[governance] CSTD Working Group on Enhanced Cooperation

Sun Mar 17 08:20:31 EDT 2013

Michael, give or take a day, at the time you were seeking to represent
the technical and academic community in one process (CSTD enhanced
cooperation), you were speaking as a representative of civil society
at another related event (WSIS+10). You're the only person I know of
who has tried to flip between stakeholder groups in this way.  Good
luck to you.

Adam

On Sun, Mar 17, 2013 at 9:04 PM, michael gurstein <gurstein at gmail.com> wrote:
> Adam,
>
> My reasons for making the application through the T/A group are quite clear
> in the note I appended to the message I sent earlier to Ms. Bommalaer and
> which I sent as a request for endorsement to my "stakeholder group" --
> academics/researchers involved in making the Internet accessible and usable
> to the widest range of global citizens and particularly those who might
> otherwise marginalized in the process.
>
> Since there are some 4-5 billion people in the would not as yet accessing or
> using the Internet, even with all of the best will and skill by the
> technical community there would appear to be the need for additional
> knowledges and skills to those currently being made available to ensure that
> we are building an Internet which is truly for all. It is from that basis
> and representing that community that I made my application.
>
> If you disagree with what I wrote there or with the conclusion that I drew
> from that concerning applying through the T/A group I would be pleased to
> engage with you in that substantive discussion.
>
> Beyond that I believe there is nothing to discuss.
>
> M
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: apeake at gmail.com [mailto:apeake at gmail.com] On Behalf Of Adam Peake
> Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2013 4:51 AM
> To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org; michael gurstein
> Cc: Anriette Esterhuysen; bommelaer at isoc.org; HASSAN Ayesha; Roger Harris
> Subject: Re: [governance] CSTD Working Group on Enhanced Cooperation
>
> Hi Micheal,
>
> "double dipping" my terminology, not Constance.
>
> You are an active member of a civil society stakeholder group.  You have
> sought nominations through CS to the MAG, to WSIS+10 speaking role (for
> which you were selected), and in a related process you decided to try a
> different path through a different stakeholder group.
>  Good luck to you playing the field.
>
> Adam
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Mar 17, 2013 at 8:07 PM, michael gurstein <gurstein at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>> Dear Ms. Bommelaer,
>>
>>
>>
>> I have no idea how you might have informed yourself concerning my
>> possible "nomination" through the CS focal point for the CSTD WG on EC
>> and thus to be engaged in, in your terminology "double dipping" and
>> "constituency shopping". My understanding was that the nomination
>> process within the CS grouping was in fact, confidential.
>>
>>
>>
>> That being by the by, I'm attaching below what I believe to be the
>> relevant correspondence between myself and Ms. Esterhuysen concerning my
> "candidacy"
>> in this matter.  I believe there to have been some confusion on her
>> part based on her being part of a professional email list (the
>> editorial board of the Journal of Community Informatics which I edit)
>> and to which I sent the note below with an explanation asking for
>> endorsement for my candidacy for the Technical and Academic grouping
>> several of which endorsements I believe you have received.
>>
>>
>>
>> BTW, I (and now I believe, we) still await a clear exposition of the
>> procedures followed in the determination of your "nominations"
>> including the basis on which you determined and applied "the criteria
> used".
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm afraid that a quiet chat between you and a few of your friends as per:
>>
>> The names put forward were subject to considerable discussion as well
>> as oral dialogue with many individuals from Civil Society and the
>> Business community (including their focal points). The criteria used
>> were shared with all interested individuals as well as with the UN.
>>
>> is hardly sufficient for a matter of this significance and could by
>> some I believe, even be seen as undermining the legitimacy of the
>> multistakeholder approach to decision making itself, due to your
>> overall lack of formality, accountability and transparency.
>>
>>
>>
>> I believe an apology is in order. Also, I believe if your decision and
>> your communication with others was based on misinformation whatever
>> its source, I believe it only in order that you reconduct your
>> processes, this time based on formal and transparent procedures with
>> clearly identified and agreed upon criteria.
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>> -----------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>> From: michael gurstein [mailto:gurstein at gmail.com]
>>
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2013 10:21 AM
>>
>> To: 'anriette at apc.org'; 'emilar at APC.ORG'
>>
>> Subject: RE: [JoCI] Request for Endorsement for UN Working Group on
>> Internet issues
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Anriette,
>>
>>
>>
>> I'll attach my bio, resume and "endorsements". (I'm not sure what you
>> mean by an application form. I filled one out for the MAG but I didn't
>> see one for the ECWG.
