Hola Alex: It is my pleasure to meet you. I think that when it comes to defend the public interest, we have to be all together: individuals/ organizations; advocates/academics; Big NGOs,Small NGO; We need to resolve our own positions in house, come with a consensus document, get the support of the general public, and make our voice be heard. Now we need to focus on what is next. We need to send a strong message to the Board with all the organizations signatures and explained very well our point. I think that the whole board might not have a good picture of what all this signatures means and which are below it. There many strategics that we cant follow but now, I think we should focus all our energy on how to make our voice heard and be effective. I still think that sending a letter with signatures to the chairman, copy the Board could be a first step to make sure that they get our own version of the process and positions, without intermediaries. Hasta Luego, Katitza On Aug 7, 2009, at 3:29 PM, Alex Gakuru wrote: > To illustrate further, I have confidentially obtained the attached > 'East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF)' document. Our consumer > association is excluded from this "transparent" Internet Governance > engagement. I suppose "inactive" participation criteria would help > them locally...or could they be preparing/creating "inactive > participants" pre-exclusion grounds at ICANN Board meeting in Nairobi > next year? > > I attended last year's IGF where I raised pertinent consumer issues. A > highly official cautioned me against saying "such bad things when we > had important [IGF] visitors around" -- proves we are considered as > "party spoilers"? > > Perhaps Adam Peake could shed some more light? - since is listed as a > facilitator at "Parliamentarian IG luncheon and workshop" session. We > suffer terribly opaque and unaccountable leadership at this corner of > the world. Which I hope Adam assists Kenya change, lighten-up and > inculcate/strengthen "bottom-up" approach and engagements at IGF and > ICANN for all local internet stakeholders benefit. > > Otherwise, I would be inclined to conclude that the "new" top-down > approach is now spreading fast around the world. > > Below message was posted today to a local mailing list run by persons > close to Adam. > > But following this story > http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Company%20Industry/-/539550/618420/-/u9jiulz/-/index.html > , > our local .ke registry management apparently resolved to cease all > informational postings to our consumers mailing list. > > Sincerely, > > Alex > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > > From: Vincent Ngundi <[log in to unmask]> > > Date: Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 8:45 AM > > Subject: [kictanet] Invitation to the 2009 Kenya Internet Governance > Forum (Kenya IGF); 19th August 2009 > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <[log in to unmask]> > > RE: Invitation to the 2009 Kenya Internet Governance Forum (Kenya > IGF): Advancing the Internet Governance Debate in Kenya: Thinking > Globally; Acting Locally > > The Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC), the Kenya ICT Action > Network (KICTANet) and other participating organisations wish to > invite you to the 2009 Kenya IGF to be held at the Jacaranda hotel in > Nairobi, on the 19th of August 2009. > > The 2009 Kenya IGF is a follow up to the 2008 EAIGF review workshop > and the 2009 Internet Governance national mailing list discussions. > > With the increased access to broadband infrastructure in Kenya and in > the East Africa region and the continued spread of sophisticated > mobile services, understanding and addressing Internet policy issues > has become a priority. The Kenya IGF will help prepare Kenyan Internet > stakeholders to address the opportunities, strength and challenges, as > well as ensuring that they have a voice in shaping Internet policy > decisions at the global level. > > The Kenya IGF will therefore provide an opportunity to increase > awareness and understanding of Internet governance policy issues and > the links with socio-economic, political and cultural development. > > The outcomes of the forum will be submitted to the 2009 East Africa > Internet Governance Forum (EA-IGF) to be held in Nairobi from the 7th > to the 9th of September 2009 and subsequently to the global Internet > Governance Forum (IGF) meeting to be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, > in November 2009. The Kenya IGF will also contribute towards setting > the stage for the 37th Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and > Numbers (ICANN) meeting to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in March 2010. > > As a key player in the Internet industry, it is my pleasure to invite > you to the 2009 Kenya IGF. A detailed programme for the event is > attached. > > For planning purposes, please register for the meeting by sending an > email to [log in to unmask] confirming your attendance. > > Kind Regards, > > ----------- > > Vincent Ngundi > > Administrative Manager > > KENIC - The Kenya Network Information Centre > > http://www.kenic.or.ke > > [log in to unmask] > > [T] +254 20 4450057/8 > > [C] +254 20 2398036 > > [M] +254 733 790073 > > [F] +254 20 4450087 > > --ends-- > > > Alex > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Vincent Ngundi <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 8:45 AM > Subject: [kictanet] Invitation to the 2009 Kenya Internet Governance > Forum (Kenya IGF); 19th August 