[governance] Reviving IGC: Merging Bestbits in, IGF Day zero event and other subjects

parminder parminder at itforchange.net
Thu Jul 18 07:13:16 EDT 2019


On 18/07/19 3:13 PM, Sheetal Kumar wrote:
> snnip
>
> Also, btw the day 0 event is from 16h00-18h00 in Room X.
>

Unfortunately, JNC event is planned 1400-1800 hrs.. Is it possible to
ask the CS event to be done 1200-1400 or something, if possible, so that
all of us can attend it? thanks, parminder

> Best
>
> Sheetal
>
>
> On Thu, 18 Jul 2019 at 09:35, parminder <parminder at itforchange.net
> <mailto:parminder at itforchange.net>> wrote:
>
>
>     On 17/07/19 11:02 PM, Mueller, Milton L wrote:
>>     What Sheetal says below is correct in my opinion. We are in fact
>>     trying to merge BB and IGC. 
>
>     Only loosely speaking, formally from IGC point of view, there is
>     no merging happening... Some new people want to join IGC, and if
>     conditions are fulfilled they are indeed welcome.
>
>     If there is anything more? If so, everyone involved, please state
>     it out here, explicitly, on the IGC's primary working space. Why
>     are we going  in so many circles about it?
>
>     Lately, two specific, and what I consider minor, issues have been
>     stated.
>
>     1. Can enough time be given to elections so that the new members
>     can go through their 2 month cooling period.... I said that can be
>     done, and there has been no major opposition to it (Although,
>     frankly, if you ask me, I really do not understand why this hurry
>     and absolute insistence on voting right away . That should not be
>     such a big thing. Cooling periods are there for a reason. People
>     who havent ever been on the IGC  need to observe, see and know and
>     mingle before insisting on some absolute rights to vote for their
>     choice of coordinator. So, why, really this insistence ? What is
>     the plan? But anyway, I really said I am fine either way.)
>
>     2. What to do with BB's web archives, and again there is not much
>     problem with it. Whenever we have a working IGC website, we can
>     put them somewhere on it, no problem.
>
>     What else? Is there anything more? Why dont people tell us
>     clearly, rather than going in circles and creating so much confusion.
>
>>     We are trying to create a more unified civil society presence. We
>>     don’t do that by throwing up procedural walls around this group.
>
>     Can you be explicit? what procedural walls are blocking BB people
>     -- other than those who already are there-- from joining IGC, ?
>
>
>>     Face facts, IGC needs the people from BB just as much as they
>>     need us. It is destructive, as Sheetal says, to disregard the
>>     process we have been going through to bring things back together. 
>
>     What process is being disregarded, the one about  which yesterday
>     Arsene reported that it was decided that elections will be held
>     after (1) the IGC charter is amended (and I have been asking what
>     is this, who triggered this demand, with what objectives, what
>     justifications, and so on, and people simply refuse to answer),
>     and (2) when their is a combined list (sorry, IGC is not a list,
>     one has to individually take its membership with an explicit
>     individual-based process, there is no merging or combining lists
>     here) .
>
>
>>      I hope I don’t need to remind people why a significant chunk of
>>     civil society broke off from IGC to begin with - but it looks
>>     like certain actors are doing the reminding for me.  
>
>     Sure, Milton, since you are now going towards a confrontational
>     abyss, please do remind us. (Btw,  I was among the founding
>     members of BB, and I remember you werent around that much in those
>     discussions).  In fact any coming back of BB member to IGC -- if
>     you really think so --should perhaps be helped by visiting the
>     original conditions of why they went away and so on... We are
>     capable of an adult conversation here, and should not be afraid.
>     Important public facts are always good to know and discuss. And
>     then one may also discuss what happened with BB, whether they were
>     able to achieve the objectives they set themselves for, if not,
>     why, and what are the reasons of BB's dissolution and coming back
>     to an IGC, which admittedly is far weaker and lost now than when
>     they left it.
