[WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: suggestion for WSIS opening speakers
mavic at isiswomen.org
mavic at isiswomen.org
Mon Oct 13 06:11:52 BST 2003
Dear all,
Thanks for starting the discussion thread on the WSIS opening speaker. I am not for or
against inviting Ms. Ebadi as speaker. Amir has raised very good reasons why we
should invite her. However, as civil soiety plenary, what is our specific objective for
taking on a slot at the opening? Is it impact? media mileage? getting our message
across in the long term?
I think it would be easier to come to a decision if we will define our specific objectives
first.
I also support Al's suggestion of having an online process on this.
It would be great to hear the regional and other caucuses' ideas on this.
Mavic
Quoting Bill McIver <mciver at albany.edu>:
>
> All,
>
> My € 0.02 (or $0.02):
>
> Thank you Amir for offering to work on this.
>
> I too would like us to explore the idea of inviting Mrs. Ebadi.
> The reasons Amir gives are all very good.
> I think the next step though should involve a dialogue of sorts
> (e.g. through Amir) between the Plenary and Mrs. Ebadi.
>
> I believe a few people voiced concern over what she might say in
> WSIS as a representative of CS and as (we assume) a non-expert in
> IT policy.
>
> * One does not give someone like Mrs. Ebadi a script.
>
> + I think Amir's idea of a briefing paper is good, but we also need
> to hear what ideas she has.
>
> - And we should want her for her own ideas, not to read ours.
>
> There are two contexts in which WSIS CS society could benefit
> from her participation:
> 1. information society issues, and
> 2. a discussion of the role of NGOs in these kinds of processes.
>
> I think the concern over her assumed lack of background to speak to
> information society issues is narrow.
>
> * Even if she is a non-expert in IT,
> I would be surprised if she does not have well developed opinions on
> the broad issue of the potential roles AND threats of ICTs in society.
>
> + It could be good to hear the independent perspective of someone outside
> of WSIS CS on these questions.
>
> - We should ask her about this.
>
> I think her greatest potential gift for WSIS CS -- even if she says
> NOTHING about IT --
> could be in pushing for a more meaningful participation of CS in WSIS
> and ostensibly multistakeholder UN processes in general.
>
> * I don't know of a better type of person we could ask for for this
> purpose.
>
> - We should ask her about this.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> WJM
>
>
> west Asia wrote:
>
> >Dear all
> >
> >Thanks for your comments on my suggestion for inviting Mrs.Ebadi for being
> >one of the WSIS speakers, I just proposed her as she is human rights
> >activist, she is a women, she's Muslim, she's form Iran( you may remember
> >the position of the country during the prepcom 3), she is a member of many
> >NGOs in Iran and a civil society activist, answering to the question of
> does
> >she knows anything about information society, I will strongly say yes,
> >because the whole prepcom 3 was a blow due to the issue of human rights,
> the
> >whole information society is a sub-issue of human rights principles and
> >please again remember which countries were against it? I hope you
> remember.
> >
> >We are really unhappy on WSIS process due to its results, why? because
> some
> >governments slow down the process because of human rights and right to
> >access information! so our speaker should be a person with focus on human
> >rights, information access and dignity of human beings, who's better than
> a
> >human rights activist or Nobel peace winner? we could prepare a paper for
> >her or any other speaker and discuss it before reading.
> >
> >I am just making a suggestion that a nominee for the speakers could be
> her,
> >the choice is given to UNSG or ITU SG, but I need to know what is the
> >process? and how we should act? who should be contacted in this regard?
> >maybe CS secretariat could help.
> >
> >I am in contact with her, and if CS is happy with the suggestion I could
> ask
> >her, but firstly we should know the process and the formal way of
> >recommending speakers to UNSG. And please anyone has better ideas, please
> >share it with us or try to find better nominees for this reason , its much
> >wiser than saying yes or no.
> >
> >Regarding Al's suggestion for moderating discussions during the wsis or
> >online, I am totally happy to cooperate.
