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Re: [atlarge-discuss] Outreach (lack thereof) in WSIS communication practices
Dear all,
the WSIS issue is certainly going to be a major issue in the comming months
and years. I would strongly recommand that all the interested @large
aggregate in a WG-WSIS. I will cerainly donate the initial site, mail and
mailing list to any webmaster interested, as soon as we have obtained the
atlarge.org management and can stabilize the http://wsis.atlarge.org site.
May be Judyth would you be interested: your double command of French and
English, your women network relations could help in creating a back-bone
for such an endeavor. The reason why I suggest you this is that you are
obviously interested but not yet engaged (from this post) and you have a
good command of the ICANN issues. The French aspect would also help you
using a brillant tool to manage a cooperative site which is unfortunately
not yet translated in English ( http://uzine.net/spip ).
We have engaged as Eurolinc (I suppose you will be interested into that
aspect too) an effort that we will share with our Spanish, Portuguese,
Italian; German, Greek, Gaelic, Nordic, Russian and Eastern European
languages speakers from all over the world (however an European language
Englsih seems out of that list as they have the privildedge to share with
the DNS a same "international" caracter set).
This will lead us to propose a presentation about bridging the digital
divide both for people and for technologies. Actions will also be
considered over e-learning and multiliguism (generation of multiligual
sites, lexical issues, arts and graphics etc.).
We see that NGOs are politely kept ouside of the WSIS. This results from
different factors as we know it. A proposition we have engaged (the @large
are idealy positionned to support) is the command of the root server system
itself. This is technical and somewhat political, and calls for financing.
But financing will be worked out with national helps and sponsors, once we
show our determination of professional experimentations and operations.
From having bootstrapped the http://dot-root.com project, I gain
experience on the response and the technoal/politial environement. It turns
out that we are really the best leaders because we are not blocked by
political nor administrative constraints and the cost is minimal (an old
Pentium in line with many ISPs only glad to share and offer the colocation
for free). I will therefore continue documenting he project in he coming
weeks and to call on you for translations, and on others to check the
proper wording (please all interested people join the dot-root mailing
list). We mat very well be among the WSIS leaders through that short-cut.
There are certainly many other ways for the world@large to benefit from our
World Submit.
By the way if we do not chose world@large as a name - or if we chose it.
The logo of the WG-WSIS would be easy: "world@large" underlined by
"information society"
jfc
At 18:43 05/09/02, espresso@e-scape.net wrote:
The cavalier attitude towards civil society is not in itself newsworthy
since it's the usual tactic these days to prevent participation on grounds
of administrative efficiency. Personally, I think that somewhere in our
plans should be a mission to support the inclusion of NGOs and individuals
in meaningful ways in all international bodies, not just ICANN.
I also think we (especially the Outreach WG) should bear in mind that
organizations already exist at the international level whose interest in
our efforts here will be proportional to the degree to which we are able
to face real-life issues of democracy, transparency and open communication
as well as the technical aspects of administering the Internet.
Few CRIS people would commit to a focus on TLD conventions and ICANN
in-fighting ... which may well be one of the reasons a "blueprint" to
exclude them is being pushed despite recommendations to the contrary from
ICANN's own committees studying their modus operandi.
Regards,
Judyth
<< start of forwarded material >>
From: "Bruce Girard" <bgirard@comunica.org>
To: crisinfo@comunica.org
Subject: [CRIS Info] letter to WSIS re communication practices
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Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2002 14:26:49 +0200
CRIS Info is a public list for information and questions about the
campaign for Communication Rights in the Information Society (CRIS)
http://crisinfo.org
CRIS also has a Latin American regional list at:
http://comunica.org/mailman/listinfo/crisal_comunica.org
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________________________________________
This letter regarding the WSIS communication practices and the upcoming
informal meeting on content and themes was sent from CRIS to the WSIS
yesterday September 2.
A message distributed by the Civil Society Division (CSD) of the WSIS
Secretariat today (September 3) offers an explanation for why NGOs were
not previously informed of the meeting. While the invitation was issued
August 9, the programme, including such issues as how many would speak,
was only decided September 2. According to the message: "In order not to
raise expectations that would not be fulfilled, it was seen more
appropriate to send out the invitation after the role and time dedicated
to civil society was clearly established."
