[governance] Meeting report ECOSOC presentations
jlfullsack at wanadoo.fr
jlfullsack at wanadoo.fr
Sun Jul 31 18:06:19 EDT 2011
Dear Renate
Many thanks for your message and its useful information.
I only regret that in the course of the WSIS follow-up process CS is becoming more and more "evanescent" or at least less visible. This is detrimental to any kind of progress especially in the field of development. I'd just remind you the Forum 2011 "high level"session intitled "ICTs as an Enabler for Development of LDCs". The presentaion by the ITU and the contributions of the "high level" speakers" was simply pathetic, and their references quite questionable ! The 4th LDCs Summit in Istanbul didn't even mention ICTs as its main goals or tools in its debates and in its outcome documents ! LDCs needn't an advertizing campaign for Intel, M$, Cisco and consorts under the umbrella of the ITU, Unesco and UNDP, but applications they can afford and that are useful for first survive and second develop, following their own model and culture. And CS present in the room wasn't able to impose this fundamental idea, rather asking conventional questions -although some unconfortable ones- instead of questioning the market-driven and ICT focused approach of the "high level" speakers.
I do hope that during the 2012 WSIS Forum, we won't once again listen to this neoliberal discourse in complete inadequacy with the actual issues faced by LDCs. Instead, CS must be able to impose a programme implementing ICTs in a holistic vision, considering actually vital priorities such as water, sanitation and electricity,and to implement telecoms and ICTs in a way directly linked to the needs of the population and the countries concerned, according to our Declarations in Geneva and Tunis. CONGO would be very useful for convening again CS plenaries that discuss these issues and raise other good questions to ask the "high level speakers". Only then can CS address the core issues and propose solutions for a better future for all DCs, especially for the most fragile ones : the LDCs.
Let me just raise a final point before ending this mail. The Horn of Africa is home to an unprecedented and unbearable famine with thousands of human beings dying every day. The FAO is unable to collect 2 billion dollars for helping the population concerned to get at least basic food for them. But in Kigali in 2007, the "Connect Africa Summit" collected 55 Billions for adding mobile networks to the existing ones just for the sake of competition, the buzz of ITU and its "high level" WSIS speakers ! And Kenya who happened to find more than 100 Million dollars (more than 20 Million coming from the governement) for laying a third submarine cable from Mombasa to the Emirates two years ago (to date it is quasi empty) and earned the admiration of the WSIS attendance. But at the same time this country is still unable so give a minimum living standard to the million people crammed in "one of the largest slums in the world" (Amnesty International) at the outskirts of its capital. How long can CS involved in the WSIS be witnessing such criminal situations (yes : criminal because scarce public resources are diverted from vital purposes to ideological ones) without shouting to the UN Agencies and their sponsors from the "ICT sector" : Stop ! Enough is enough !
You see, dear Renate, there is a big job ahead and it is highest time.
Friendly yours
Jean-Louis fullsack
CSDPTT, France
Message du 28/07/11 12:57
> De : "Renate Bloem (Gmail)"
> A : governance at lists.cpsr.org, "'Jean-Louis FULLSACK'" , "'Philippe Blanchard'"
> Copie à :
> Objet : RE: [governance] Meeting report ECOSOC presentations
>
> Dear Philippe and Jean-Louis,
Let me first thank Philippe for his kind words and his report. Just to add: South Africa, on behalf of India and Brazil, made a strong statement in calling for an intergovernmental mechanism for enhanced cooperation, separate from but in close cooperation with the IGF.
Otherwise ECOSOC adopted without vote all the decisions from its subsidiary body the CSTD, including “Participation on non-governmental organizations and civil society entities not accredited to WSIS in the work of CSTD”, taking down the last barrier for participation in the Commission.
However, participation in ECOSOC itself is still restricted to ECOSOC NGOs. But these 4 week long substantive sessions in July, alternating between NY and Geneva, are seen by many NGOs/CSOs just as rubberstamping exercises, apart from the High level segment at the beginning, and therefore not worth their attendance (I have a slightly different opinion) , except for Geneva or NY based entities for sections of their interest. Jean Louis, this may explain the low attendance of CSOs. But the relative high attendance of Governments at least indicates interest in the issues. NGOs are invited and can also take the floor on any item.
