[Chapter-delegates] "The Day We Fight Back" action

[Evan Leibovitch]

Hi Ted,

Hi other chapter leaders.

I certainly don't oppose the goals of the campaign, but I do have a serious
concern that ISOC HQ's support of this -- to the apparent exclusion of
other efforts in other countries -- further cements an outside perception
(that I have encountered) that ISOC is heavily US-centric. That is,
chapters are seen as satellites of an American org for which domestic
politics gains most attention.

There are revelations that multiple countries have active surveillance
programs. China's control effort is almost legendary, but the UK and many
other countries have been exposed as different from the US only in
capability if not intent.

In ISOC we have a unique vehicle to globalise such an effort at public
awareness. Promoting outside the US a campaign in which the main
call-to-action is "contact your congressman" simply promotes frustration
and a feeling of powerlessness.

Is this a matter well taken up by the US-based ISOC chapters? Certainly.
But IMO ICANN HQ should be playing more of a role in helping each chapter
to raise such awareness in their own countries, than to re-enforce a
preferred-country stereotype that's almost colonial in nature.

Just a polite reminder, IMO, that an international focus has to be
baked-in, not built-on.

- Evan



On 7 February 2014 13:31, Ted Mooney <mooney at isoc.org> wrote:

>   To all ISOC Chapters:
>
>
>
> On 11 February, a coalition of activist groups, companies, and online
> platforms will hold a day of activism against NSA surveillance. You can
> find more details on “The Day We Fight Back” here:
> https://thedaywefightback.org/. The primary call to action is to urge US
> citizens to call/email Congress and ask legislators to oppose the FISA
> Improvements Act, support the USA Freedom Act, and enact protections for
> non-Americans.
>
>
>
> The Internet Society supports the principles of this initiative and is
> planning a blog posting from Markus Kummer on Monday to highlight this
> effort, along with other similar initiatives across the community. I've
> attached a copy of that blog to this email.  As a global organization, our
> message will be focused on the importance of community collaboration around
> important topics that impact the future of the Internet. Because this
> initiative is primarily US focused, we do not plan to sign on to the
> website or post “The Day We Fight Back” banner on our website.
>  Nevertheless, we feel that all our Chapters should know about this
> initiative and, if you find this useful, take the opportunity to support
> it, either 1) with a signature and display of the banner (from the
> website information above) by the US chapters, or 2) by clicking on the
> International banner and other areas for non US citizen chapters.
>
>
>
> This issue of pervasive secret surveillance by governments around the world
> has eroded trust in the Internet as a concourse of freedom, innovation,
> economic opportunity and global community development.  We encourage all
> our chapters to be vigilant and active in support of the open and secure
> Internet.
>
>
>
> WIth thanks and best regards,
>
>
>   Ted Mooney
> Senior Director, Membership & Services
> The Internet Society
> 1775 Wiehle Avenue
> Reston, VA 20190 USA
> Office: +1 703-439-2774
> Cell: +1 301-980-6446
> eMail: mooney at isoc.org
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/private/chapter-delegates/attachments/20140207/eb880af9/attachment.htm>