[WSIS CS-Plenary] WSIS blog posts from yesterday

[karen banks]

dear all,

APC news on WSIS fyi..

karen
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SPECIAL EDITION WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY (WSIS)

*APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the 
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)* - November 2005 No. 58 -
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-- ON THE ISSUES: INTERNET GOVERNANCE --
-- ON THE ISSUES: HUMAN RIGHTS IN TUNISIA --
-- ON THE ISSUES: FINANCING OF ICT4D --
-- APC AT WSIS --
-- WSIS BLOGS --
-- SNAPSHOTS FROM WSIS --
-- INTERESTING READING --
-- USEFUL SITES ON THE WSIS --
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The second World Summit on the Information 
Society has started. Today, Wednesday November 
2005, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and 
Tunisian President Ben Ali opened the summit 
which has focussed primarily on the twin issues 
of financing of ICT for development in developing 
countries and internet governance since the first 
summit was held in Geneva in December 2003. A 
controversial host for an international 
'information summit' given its well-documented 
suppression of freedom of expression including on 
the internet, the Tunisian authorities were 
openly criticised by Swiss President Samuel 
Schmid and civil society representative Shirin 
Ebadi for their repressive acts against local and 
international civil society prior to the summit 
opening. The Tunis Agenda and the Tunis 
Commitment -the two summit documents- were 
finalised on Tuesday after long negotiations.

APC is producing two APCNews and APCNoticias 
specials direct from WSIS and for the first time, 
original content in French. Here's the first on 
Day One of the WSIS Summit. The next APCNews will 
appear on Day Three, the last day of the Summit.

Keep informed about the WSIS with APC. We 
covering events on the ground from Tunis and 
logging it all on our blogs in English, French and Spanish.

English blog: http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog
Spanish blog: http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog
French blog: http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog

RSS feeds also available:
RSS feed in English: http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/rss.xml
RSS feed in Spanish: http://www.apc.org/espanol/wsis/blog/rss.xml
RSS feed in French: http://www.apc.org/francais/wsis/blog/rss.xml

Detailed coverage in Spanish comes from APC's 
Latin America and Caribbean ICT Policy Monitor. 
Http://lac.derechos.apc.org/wsis

All stories in this APCNews Special are from the APC WSIS blogs.

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-- ON THE ISSUES: INTERNET GOVERNANCE --

The Tunis Commitment almost signed [By APCNews]

APCNews writing from TUNIS, Tunisia, 16/11/2005 
09:15 -- By 10 pm Tuesday, the chairperson, 
ambassador Khan, had concluded negotiations on 
chapter 3 on internet governance and received a 
standing ovation from all attending delegates. 
The outcome of the internet governance process is 
to have a forum that will take up broad public 
policy issues on the one hand, and a process of 
cooperation on the narrow principles that relate 
to domain name, numbers and the root zone file on the other.

"This outcome has to be evaluated in terms of the 
balance of power in the community of nations," 
said Willie Currie, APC's Communications and 
Information Policy Programme Manager. "The U.S. 
clearly saw that its strategic interest with 
regard to the war on terror and its dominant role 
in the global economy meant that it had to retain 
its oversight over the primary form of 
communications in the world, which today is the 
internet," Currie added. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2466414


Who will control the internet? Negotiations 
appear to be pointing towards a 
multi-stakeholder, multi-lateral forum [By APCNews]

Heated discussions between governments meeting in 
Tunisia at the World Summit on the Information 
Society seem to reaching results which could 
change the face of how the internet is managed 
for the next several years. APCNews reports. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2452593


APC... recommendations on internet governance [By APC]

APC crystallizes a set of recommendations with 
regard to internet governance for the final 
Summit in Tunis in November 2005 including for an 
internet governance forum that has become reality 
in the Tunis declaration. Recommendations 
available in English, Spanish and French. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2379688


IPS, WSIS and paedophile issues [By FN]

 From my RSS-feed, I just came across this story 
from one of my favourite news sources -- IPS 
filing from Bangkok -- that makes a case on why 
the information society must block paedophiles.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2378624


Who gets the credit, and who controls? [By FN]

