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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I will join in this also for the same reasons. Thank
you for this opportunity. LDMF.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Linda D. Misek-Falkoff, Ph.D., J.D..<BR>Online
communications systems ARPANet forward.<BR>For Identification here: *Respectful
Interfaces* Programme / Communications<BR>Coordination Committee for the United
Nations. ACM ABA. International<BR>Disability Caucus for the
Disability Convention (toward U.N. Treaty).<BR>CCC/UN Secretary and Member of
the Board.<BR>Founder: Persons With Pain International (PWPI) accredited to the
U.N.<BR>Disability Convention.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: "Elizabeth Carll, PhD" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:ecarll@optonline.net"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>ecarll@optonline.net</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To: <</FONT><A
href="mailto:plenary@wsis-cs.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>plenary@wsis-cs.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 9:46 AM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Moving forward on
Shirin Ebadi</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>> [Please note that by using 'REPLY', your response goes to the entire
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access automatic translation of this message!<BR>>
_______________________________________<BR>> <BR>> Dear Meryem, Bertrand,
Richard and all,<BR>> <BR>> Shirin Ebadi would be an excellent speaker for
the opening session and I<BR>> support the recommendation. I too was at
the annual UN DPI/NGO Conference<BR>> and Shirin Ebadi delivered a very
articulate address on behalf of civil<BR>> society. Please feel free to
list my name individually. I will also check<BR>> with my organizations
which may take somewhat longer. What is the time<BR>> frame for
responses?<BR>> <BR>> Best regards,<BR>> <BR>> Elizabeth<BR>>
<BR>> Dr. Elizabeth Carll<BR>> International Society for Traumatic Stress
Studies;<BR>> UN NGO Committee on Mental Health;<BR>> Communications
Coordination Committee for the UN<BR>> New York, USA<BR>> Tel:
1631-754-2424<BR>> Fax: 1631-754-5032<BR>> </FONT><A
href="mailto:ecarll@optonline.net"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>ecarll@optonline.net</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>> <BR>>
<BR>> -----Original Message-----<BR>> From: </FONT><A
href="mailto:plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>
[mailto:plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org]On<BR>> Behalf Of richard jordan<BR>>
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 6:42 AM<BR>> To: </FONT><A
href="mailto:plenary@wsis-cs.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>plenary@wsis-cs.org</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>> Subject:
Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Moving forward on Shirin Ebadi<BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
[Please note that by using 'REPLY', your response goes to the entire
list.<BR>> Kindly use individual addresses for responses intended for
specific people]<BR>> <BR>> Click </FONT><A
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access automatic translation of<BR>> this message!<BR>>
_______________________________________<BR>> <BR>> Eloquently presented,
Bertrand, and may I say that Shirin Ebadi was equally<BR>> eloquent at the
recent DPI/NGO Conference held at UN Headquarters from 9-11<BR>> September
2005. It therefore makes sense to follow-up her appearance at that<BR>> major
forum, where the UN Secretary-General was present also, with this<BR>>
nomination.<BR>> <BR>> I would second not only your nomination but your
"explication du texte" if I<BR>> could borrow a phrase from my academic days
in Comparative Literature.<BR>> <BR>> Best regards, Richard Jordan<BR>>
<BR>> ----- Original Message -----<BR>> From: "Bertrand de La Chapelle"
<</FONT><A href="mailto:bdelachapelle@gmail.com"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>bdelachapelle@gmail.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>><BR>>
To: </FONT><A href="mailto:plenary@wsis-cs.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>plenary@wsis-cs.org</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>> Subject:
[WSIS CS-Plenary] Moving forward on Shirin Ebadi<BR>> Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005
12:13:55 +0200<BR>> <BR>> ><BR>> > Having Ms. Shirin Ebadi as
opening speaker for Civil Society in Tunis<BR>> would<BR>> > present
obvious advantages and her nomination could be forwarded to the<BR>> >
Secretariat after a simple endorsement process described below.<BR>>
> *Main advantages*<BR>> > 1) It would of
course put human rights and gender balance at the<BR>> forefront<BR>> >
of the building of inclusive information societies, uderlining that the<BR>>
WSIS<BR>> > process is not only about technology, and that appropriate
"enabling<BR>> > environments" also mean freedom of expression and access
to information,<BR>> and<BR>> > "capacity building" also means equal
opportunities for men and women,<BR>> > including access to
education.<BR>> > 2) She comes from a country that is very
vocal during the WSIS process<BR>> and<BR>> > the last PrepCom in
Internet Governance and Follow-up discussions : in the<BR>> > first
domain, the iranian national representative strongly advocates that<BR>> >
Internet Governance should be "transparent and democratic, with full<BR>>
> linvolvement of all stakeholders"; and in the second one, that
follow-up<BR>> at<BR>> > all levels should be done with the
participation of all stakeholders.<BR>> > If properly briefed
on the status of discussions on the draft Tunis<BR>> > Declaration and the
written commitments that governments plan to make in<BR>> > WSIS II, she
would be in an ideal position to take governments at their<BR>> own<BR>>
> words and describe in plain language how far from these commitments
actual<BR>> > practice in some countries really is. This is the
opportunity to point the<BR>> > often too large gap between what
governments say in international arenas<BR>> and<BR>> > what they
indeed practice at home.<BR>> > The WSIS has introduced
something new in the international negociation<BR>> > process : witnesses.