Best
Renate
From: governance at lists.cpsr.org [mailto:governance at lists.cpsr.org] On Behalf Of Jean-Louis FULLSACK
> Sent: jeudi, 28. juillet 2011 10:45
> To: governance at lists.cpsr.org; Philippe Blanchard
> Subject: re: [governance] Meeting report ECOSOC presentations
Dear members of the list
>
>
> Philippe wrote :
> < we had the opportunity to have some comments from the civil society (ISOC- Internet Society ; CCI – International Chambers of Commerce).>
>
> I'm surprised to find these orgs under a "civil society label". Some complementary comments are needed ... especially related to the sentence
> < the attendance was fairly high. And that is definitely a good sign.>
>
> Can we, CS representatives in the WSIS process, qualify such a "biased attendance" as a good sign ? For which of our goals ? What I would like to know is how many true CS delegates attended these meetings and which organisatiions they represented. Additionnally it'd be interesting to know how DCs were represented in these meetings : governement, regional orgs, CS and private sector.
>
> Perhaps Philippe -or any other delegate on these meetings- could provide us these data. Many thanks in advance.
>
> Jean-Louis Fullsack
> CSDPTT
>
>
>
>
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> Message du 27/07/11 10:11
> > De : "Philippe Blanchard"
> > A : governance at lists.cpsr.org
> > Copie à : "Renate Bloem (Gmail)"
> > Objet : [governance] Meeting report ECOSOC presentations
> >
> > Dear All,
> >
> > please find hereby some notes I took during the ECOSOC presentations. For reading and archiving purposes, I enclosed the Word document.
> > Kind regards,
> > Philippe
> >
> >
> >
> > Data
> >
> > Author : Philippe Blanchard
> >
> > Subject : UN Ecosoc plenary session, reports on the « World summit on information society » and « internet governance forum »
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 1. Referential documents
> >
> > Please refer to the ECOSOC webpages and especially the internet activity related reports :
> >
> > • Report of the Secretary-General on progress made in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society at the regional and international levels (A/66/64 – E/2011/77)
> >
> > • Report of the Working Group on improvements to the Internet Governance Forum (A/66/67-E/2011/79)
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> > 2. Points of interest
> >
> > I will not paraphrase the content of the two reports and I am just taking the liberty to highlight some elements of interest.
> >
> >
> >
> > Strong agreement on some stakes both on the citizen level (privacy,…) and the economical level (growth factor, cloud computing…) and on some risks (fraudulent use ; espionage…). But no mention of key elements such as “freedom of speech”, “local vs universal jurisdiction”… I fear those elements are definitely more controversial and will be/must be addressed once the e-governance principles have been set.
> >
> > · I would personally suggest we work in parallel the meta-level (e-governance) and the fields of application. We are bound to proceed in a co-development scheme rather than a (more historical) sequential process.
> >
> > · IGF is definitely the opportunity to address this.
> >
> >
> >
> > The principles of stake-holder participation, multilateral work are clearly understood and (at least) communicated. After the panelists’s presentation, we had the opportunity to have some comments from the civil society (ISOC- Internet Society ; CCI – International Chambers of Commerce).
> >
> > · Nicolas SEIDLER, Policy Advisor for ISOC : for more information on his report. (seidler at isoc.org)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > We were reminded the “sovereignty of States” (not a surprise) and the “necessity to engage in a multistakeholders”. IGF role is unanimously recognized. US representatives praised the “consultative role” and the fact it was “a no-decision body” (to ensure leeway and avoid being struck in some diplomatic vocabulary bargaining).
> >
> > · However, I would have liked to have some definition of “internet eco-system”. I am afraid there is still a misunderstanding about the existence of a theoretical frontier between IRL (in real-life) and e-life. Cf some comments, for instance on “internet is a global facility” from a State representative (Venezuela, I think)
> >
> > · Some confusion between “e-governance” and “internet governance” also appeared in floor comments, following the reports presentation.
