[ga] The ALAC...exercise in damage limitation by ICANN
Title: Help Sotiris Sotiropoulos reported back to the AtLarge community on the
teleconference held by Denise Michel to explore the idea of an ALAC (At Large
Advisory Committee). This initiative has been launched by the ICANN Board in an
effort to replace elected representatives on the Board with a sham mechanism
that tries to show DoC that ICANN is affording the huge AtLarge community a
voice, while in fact "institutionalizing" its disenfranchisement. Sotiris's
report-back is very valuable, as this initiative needs to be challenged every
step of the way. It is classic ICANN "top-down" stuff, and has really come about
as a "damage limitation" exercise.
Sotiris
Thank you very much for sharing all this information in an open attempt to
keep the AtLarge community involved. This is much appreciated.
Some comments are interspersed below:
----- Original Message -----
From: Sotiris Sotiropoulos <sotiris@hermesnetwork.com>
To: discuss <atlarge-discuss@lists.fitug.de>
Sent: Friday, August 02, 2002 1:15 AM
Subject: [atlarge-discuss] ALAC Conference call > All,
> > This morning I took part in the ALAC tele-conference > call. Here are some notes I took: > > Denise started the call out by relaying some feedback from > ICANN's Stuart Lynn. Well that contextualizes this initiative immediately : it's a top-down
ICANN initiative and, as such, should not be greatly favoured by an AtLarge
membership which has consistently requested their right to represent themselves
at Board level
(snip)
> Stuart Lynn's
> interpretation: ALAC draft ought to expand upon > justification of why there should even be an ALAC; Immediately, the ICANN Board is pre-supposing that this SHOULD be
justified. I believe that the majority view in the AtLarge community is that
ALAC represents a smokescreen and, as Danny Younger has put it, a way of
"institutionalising" the removal of AtLarge elected representatives with voting
powers on the Board. Therefore, Denise is immediately calling on the AtLarge
community to "justify" something which goes in the opposite direction to the way
most of us want to go.
She's basically saying: "You can't have representatives on the Board
anymore. Justify what we've done!"
> provide
> details of its structure. OK... we elect ALL of its membership (after all, why shouldn't the AtLarge
run its own committee?); we elect its leader and the person who will co-ordinate
it and draft its reports; we vote on whether to continue its existence and
insist on representation on the Board as a condition of its existence and
participation (NOT some piffling, "possible" concession of a single
representative on the Nominating committee - a pathetic concession that would
only be granted in the knowledge that such a representative would always be
outvoted by a majority of stooges)
AFTER those priority issues are established (not before), I would then
agree that considerable work was needed on the mechanisms and structure.
But once again, what we actually have is a top-down pre-supposition that we
embrace Stuart Lynn's initiative - talk on structure is just "getting us to talk
about the mechanisms for our own disenfranchisement". Sure, we can be present at
these meetings, but again and again, we MUST assert the TRUE AtLarge demands and
principles, and repeatedly condemn the real intent and purposes of this
initiative.
Sotiris, your faithful attempt to represent what was said indicates much
too much concessionary conversation, and nothing like robust enough expression
of the AtLarge demands, principles and agenda. The people of the world, the
millions of Internet users, deserve to be represented at the heart of ICANN, and
have a right to assert their own agenda, their own terms... which does not
include becoming ICANN's lapdog. All this talk about the detail plays exactly
into Denise's hands. We - not her - should be insisting on the program, the
step-by-step conditions, the precise draft and message to ICANN, and the
continuing unbending demands for the restoration of elected representatives on
the Board.
> Also, he noted that current
> advisory committees are appointed by the Board, why should > this be any different? Top-down
> He wanted an exploration of the
> council idea and he stated that seats on the nominating > committee for Board elections is an open issue. As I've explained above, that is a "con" and a wholly inadequate
substitution for elected representatives on the Board.
> Also, he
> apparently commented on the role of liaisons in the eyes > of the ERC as individuals who help the flow of > communication between the ERC and ALAC. [I was a bit > unclear about this last bit myself myself, but I made the > note and so here it is.] If the AtLarge movement wanted any liaison individuals then that is for the
AtLarge movement to decide and choose (democratically) - and certainly, Denise
Michel should be replaced in my opinion by someone fundamentally trusted by the
AtLarge community and chosen from its ranks
> ---------
> > After this we launched into a general discussion in which > the theme of elections figured pretty prominently. Elections to what? To the Board. ALSG has already TOLD the Board this, and
they just ignored it, so this issue should come BEFORE anything else, and a
protest note should head any and every document and e-mail sent by AtLarge
groups to ICANN. If ICANN refuse to discuss the issue of elections to the Board,
what is left to discuss? Rather, we protest and demand, and set everything else
within that context.
