[WSIS CS-Plenary] SideBar on Key Importance of Civil Society Inclusion without Breaks in the Dialogue.

[Respectful_Interfaces]

Dear List:

I hope I am not 'out of thread' posting a note I wrote myself 'to file' 10 days back.  
In reading the current discussions, as well, my own individual response regarding an eminent participant
 who  is and has  been involved thoroughly in WSIS and in ICT and rights broadly,
 I do feel that I would like to post this note now.

Of course nothing I say here binds or reflects input of Ms. Marzouki (who clearly would be an excellent Speaker), or my organizations, or anyone else. Your own feedback here or to respectful_interfaces at att.net  will be appreciated.

Cordially, LDMF.
Dr. L. D. Misek-Falkoff [Ph.D., J.D..]
Online communications systems ARPANet forward.
For Identification here: *Respectful Interfaces* Programme / Communications
Coordination Committee for the United Nations.  ACM ABA.  International
Disability Caucus for the Disability Convention (toward U.N. Treaty).
CCC/UN Secretary and Member of the Board.
Founder: Persons With Pain International (PWPI) accredited to the U.N.
Disability Convention

  ----- Original Message ----- 


  Greetings and the following comments are mine as an ICT professional of many decades, and one not in line to be a Speaker, not do I represent below the views necessarily of any UN NGO.

  My comment is just that regardless of the particular topic, it is important and should be somehow mandatory that Civil Society be maximized/mainstreamed  centrally as well as featured in sub-groups as participants at WSIS. We have the good reasoning and urgings of those here setting forth these values.  I would add that once stakeholders are displaced from prominent - the most frontal - dialogues, that is to say de-networked at the highest nodes,   they (hence we) can begin to lose touch with the developing  "vocabulary" of terms, concepts, and commitments, and the danger is of not being even able thereafter to discourse with full benefit to all, even if opportunity should later open up to do so.

  Therefore my view is that we can be extremely grateful to Rik, Robert, and the others communicating here, and now, who clearly both here and in other UN fora and even outside the UN one repeatedly meets up with urging civil society participation at optimal levels.

  I post just to say that being "speakers" in a universe of discourse is extremely vital for everyone and that this precious communication channel can be dangerously narrowed by non use and growing disconnection.  Again, thank goodness for the voices here and the urgings they be heard in all contexts.

  Respectfully, and with warm regards, LDMF..
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