I agree with you, MM, and this has been part of my arguments in seeking a stronger form of representation of non-profit civil society organizations (far more than just "associations of Internet users") within the ICANN structure. --c.a. Milton Mueller wrote: > Thanks for getting the discussion started, Adam, This is exactly what I > wanted to have discussed in Lisbon at the constituency meeting. > >>>> Adam Peake <[log in to unmask]> 3/22/2007 2:23 PM >>> >> Something about this bothers me -- seems to be an assumption >> that ALAC represents civil society/non-profit interests so >> there's a natural partnership with NCUC. > > civil society yes, nonprofit, not necessarily. The "naturalness" comes > from both being under represented in ICANN, and from both being more > diffuse, public interest oriented than concentrated, special economic > interest such as registrars, registries, trademark. > >> Most current members of the ALAC are >> civil society oriented (and many of us know them well and >> work with them in other activities), but I am not convinced >> it's healthy for ALAC to align itself with one sector. > > The LSE report recommendations don't leave much room for manuever here. > If the tripartite representation in GNSO is adopted, who will constitute > the "civil society" portion? It seems obvious to me that it should be > composed primarily of the organizations and interests that now > constitute NCUC, plus individual registrants. After all, small-scale > business users, consultants or trademark owners can join the business > users constituency, can they not? the need is for some kind of political > balance in the type of interest represented. > > > -- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Carlos A. Afonso diretor de planejamento Rede de Informações para o Terceiro Setor - Rits http://www.rits.org.br ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++