> >
> >Thanks
> >
> >Amir
> >
> >CSB member
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Robert Guerra" <rguerra at privaterra.org>
> >To: "John R. Gagain Jr." <j.gagain at funglode.org>
> >Cc: <bureau at geneva2003.org>; <plenary at wsis-cs.org>;
> ><louise.lassonde at ties.itu.int>
> >Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2003 11:14 PM
> >Subject: RE: suggestion for WSIS opening speakers
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>i think we need to define the process on how to invite speakers for hte
> >>spots. just saying one person is good - is not a good precident to set.
> >>
> >>does anyone know if the nobel winner knows anything about information
> >>society? is there anyone who can get in touch with her so that we can see
> >>a. if she is free, b. if she would be willing to express the message
> from
> >>the cs working on the summit, c. will put forward a message developed by
> >>cs itself, and not one of her own views.
> >>
> >>would i would hate to see happen is the episode we saw with the mexican
> >>fewllow at pc3. we do not want to be upstaged, not lose the unique
> >>oppoortunity we have at hand.
> >>
> >>which is why i thiunk a process is so imporetant.
> >>
> >>regards
> >>
> >>Robert
> >>
> >>On Sun, 12 Oct 2003, John R. Gagain Jr. wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>Amir,
> >>>
> >>>You have my vote. I think she would be ideal and a great representative
> >>>
> >>>
> >of
> >
> >
> >>>civil society.
> >>>
> >>>John
> >>>
> >>>-----Original Message-----
> >>>From: bureau-request at geneva2003.org
> >>>[mailto:bureau-request at geneva2003.org]On Behalf Of west Asia
> >>>Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2003 10:12 AM
> >>>To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
> >>>Cc: bureau at geneva2003.org; louise.lassonde at ties.itu.int
> >>>Subject: suggestion for WSIS opening speakers
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Dear CS Plenary Members
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Thank you all for your emails reagrding the Iranian winner of the noble
> >>>peace prize, I received some very good proposals form many civil society
> >>>members for inviting Mrs.Ebadi (the recent winner of Noble prize for
> >>>
> >>>
> >peace)
> >
> >
> >>>for the WSIS and CS plenary, I will ask her definitely and I also have
> >>>
> >>>
> >a
> >
> >
> >>>better Idea, as you know for the inauguration speech of WSIS there are 3
> >>>speakers and one from CS, Louise told us to give them names to be
> >>>
> >>>
> >informed
> >
> >
> >>>to ITU secretary general for final selection, I hereby strongly advice
> >>>
> >>>
> >to
> >
> >
> >>>ask Mrs.Ebadi to be the CS speaker after Kofi Annan. It is very
> >>>
> >>>
> >legitimate
> >
> >
> >>>as she is a human rights advocate and recent noble winner and a true and
> >>>active member of civil society especially in difficult conditions of
> >>>
> >>>
> >Iran,
> >
> >
> >>>If you also agree and support, I will speak with her.
> >>>
> >>>Louise: could you please advise me on the process?
> >>>
> >>>Best regards
> >>>
> >>>Amir Barmaki
> >>>Tehran
> >>>
> >>>----- Original Message -----
> >>>From: "Neshat Saeid" <saeidneshat at yahoo.com>
> >>>To: <plenary at wsis-cs.org>
> >>>Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2003 2:22 PM
> >>>Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Noble peace prize
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Dear Amir and Dear Izumi,
> >>>>
> >>>>I share your feelings. For me, as an Iranian, it is
> >>>>really a great news !
> >>>>
> >>>>I am just sending you a very short text about her.
> >>>>
> >>>>Best
> >>>>Saeid N. Neshat
> >>>>
> >>>>=========================
> >>>>Dear friends,
> >>>>
> >>>>I am so happy that Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian woman won
> >>>>Nobel Peace Prize. She really deserves it. I just
> >>>>wanted to share my feelings with you.
> >>>>
> >>>>For your information, I just wrote the following lines
> >>>>for you.
> >>>>
> >>>>Human rights activist Shirin Ebadi won the 2003 Nobel
> >>>>Peace Prize on Friday - 10 October 2003 - for her work
> >>>>fighting for democracy and the rights of women and
> >>>>children, the first woman and the first Iranian to
> >>>>receive the accolade.
> >>>>
> >>>>"By honoring Shirin, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has
> >>>>recognized the critical importance of human rights and
> >>>>the individuals who defend them around the world,"
> >>>>Amnesty International said.