>
>>
>>     It is exclusionary to hold elections now, before the newcomers
>>     can vote. Can someone tell me what positive goal is achieved by
>>     doing that? Can someone tell me what is lost if we don’t hold
>>     elections?
>
>     Any newcomer needs just 2 months of membership to vote.. No one
>     really is insisting that we hold elections like today . But this
>     certainly cannot be the reason for a process that you / Sheetal
>     are saying has been on for more than 6 months now. That  would be
>     so very illogical, no..... Is just the issue of eligibility for
>     voting stopping the process, but why labour it over 7 months when
>     it needs just 2 months cooling period? -- Although it does make me
>     wonder, and I repeat, why such a strong focus on the coordinator
>     election!! IGC is much more than that... Why such insistence!!?
>     What does one read into it.
>
>>     Do some people like for IGC to be a small and hostile place where
>>     they can be a big fish in a small pond? I hope not.
>
>     (Just to match) Or are some people planning to make IGC their
>     private pond. I hope not.
>
>
>     parminder
>
>>
>>     Milton L Mueller
>>     Professor, School of Public Policy
>>     Georgia Institute of Technology
>>
>>     On Jul 17, 2019, at 14:07, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org
>>     <mailto:sheetal at gp-digital.org>> wrote:
>>
>>>     Dear all,
>>>
>>>     I agree that it is easy to join IGC if you sign up to the
>>>     Charter. It's indeed pretty straightforward. However, what I
>>>     don't understand is the disregard for a process that has been
>>>     ongoing for months, about a large and until recently active
>>>     splinter group of IGC (namely, Bestbits) which has since agreed
>>>     to close and its members who are not already part of IGC 'join
>>>     IGC'. Bestbits was not just a mailing list, it had an active
>>>     membership, it had a functioning website, it had a steering
>>>     group, it used to coordinate, and more. It also had its own
>>>     membership of the CSCG and used to convene an event before the
>>>     global IGF. And now it is closing. Who knows how many people who
>>>     have been part of that discussion or at least following on
>>>     Bestbits who are not on IGC would like to be part of the IGC
>>>     elections? Whether its semantic or not to call it a 'merger',
>>>     the point remains that this has been a discussion for a few
>>>     months that should, IMHO, have an impact on when to hold the IGC
>>>     elections. They don't have to, but I think it makes sense for
>>>     them to considering the history of IGC and Bestbits (as a
>>>     splinter group of IGC). Also, I'm not saying this because I want
>>>     to run for any elections necessarily, I've only ever been
>>>     interested a discussion towards a more impactful and coordinated
>>>     civil society in this space. It just seems to make sense not to
>>>     disregard that Bestbits discussion and to take decisions with
>>>     the Bestbits discussion in mind (again, because of the history
>>>     of the connection between Bestbits and IGC).
>>>
>>>     I've looked at the IGC Charter and it says "Voting process: Each
>>>     person who is subscribed to the list at least two (2) months
>>>     before the election will be given a voter account".
>>>
>>>     So, even if Bestbits members who are not part of IGC joined then
>>>     they couldn't vote right away. Shouldn't we wait for 2-3 months?
>>>     If there is a time sensitive reason not to, that would be good
>>>     to discuss.
>>>
>>>     For clarity, revising the IGC charter was only ever an idea, its
>>>     not been agreed to anywhere by anyone. It's just something to
>>>     discuss, further down the line. Perhaps.
>>>
>>>     Best
>>>     Sheetal
>>>
>>>     On Wed, 17 Jul 2019 at 12:40, Nnenna Nwakanma
>>>     <governance at lists.riseup.net
>>>     <mailto:governance at lists.riseup.net>> wrote:
>>>
>>>         I think we can pull off an IGC elections by  Berlin IGF.
>>>         Joining the IGC from BB  should not be  "a process".
>>>
>>>         Once an individual decides that it is worth it.. it only
>>>         takes a click to accept the charter and be added to the
>>>         mailing list.
>>>
>>>         My 2 cents
>>>
>>>         Nnenna
>>>
>>>         On Wed, Jul 17, 2019 at 11:36 AM Suresh Ramasubramanian
>>>         <suresh at hserus.net <mailto:suresh at hserus.net>> wrote:
>>>
>>>             Much to my surprise I agree with Parminder.  If Bestbits
>>>             is to be wound up, so be it.
