[WSIS CS-Plenary] Moving on

[veni markovski]

At 19:35 22-01-2005 -0300, Beatriz wrote:
>I must say that I am a bit taken aback by the concept that the WSIS
>model can be taken as a "best practice" without first doing a thorough
>critical balance.

well, let's see it, then...

>Civil Society participation is not an end in itself, except maybe for
>organizations that have found in it a source of funding and will thus
>benefit from it no matter what the outcome.

Hmm... this also sounds strange. Could you tell us what are the 
organizations that have found in the WSIS a source for funding? I kind of 
don't agree with you; on the contrary - the WSIS does not have enough funds 
to support even developing countries participation, but only LDC.

>Beyond the skewed framework within which the UN has positioned CS
>(putting the media giants among us, for instance),

Hmm... actually the UN did not put them among us. We all did that.

>away from the consequences of what we have managed to build: a power
>structure in which a few organizations can make their voices heard,
>while those who cannot afford the people and expenses to actually "be"
>there have no chance of having their opinions taken into account.
>In this state, I don't think I can recommend the WSIS model for further
>UN activities.

Well, luckily it will not be only your recommendation. Forgive me for being 
so streight forwarded, but this all is nonsense. We need to find a way to 
fix the WSIS model, not get rid of it. Or what do you suggest instead of 
it? Replace it with the old model, where only governments participated?

v.