> >
> > · Some demands to extend IGF role (CUBA) and a request from the Working group (India, Brasil and RSA- South Africa) to benefit from a “official platform”. I am not sure if it was complementary to IGF or not. This platform would support more effectively the developing countries actions and would bring up “processes to enhance collaboration”.
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> > Points of interest (cont’d)
> >
> > We were told that Key performance indicators have been agreed upon by the CSTD. I think this is key and would suggest these are shared and monitored by all the stake-holders and followers. (but it is probably my “If you cannot measure it, it is just a hobby” mindset J ).
> >
> >
> >
> > I am afraid network neutrality was only mentioned once and I hope I wasn’t listening carefully enough.
> >
> > · For me this element is definitely key. Yes I understand both the political and economical stakes… but it is core.
> >
> >
> >
> > We were also told that IGF Executive Coordinator (Markus Kummer’s previous position) should be soon filled. No deadlines announced yet.
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> > Conclusion
> >
> > Very interesting and informative session. I understood the meeting room was slightly more packed on the previous days, with more politically sensitive discussions but the attendance was fairly high. And that is definitely a good sign.
> >
> >
> >
> > I would like to take the opportunity to thank twice Mrs Renate BLOEM:
> >
> > ü she found the way to get me accredited. And I can swear it was no piece of cake. Despite the confirmation she had beforehand, she had to spend 30 mn securing my access. My accreditation was issued at 10:02 for a meeting starting at 10:00.
> >
> > ü The discussion we had after the session was really great and she brought challenging food for thought.
> >
> >
> >
> > Vielen Danke, Renate, du bist wunderbar.
> >
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> > On Jul 22, 2011, at 2:06 PM, Renate Bloem (Gmail) wrote:
> >
> > Hi Philippe,
> >
> > I have tried to accredit you under CIVICUS, hope it is not too late
> > BTW, this item will only be dealt with on Tuesday, 26 July, 10h00-11h030
> > Best
> > Renate
> >
> > Renate Bloem
> > Main Representative
> > Civicus UN Geneva
> > Tel:/Fax +33450 850815/16
> > Mobile : +41763462310
> > renate.bloem at civicus.org
> > renate.bloem at gmail.com
> > skype: Renate.Bloem
> >
> > CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
> > PO BOX 933, 2135, Johannesburg, South Africa
> > www.civicus.org
> > Read e-CIVICUS, a free weekly newsletter on civil society
> > (http://www.civicus.org/ecivicus-newsletter)
> >
> > Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to. Thank you.
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: governance at lists.cpsr.org [mailto:governance at lists.cpsr.org] On Behalf
> > Of Philippe Blanchard
> > Sent: vendredi, 22. juillet 2011 11:39
> > To: governance at lists.cpsr.org; Roland Perry
> > Subject: Re: [governance] ECOSOC
> >
> > Dear Roland
> >
> > thank you for the follow-up.
> > I have enquired and unfortunately, only the "usual suspects" :-) can make
> > it.
> > I discovered that the "International NON-Olympic Committee" is welcome
> > whereas the "International Olympic Commitee", despite its UN recognition, is
> > not !!!
> >
> > I will follow the outcomes through the net.
> >
> > Kind regards,
> > Philippe
> >
> > On Jul 21, 2011, at 1:57 PM, Roland Perry wrote:
> >
> > In message <1D8E4662-5BB4-40E1-9E5E-C8BCB994F2AA at me.com>, at 11:35:13 on
> > Thu, 21 Jul 2011, Philippe Blanchard writes
> >
> > > Anyone knows the access condition for public viewing ?
> >
> > I have a feeling you have to be [a government or] ECOSOC accredited.
> >
> > http://csonet.org/index.php?menu=113
> >
> > Several of the 'usual suspects', here, have this.
> >
> > > creditation.pdf>
> >
> > ps. It's the CSTD (in effect an ECOSOC subgroup) which is still
> > admitting "WSIS accredited" people, which in practice means 'anyone'.
> > But you would still have to register for that [1] in advance.
> >
> > [1] http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/ecn162011d1_en.pdf
> > --
> > Roland Perry
> > ____________________________________________________________
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