Here's an articulate post by a journalist 
colleague from India -one of the few that makes 
sense of the issues at Tunis. It was written by 
Anand Parthasarathy of The Hindu, a prominent 
Indian newspaper, and reproduced via the One 
World South Asia network. BytesForAll mailing 
list, an APC member, reproduced it... and it 
raised a (brief but interesting) discussion. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2447992


Crucial drafting session in Tunis [By APCNews]

Late on Sunday night, November 13, 2005, an 
assembly of about 100 people agreed to a series 
of minimal points of common ground related
to internet governance in Tunis. These points 
were then to be reported back to the general 
plenary of what is called the resumed PrepCom 3 
meeting of the World Summit on the Information 
Society (WSIS) for definitive negotiation and implementation.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2418539


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-- ON THE ISSUES: HUMAN RIGHTS IN TUNISIA --

NEWS ALERT: Censorship by the host of THE UN 
summit on information? People in Tunisia cannot 
access a number of websites because they are 
being blocked. And the Citizens' Summit on the 
Information Society has also been taken 'offline' 
for Tunisians. List of filtered websites: 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2436066


Flagrant violation of human rights at Tunis [By APCNews]

Under the incredulous eyes of the participants at 
the World Summit on the Information Society 
(WSIS), journalists and human rights defenders 
were manhandled, insulted, and then violently 
beaten. APCNews reports from Tunis. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2431813


Many civil society activities cancelled [By Markus Beckedahl]

Many international NGOs taking part in WSIS have 
collectively decided to cancel their activities 
planned for today at WSIS. This measure is 
intended to make government, private sector and 
civil society delegates aware of the human rights 
violations that have been adding up since the 
beginning of PrepCom3 resumed. It is also a clear 
showing of solidarity with all independent NGOs in Tunisia who
seem to have to put up with police repression on 
a daily basis. Interview with Anriette Esterhuysen of the APC.
In OGG format: 
http://www.netzpolitik.org/wp-upload/Interview_with_Anriette.ogg 
In MP3 format: http://www.netzpolitik.org/wp-upload/Interview_with_Anriette.mp3


Utsumi happy about security... despite attacks on journalists and UN
staff [By Pavelan]

The internet should be more democratic and more international, says
the WSIS' chief organizer. More than 80% of the 
goals of WSIS have already been achieved, says 
ITU chief Yoshio Utsumi at his opening press 
conference for the summit's currently-underway 
second phase in Tunisia. He however skipped 
answering whether ITU has communicated concern to 
Tunisia's government regarding the safety of 
journalists and human rights' campaigners. Utsumi 
also announced that over 300 parallel events 
planned. Some 12,000 delegates are meanwhile in 
Tunis on the eve of the summit opening.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2451281


Obstacles ...and whose security? [By Jac sm Kee]

Took a cab to the Kram Palexbo, where the Summit 
and IT 4 All exhibition was happening[...] When 
we finally got to the site, we were stopped 5 
times at security checks at every turn of the 
road and I had to flash my registration card and 
a big smile to calm the security that I was 
indeed, a legitimate subject to attend this 
conference, accredited (somehow) and all. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2447599


Cause for concern: how free is free? [By FN]

IFEX Action Alert Network, the International 
Freedom of eXpression Clearing House has come out 
with a statement quoting Article 19 to point to 
attacks on journalists and others at the WSIS by 
the authorities. This statement is being 
distributed on behalf of the World Summit on the 
Information Society (WSIS) Civil Society's Media Caucus.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2446625


Online protest ... an alternative home [By Neila Charchour Hachicha]

Since the official website of the Online Protest is censored as you
can check for yourself here http://www.yezzi.org. I copied all pics
from the protest on flickr cause I thought you 
might like to discover this online protest 
http://flickr.com/photos/yezzi/sets/1366354/. It 
is a virtual online protest to say "Yezzi...Fock" 
which means "Enough is Enough". They just cannot 
say we are disturbing the public order and protesting is
a constitutional right. The Keyboard Revolution is doing its way so
help us keep the internet free from censorship. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2438705


In Tunis, internet governance rhymes with state control [By APCNews]

Today, the website of the Citizens' Summit on the 
Information Society (CSIS) was effectively 
off-line for all web users in Tunisia. It appears 
that Tunisian authorities have started to 
intensify their crackdown on legitimate 
initiatives related to the World Summit on the 
information Society (WSIS). Blocking the access 
to the www.citizens-summit.org is the latest in a series of measures
introduced to silence voices critical of the 
government and its human right record. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2436066


