[CS Bureau] English speaking Bureau members - please participate / follow up to B2B document

[Tracey Naughton]

Hello Francis and All

I have just read the request for an extension of a deadline for 
parallel events. Whilst I am keeping an open mind as to which direction 
this will go in, I want to point out what happened at PCom 2/2, and yes 
I want to orientate your thinking.

The deadline of March 30th was announced when Charles Geiger spoke at 
the last orientation day, and concern was immediately  expressed by CS 
members that this would not be enough time. This point was again raised 
in the CSB meeting with the Government Bureau. Shortly after that it 
was announced that the deadline had been extended to April 30th. It was 
no problem and smoothly attended to.

What I hope will happen now is that all the events will be logged to a 
web site so that we can see the range. You rightly raise the point that 
we need to know if any have been rejected, for whatever reason, though 
this was not required in phase 1. We can ask, and our networks will 
also make it obvious if there were unreasonable rejections. My concern 
about asking for another extension is that it undermines the impression 
we are attempting to convey of being able to work to deadlines, within 
a framework and in a cooperative manner. I believe that in so doing we 
reserve a stronger position for reaction when things really are not 
fair or reasonable. I doubt it's a good idea to ask, a day or more 
after the deadline, for an extension. I think you need to get your 
event registered today - after all, what is required is very basic 
information and in these kinds of exhibitions, there is always an 
attrition rate so you, or others you are aware of would not have to 
proceed. Perhaps by filing today, with an apology for being late, it 
will be accepted. In speaking to people in southern Africa and some 
international organisations, I have an impression that the deadline was 
widely met.

I think there is a much bigger concern, and I hope that you will help 
to address it, because the matters that you are raising are part of it. 
The CSB made clear requests in our PCom 2 presentation to the 
Government Bureau.  We made requests that are key to CS knowing what is 
transpiring as we move towards the next PrepCom and the Summit. We 
strongly requested to be involved in the 'decision thinking and the 
decision making' about all aspects of the Summit. We asked to be 
involved in security planning, panel event planning and to be informed 
as soon as things happen, not in retrospect. We offered our expertise 
and I hope demonstrated it with our suggestions on format. We asked for 
clarification on the extent of immunity at the Summit - a matter that 
absolutely needs to be clear if people are to be bused in from other 
locations. My concern is that, while there was agreement in the room 
about the need for on going liaison and engagement with civil society, 
this matter has not been developed. I think it would be more 
appropriate to keep our eye on this larger problem than on one 
deadline.

I am attaching the final version of the document we sent to the 
Government Bureau. I hope that you will be able to do an audit of it, 
and establish what has not happened. You could engage with An-Kristen 
on this because it falls into her portfolio of listing what needs to be 
attended to. I think it's time to raise serious questions about 
specific items we raised and the multi-stakeholder engagement in WSIS - 
between meetings, not just at them.

I have spent a deal of time on WSIS of late, organising parallel 
events, mobilising southern African civil society, developing the 
orientation kit and negotiating the final wording of the attached 
document. I am a freelancer, and I really need to do some paid work for 
the next few weeks. I will still engage but I am asking you to work on 
the attached document. If you list everything not done, it will be 
easier to draft a letter for Renata and Viola to present. I would be 
willing, once agreed what the contents of the response should be, to 
draft the letter, if you will translate it.

Let me know - and by the way - all bureau members should weigh in on 
this matter - please.

best regards

Tracey

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Tracey Naughton
NYAKA
Communication for Development Consultant
201 Somerset Hall
239 Oxford Road
Illovo     2196
South Africa

landline & fax:	+27 (0) 11 880 5030
cell / mobile:	+27 (0) 82 821 1771
email:		tracey at traceynaughton.com
skype:		tracey_naughton