>>
>>
>>
>> In any case FWIW I've sent my application and the endorsements to
>> Constance as I'm applying for the "technical/academic" stakeholder
>> group. My intention would be to speak to/from the EC issues from a
>> community informatics/grassroots/end user
>> academic/technical/researcher perspective. in which I'm thinking I
>> have the requisite background and experience. Also, again FWIW I am
> prepared to put in the time required for this.
>>
>>
>>
>> Constance et al seem a bit perplexed by my application but we'll see.
>> She evidently has agreed to "accept" it, what happens after that I'm
>> not sure.
>>
>>
>>
>> Of course, an "endorsement" from you folks would be excellent :)
>>
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>> ----------------------
>>
>>
>>
>> From: Anriette Esterhuysen [mailto:anriette at apc.org]
>>
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2013 4:29 PM
>>
>> To: Michael Gurstein; emilar at APC.ORG
>>
>> Subject: Re: [JoCI] Request for Endorsement for UN Working Group on
>> Internet issues
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Michael
>>
>>
>>
>> Really sorry.. but we are missing your application form.
>>
>>
>>
>> Please can you send today?
>>
>>
>>
>> Anriette
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> On 04/03/2013 09:45, michael gurstein wrote:
>>
>> Tks Roger,
>>
>>
>>
>> Yes, you are correct. The issues coming out of WSIS 2003/2005 were on
>> two tracks--"Information Society" (ICT4D and DD for example) and
>> "Internet Governance" (domain name management for example) on a second
>> track. The decision to pursue questions concerning "Enhanced
>> Cooperation" (concerning the overall global multistakeholder
>> governance of Internet related matters) was meant to integrate the two
> themes/tracks.
>>
>>
>>
>> Of the four "stakeholders" -- government, civil society, private
>> sector, and technical/academic -- the interests (stake) represented by
>> the technical/academic has to date been represented almost exclusively
>> by Developed Country techies with an interest in the maintenance of
>> the technical infrastructure (the second track) and it would be my
>> intention on that committee to ensure that Information Society issues
>> were also being considered.  There would be some overlap of interest
>> with the civil society reps--but their interests would be rather more
>> normative -- particularly around Human Rights and normative principles.
>>
>> Given the specific wording and mode of selection for this position it
>> is likely that individual endorsments might be of most value and
>> particularly academics such as those on this list.
>>
>>
>>
>> Best and tks,
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>> -----------------------------------
>>
>> From: joci-editorial-owner at vancouvercommunity.net
>> [mailto:joci-editorial-owner at vancouvercommunity.net] On Behalf Of
>> Roger Harris
>>
>> Sent: Monday, March 04, 2013 4:30 AM
>>
>> To: joci-editorial at vancouvercommunity.net
>>
>> Subject: RE: [JoCI] Request for Endorsement for UN Working Group on
>> Internet issues
>>
>>
>>
>> HI Mike,
>>
>>
>>
>> Happy to do this; you're certainly the right person to represent the
>> stance you describe.
>>
>>
>>
>> There's still talk around of digital divides and although I can detect
>> a slight drift towards the notion that they represent more than mere
>> access to devices, there's a danger the technologists will drown this out.
>>
>>
>>
>> Suggest you draft the appropriate wording and I'll put my name to it.
>> Maybe the group could do the same; a kinda 'petition'?
>>
>>
>>
>> Rgds
>>
>>
>>
>> Roger
>>
>>
>>
>> Dr. Roger Harris
>>
>>
>>
>> Consultant in ICTs for poverty reduction and rural development.
>>
>> http://www.rogharris.org/
>>
>>
>>
>> Co-Editor-in-Chief; The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in
>> Developing Countries
>>
>> http://www.ejisdc.org/ojs2/index.php/ejisdc
>>
>>
>>
>> Director Business Development; eBario Sdn Bhd
>>
>> http://www.ebario.org/
>>
>>
>>
>> Visiting Professor, Institute of Social Informatics and Technological
>> Innovation - Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
>>
>> http://www.isiti.unimas.my/
>>
>>
>>
>> --------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>> From: joci-editorial-owner at vancouvercommunity.net
>> [mailto:joci-editorial-owner at vancouvercommunity.net] On Behalf Of
>> michael gurstein
>>
>> Sent: 01 March, 2013 3:07 PM
>>
>> To: ciresearchers at vancouvercommunity.net;
>> cracin-canada at vancouvercommunity.net; ci-research-sa at vcn.bc.ca;
>> joci-editorial at vancouvercommunity.net
>>
>> Subject: [JoCI] Request for Endorsement for UN Working Group on
>> Internet issues
>>
>>
>>
>> Colleagues,
>>
>>
>>
>> The UN General Assembly is in the process of establishing a "Working
>> Group on Enhanced Cooperation". The function of this Working Group is
>> to deliberate on an institutional framework for identifying and
>> responding to issues concerning the global impact and operation of the
> Internet.