Don't take pictures at WSIS-Tunis [By Shahzad BytesForAll, Pakistan]

Maxigas -- a friend from Hungary -- and myself 
had the opportunity to go to the Tunis City 
Centre last afternoon, just to have a feel
of the city and get to know a little more about 
Tunis. The atmosphere seemed quite festive, and 
preparations for the WSIS are in full swing. 
Green plants are being transported in numbers and 
transplanted on roadsides and important squares, 
large pictures of the Tunisian President are 
installed everywhere, and even most of the 
banners also carry his pictures welcoming the WSIS delegates ;)
But questions remain.... 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2415647


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-- ON THE ISSUES: FINANCING OF ICT4D --

Making the ride to cyberspace affordable [By APCNews]

En route to the promised global village, the 
information superhighway is plagued by poor 
access and high fares that the bulk of this 
planet simply cannot afford. Reducing 
international internet costs is an important 
priority, underlined in a set of recommendations 
from the APC made to the WSIS stresses. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2427753


Some figures... and hard facts [By FN]

Some figures, and hard facts, from a Highway Africa article, titled
ICT4 All expo to attract 40,000 participants: 
"According to the International Telecommunication 
Union (ITU), the 942 million people living in the 
world's developed economies enjoy five times 
better access to fixed and mobile phone services, 
nine times better access to Internet services, 
and own 13 times more personal computers than the 
85 per cent of the world's population living in 
low and lower-middle income countries. ITU also 
estimates that 800,000 villages still lack 
connection by telephone line, the internet or any 
other modern ICTs." http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2418346


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-- APC AT WSIS --

Programme of APC events in Tunis: 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/apc_wsis_programme.pdf 
(pdf  to download and print out)


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-- WSIS BLOGS --

APC blogs are open to anyone in Tunis or around 
the world who wants to write or comment on the 
World Summit on the Information Society. Here are some highlights.

WSIS II: A walking dead [By maxigas]

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a pseudo-transcript of the proceedings
of the Civil Society press conference held on 
November 15, 2005 (Tuesday) at 16:30. The second 
round of WSIS has not even started yet but 
hearing the pronouncements below one would think that it is
already over!
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2452532


ICT for All? Really? [By Jac sm Kee]

At the end of the day, Maxigas and I decided to 
take a walk and survey the images of women, men, 
elderly people, young people and disabled people 
at the ICT 4 All Exhibition hall. Afterall, the 
claim is that ICT is for all right? So who is 
this 'all' we are talking about. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2447600


Hope remains forever... Tunis vignettes [Shahzad BytesForAll, Pakistan]

Have just gotten out of the Global Knowledge 
Partnership or GKP's partnership building 
workshop at the El-Hana Hotel in Tunis City 
Centre. It indeed was a pleasant experience. 
Frankly, had no clue earlier that how GKP works 
and what kind of partnerships they have all 
around the world ... http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2439181


It's another world out there... [By FN]

Inter-Press Service, the alternative news agency, 
has these stories related to the WSIS. Given its 
alternative perspective, it reminds us of some 
diverse perspectives which the 
first-to-break-the-news Western media often 
overlooks... or simply prefers not to highlight. 
One interesting piece is Media Enemies to
Share UN Spotlight by Marty Logan. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2436316


Groggy at Tunis... another view [By Jac sm Kee]

The plane ride was as all plane rides become 
after awhile, uncomfortable and far too long. 
Once getting off, there were large posters 
everywhere advertising WSIS, especially about the 
IT 4 All exhibition, where the tagline -- 
complete with pictures of multi-gendered and 
'raced' children smiling at a computer screen - 
promises to forefront the human dimension of 
information communications technologies 
development. I think I snorted audibly. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2431649


Gender voices from Tunis [By Katerina Fialova]

Here's some information about GenderIT.org coverage planned for the
WSIS at Tunis in mid-November 2005. See details 
of what's expected via websites, blogs, RSS feeds 
and more, to keep cyberspace informed about 
what's emerging. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2386770


Looking for environmental activists [By Milena B.]

