[governance] Remote Participation
michael gurstein
gurstein at gmail.com
Wed Feb 29 11:18:16 EST 2012
(Coming in late, this was caught up in my gmail issues...
I'ld like to strongly agree with Ginger in this. For me Remote
Participation is not a technical issue but rather has to do with policy. A
commitment to "RP" has a lot of implications of which the technical and
organizational are only part (and even then may be the least significant).
RP implies that the processes of discussion are structured and designed --
including their planning, set-up, execution and follow-on -- in such a way
that those who are participating remotely are equally enabled and empowered
as those who are participating f2f.
Achieving this is a huge undertaking to my mind but one worth pursuing both
at the operational and at the policy level.
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org
[mailto:governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org] On Behalf Of Ginger Paque
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 2:47 AM
To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org; Adam Peake
Subject: Re: [governance] Remote Participation
Adam said:
I think it's petty to complain about technical problems with the
transcripts etc from the MAG meeting, bad connections happen all the
time (and if MAG members can't work out how to tell a group of people
they are having problems with a connection it perhaps says more about
them than it does about the secretariat/moderators.)
I think that this full discussion and support for RP is very important and
exciting.
I think that using the occasion of the recent meetings as an example and
illustration is a mistake. I agree with Adam that the tech glitches during
last week's meetings should not even be addressed--these are obvious.
Placing emphasis on tech details draws attention from the more valid, and
more important principles. I know I am repeating myself, but I think they
boil down to just one:
RP must be institutionalized in meeting processes.
The only serious problem I see with last week's meetings was the lack of a
remote moderator and clear processes. If RP -- and I mean remote
participation and remote engagement, not remote observation -- were an
automatic, standard part of meeting strategies and processes, the inclusion
of an onsite remote moderator would have been a given, as much as the
presence of the traditional chair and moderator. I dare to say that if one
of the members of the RPWG had been at the meetings, they might have
'requested' to be 'allowed' to act as remote moderator. Remote moderation
and remote participation should not depend on collaboration of volunteers
and serendipity. Implementation of RP may always need the collaboration of
volunteers, and the RPWG exists as a volunteer organization, seeking the
privilege of collaborating, but the planning process should originate in the
IGF structure itself, not in the action of volunteers.
If RP were institutionalized in the IGF process, the Secretariat might ask
the RPWG for collaboration, and issue a call for volunteers.
If RP were institutionalized in the IGF process, the Secretariat might
include a RPWG (or other mechanism) liaison for strategy, planning and
process and instead of an endless series of ad hoc situations.
If RP were institutionalized, Remote Hubs -- an innovation of the RPWG
catalysed by Marilia's energy and organization -- would become part of the
IGF process, not the RPWG process, would include remote hubs whenever
appropriate and would include support for regional IGFs.
I would prefer to see a strong, clear, short statement asking that RP be
institutionalised (maybe that is not the appropriate word) as an integral
part of the IGF meeting process.
Establishing principles and guidelines is separate process which has been
started, and should be coordinated to take advantage of, and include the
different input. It should not be done in a hurry, in response to one
frustrating meeting. Nor should one frustrating meeting opaque the progress
the IGF has made toward inclusive RP. We should use this meeting to energize
forward progress in an orderly manner. Can we form a better strategy and
focus for productive results? I think so. I have not made comments on the
existing statement, because I would re-write it completely, with a different
approach, with points I have made above.
Is it proper/possible for me to propose an alternate text? I do not have the
sense that there is consensus for the posts I have made previously, so I
have not done so.
Anyway, again, my 2 cents. Cheers for the energy around remote
participation!
Ginger
Ginger (Virginia) Paque
VirginiaP at diplomacy.edu
Diplo Foundation
Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme
www.diplomacy.edu/ig
The latest from Diplo....From the fundamentals of diplomacy to the most
exciting new trends: check our three online courses starting in May 2012:
Bilateral Diplomacy, Diplomacy of Small States, and E-diplomacy. Apply now
to reserve your place: http://www.diplomacy.edu/courses
On 23 February 2012 05:13, Adam Peake <ajp at glocom.ac.jp> wrote:
Comment below:
On Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 6:33 PM, Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro
<salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> Firstly thank you Deirdre for copying it onto word and making it much
easier
> to incorporate the new feedback that we received from Schombe, Jovan,
> Anriette, Jeremy, Roland, Mariela etc.
