Re: [ICANN-EU] Andy's article in FAZ is available in English.

[Alf Hansen <aha@uninett.no>]

Joop,

Joop Teernstra wrote:
...
> 
> Alf,
> A small elite can afford not believing the papers/Media. The rest of us
> takes it seriously. Especially a paper as the Frankfurter Allgemeine.

Of course it must be taken seriously. Andy is using the FAZ to present
the impression to the (mostly German, but also global) public that ICANN
is a world Government, because Andy wants it to be regarded as such a
Government.

This does not mean that it IS a world Governement.

> 
> >I hope all the European At Large members will understand that the ICANN
> >Board is not an Internet Government. The existing laws are still valid.
> >Also on the Internet.
> 
> National Laws are valid, but they can be circumvented (routed around)  on a
> large scale.

Yes, I am sure this is correct.

> 
> The call for (de facto) Internet Governance, especially in European and
> Asian thinking, is irresistible and the reflection of today's German media
> gives a clear idea of what is expected of ICANN's future role.
> 
> Repeating the *ICANN isn't* mantra is as futile as holding back the tide.
> It is better to prepare for what is coming.

I am not against some kind of World Governance (UN is the first step).
ICANN's focus is and must be on names, addresses and protocols. In order
to manage these areas using "consensus" as a basis, ICANN uses some
democratic tools on the Internet (elections/voting). To say that ICANN
is/will be a world Government, is like saying

"let the radio amatures rule the world..."
"let the PTTs rule the world..."
"let the roadbuilders rule the world.."

The Internet will certainly be an infrastructure used by democracy
building organisations, Governments, European Union and others to make
the world smaller, BUT THIS IS NOT ICANN's RESPONSIBILITY.

Of course, everybody has the right to have the view that ICANN is or
will be a world Government. And a newly elected Board member is of
course free to present this view as his view. All I am am doing is
trying to inform the At Large members reading this mailing list, that
this view is leading in a wrong direction.

The Internet is a tool and an infrastructure assisting people to easy
interaction and communication on a global basis crossing political and
other borders. The Internet will therefore be vital for all people who
will build a World Government.

We should not hold back the tide. "ICANN keeps The Internet
interconnected for everyone".

> 
> All net dwellers have to be vigilant that this de facto
> governance-through-contracts will not become
> 1. a series of lucrative rackets for a cosy industry
> 2. a playground for empire builders.
> 
> Make sure you get proper representation.
> 
> --Joop Teernstra LL.M.--
> the Cyberspace Association and
> the constituency for Individual Domain Name Owners
> http://www.idno.org

Best regards,
-- 
Alf Hansen                     Mail address:
                                 UNINETT FAS A/S
aha@uninett.no                   N-7465 Trondheim, Norway
Home page:                     Phone: +47 73 55 79 00
http://domen.uninett.no/~alf/  Fax:   +47 73 55 79 01