Just curious whether environmental sustainability and ICTs is taking
place somewhere in the WSIS docs at all ;-) It will be good to know
if apart from BlueLink, whether there are other 
NGOs interested to stand up for the issue of 
environmental sustainability in Tunis.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2376151


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-- SNAPSHOTS FROM WSIS --

[Thanks to maxigas of Hungary, you can read more 
snapshots on the APC WSIS blog and here 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2452532]

Jeanette Hofmann (Member of the German Civil Society Coordination Group):
The U.S. is not willing to talk about internet 
government oversight. Most likely the Summit will 
ask Kofi Annan the Secretary General of the U.N. 
to set up a Forum on internet governance and the 
U.S. is expected to participate. The Forum would 
take up a range of issues including Information 
Technology for Development and political oversight.

Rikke Frank Jorgensen (Civil Society Human Rights Caucus):
"Many have asked about the human rights 
situation. [...] 10-15 of us were to hold a 
coordination meeting at the Goethe Institute 
yesterday. The Tunisian civil society people were 
not allowed to enter, and were kept out by men in 
civilian clothes who introduced themselves as 
"security personel". I am not sure what kind of 
police it was. When myself and other members of 
the international civil society stayed outside in 
solidarity, we were forcefully removed. Then we 
walked around the city to find another place to 
peacefully gather - to exercise our right for 
peaceful assembly. Each time we were removed 
again, we were pushed, and some people were even 
tried to be taken into cars and taken away. In 
the end the German ambassador arrived and tried 
to enter these premises with his guests of his 
own choice but he was not allowed. After that 
each of us contacted our respective delegations, 
and asked for support from the governments to 
basically provide for a space where we can have this Citizens' Summit."

Parmindeer Jeet Singh (Coordinator of the Civil 
Society Caucus for Follow-up and Implementation):
"I am presenting the specific disappointment of 
the civil society. The Tunis round was presented 
as a "Summit of Solutions" by its organisers. We 
did not find any effective solutions to the 
problems that brought us here, of using the new 
communication opportunities for more adequate 
development in the developing countries. 
Countries of the North did not show the political 
will to getting forward with the policy of 
internet governance and did not establish any 
follow-up process. Financing ITC4D (Information 
Technology for Development), which is a very 
important issue, was not addressed at all and no 
commitments were made. At present the governments 
are trying to cover up the possibility of a 
complete failure of the implementation of the WSIS process."


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-- INTERESTING READING --

Indepth: WSIS by Choike
http://www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/703.html

RWB presents electronic dissidents at the WSIS
http://committeetoprotectbloggers.blogspot.com/2005/02/rwb-presents-electronic-dissidents-at.html

Humanity will survive information deluge ?·Sir Arthur C Clarke
http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/74591/1

Who owns and controls the information societies? FSF Europe 2003
http://www.germany.fsfeurope.org/projects/wsis/issues.de.html

WSIS and Beyond : A dialogue between Soenke Zehle & Geert Lovink
http://www.worldsummit2005.de/en/web/810.htm

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-- USEFUL SITES ON THE WSIS --

The WSIS documents:
Tunis Agenda:http://www.ngocongo.org/ngomeet/WSIS/TunisAgenda.htm
Tunis Commitment: http://www.ngocongo.org/ngomeet/WSIS/TunisCommitment.htm

Citizens' Summit on the Information Society
http://citizens-summit.org
This website has been blocked in Tunisia since 
Monday November 14, 2005. It is only accessible 
from WSIS Media Center but the rest of us around the world can still visit it.

WSIS official site from the ITU
http://www.itu.int/wsis/

United Nations Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
http://www.unmsp.org/

Summit Newsroom, Tunis Phase
http://www.itu.int/wsis/tunis/newsroom/index_print.html

IPS on WSIS ­ the progressive Global News Agency
http://www.ipsnews.net/

WSIS Wire
http://www.wsis-wire.net/

ITU's ICT success story home page
http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/wsis-themes/ict_stories/index.phtml

Unesco WSIS publication series
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=10592&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Gender at Tunis: from GenderIT.org
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?apc=f--e--

The World Summit on the Information Society Civil Society Meeting Point
http://www.wsis-cs.org/

Germany-based site on WSIS (also in German)
http://www.worldsummit2005.de/en/nav/14.htm

Heinrich-Boll-Stiftung (German Greens Party-linked foundation) on
WSIS. Some sections of the site in Spanish too.
http://www.boell.de/en/04_thema/3800.html