>
> Whilst I am copying the text onto this email, I will also place it on the
> Statement Workspace as well:
>
>
>
>
> STATEMENT BY THE CIVIL SOCIETY INTERNET GOVERNANCE CAUCUS ON REMOTE
> PARTICIPATION
>
> We would like to acknowledge the excellent work that the Internet
Governance
> Forum Remote Participation Working Group have been doing over the last
five
> years. We appreciate the numerous hours of sacrifice and work behind the
> scenes to build remote participation to what it is today. We have seen
how
> whilst Technology is important, that it goes hand in hand with
extraordinary
> levels of sacrifice and commitment. It is this commitment that enables
the
> spirit of the IGF which is in sharing, dialogue, collaboration and
> ultimately access.
>
> We are fortunate that the Internet Governance Forum Secretariat and UN
DESA
> are open .and committed to continued improvements to Remote Participation.
> Each year the IGF RPWG commences its operations with training of remote
> moderators many weeks ahead of the meeting, where they discuss with remote
> hubs and encourage participation and liaise with the Secretariat to make
> remote participation a reality.
>
> We would like to reiterate and underscore that remote participation is a
> crucial part of organizing the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and we
> appreciate the effort to provide remote participation for the Open
> Consultation, the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) meetings, and the
> MAG meeting this month - February 2012 - which was opened to observers.
>
> The IGC believes that Remote Participation (RP) should be an integral part
> of Internet Governance and IGF Policy Processes. It is impossible to
sustain
> an inclusive global policy process without effective remote participation.
> We would like to explore how we can assist in working together to address
> the issues raised in 2008 by various stakeholders that have yet to be
> addressed[1].
>
> The MAG and IGF Secretariats should start working with the host to ensure
> that real time transcriptions are available for all sessions and not just
> the Main Sessions.
>
from the Nairobi chair's summary document:
"The entire meeting was Webcast, with video streaming provided from
the main session room and audio streaming provided from all workshop
meeting rooms. All the main sessions and workshops had real time
transcription. The text transcripts and video of all meetings were
made available through the IGF Website."
I think it's petty to complain about technical problems with the
transcripts etc from the MAG meeting, bad connections happen all the
time (and if MAG members can't work out how to tell a group of people
they are having problems with a connection it perhaps says more about
them than it does about the secretariat/moderators.)
Thanks,
Adam
> We would like to commend the excellent work of the technical team from
> Politecnico di Torino, (The Polytechnic University of Turin) which was
> originally brought by our colleague and former IGC Civil Society
Coordinator
> Vittorio Bertola.
>
> However, we would like to point out some difficulties that occurred with
the
> system during the open MAG meeting. On the third day, morning session,
(the
> second day of the open MAG meeting), remote observers were effectively
> excluded because they had no access to live transcript.
>
> Also MAG members trying to participate online had difficulty in
contacting
> moderators, partly because the moderators were serving more than one
> function.
>
> We strongly urge MAG and IGF Secretariats and ourselves to consider the
> following for the future IGF organizing work and the IGF itself, and work
> together to bring them about:
>
> . Ensuring equal participation between online and offline participants
> through planning meetings to give online and offline participants an equal
> opportunity to participate and contribute to meetings.
>
> . Ensuring that there is sufficient capacity and appropriate bandwidth
to
> sustain remote participation by liaising with hosts well in advance to
> enable greater interactions from offline participants.
>
> . Preparing a clear comprehensive guideline for remote participation and
> its moderation and post session or meeting reporting for meeting hosts,
> facilitators and chairs.
>
> . Clearly advertising opportunities for RP in advance of all meetings,
> with clear guidance for participants on the opportunities to engage
through
> RP that will be available.
>
> .Always assigning exclusive remote participation coordinator/moderators
(who
> do not have other jobs at the same time, and are responsible for
> interactions between the meeting's physical participants/current speaker,
> the Chair and the remote participants).
>
> . Establishing a clear procedure that would encourage remote
participants
> to intervene. Such a system is desirable both for those physically present
> in Geneva and those observing the meeting remotely.
>
> . Providing as much interactivity as possible by giving remote
> participants to interact and engage in meetings.
>
> . Providing multiple methods - video, voice and text channel, as well as
> real-time transcription and video streaming - of coverage of the meeting
>
> . Enabling the meeting and remote participation through interactive
> presentations access through RP.