The CSD message details the proposed procedures for the first day of the
meeting. For civil society this will be a maximum of 4 presentations, each
one up to 10 minutes with up to 10 additional minutes for questions. The
afternoon will be a discussion. The second and third day of the meeting
are open only to government delegates.
bg
---------------
Pierre Gagné, Executive Director
WSIS Secretariat
c/o ITU
Place des Nations
1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
CC: Adama Samassekou, Chair, WSIS Preparatory Process
Alain Clerc, Director, Civil Society Division, WSIS Secretariat
Members of CRIS and the civil society plenary
2 September 2002
I am writing you on behalf of the steering committee of Communication
Rights in the Information Society (CRIS). CRIS works to ensure that
communication rights are central to the World Summit on the Information
Society. Further information about CRIS can be obtained from
www.crisinfo.org. I was also the co-chair of the civil society plenary
formed by some 150 representatives of civil society organisations at the
Geneva PrepCom in July.
We were surprised when one of our members consulted the WSIS website last
week and discovered the invitation to the Informal Meeting on Content and
Themes to be held in Geneva September 16-18. While the invitation is
addressed to civil society organisations, to the best of our knowledge no
civil society organisations, not even those accredited to PrepCom 1, were
informed that they had been invited. Civil society organisations will
only be aware of this invitation if they happen to visit the WSIS website.
(Ironically, NGOs are more likely to learn about the upcoming meeting from
UNESCO, which mentioned it in the August 28 edition of WebWorld, an
electronic newsletter delivered by email.)
One request we have made repeatedly in meetings with the secretariat is
that the WSIS adopt appropriate communication practices that avoid an
over-reliance on the WWW. We pointed out that it is not effective simply
to put information on the WSIS website. Few people visit websites to see
if a meeting has been scheduled, let alone to see if they have been
invited to it. This is especially true for people in less-industrialised
countries with
limited access to the Internet.
We sought, and received, assurances from WSIS Secretariat staff that your
communication practices would address our concerns. However, if the case
of the invitation to the meeting on content and themes is an example of
current practices, they are most definitely not addressing our concerns.
Merely posting an invitation to an important meeting on a website is not
acceptable and does not inspire confidence in the WSIS as an open and
transparent process that truly seeks broad participation from all sectors.
You have lists with names, emails, fax numbers and postal addresses of the
civil society organisations accredited to the PrepCom. Why were they not
directly informed of the meeting? Were others directly informed of the
meeting? If they were, what is the justification for the differential
treatment?
We are convinced that if the WSIS is to be a success it must have open and
transparent communication practices. We urge you to immediately review
your communication practices and to implement a policy that will
facilitate broad involvement in the WSIS. As a starting point, this policy
must ensure that interested civil society organisations are treated with
the same concern and respect as governments, international agencies, ITU
sector members and private sector entities. Other elements of this policy
could include increasing the publication frequency of the WSIS newsletter
(as well as reviewing its editorial policy), instituting opt-in lists for
people who would like to be informed of changes to your website, and
supporting NGOs in the production and dissemination of materials relevant
to the information society and the WSIS.
Among our membership we have organisations and individuals with a vast
experience spanning government, civil society and the private sector
in the design and implementation of communication approaches. If you want
to design and implement appropriate communication practices, we will be
willing to work with you.
Yours sincerely,
Bruce Girard
CRIS Steering Committee
_______________________________________________
Communication Rights in the Information Society (CRIS)
For more information see http://www.crisinfo.org/
act@crisinfo.org
Crisinfo mailing list
Send contributions to Crisinfo@comunica.org
CRIS Info archives are at:
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---And here's what the letter is about:
------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: "WSIS Geneva 2003" <wsis.csd@ties.itu.int>
To: "Info Geneva2003" <info@geneva2003.org>
Subject: WSIS - Informal meeting on content and themes -
Geneva,
16 Sept 2002
Date sent: Tue, 3 Sep 2002 13:42:57 +0200
Version francaise plus bas
ENGLISH Version ---------------------
World Summit on the Information Society - Informal meeting on content
and themes - Geneva, 16 September 2002
The meeting has been convened by the President of Sub-Committee II of
the Preparatory Committee. The meeting is informal. It aims at
continuing the discussion on content and themes started at Prepcom I.
The principle of inviting civil society & NGO representatives is
spelled out in the invitation letter
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/im_sep2002.html). However, the
program of the day, the decisions regarding how many persons would
speak and other arrangements for civil society participation in the
meeting were decided September 2nd only. In order not to raise
expectations that would not be fulfilled, it was seen more appropriate
to send out the invitation after the role and time dedicated to civil
society was clearly established.
