[WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: Veni's objections

[Milton Mueller]

Veni:
Here are some *facts* (some of us still care about those)

GDP per capita (2002):

Brazil:     US$ 2610
Bulgaria: US$ 2025
Cameroon US$ 563
Togo:     US$   265

World's highest: Luxemborg, $45,778
World's lowest: Ethiopia, $ 91

Now, the NCUC list includes two nominees
from two of the poorest countries in
the world, one of which has a per capita GDP
almost ten times less than your country. And it
is clear that Brazil and Bulgaria are in basically
the same wealth category.

This leads to three rather pressing questions:

1. Why did you claim that there is "no one"
on the list from the "least developed countries?
There are two.

2. If you believe that people from these least
developed countries should be appointed to the
WGIG, why did you not praise these two nominees
in particular and offer them your support, instead
of trying to discredit the list as a whole?

3. Why did you not offer any names from other
developing or undeveloped countries? 

Sorry, there is still something quite fishy about
your arguments, imho. If you want to be
constructive, produce viable names. If you can't,
then offer your support for the nominees we
produced who meet your criteria.

--MM

>>> veni markovski <veni at veni.com> 9/13/2004 3:28:50 PM >>>
>The NCUC process was definitely not a "mess,"
>it was quite orderly. And yet you attacked that too --
>on the very weak grounds that despite having every
>world region represented and people from Uruguay,
>Cameroun, Togo, Brazil and Korea it was somehow
>"Northern dominated."

>It is. And don't mention South Korea. Although it has 
>"south" in its name, it's not representing the developing 
>countries. I was wondering about Brazil, too, as it is quite 
>developed

utterly false. 

 - at least to the standards that we 
live in. So, fact is here 4:7 in favour of the developed countries. Or
may 
be even 3:8.

>Shouldn't you acknowledge that your status as an ICANN
>Board member might affect your judgement here, just a bit?

No, I shouldn't. What is affecting my judgement is that I am coming
from 
the South, from a developing country. From a country which is recently

rated 28 out of 28 members and candidates to join the EU in terms of 
development of IT. And I want to change that, not only for my country
but 
for all developing countries that want this changed. Including by
larger 
participation of people from developing countries in the processes.
That's 
what affects my judgement. I'm an ICANN director for a set term of 3
years, 
but I hope to be a citizen for much more. Therefore I have the courage
to 
speak here loudly, and - as you well know - I'm not representing
ICANN.

Best,
Veni