2009 > To: [log in to unmask] > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <[log in to unmask]> > > RE: Invitation to the 2009 Kenya Internet Governance Forum (Kenya > IGF): Advancing the Internet Governance Debate in Kenya: Thinking > Globally; Acting Locally > The Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC), the Kenya ICT Action > Network (KICTANet) and other participating organisations wish to > invite you to the 2009 Kenya IGF to be held at the Jacaranda hotel in > Nairobi, on the 19th of August 2009. > > The 2009 Kenya IGF is a follow up to the 2008 EAIGF review workshop > and the 2009 Internet Governance national mailing list discussions. > > With the increased access to broadband infrastructure in Kenya and in > the East Africa region and the continued spread of sophisticated > mobile services, understanding and addressing Internet policy issues > has become a priority. The Kenya IGF will help prepare Kenyan Internet > stakeholders to address the opportunities, strength and challenges, as > well as ensuring that they have a voice in shaping Internet policy > decisions at the global level. > > The Kenya IGF will therefore provide an opportunity to increase > awareness and understanding of Internet governance policy issues and > the links with socio-economic, political and cultural development. > > The outcomes of the forum will be submitted to the 2009 East Africa > Internet Governance Forum (EA-IGF) to be held in Nairobi from the 7th > to the 9th of September 2009 and subsequently to the global Internet > Governance Forum (IGF) meeting to be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, > in November 2009. The Kenya IGF will also contribute towards setting > the stage for the 37th Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and > Numbers (ICANN) meeting to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in March 2010. > > As a key player in the Internet industry, it is my pleasure to invite > you to the 2009 Kenya IGF. A detailed programme for the event is > attached. > > For planning purposes, please register for the meeting by sending an > email to [log in to unmask] confirming your attendance. > Kind Regards, > ----------- > Vincent Ngundi > Administrative Manager > KENIC - The Kenya Network Information Centre > http://www.kenic.or.ke > [log in to unmask] > [T] +254 20 4450057/8 > [C] +254 20 2398036 > [M] +254 733 790073 > [F] +254 20 4450087 > --ends-- > We are > > > Adam, > > Would you mind assisting me > > On Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 4:35 PM, Milton L Mueller <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: >> >>> In Kenya, we have a rich history of government-business >>> 'steakholders' >>> denial that we even exist.. How are we meant to be financially >>> endowed >>> to pull clout like them telecoms-government affiliates? >>> >>> Should consumers be part ICANN's ever-praised politico-business >>> class >>> they apparently ever seeks for? Who is a consumer? The little guy >> >> Alex, >> You have hit the nail on the head! From China and Hong Kong, I too >> am familiar with this game of "official" representation, where the >> "representatives" are singled out by the powerful precisely because >> they are the ones who are careful and cozy to the ones in power and >> unwilling to rock the boat. >> >> As for your letter, yes, please do it. I'll be glad to help you >> polish it. Unfortunately, the US government (at least the >> Congressional Democrats) seem more interested in U.S. stakeholders >> these days but it can't hurt to go over their heads. >> >> --MM >> >> >> ________________________________________ >> >> without a voice in a corporate-government interests dominated world >> internet network-both claiming to act in the "best interests of the >> consumer" (or public interest)? At the core are vested interests that >> want to make the Internet for big bigs and that's not right. >> >> Vint Cerf built and handed over a consumer-receptive ICANN - one >> whose >> current leadership cannot help but rubbish the little guy's voice on >> the internet? A "bottom-up" ICANN is all I knew and cared about. >> >> I am tempted to write an email from Nairobi to President Obama >> complaining about NCUC mistreatment by ICANN. Would it be >> appropriate? >> I need your advice. Would you like me to send my draft on-list for >> the NCUC Editor to polish it up? >> >> Alex >> >> On Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 7:37 PM, Robin Gross<[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >>> What is also troubling is that our existing membership already >>> includes many >>> members from these categories. We have at least dozen consumer >>> organizations - many members of the Trans Atlantic Consumer >>> Dialogue and >>> several new African consumer groups, so they are here. Many just >>> don't have >>> the budgets internally to make ICANN a priority - it is expensive >>> to fly >>> around the world every few months and pay for $20 club sandwiches >>> at the >>> Hilton. >>> What ICANN is looking for are "consumer groups" who are in fact >>> funded by >>> business - and not true noncommercial organizations, but this will >>> take away >>> a noncommercial council seat. Another chip away from >>> noncommercial users >>> rights. >>> The comment about libraries - we have libraries too. We are proud >>> that >>> Egypt's Library of Alexandria is a new member of NCUC - one of the >>> members >>> that ICANN doesn't think deserves a vote for lack of >>> "representation" and >>> "diversity". The irony of this barely 10-yr