>>>
>>>              
>>>
>>>             After which, those from Bestbits who wish to caucus in
>>>             the IGC please subscribe to the list and do so.
>>>
>>>              
>>>
>>>              
>>>
>>>             *From: *<governance-request at lists.riseup.net
>>>             <mailto:governance-request at lists.riseup.net>> on behalf
>>>             of parminder <parminder at itforchange.net
>>>             <mailto:parminder at itforchange.net>>
>>>             *Reply to: *parminder <parminder at itforchange.net
>>>             <mailto:parminder at itforchange.net>>
>>>             *Date: *Wednesday, 17 July 2019 at 4:50 pm
>>>             *To: *Arsène Tungali <arsenebaguma at gmail.com
>>>             <mailto:arsenebaguma at gmail.com>>, Sheetal Kumar
>>>             <sheetal at gp-digital.org <mailto:sheetal at gp-digital.org>>
>>>             *Cc: *"ian.peter at ianpeter.com
>>>             <mailto:ian.peter at ianpeter.com>" <ian.peter at ianpeter.com
>>>             <mailto:ian.peter at ianpeter.com>>, "Salanieta T.
>>>             Tamanikaiwaimaro" <salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro at gmail.com
>>>             <mailto:salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro at gmail.com>>,
>>>             governance <governance at lists.riseup.net
>>>             <mailto:governance at lists.riseup.net>>
>>>             *Subject: *Re: [governance] Reviving IGC: Merging
>>>             Bestbits in, IGF Day zero event and other subjects
>>>
>>>              
>>>
>>>             On 17/07/19 3:25 PM, Arsène Tungali wrote:
>>>
>>>                 Good point, Sheetal and I agree with you.
>>>
>>>                  
>>>
>>>                 I had briefly discussed the election issue with Bruna during the last
>>>
>>>                 ICANN meeting and we agreed that the best time to conduct co-co
>>>
>>>                 elections is right after the merger step is completed, the new charter
>>>
>>>                 has been adopted and we have a unified list. I am sure Bruna was
>>>
>>>                 planning to report this to the list at some point, but here you are.
>>>
>>>             Arsene
>>>
>>>             I am not sure what you mean about a unified list...
>>>
>>>             There is a clear, and rather easy, way to join the IGC,
>>>             and it is up to to those in Bestbits and not already in
>>>             IGC to take that route if they want to. Meanwhile we do
>>>             welcome all civil society members adhering to iGC's
>>>             charter (rather than insisting for, unclear and unstated
>>>             reasons, to modify it).
>>>
>>>             And there is really no merger involved here, even if
>>>             people loosely use that language .
>>>
>>>             I remain astonished about the repeated talk about a new
>>>             IGC charter, especially as an already decided thing!
>>>             What exactly are you talking about.
>>>
>>>             And I am further pained for you, being still perhaps an
>>>             IGC co-coordinator, not at all responding to my clear
>>>             email about how this elist is the primary work place for
>>>             the IGC, and also an ex-coordinator's assent tp the
>>>             sentiment.
>>>
>>>                  
>>>
>>>                 I would suggest we all plan to attend the call and agree on next steps.
>>>
>>>             You can make whatever calls and agree on whatever steps
>>>             you have you may wish to -- that is no part of IGC's
>>>             procedure, and would have no meaning or consequence for it.
>>>
>>>             regards
>>>
>>>             parminder
>>>
>>>              
>>>
>>>                  
>>>
>>>                 Regards,
>>>
>>>                 Arsene
>>>
>>>                  
>>>
>>>                 2019-07-17 11:44 UTC+02:00, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org> <mailto:sheetal at gp-digital.org>:
>>>
>>>                     Dear all,
>>>
>>>                      
>>>
>>>                     While the closure of Bestbits is an internal matter for Bestbits, we have
>>>
>>>                     agreed for it to be closed and so I'd say any IGC conversations need to
>>>
>>>                     take that into account. We're at that point where the closure has been
>>>
>>>                     agreed but there are still people on Bestbits who are not on IGC but likely
>>>
>>>                     will sign up to be part of the discussions soon.