>
> . Creating a select Task force or Working Group created that has
> representatives from the Government, Private Sector and Civil Society that
> is dedicated to seeing improvements of Remote Participation and to ensure
> the incorporation of critical elements that have been highlighted to
ensure
> improved remote participation processes.
>
> Because only limited funds are available for face- to -face participation,
> this issue is crucially important to all stakeholders from all
> constituencies who are entitled to participate in the meetings, and who
wish
> to do so from a remote location. Meeting Chairs also play a central role
in
> creating a dynamic and inclusive environment that welcomes remote
> participation.
>
> We also encourage greater partnership between the governments and private
> sector in enhancing remote participation.
>
> We have to move beyond advocacy to listing and creating tangible outcomes
to
> make improved, stable and sustainable remote participation a reality.
>
> There are regions around the world where transportation is extremely
> expensive and one such region is the Pacific which has 22 countries and
> territories. Remote participation was the only way that any of these
> countries could access the IGF.
>
> However there is room to improve processes and create an IGF culture where
> remote participation is prioritised through exploring tested methodology.
>
> The appropriate technical solutions need also to be explored as well
> bandwidth and ensuring that there is uninterrupted power supply and
> redundancy options where backup generators are critical to maintain a
> consistent and seamless flow. The MAG and IGF Secretariats should also
> ensure that there is sufficient and dedicated bandwidth capacity to
sustain
> the volume of traffic from remote participation.
>
> Aside from having the appropriate technical solutions and should also
> include the following:-
>
> . Outreach.
>
> . Mapping local and regional stakeholders;
>
> . Coordinating with people on the ground significantly before the
> IGF in a series of strategic roll out.
>
> . Creation of Guidelines for Meeting Chairs and Moderators whilst
> noting the limitations.
>
> . Identifying how the private sector, civil society and
governments
> can be better involved in the remote hubs etc.
>
> . Encourage greater collaboration between the IGF RPWG and
national,
> sub regional and regional IGFs.
>
> We also express our support of the IGF RPWG which published guidelines and
> recommendations for remote participation and IGF 2011 WS-67 participants
> prepared a draft of e-participation principles.
>
> Ends
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> [1] http://wiki.igf-online.net/wiki/IGF_Virtual_Community
>
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 1:02 PM, Deirdre Williams
> <williams.deirdre at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Dear Sala,
>> I have been unavoidably out of contact all day, and am just catching up
>> with reading the messages.
>> I am not clear which document you want me to send.
>> I have attached a word copy of my response yesterday, although from
>> reading the discussion that has perhaps been superseded during the
>> discussions today?
>> Please let me know as I would be delighted to help.
>> De
>>
>>
>> On 22 February 2012 14:15, Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro
>> <salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Dear Deirdre,
>>>
>>> As you know our initial statement was used by the civil society
component
>>> of the CSTDWG as advised by Marilia.
>>>
>>> If you could please send it in a word document that would be super
>>> helpful and easy to put up on the Statement Workspace. We will also be
>>> sending our Statement to the IGF Secretariat.
>>>
>>> Kind Regards,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala
>>>
>>> Tweeter: @SalanietaT
>>> Skype:Salanieta.Tamanikaiwaimaro
>>> Cell: +679 998 <tel:%2B679%20998%202851> 2851
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> "The fundamental cure for poverty is not money but knowledge" Sir William
>> Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Economics, 1979
>
>
>
>
> --
> Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala
>
> Tweeter: @SalanietaT
> Skype:Salanieta.Tamanikaiwaimaro
> Cell: +679 998 <tel:%2B679%20998%202851> 2851
>
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
> governance at lists.igcaucus.org
> To be removed from the list, visit:
> http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing
>
> For all other list information and functions, see:
> http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance
> To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
> http://www.igcaucus.org/
>
> Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t
>
____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
governance at lists.igcaucus.org
To be removed from the list, visit:
http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing
For all other list information and functions, see:
http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance
To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
http://www.igcaucus.org/
Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t
!DSPAM:2676,4f461b5125626162813518!
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.igcaucus.org/pipermail/governance/attachments/20120229/17eaaa74/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
governance at lists.igcaucus.org
To be removed from the list, visit:
http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing
For all other list information and functions, see:
http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance
To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
http://www.igcaucus.org/
Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t
More information about the Governance
mailing list