[WSIS CS-Plenary] Wake up call - let's get active again..

[Robert Guerra]

Parminder:

I too noticed the changes you mentioned, and have been surprised by  
the lack of comment (other than yours..)

A potential reason there's been few comments, and generally no real  
discussion on here is that most of the europeans and north americans  
have been away this time of year. Yes, even in an information society  
we need to take breaks...

Seriously everyone, let's get back to work and respond to not only  
this new proposed revision - BUT start the process for nomination of  
speakers for the summit itself. Renate and I have, now on numerous  
occasions mentioned we should start the process - but, there's been  
silence. That, IS A PROBLEM, as names have to be suggested by ....  
early OCT. That's just over a month from now. That's not a lot of time.


regards,

Robert

--
Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org>
Managing Director, Privaterra <http://www.privaterra.org>





On 25-Aug-05, at 1:18 PM, Parminder wrote:

>
> Dear All,
>
> The new text proposed by the chair of the GFC for paras 10, 11 and  
> 29 of the
> operational part of the Tunis document, which deals with the actual
> implementation and follow-up structures, carries some drastic  
> changes. In
> effect, specific implementation structures consisting of multi- 
> stakeholder
> teams around various actions lines, with overall co-ordination by a
> 'well-defined co-ordination body' as suggested in the existing text  
> are
> sought to be completely removed.
>
> See http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_multi.asp?lang=en&id=1671| 
> 0 for
> the new draft.
>
> If this draft is accepted (as it most probably will be, unless strong
> opposition to it is articulated NOW), it would essentially mean NO  
> real
> implementation and follow-up structures for WSIS. This will deny  
> the world a
> much needed global Information Society (IS) policy (and  
> implementation)
> forum, at which rapidly arising important IS issues could be taken up.
>
> What is surprising is that the approach taken in the new text, where
> implementation is subsumed under follow-up, is quite contrary to the
> declaration by the Chair of GFC in a recent meeting organised by  
> ITU where
> he affirmed that "for the first time that there is an evolving  
> understanding
> within the UN that the implementation process and follow-up must be  
> seen as
> separate processes". These thoughts are also clearly articulated in  
> the
> document 'food for thought' earlier distributed by the chair of GFC.
> http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_multi.asp?lang=en&id=1604|0
>
> I have prepared a comparison of the existing text and the proposed  
> one, on
> the more relevant points, which I am enclosing here.
>
> The last date to give comments on the proposed text is 30th August.  
> While
> there may be differences in views within the CS about which  
> agencies should
> play a pivotal role in implementation-follow up, I expect most of  
> us to
> agree on the point that the current drastic changes to the text,  
> before
> substantive discussions are taken up at prepcom 3, are completely
> un-warranted.  These changes are too far reaching for them to come  
> in like
> this, almost surreptitiously, as a proposed revised text when most  
> of the
> submissions to the earlier distributed draft on these points speak  
> about
> strengthening these points rather than removing/replacing them.  
> (please see
> http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_multi.asp?lang=en&id=1618|0 )
>
> Regards
>
> Parminder
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________
> Parminder Jeet Singh
> IT for Change
> Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
> 91-80-26654134
> www.ITforChange.net
>
> <the existing and the proposed text of para 10, 11 and 29  
> operational part of tunis doc.doc>
>