Comments on: Why you’ll always regret not going to the IGF http://kierenmccarthy.com/2006/10/17/why-youll-always-regret-not-going-to-the-igf/ News and views on domain names, the Internet and life in general Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:11:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kieren http://kierenmccarthy.com/2006/10/17/why-youll-always-regret-not-going-to-the-igf/comment-page-1/#comment-7893 Kieren Wed, 18 Oct 2006 13:53:42 +0000 http://kierenmccarthy.co.uk/2006/10/17/why-youll-always-regret-not-going-to-the-igf/#comment-7893 Yes, WSIS - it's all part of the same thing. IGF was born of WSIS. I didn't mean to represent Tunis as an after-thought though, and I'm concerned that you think I have. But as for the Advisory Group - it *has* been forced into action. It has required all Nitin Desai and Markus Kummer's skills to even produce a schedule. People can't decide to cut out particular workshops, so all workshops get approved. It can't decide on which panellists or which presenters. The problem comes from having too many people on the Advisory Group, including too many government representatives. The governmental element - vital of course - has meant that the timeframe has effectively been very short. But it has also meant that the flexibility needed - and very much a part of business - was lost. One example: by the time the IGF Secretariat was in the position to request speakers, it was impossible late to ask big names to attend. As for willing it to fail, it's no secret that some people would prefer the IGF to collapse. Who? You only have to look at who has the most to gain. Kieren Yes, WSIS – it’s all part of the same thing. IGF was born of WSIS. I didn’t mean to represent Tunis as an after-thought though, and I’m concerned that you think I have.

But as for the Advisory Group – it *has* been forced into action. It has required all Nitin Desai and Markus Kummer’s skills to even produce a schedule. People can’t decide to cut out particular workshops, so all workshops get approved. It can’t decide on which panellists or which presenters. The problem comes from having too many people on the Advisory Group, including too many government representatives.

The governmental element – vital of course – has meant that the timeframe has effectively been very short. But it has also meant that the flexibility needed – and very much a part of business – was lost. One example: by the time the IGF Secretariat was in the position to request speakers, it was impossible late to ask big names to attend.

As for willing it to fail, it’s no secret that some people would prefer the IGF to collapse. Who? You only have to look at who has the most to gain.

Kieren

]]> By: Adam http://kierenmccarthy.com/2006/10/17/why-youll-always-regret-not-going-to-the-igf/comment-page-1/#comment-7892 Adam Wed, 18 Oct 2006 13:33:39 +0000 http://kierenmccarthy.co.uk/2006/10/17/why-youll-always-regret-not-going-to-the-igf/#comment-7892 WSIS was always planned as a two phase summit. Tunis not an after thought. And what you describe from Bamako on is WSIS. And what's that crap about the advisory group as conflicting cultures and being forced into action? I haven't heard of anyone inside the process willing IGF to fail. Source? People tend to read Para 76 of the Tunis Agenda as suggesting a five year mandate. But you're right, if Athens is terrible, it might be just one. WSIS was always planned as a two phase summit. Tunis not an after thought. And what you describe from Bamako on is WSIS.
And what’s that crap about the advisory group as conflicting cultures and being forced into action?
I haven’t heard of anyone inside the process willing IGF to fail. Source?
People tend to read Para 76 of the Tunis Agenda as suggesting a five year mandate. But you’re right, if Athens is terrible, it might be just one.

]]> By: Kieren http://kierenmccarthy.com/2006/10/17/why-youll-always-regret-not-going-to-the-igf/comment-page-1/#comment-7891 Kieren Wed, 18 Oct 2006 09:25:59 +0000 http://kierenmccarthy.co.uk/2006/10/17/why-youll-always-regret-not-going-to-the-igf/#comment-7891 Ah. Now I'm sure that it is written that the IGF will "run no longer than five years" before being reviewed. And that has been widely interpreted as "if it's not a disaster, we will have five of them". Of course, it could all be scrapped after this first year. And you can bet that with the ITU Plenipotentiary taking place on 24 November, a meeting which only happens every four years, the ITU will make a big pitch that the IGF didn't work but it will take over the role outlined in the Tunis Agenda for the next four years. So my understanding is, it's one year or five for the IGF. Kieren Ah. Now I’m sure that it is written that the IGF will “run no longer than five years” before being reviewed. And that has been widely interpreted as “if it’s not a disaster, we will have five of them”.

Of course, it could all be scrapped after this first year. And you can bet that with the ITU Plenipotentiary taking place on 24 November, a meeting which only happens every four years, the ITU will make a big pitch that the IGF didn’t work but it will take over the role outlined in the Tunis Agenda for the next four years.

So my understanding is, it’s one year or five for the IGF.

Kieren

]]> By: Jeremy Malcolm http://kierenmccarthy.com/2006/10/17/why-youll-always-regret-not-going-to-the-igf/comment-page-1/#comment-7890 Jeremy Malcolm Wed, 18 Oct 2006 03:06:10 +0000 http://kierenmccarthy.co.uk/2006/10/17/why-youll-always-regret-not-going-to-the-igf/#comment-7890 Who says that the Forum will run for five years? I'm not challenging the statement, just asking. It is not found in <a href="http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/tunis/off/6rev1.html" rel="nofollow">the Tunis Agenda</a> or in the <a href="http://www.intgovforum.org/sg-letter-en.html" rel="nofollow">Secretary-General's message convening the IGF</a> or its <a href="http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10366.doc.htm" rel="nofollow">Secretariat</a> or the <a href="http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/sga1006.doc.htm" rel="nofollow">Advisory Group</a>. Is this another example of policy by pronouncement by the Secretariat? If so, I can't even find the pronouncement! Who says that the Forum will run for five years? I’m not challenging the statement, just asking. It is not found in the Tunis Agenda or in the Secretary-General’s message convening the IGF or its Secretariat or the Advisory Group. Is this another example of policy by pronouncement by the Secretariat? If so, I can’t even find the pronouncement!

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