Hello to everyone...
First the apologies for my silence the past few weeks (and months?!). It was
due to a number of things, including what Angela speculated on--loads of
work ;-)--coupled with some processes my Foundation is undergoing (some
people leaving, lots of strategic planning, etc.) and a bit of personal
issues and emergencies (some of it health-related). I am afraid I was
"burning out" a bit and I have just been trying to prioritize ...
After PrepCom2 and the subsequent caucus of a few of us in Manila in early
April, I limited myself to just monitoring the lists and forwarding relevant
posts from the Civil society Directorate/Bureau. I'd like to acknowledge and
thank people like Angela, Adam, Sacha, Serena, Chun, Izumi and others who
have kept plugging away, posting comments, and also diligently following the
processes and forwarding things on this list.
The list been quieter than usual, save for their occasional posts. Am not
sure why this is so, but I assume people also are busy with other things.
On my end, I also sort of held back consciously as well in "representing"
the Asian family in CS Bureau discussions, for a very clear reason: there
was an agreement in PrepCom2 that the election of myself and Angela (as
alternate) was only till PrepCom2, and the final reps would still be
selected. (Am copying my original note Angela referred to on this--its at
the bottom of this post.)
I appreciate that people like Angela continue to make us aware of deadlines
and urgent decisions to be made.
Anyway...to get to the points I wanted to say to the group:
FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE DISCUSSION IN THE MANILA MEETING.
The highlights of Manila caucus we had in early April have not been sent
out. Sorry for this--Guarab was the rapporteur of that meeting and he
promised to post something or at least send me a draft I could work on.
Despite several reminders to him, he has not responded at all, and neither
has he sent the draft highlights. (Am actually a bit worried if Gaurab is
all right because he has been unusually quiet and is not answering
emails...)
I am appealing to those who were there and took notes to send me what they
have (I was facilitating or doing logistics much of the time, so I have
scant notes, but I will try to piece things together from whatever anyone
sends me.) Many of the things talked about were strategic issues which could
be discussed on the list later, maybe next month.
PARIS INTERSESSIONAL MEETING VIZ. THE ASIAN FAMILY REP
Onto the urgent decision Angela referred to. The organizers are asking for a
rep from Asia, promising to fund one person to go to the meeting.
On the other hand, this group has not responded to my request for
nominations for CSB rep, posted more than 2 months ago. Even the people who
suggested that a new selection process be done after PrepCom 2 (YJ, are you
there?) has been silent about this. In the meantime, we have to have a rep
in Paris. Time is running out and the opportunity may be wasted.
As I have said a number of times, I think the representation issue is
important and whoever persons will be our reps, there has to be some
validation process from the group.
MY INTERIM SUGGESTION:
Pending overdue discussion on our leadership/representation structure, which
we can do later, I think we should choose quickly who should go to Paris as
our rep.
I think Angela Kuga Thas is willing and very able to represent us in
Paris--she was our rep in week 2 of PrepCom2 and has been very active in
dissecting the CS Faciliataion Fund. I gather she is available for the
intersessional meeting, and I would like to nominate her. She will provide
continuity to our advocacies from Tokyo and Geneva, and will represent us
well, and I can attest that she is very capable to play this role. Plus she
is a woman, and will improve the gender balance of that meeting! :-)
(Adam and Izumi and Glocom I think are planning to go too, but I think they
may have their own resources; Isis people are also probably going--right
Susanna/Raijeli/Mavic?-- and maybe others who have some resources to travel
to Paris--but I am suggesting that Angela be the one who the Asian Family
chooses to take the subsidized slot. Regardless, Asian who are there will
naturally be the strategy group)
[PERSONAL NOTE AGAIN: In case some of you are thinking: Why not Al?
I really want to give way to Angela, especially for the subsidized slot. So
if there are no other resources available, I hope you agree it should be
her. But if there are funds (from somewhere) I will consider going too, if I
can manage my schedule. I doubt if I can raise any more money from here, so
it will have to come from somewhere else. (Any suggestions?) But again, if
funds are available, it could also be someone else, not me. No problem.
Still and all, may I assure everyone, that I am still here, committed to
helping out in whatever capacity.]
So there. Sorry for the longish post, but wanted to be clear as possible. I
appeal everyone to weigh in--either in support of my suggestion, or with a
nomination of your own.
Thanks for the listen
Peace
Al
----- Original Message -----
From: RunningToddler <amkt@apcwomen.org>
To: AP WSIS Caucus <communication@wsisasia.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 3:50 PM
Subject: [communication 653] URGENT--decisions needed
> Hello everyone again,
>
> I'm writing again because the CS Bureau (CSB) is arranging to sponsor at
> least one CSB focal point from the Asia Pacific family to the meeting in
> Paris and for the intersessionals around the WSIS process. I was hoping
that
> Al would write to the list about this but he must be super busy again.