>>
>>
>>
>> As you know a wide range of Internet related issues have been rapidly
>> emerging concerning privacy and surveillance on the net;
>> infrastructure, access and cost of Internet use; freedom of expression
>> and censorship; the economic and other uses of personal data by
>> mega-corps like Facebook and Google; among others.  To date there are
>> no structures in place where discussions can be undertaken and, where
>> necessary, decisions can be made concerning these matters as they impact
> on the entire world.
>>
>>
>>
>> This Working Group is being established in response to a specific
>> direction from the World Summit on the Information Society where all
>> voices concerning these matters were given an opportunity to be heard.
>> This Group will function under the convenorship of the Chair of the UN
>> Commission on Science and Technology for Development. The outcome of
>> the Working Group will be one small, but not insignificant step in a
>> very long process, but as the first such development it will be
> significant.
>>
>>
>>
>> The Chair of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development
>> is required to ensure that the working group has balanced
>> representation between Governments and invitees from all other
>> stakeholders, namely, the private sector, civil society, technical and
>> academic communities, and intergovernmental and international
> organizations.
>>
>>
>>
>> In consultation with colleagues much more knowledgeable about these
>> processes than myself, I have decided to forward my candidacy as part
>> of the "technical and academic community". This in itself is something
>> of an innovation since the formulation "technical and academic
>> community" to date has included only those with a specifically
>> technical interest in Internet infrastructure and technical operation
>> althoughI believe this was not the original intention which was
>> rather, to have a broad range of such inputs including those with an
> end-user oriented research interest.
>>
>>
>>
>> I believe that it is important that "non-techie" Internet
>> academics/researchers be represented in this most important discussion
>> and I believe it  especially important that someone whose
>> academic/research interests are with ensuring the broadest base of
>> digital inclusion including among the marginalized, the rural, the
>> indigenous, women and others be also included and that matters
>> concerning these latter groups be raised as these global internet
> governance structures are being discussed.
>>
>>
>>
>> I see my role here as being something of a placeholder as I believe
>> that once the principle is established that technical and academic
>> interests with respect to the Internet must go beyond simply the
>> technical community there will be a range of opportunities for such
>> participation in other Working Groups that might follow.
>>
>>
>>
>> I should perhaps add that this participation is unfunded and it is as
>> yet unclear whether participation will be virtual or through face to
>> face meetings.  (The absence of funding for these kinds of
>> multistakeholder activities should not be surprising since for the
>> most part the stakeholders involved including the technical community
>> folks are participating as part of their normal work activities with
>> their travel being covered by their
>> employers.)
>>
>>
>>
>> So colleagues, with this note I'm asking you, and particularly those
>> of you with academic or research positions to "endorse" my candidacy
>> by sending an email to the focal point for the "technial/academic"
>> community Ms. Constance Bommelaer bommelaer at isoc.org and with a copy to
> myself.
>>
>>
>>
>> Your note need not be elaborate but it would be most useful to
>> indicate your academic title(s) as an indication of the breadth of
>> support for this candidacy. This matter has come up quite quickly and
>> the deadline is that endorsements should be forwarded no later than March
> 6.
>>
>>
>>
>> Feel free to pass this along to others you think might have an
>> interest but my preference is to not have this too broadly distributed
>> outside of the wider Community Informatics community at this time.
>>
>>
>>
>> With thanks,
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>> Michael Gurstein, Ph.D.
>>
>> Executive Director: Centre for Community Informatics Research,
>> Development and Training (CCIRDT)
>>
>> Vancouver, BC CANADA
>>
>>
>>
>> tel/fax: +1-604-602-0624
>>
>> email: gurstein at gmail.com
>>
>> web: http://communityinformatics.net
>>
>> blog: http://gurstein.wordpress.com
>>
>> twitter: #michaelgurstein
>>
>>
>>
>> No virus found in this message.
>>
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>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> anriette esterhuysen anriette at apc.org
>>
>> executive director, association for progressive communications
>>
>> www.apc.org
>>
>> po box 29755, melville 2109
>>
>> south africa
>>
>> tel/fax +27 1
>>
>>
>>
>>
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