[governance] Final Message to the IGC as co-coordinator [Goodbye and Thanks]

Tue Feb 4 04:19:42 EST 2014

Dear Colleagues,

Warm Greetings from Suva, Fiji,

It seems like only yesterday when several people asked me whether I would
be interested in standing for co-coordinator. In fact, if I knew what I
knew about what co-coordinators do, I most probably would not have stood.
:) I had no clue of what was in store.

Suffice to say, my role was easy because my predecessor Jeremy Malcolm made
it easier for me to transition into my role. He had migrated the list from
the cpsr to where it is today. I was also fortunate to have Izumi who had
been serving beside Jeremy for around a year before I came into serve. I
would like to take this time to especially thank them for their
collaboration and patience.

At the outset, one of the first things I had set to do in my new role was
to communicate with all past coordinators and over time, I would seek their
counsel and their collective wisdom. I would also like to thank all of them
for their patience, wisdom and dedication. Special thank you also to
Norbert Bollow my fellow co-coordinator who contributed immensely behind
the scenes. It was a privilege to work alongside you. Chaitanya Dhareshwar
has also been extremely helpful behind the scenes and my load was easier
because I had people like Chaitanya who was generous in volunteering his
time.

There are few aspects of civil society engagement that can be improved if
people take the initiative to push forward statements, submissions etc.
This is probably the only civil society group whose members and subscribers
belong to other civil society organisations. As Nnenna once mentioned, the
IGC is the oldest civil society organisation formed since the creation of
the WSIS.

The last two years, we have encountered several challenges both internally
and externally where levels of polarized debates affected our capacity to
negotiate or be functional in our advocacy. As this was happening, there
were changes happening in the dynamic landscape of internet governance such
as the uncertainty of Internet Governance etc.

For each person that unsubscribed or left the IGC, six people would join.
The average ratio of the unsubscriber is to subscriber is at an estimated
1:5

When we were debating the WCIT and having all kinds of polarised debates,
there were ITU policy staff subscribing to the IGC. The debates were
usually between the pro ICANN camp and the anti ICANN camp or it was the
pro ITU camp and the anti ITU camp and once pro single unified root versus
multiple root camp or the pro US and anti US camp. I am seeing the
discussions mature from the polarizations and whilst the differences still
exist, they are not as threatening and as menacing as they once was. It is
my hope that we can channel these diversities to show case the different
perspectives in relation to the issues as we address global public interest
concerned

 I am continuously surprised that there are many governments particularly
those in OECD countries who also subscribed to the IGC. I can say with
confidence that the diversity of stakeholders that lurk on the IGC list are
diverse and is not limited to civil society. Some see this as a threat, I
see it as an opportunity to allow them to hear our dialogue, rationale. The
list itself is mechanism for change. However, it is my hope that the IGC
will be able to make relevant and targeted submissions to various entities
and forums in productive ways. There are many pressing things ahead of us
and whilst we are preparing for the Brazil meeting and the IGF that we also
have a futuristic approach to the issues that demand our energy as we
position ourselves to meet the coming challenges.

To do this it will require some level of decorum where we can agree and
disagree professionally without personalizing matters. We have also had to
resolve numerous matters complaints lodged to the coordinators and this was
done discreetly. I am pleased that things have calmed down within the IGC.

One of the greatest thing I have had to learn was "restraint" and to be
"measured" in my response in dealing with situations and this was not an
easy thing but being in the IGC has helped me come to a greater
understanding of the diversity of voices. Our diversity is our strength. It
is my hope that we will use this shared understanding to reach out to other
stakeholders and interface with them in a manner that encourages meaningful
and productive interaction instead of alienation. Our success is dependent
on some extent on our diplomacy.

Last but not least, a big thank you to all of you for making the journey
worthwhile and memorable. I continue to learn daily from each of you, your
insights, your wisdom and seeing the world through your eyes.  In a few
hours, when we close the Poll, we will be announcing the new coordinators
and welcoming them.

Live and let live!

Many thanks everyone (Vinaka Vakalevu).

With every best wish for 2014,

Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala
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