679 9982851
Alternate Email: s.tamanikaiwaimaro at tfl.com.fj
"Wisdom is far better than riches."
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