Civil Society's participation was not what it should<BR>> > have been; but
enough organizations were nonetheless present during the<BR>> > process to
hear government representatives make commitments they now can<BR>> be<BR>>
> held accountable for.<BR>> > Summits are not traditional
bilateral negociations where secret is the<BR>> > natural rule. Summit
processes are the closest thing to a world Parliament<BR>> > (far from it
I know, but still the closest thing), where general<BR>> principles<BR>>
> for our global community (Polity) are elaborated. The first absolute
rule<BR>> of<BR>> > representative democracy is the publicity of
debates.<BR>> > The ironic situation where citizens of
countries (as CS actors) are not<BR>> > even allowed by the rules of
procedure to simply listen to what<BR>> > representatives of their own
government are saying on their behalf is<BR>> > totally contradictory with
the notion of democracy and the transparency<BR>> > principle.<BR>>
> 3) Finally, Shirin Ebadi was, if I understand well, the first
woman<BR>> judge<BR>> > in Iran. In most countries, the judiciary is a
branch of the State and<BR>> > rightly so. Therefore, she is now a Civil
Society actor with a past in the<BR>> > governmental sector, as are today
many ex-ministers, presidents,<BR>> > parlementarians and civil servants.
This brings an interesting light to<BR>> the<BR>> > discussion that
recently emerged around Adama or some "senators".<BR>> > Civil
society is and should indeed be open to all individuals that,<BR>> >
irrespective of their past functions, engage in governance processes as<BR>>
> peers with all other actors, relinquishing whatever privilege they
may<BR>> still<BR>> > have and accepting to be evaluated on their sole
"capacity to contribute",<BR>> > rather than the traditional
intergovernmental rule of "equal right to<BR>> > oppose" (which is,
ultimately, the basic foundation of the UN system under<BR>> > the
expression "equal sovereignty of States").<BR>> > Choosing
Shirin Ebadi is therefore also a symbol of the inclusiveness of<BR>> >
Civil Society.<BR>> > _______________<BR>> >
*Endorsement process*<BR>> > Key question is now : if, as it
seems from initial reactions, there is a<BR>> > general agreement on her
being the favorite CS choice for the opening<BR>> > ceremony, how can this
be secured ?<BR>> > 1) The principle that Civil society actors
accredited to the Summit<BR>> process<BR>> > should - at least - have
the right to choose who is going to speak on<BR>> behalf<BR>> > of
civil society for the opening ceremony must be strongly reaffirmed;<BR>>
this<BR>> > is a "make or break" principle.<BR>> > 2)
For obvious reasons, there is no way an absolute consensus can be<BR>> >
achieved on the Plenary list and we should not waste time trying to
obtain<BR>> > it. We are therefore in the typical situation where rough
consensus (as<BR>> > practiced in the internet community) is the only way
out. : - there is a<BR>> > need to take a decision (only one slot and a
real deadline)<BR>> > - absolute consensus cannot be achieved<BR>> >
- a large majority seems to emerge on a specific name<BR>> > - dissenting
opinions do not seem to be able to provide an alternative<BR>> that<BR>>
> would be accepted by all<BR>> > 3) A two-fold process
(taking inspiration from the notion of rough<BR>> > consensus) could
therefore be established :<BR>> > - a general call on the Plenary list
would ask individuals or accredited<BR>> > entities to express support and
a formal nomination paper would be<BR>> > transmitted to the Secretariat
and Amb. Karklins with an attachment<BR>> listing<BR>> > accredited
entities and individuals supporting the nomination<BR>> > - the call would
simultaneously invite actors who might still have<BR>> > objections to the
nomination (if any) to indicate so and allow them to<BR>> > submit a
separate motion (sort of dissenting opinion) with : their name,<BR>>
all<BR>> > potential connexions with participating governments (as a
matter of<BR>> > transparency) and - possibly - an alternative speaker
they agree upon.<BR>> > The second element, that would allow
the expression of minority<BR>> positions,<BR>> > is essential to make
the process fully legitimate.<BR>> > 4) On a separate basis,
CS actors with particular connexions with their<BR>> > governments could
make them aware of the ongoing process and ask them to<BR>> > support
publicly or more privately to the Secretariat the right of civil<BR>> >