>
> Al, I believe, wrote immediately after Prepcom 2 to find out if the groups
> are comfortable with the elections that took place to select focal points
> for the CSB i.e. Al Alegre of FMA/APC as primary focal point, and myself
of
> APCWNSP as substitute. I'd like to know if there are other suggestions or
> nominations for focal points to the CSB, as we need to be represented in
the
> CSB during its meeting in Paris. Al has indicated he may not be able to
> continue his position as primary focal point, and I'm willing to fill this
> gap temporarily until there's some consensus from the group/this list
here.
>
> If Al is indeed not going to be primary focal point, we will need to
> identify also at least, a temporary substitute, again pending consensus
from
> the group. I'd like to suggest Isis International Manila as the substitute
> for Asia Pacific.
>
> Besides arrangements to go to Paris, we now also have to provide our
mailing
> correspondence details as CSB reps.
>
> Warm regards,
>
> Angela
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Liliane Ursahce" <liliane.ursache@ties.itu.int>
> To: <bureau@geneva2003.org>
> Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 3:40 PM
> Subject: COORDINATES - URGENT
>
>
==========================
MY EARLIER (SHORTENED) POST ON THE REPRESENTATION ISSUE:
----- Original Message -----
From: Alan G. Alegre <alalegre@fma.ph>
To: wsis-asia <communication@wsisasia.org>
Cc: <amkt@apcwomen.org>
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 2:15 PM
Subject: Fw: follow-up Prepcom 2
> Dear friends
>
> After "decompressing" after PrepCom2, and catching up on work here, I
write
> on a few initial things occasioned by a follow-up letter sent to me by the
> CS Secretariat.
(SNIP)
>
> So some PrepCom2 reports. (I was only involved in the week one
> discussions--till up to the morning meetings of 23 February--before we
> transitioned to Angela Kuga Thas of KHRYSS-Malaysia/APC-WNSP as our rep
> there. I am sure others can give a few updates also soon.)
>
> Up to the time I was there, we took the lead in a drafting group to pin
down
> the "terms of reference" for the bureau, which they refer to in the
attached
> note. I still have to see how much it was changed from my original draft.
> But we tried our hardest to put down in writing all our concerns for
> transparency, participation, efficiency, and open-endedness.
>
>
(SNIP)
>
> When we were nominated to be reps to the CS Bureau, it was on the
> understanding that the CSB was an evolving structure--there were still a
lot
> of doubts about it in the early days of PrepCom2--and that we would try to
> influence its nature and functioning. From day one, I think we did exactly
> that. It will be more of a challenge now, between PrepCom2 and 3,
especially
> as we are not physically in Geneva.
>
> PICKING A REPRESENTATIVE:
>
> What I would like to consult now is a matter of our (Asia-Pacific CSOs)
> representation to the Bureau post PrepCom2. My understanding is our
(myself
> and Angela, as rep and alternate respectively) participation was only for
> PrepCom2. Therefore business matters like the ones referred to in the
letter
> below should be discussed under the lead of whoever this group picks as
its
> actual CSB rep/alternate. (Or steering committee?)
>
> Therefore, people on this list should speak up on who you want to
represent
> the Asian CSO "family" in the subsequent work and discussions of the CSB.
>
> ***I suggest an informal nomination process be started now, and a
referendum
> be conducted so whoever is picked is assured of some level of support
backed
> up by a satisfactory and reasonably transparent selection process.***
>
(SNIP)
> (* On a personal note: I have been playing a convening/facilitating role
for
> Asian CSOs since PrepCom1 and the Bangkok meetings, even all throughout
the
> Tokyo Regional and Geneva P2 meetings. It increasingly is a role that I do
> not relish, what with the inherent difficulties of balancing diverse
> interests (and personalities) and the exhausting requirement to exhibit
> patience in the face of sometimes frustrating circumstances :-). Though I
am
> personally committed to see the WSIS processes through (and my
> organization/s FMA and APC are also organizationally committed as well) I
am
> sure there are other people who want to take my place and can do so
easily.
> So please think of the best person to lead this group, and please do not
> assume that because I had played part of this role before, that it has to
be
> me.)
(SNIP)
>
> Then, as this mailing list is an unmoderated one, I assume the discussions
> will be self-propelling, and certain people will just take the lead when
any
> lead has to be taken.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Al
========================