> >>>>
> >>>>Born in 1937 in Hamdan in Iran - Shirin Ebadi finished
> >>>>her BA in law and started her carrier as a judge in
> >>>>1965 and continued to be a judge until 1969. She has
> >>>>been the first woman to be a judge in history of
> >>>>Judiciary in Iran. In 1983, she became a lawyer and
> >>>>has published so many papers in different journals.
> >>>>
> >>>>Ms. Ebadi is well known for her work on children's and
> >>>>women's rights. She founded the Society for Protection
> >>>>of Children's Rights in 1993 and has published many
> >>>>books among them we can name the following titles:
> >>>> - Children's Rights, 1988
> >>>> - Medical Law, 1989
> >>>> - Small Children, 1990
> >>>> - Refugees' Rights, 1992
> >>>> - Tradition and Modernity in Iran's law, 1994
> >>>> - Comparative Children Rights, 1997
> >>>>
> >>>>Shirin Ebadi was honored by Human Rights Watch in 1997
> >>>>and has got the prize for human rights monitors. She
> >>>>won also a prize by Alzahra University for his book on
> >>>>"Children Rights".
> >>>>
> >>>>Ms. Shirin Ebadi was awarded the 2001 Rafto Prize in
> >>>>recognition of her sustained fight, over many years,
> >>>>for human rights and democracy in Iran. In particular,
> >>>>her efforts have focused on strengthening the legal
> >>>>status of women and children.
> >>>>
> >>>>Saeid N. Neshat (human rights activist - Iran)
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>--- Izumi AIZU <izumi at anr.org> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>---------------------------------
> >>>>That's a great news, Amir. Congratulations!!
> >>>>
> >>>>Is there any possibility for the Civil Society plenary
> >>>>to invite herto
> >>>>join WSIS under Civil society umbrella? I think that
> >>>>will addthe
> >>>>interest and significance significantly.
> >>>>
> >>>>izumi
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>Web:http://www.funglode.org
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From:
> >>>>plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org[mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org]OnBehalf
> >>>>Of westasiaregion at hotmail.com
> >>>> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 5:15 PM
> >>>> To: bureau at geneva2003.org; Planery WSIS
> >>>> Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Noble peace prize
> >>>> Importance: High
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Dear Civil Society members
> >>>>
> >>>> I am honored to inform you that Mrs.Shirin Ebadi
> >>>>form the society forprotection of children rights in
> >>>>Iran and the human rights activist and agood friend of
> >>>>us has been elected as NOBLE PEACE PRIZE winner
> >>>>of2003.
> >>>>
> >>>> I congratulate all human rights activists and
> >>>>member of civil societyin and out of Iran.
> >>>>
> >>>> Best regards
> >>>>
> >>>> Amir Bamaki
> >>>> Iran
> >>>> West Asia Region Focal Point
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>>> From: Amir A Angha
> >>>> To: aaangha at yahoo.com
> >>>> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 7:25 PM
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Hello Everybody,
> >>>> Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian human rights activist, won
> >>>>the 2003 NobelPeace Prize. please check the following
> >>>>links. have a wonderful day!
> >>>> AAA
> >>>>
> >>>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3181428.stm
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3592563&fromEm
> >
> >
> >>>ail=true
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> Do you Yahoo!?
> >>>> TheNew Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product
> >>>>search
> >>>>
> >>>> >>> Izumi Aizu <<<
> >>>> Asia Network Research
> >>>> www.anr.org
> >>>> GLOCOM /Institute for HyperNetwork Society
> >>>> << Writing the Future ofthe History
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>>_______________________________________________Plenary
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>mailing
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >listPlenary at wsis-cs.orghttp://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plena
> >
> >
> >>>ry
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>__________________________________
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> >>>>http://shopping.yahoo.com
> >>>>_______________________________________________
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> >>>>Plenary at wsis-cs.org
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> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >_______________________________________________
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> >
> >
>
>
> --
>
> Bill McIver
> Assistant Professor
> School of Information Science and Policy
> University at Albany, State University of New York
> Albany, New York 12222
> USA
>
> e-mail: mciver at albany.edu
> URL: http://www.albany.edu/~mciver
>
>
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