society to choose its opening speaker, outlining the bad press the
Summit<BR>> > would get if the name of Shirin Ebadi were to be voluntarily
refused.<BR>> > I hope this will help move forward on this
good idea.<BR>> > Best<BR>> >
Bertrand<BR>> > -<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>>
> On 10/14/05, </FONT><A href="mailto:maseger@t-online.de"><FONT
face=Arial size=2>maseger@t-online.de</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<</FONT><A href="mailto:maseger@t-online.de"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>maseger@t-online.de</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>> wrote:<BR>>
> ><BR>> > > [Please note that by using 'REPLY', your response
goes to the entire<BR>> list.<BR>> > > Kindly use individual
addresses for responses intended for specific<BR>> people]<BR>> >
><BR>> > > Click </FONT><A
href="http://wsis.funredes.org/plenary/"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>http://wsis.funredes.org/plenary/</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> to
access automatic translation<BR>> of<BR>> > > this message!<BR>>
> > _______________________________________<BR>> > ><BR>> >
> Hallo, Meryem! & Friends!<BR>> > ><BR>> > > On behalf
of my (European umbrella-)Organisation<BR>> > > I fully support the
nomination of Mrs. Shirin Ebadi<BR>> > > (2003 peace Nobel prize
winner) as a keynote speaker<BR>> > > for CS at the WSIS II Summit,
TUNIS.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > And I thank Renata for her decision
to step aside.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > MARIANNE<BR>> > >
(Gender Caucus and European Caucus)<BR>> > ><BR>> > > Marianne
Seger<BR>> > > permament European NGO observer<BR>> > > at the
U.N. New York and Geneva<BR>> > > for<BR>> > > EURAG European
Federation of Older Persons<BR>> > > GRAZ/AUSTRIA<BR>> > >
(</FONT><A href="http://www.eurag-europe.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>www.eurag-europe.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> <</FONT><A
href="http://www.eurag-europe.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>http://www.eurag-europe.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=2>>)<BR>> > ><BR>> > >
---------------------------------------------------<BR>> > > > On
behalf of the small organization which I<BR>> > > > represent, I
wish to say that we most strongly<BR>> > > > support the nomination
of Ms. Ebadi as a keynote<BR>> > > > speaker for CS at the Tunis
Summit, especially<BR>> > > > under the circumstances and regardless
of how<BR>> > > > much solidarity Adama Samassékou feels with
CS<BR>> > > > (sorry Tracey--but we just don't believe that<BR>>
> > > he's an appropriate CS representative).<BR>> > >
><BR>> > > > Regards,<BR>> > > ><BR>> > >
> Lisa<BR>> > > > Union for Democratic Communications<BR>>
> ><BR>>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>>
> ><BR>> > > > >Dear Amir,<BR>> > > >
><BR>> > > > >This is to confirm that Ms. Ebadi has finally
managed to make herself<BR>> > > > >available for the Tunis
Summit, despite her busy agenda. We have got<BR>> > > > >the news
very late, that is the reason why I posted only yesterday<BR>> the<BR>>
> > > >message and have sent yesterday also the letters to Mr Utsumi
and to<BR>> > > > >Amb. Karklins.<BR>> > > > >The
Human Rights caucus is in contact with her, through one of its<BR>> > >
> >members. Her participation is entirely confirmed.<BR>> > >
> >We would be happy to include the West-Asia Family in the list of
CS<BR>> > > > >entities proposing Ms. Ebadi as a speaker for WSIS
opening.<BR>> > > > ><BR>> > > > >Kind
regards,<BR>> > > > >Meryem<BR>> ><BR>> >
-------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>>
> > > Lisa McLaughlin, Ph.D.<BR>> > > > Associate
Professor, Mass Communication & Women's Studies<BR>> > > >
Editor, Feminist Media Studies<BR>> > > > Director of Graduate
Studies, M.A. Program in Mass Communication<BR>> > > > Union for
Democratic Communications Representative,<BR>> > > > World Summit on
the Information Society (</FONT><A href="http://www.udc.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>http://www.udc.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>)<BR>> > >
><BR>> > > > Mass Communication<BR>> > > > Williams
Hall<BR>> > > > Miami University-Ohio<BR>> > > > Oxford,
OH 45056<BR>> > > > USA<BR>> > > > Tele:
513-529-3547<BR>> > > > Fax: 513-529-1835<BR>> > ><BR>>
> ><BR>> > >
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