>>>
>>>                      
>>>
>>>                     As such, shouldn't we wait for those from Bestbits who want to join to join
>>>
>>>                     and we can then get the IGC coordinator elections going? The call to agree
>>>
>>>                     next steps and make sure everyone is on the same page is going to be w/c
>>>
>>>                     August 5.
>>>
>>>                      
>>>
>>>                     Best
>>>
>>>                     Sheetal
>>>
>>>                      
>>>
>>>                     On Wed, 17 Jul 2019 at 06:29, ian.peter at ianpeter.com <mailto:ian.peter at ianpeter.com>
>>>
>>>                     <ian.peter at ianpeter.com> <mailto:ian.peter at ianpeter.com>
>>>
>>>                     wrote:
>>>
>>>                      
>>>
>>>                         Bruna,
>>>
>>>                          
>>>
>>>                         On a more substantive matter -
>>>
>>>                          
>>>
>>>                         Can you also advise us on how progress is going as regards getting the
>>>
>>>                         IGC
>>>
>>>                         Coordinator elections (which were due last January) underway? On June 26
>>>
>>>                         you advised the list that you. would be talking to Arsene and would get
>>>
>>>                         back to the list ASAP.  Do you have an update?
>>>
>>>                          
>>>
>>>                         Ian Peter
>>>
>>>                          
>>>
>>>                          
>>>
>>>                          
>>>
>>>                         ------ Original Message ------
>>>
>>>                         From: "Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro" <governance at lists.riseup.net> <mailto:governance at lists.riseup.net>
>>>
>>>                         To: "Parminder" <parminder at itforchange.net> <mailto:parminder at itforchange.net>
>>>
>>>                         Cc: "governance" <governance at lists.riseup.net> <mailto:governance at lists.riseup.net>
>>>
>>>                         Sent: 17/07/2019 2:14:13 PM
>>>
>>>                         Subject: Re: [governance] Reviving IGC: Merging Bestbits in, IGF Day zero
>>>
>>>                         event and other subjects
>>>
>>>                          
>>>
>>>                         Agree with Parminder.
>>>
>>>                          
>>>
>>>                         On Wed, 17 Jul 2019, 5:11 am parminder, <parminder at itforchange.net> <mailto:parminder at itforchange.net>
>>>
>>>                         wrote:
>>>
>>>                          
>>>
>>>                             HI Bruna/ All
>>>
>>>                              
>>>
>>>                             Good morning to all!
>>>
>>>                              
>>>
>>>                             Bestbits' merging into the IGC is their internal matter.
>>>
>>>                              
>>>
>>>                             As for a day zero event at the IGF for the IGC, when do you plan it...
>>>
>>>                             Just Net Coalition has an event post lunch on day zero, and please
>>>
>>>                             ensure
>>>
>>>                             that these do not clash. Thanks.
>>>
>>>                              
>>>
>>>                             While as a secondary or adjunct method call based discussions can be
>>>
>>>                             done
>>>
>>>                             among however wishes to do so, the charter clearly says that the main
>>>
>>>                             and
>>>
>>>                             authoritative space of IGC's work will be this e-list, which I request
>>>
>>>                             everyone's attention to.
>>>
>>>                              
>>>
>>>                             thanks and best regards
>>>
>>>                              
>>>
>>>                             parminder
>>>
>>>                             On 17/07/19 7:32 AM, Bruna Martins dos Santos (via 
>>>
>>>
>>>     *
>>>     *
>>>     *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>     Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>     Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>     T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
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>>>
>>>     ---
>>>     To unsubscribe: <mailto:igc-unsubscribe at lists.riseup.net>
>>>     List help: <https://riseup.net/lists>
>>
>>     ---
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>
>
>
> -- 
>
> *
> *
> *Sheetal Kumar*
> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2 0603
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>
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