[Chapter-delegates] Internet Society Statement on the NETmundial Initiative

[Evan Leibovitch]

On 19 November 2014 11:38, Alejandro Pisanty <apisanty at gmail.com> wrote:

we should fret less about negative publicity
>

​What negative publicity?

All I have seen are nearly
<http://www.onlydomains.com/showNews/title/isoc-civil-society-unhappy-with-netmundial-initiative-not-consistent-with-democracy>
-congratulatory
<https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141117/17550129174/internet-society-says-oh-hell-no-to-icanns-plan-un-security-council-internet.shtml>
comments
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/11/17/isoc_slams_netmundial_initiative/>,
praising ISOC for singularly having the courage to stop the affront to
openness and MSM in its tracks. Suddenly we're relevant again.

And NOW ... the day after the ISOC statement is released, Chehade is in the
news, speaking in favour of more decentralization in governance
<http://gadgets.ndtv.com/internet/news/icann-chief-urges-decentralised-control-of-the-internet-622879>
 .

So... I have yet to see any negative fallout from the ISOC statement, but
plenty of positives have emerged.

What debate exists, from what I can see, are tactical rather than on
substance. I see nobody saying that NMI was a Really Good Idea outside of
the three founders -- forget perfect, even workable or even necessary. The
main debate I have seen was whether to meekly join and try to fix things
from the inside, or to reject the initial offer, pressuring for change as a
condition of participation. And the ISOC statement properly questions
whether there is a need at all for such an overarching body.

and work more on strengthening a principles-based position.
>

​I can fully appreciate the challenge between the dogmatic and pragmatic. I
think the ISOC approach has addressed both, rejecting the initial NMI
foundation but keeping the door open, and calling for the dialogue that
should have taken place BEFORE the fact.​

​I otherwise fully agree with Alejandro's assessment, especially:

It is time to apply ISOC's unique combination of analytic powers,
> subject-matter knowledge availability, global-local presence, and adherence
> to principles, and worry a bit less about hurt feelings. Raul's note is
> encouraging.
>

Worth repeating.

​- Evan
​
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/private/chapter-delegates/attachments/20141119/068d285e/attachment.htm>