[WSIS CS-Plenary] FW: Call for grassroots caucus to post in your respective Dgroups

[Renata Bloem]

Vittorio,

Grassroot(s) is not such an alien word/concept or caucus to the Women's
Movement or other UN Conferences. As I understood it in this context, the
proposed caucus refers not just to the concept of 'bottom-up' but to groups,
particularly women, working often in very isolated/rural areas or at a level
of exclusion where the introduction of mobile phones could make a whole lot
of difference in their lifes. During PrepCom 2 there was an effective side
event.
But I agree with you that the wording in that passage is not very well
taken.
Renata   

-----Original Message-----
From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org] On Behalf
Of Vittorio Bertola
Sent: dimanche, 22. mai 2005 18:45
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
Subject: Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] FW: Call for grassroots caucus to post in
your respective Dgroups

Renata Bloem ha scritto:
> Dear all,
> 
> FYI, I forward this to Plenary to make your own connections.

I am not sure whether we already have a procedure for the formation of 
new caucuses (in fact, I suspect that's part of the work that the 
Working Methods WG should be doing, though I haven't seen much happening 
there lately).

However, my first reaction is that I'm not sure whether "Grassroots 
Caucus" is a good name, nor what kind of issues is the new caucus meant 
to address, nor who is it expected to involve. I don't understand the 
distinction between "grassroots organisations" (that, according to the 
proponents, are not currently represented) and all the other civil 
society participants (should I assume that they are all "astroturf"?).

I think that the caucus should definitely find a different name. Also, 
proponents should please remove from the charter any assumption that the 
rest of civil society is not operating bottom-up or does not represent 
"real" problems. See for example this quote from the current charter:

"While we appreciate the efforts behind WSIS process, and the important 
role civil society has assumed in making the WSIS debate a very 
inclusive one, we are equally concerned about the little or no role 
played by the representatives of grassroots organisations and the 'real' 
disadvantaged communities at large."

Thanks,
-- 
vb.             [Vittorio Bertola - v.bertola [a] bertola.eu.org]<-----
http://bertola.eu.org/  <- Prima o poi...
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