old Internet >>> organization >>> telling the ancient Library of Alexandria it doesn't deserve a >>> vote on >>> Internet policy is beyond arrogance. It is dangerous. ICANN >>> staff would >>> drive the Internet into the ground if that is what it took to >>> control it. >>> Robin >>> >>> On Aug 6, 2009, at 3:16 AM, Adam Peake wrote: >>> >>> At 11:17 AM +0200 8/6/09, William Drake wrote: >>> >>> Hi Adam, >>> I'm fine with restating openness to dialogue etc as you suggest. >>> Not that >>> we haven't before. >>> Would like to pick up on one specific bit: >>> On Aug 6, 2009, at 9:37 AM, Adam Peake wrote: >>> >>> The NCUC does not have membership (or significant membership) from >>> international consumer organizations (noted in many recent >>> comments from the >>> board and others as a missing constituent in all of ICANN), nor >>> for the >>> largest academic communities, libraries, R&D, etc. >>> >>> This may well be "noted" by the board and others but it is >>> patently untrue >>> http://ncuc.syr.edu/members.htm. Just more disinformation. >>> (BTW I also noted some on the transcript of the ALAC call, e.g. >>> Nick saying >>> that the NCUC proposal does not allow board approval of >>> constituencies...facts don't matter if one can't be bothered to >>> learn them). >>> Which is not to say that it wouldn't be great to have more groups >>> with >>> "consumer" in their title etc. >>> >>> Bill, I know the NCUC membership has been growing, both >>> organizations and >>> individuals. But I got the impression ICANN was hoping (expecting) >>> participation from groups representing new non-commercial players, >>> and also >>> larger national and international representative organizations. I >>> think the >>> commercial side of the user house was expecting this too, at least >>> that's >>> how I read some of the emails. >>> Example in the library space, ALA has been a member for many >>> years, but >>> there are hundreds of similar organizations around the world, and >>> then >>> there's IFLA <http://www.ifla.org/> >>> There's been a lot of talk about consumer organizations: most >>> countries have >>> a national consumer organization, or many industry/sector related >>> groups, >>> and there are regional and international bodies (Consumers >>> International, >>> Jeremy Malcolm now works for). These organizations are being >>> encouraged to >>> form a constituency in their own right, but that shouldn't stop them >>> transitioning from the NCUC, or NCUC trying to help that >>> constituency to >>> form. >>> Each year the board selects a member of the NomCom to represent >>> "Academia & >>> Research" (you'd think an NCUC related group). They just selected >>> a guy >>> called Jan Gruntorád, CEO of CESNET, the Academic research network >>> for the >>> Czech Republic. Past selections have been people with similar >>> backgrounds, >>> large academic R&D networks (NRENs). Board obviously feels that >>> it's a >>> non-commercial community not represented in the NCUC (except for >>> KAIST.) >>> Very difficult to sell ICANN to these types of organization, I >>> don't see the >>> board being able to do a good job of this without help, and the >>> NCUC could >>> do well by offering to help. It'll take outreach and money. >>> About Nick's comment. Perhaps an example of people forgetting >>> what was >>> actually in the NCUC proposal because we've not been asked to >>> discuss it, >>> just concentrating on the SIC. >>> Adam >>> >>> Perhaps this needs to be a larger, more focused discussion >>> sometime, but >>> while I think of it it's worth mentioning that there is also a >>> claim in said >>> circles that our members are not all sufficiently active and hence >>> our >>> diversity is just on paper, which in turn is supposed to allow for >>> "capture" >>> by a small cabal. This of course is held against us as well, and >>> will be >>> relevant in the NCSG. As you know, the staff's "Suggested >>> Additional >>> Stakeholder Group Charter Elements to Ensure Transparency, Openness, >>> Fairness and Representativeness Principles" hold, inter alia, that >>> "It is >>> important that the Board and the community have the ability to >>> determine >>> what parties comprise a particular GNSO structure and who >>> participates in an >>> active way....[hence] Each GNSO structure should collect, >>> maintain, and >>> publish active and inactive member names identified by membership >>> category >>> (if applicable)" >>> I raised concerns about the reasoning and operational implications >>> of this >>> on the last GNSO call, but they were pretty much brushed aside. >>> So I guess in some unknown manner members will have to show >>> sufficient signs >>> of life on a frequent enough basis for staff to deem them active and >>> consider their views to "count" when constituencies state >>> positions. Oh, >>> and meeting attendance lists must be published and will be >>> considered too. >>> At least, all this undoubtedly will apply to nomcomm constituencies, >>> business ones may get the usual pass from the standards to which >>> we're held. >>> And now I have to reply to the council list about this claim in >>> the SOI that >>> we are "not yet sufficiently diverse or robust to select all >>> six"...sigh. >>> Pushing back on relentless disinfo does get tiring... >>> Bill >>> >>> >>> >>> IP JUSTICE >>> Robin Gross, Executive Director >>> 1192 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 USA >>> p: +1-415-553-6261 f: +1-415-462-6451 >>> w: http://www.ipjustice.org e: [log in to unmask] >>> >>> >>> > <EA-IGF 2009 Tentative Program.pdf>