Subject: Re: [wsis-prep1] WSIS Civil Society Plenary=20
list
Hello everyone,
Karen sent out a note the other =
day about=20
the new list CS-Plenary List (attached below), following =
through=20
on a decision taken at the final Civil Society Plenary meeting on =
February 28th=20
at PrepCom II (minutes soon, I hope). I really think this =
is very=20
important, and that all those supporting civil society in the =
WSIS=20
should join up straight away. Its special value lies in the=20
following:
1) On this list, you provide your name and =
affiliation=20
when you join. In effect, this add greatly to the credibility =
and=20
weight of anything we agree or even discuss in depth. We can =
now point=20
to xx hundreds of NGOs/entities involved in this process, and willing to =
lend=20
their name to it. This is a very valuable organising =
instrument. =20
2) Having a list explicitly and formally set up by =
Civil=20
Society Plenary meeting to bring the 'intercessional' period helps those =
who=20
cannot be at PrepComs to become involved in a more complete =
manner. =20
The list is open to all entities, accredited to not, who want to =
contribute as=20
civil society to the WSIS. Although the new list cannot have the =
same=20
decision-making powers of an actual plenary Meeting, its 'official' =
status means=20
that it is a powerful discussion and planning forum. (Of course, it in =
no way=20
fully addresses the problem of those not able to attend, and the bias =
this=20
generates, but at least it helps.)
3) The final Plenary of =
the=20
Civil Society Plenary at PrepCom II on February 28th agreed the =
following about=20
the Civil Society Bureau:=20
[The Bureau] will regularly inform the Virtual Plenary Group of =
its=20
activities, and consult with it before any actions or =
commitments of=20
importance are made (so as to avoid an overload of e-mails). On =
regular=20
reporting, the bureau lists should send notification of reports, and =
place=20
those in the archives open to the public on the Civil Plenary list. =
However,=20
e-mails requiring urgent debate should be clearly labelled. =
It is=20
thus an important mechanism for the CS Bureau and civil society to =
interact=20
- interaction within the 'families' is fragmented and specific to =
each=20
issue.
4) The PrepCom 1 list and other lists remain =
useful=20
for information dissemination and general discussion. But this new =
list is=20
focused on organising issues such as planning for PrepCom III and =
others,=20
coordinating content and building consensus around substantive issues =
and=20
activities, and interacting to the CS Bureau. If used sensibly, it =
should=20
reduce the proliferation of messages and lists. Certainly that is what I =
will=20
aim at.
So do join this new list.
Bye sean =
At 06:50 19/03/2003 +0000, karen banks wrote:
Greetings to =
everyone,
Below is=20
some background information about the list, with details as to how to=20
subscribe towards the end. Please feel free to share this announcement =
widely.=20
I have only posted the announcement to this list=20
(wsis-prep1@cpsr.org)
regards karen =
banks
INVITATATION TO=20
JOIN THE CS-PLENARY LIST -=20
=
plenary@wsis-cs.org =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D As=20
per discussions and subsequent agreement during the final Civil =
Society=20
plenary in Geneva on Feb 28th, the following list has been created as =
a space=20
for the the Virtual Plenary to discuss and share information between =
PrepComs=20
and the Summit:
plenary@wsis-cs.org
Background and=20
=
Objectives =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D The Civil Society Plenary: (From=20
the final Civil Society Plenary Meeting, PrepCom 2, =
28.2.2003). This is a=20
work in progress and is open to amendments throughout the WSIS=20
process.
The Civil Society Plenary Meeting, when convened, is =
the=20
source of legitimacy for all civil society activities in the=20
WSIS.
Between PrepComs a 'Virtual CS Plenary Group' has been =
created=20
(plenary@wsis-cs.org), comprising organisations and other entities =
accredited=20
and registered at both PrepComs to date, from civil society, although=20
organisations with a key interest in the issues but that are not part =
of the=20
Summit process should also have the opportunity to =
participate.
The=20
list will not be a decision-making space, in the sense that no voting =
will be=20
called for, but a space to promote greater debate and transparency in =
the=20
organisation of Civil Society during the summit.
Civil Society=20
=
Organisations =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D All civil society=20
organisations or entities will be invited to join. Everyone will be =
asked to=20
provide their name, organisational affiliation and e-mail address, =
along with=20
some additional optional information. Many may subscribe from the one=20
organisation.
There is no unanimously agreed definition of =
Civil=20
Society, but we will work with the following loose definition (which =
draws on=20
several United Nations documents):
Organisations - including =
movements,=20
networks and other entities - which are autonomous from the State, are =
not=20
intergovernmental or do not represent the private sector, and which in =
principle, are non-profit-making, act locally, nationally and =
internationally,=20
in defence and promotion of social, economic and cultural interests =
and for=20
mutual =
benefit.
Transparency =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D T=
his will be an open=20
list. Archives of all lists below will be publically available =
at: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/public/plenary/"=20
=
eudora=3D"autourl">http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/public/plenary/ =
Subscribing=20
to =
Plenary =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D Please visit http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary"=20
=
eudora=3D"autourl">http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenar=
y=20
where a brief form is provided we would like everybody to complete. =
Once the=20
form is completed, you should receive confirmation of your =
subscription within=20
24 hours.
All those who attended PrepCom1 will be automatically =
subscribed to the list. We do not yet have access to the attendee list =
for=20
PrepCom 2, but will ensure that this announcement is shared widely on =
WSIS and=20
related mailing lists, and sent to the WSIS Civil Society Division=20
Secretariat.
Using =
Plenary =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D To post a message =
to all=20
the list members, send email to plenary@wsis-cs.org
Work of the =
List =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D We hope to =
provide some loose facilitation=20
guidelines to ensure the list works smoothly, effectively and does not =
duplicate the work of other lists (such as the wsis-prep1 and other =
related=20
lists).
These will be posted by early of the week beginning =
March 24th,=20
by which time we hope to have received the bulk of subscription =
requests, and=20
can convene our 'virtual' plenary.
Coordination and Integration =
with=20
other =
lists =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =
We are=20
currently discussing with lost owners of other WSIS related lists =
(such as=20
wsis-prep1) as to how to minimise duplication of effort, and merge =
lists where=20
possible. An update will be shared widely as soon=20
possible.
_____________________________ Computer =
Professionals=20
for Social Responsibility (CPSR) is the oldest non-profit, mass =
membership=20
organization working on social impacts of computer =
technology.