The ground rules for this meeting are the following:
Those who where provisionally accredited to Prepcom I may register for
the meeting. All attendees need to register
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs/im_sep2002/reg_form_ngos_private.doc).
Completed Registration form should be faxed to the following number:
++41 22 730 58 81. No notification will be sent to registered
participants.
Thus far, registration of governmental delegates indicates that
attendees are primarily from Geneva missions. No funding is available
for this meeting.
--Provisionary Program
The program will include
- 3hrs-4hrs presentations by invited presenters
- 2hrs open discussion with attendees
Presentations will be given from different perspectives: civil
society; business; regional & international organizations. Presenters
will be invited by the President of Sub-Committee II to speak at the
meeting. A total number of 12 presentations is envisaged, 4 of which
could be from civil society.
Presenters are asked to take the Report from Committee II of Prepcom
I- Documents on Themes - as basis for their presentation.
http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/im_sep2002.html
They should provide comments on themes and ways they could be
elaborated in order to assist the Prepcom II in developing themes for
the Summit. Each presenter will be given 10 minutes to make their
comments followed by 10 minutes Questions & Answers from those
attending. Presenters are asked to prepare a written statement of
their comments.
Open discussion is planned in the afternoon session. Attendees should
register on the speaker list in the morning. Attendees will be able to
take the floor at the invitation of the Chair.
--Working languages
All 6 UN working languages.
Version FRANCAISE ---------------------
Sommet Mondial sur la Société de l'Information - Réunion informelle
sur le contenu et les thèmes - Genève, 16 septembre 2002
Le Président du Sous-Comité II du processus préparatoire est
l'initiateur de cette réunion informelle. Elle a pour objectif
d'approfondir les discussions entamées lors du PrepCom I qui s'est
tenu en juillet à Genève.
Le principe d'inviter des représentants de la société civile pour la
journée du 16 septembre figure dans la lettre d'invitation
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/im_sep2002.html). Toutefois, le
programme de cette journée ainsi que les modalités de participation de
la société civile, notamment les temps de prise de parole, ont été
fixées le 2 septembre seulement. Afin de ne pas créer des attentes qui
auraient pu être déçues, il paraissait opportun d'envoyer les
invitations seulement après que les modalités de participation de la
société civile aient été arrêtées.
Les règles de cette réunion sont les suivantes :
Les organisations qui ont bénéficié d'une accréditation provisoire
pour la PrepCom I peuvent s'inscrire à cette réunion informelle. Tous
les participants doivent s'inscrire
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs/im_sep2002/reg_form_ngos_private.doc).
Le formulaire d'inscription doit être renvoyé par fax au ++41 22-730
58 81. Aucune confirmation ne sera renvoyée aux inscrits.
Au 3 septembre, la plupart des délégations gouvernementales inscrites
sont composées de représentants de missions diplomatiques basées à
Genève. Aucun financement n'est prévu pour cette réunion.
--Programme provisoire
Le programme inclus :
- 3-4 heures de présentations de personnes invitées
- 2 heures de débats avec les participants
La session sera composée de présentations provenant de différentes
perspectives : société civile, entreprises privées, organisations
régionales et internationales. Le Président du sous-comité II invitera
les orateurs à prendre la parole. Douze présentations sont envisagées,
dont quatre pourraient provenir de représentants de la société civile.
Les orateurs sont invités à utiliser le Rapport du Comité II de la
PrepCom I comme base de leur présentation.
http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/im_sep2002.html
Ils devront commenter les thèmes et faire des propositions quant à
leur élaboration, afin d'assister le PrepCom II à développer ces
thèmes. Chaque présentation sera limitée à 10 minutes, suivie de 10
minutes de questions et de commentaires provenant de la salle. Les
orateurs sont invités à fournir une version écrite de leur
intervention. La session de l'après-midi sera ouverte à la discussion,
le Président de séance donnera la parole aux participants de la salle.
Les personnes désirant prendre la parole devront s'inscrire sur une
liste le matin.
--Langues :
Les 6 langues de travail de l'ONU.
-----------------------------------
World Summit on the Information Society
Executive Secretariat - Civil Society Division
ITU - Place des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 20 - Swizerland
www.geneva2003.org
info@geneva2003.org
<< end of forwarded material >>
##########################################################
Judyth Mermelstein "cogito ergo lego ergo cogito..."
Montreal, QC <espresso@e-scape.net>
##########################################################
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