We must NOT lose focus, or we'll just get sucked into Stuart Lynn's "vague"
ALAC sham
> Esther
> Dyson's comments in an email prior to the teleconference > had underlined the centrality of the issue of elections, > and questions of legitimacy. On the issue of legitimacy, who was Esther representing when she took part
in this teleconference? As Joanna Lane stated, if Esther, then why not Joanna
(or anyone else?). Is Esther, in fact, helping Denise to steer this initiative
through to some kind of fianl package which - once in place - signs and seals
the Board's "reform" of the AtLarge (eg removes our representatives on the
Board). Esther - no insults intended - but what precisely is your role in this,
what is your mandate for taking part, what is your legitimacy? Who do you
represent?
> Tommi Kaartavi spoke in
> support of E. Dyson's comments regarding mention of > elections in our final draft. Mention of elections should BE our final draft.
No elections, no ALAC.
(snip)
> E.
> Dyson talked of putting off actual elections for now...but > not necessarily ruling them out later. Yes, that's always a good trick. They're a "good idea, children, but we'll
talk about all that later (maybe) - for now, let's just carry on dismantling the
AtLarge powerbase..."
"Not necessarily ruling them out later".... means: let's just carry on with
the top-down ICANN initiative and not let the elections issue get in the way of
your disenfranchisement...
> I asked why/if the
> ALSC study is off the table Well done, Sotiris - that was the primary issue and the primary
question
to which E. Dyson responded:
> ALSC recommendations are not off the table. Ha! Tell that to Stuart Lynn! Does Esther REALLY believe that? They're only
back on the table if DoC makes them a condition, and that's another reason why
we should be insisting on them
> [Indeed, they
> are mentioned in her comments on the ALAC draft so far.] > Izumi Aizu said words to the effect that there is > skepticism over direct elections, but also over the > indirect approach, and that he would like to see both > sides come together and articulate how the ALAC can > reasonably propose direct representation without capture > fears. Obviously Izumi needs to speak for himself on this point, but on the face
of it, this seems to undermine the majority AtLarge view calling for elected
representation on the ICANN Board - he seems to be implying that there would be
something a bit "dodgy" about elections. To be fair on Izumi, there obviously
ARE issues of integrity of process, but I feel these remarks can be used by
opponents like Joe Sims to justify NO elections at all. It's like saying: The
last American presidential election may not have been a safe result, therefore
we shouldn't have presidential elections. I hope what Izumi meant was: "We
should DEFINITELY have elections, to elect Board members, and to silence
critics, lets make the process as efficient and transparent as possible."
> Denise Michel was skeptical about providing the
> details of how elections and direct representation can be > ironed out in two weeks There you go then - "let's not talk about elections! let's talk about ALAC
instead!" - which is the ICANN Board's proposed substitute for elections
anyway
(snip)
> At some point, Esther expressed a concern
>over getting people to do work, and floated the idea of an ALAC Executive >body which actually does the work (or at least those who do the work >among them will eventually become apparent, as well as those who don't) >and that this might actually spur people to be more productive as opposed >to self-defeating. More productive in constructing the ICANN Board's own initiative, rather
than criticising it? It's all a bit like being told to construct your own tomb -
or, in this case, the Tomb of the AtLarge movement, after the death of
democracy
>Esther Dyson thought it would be prudent to apprise
>the DOC and other public bodies of ALAC efforts and progress. Look DoC!!! ICANN is serious about AtLarge representation!!! Aren't we
being good!!! You can trust good old ICANN... you see, Stuart Lynn was right all
along... you didn't actually need elected Board members anyway... can't you see,
the AtLarge movement is happily taking part in the new ALAC... and they LOVE
it!
>Izumi Aizu
>expressed concern over disenfranchising some countries an wished for the >ALAC to articulate the notion that when and if a developing countries >at-large structure(s) wish to take part in ALAC efforts, they would be >treated in an equitable/fair manner. But Izumi, the WHOLE AtLarge movement has been disenfranchised! And ICANN's
going to worry that the AtLarge is "treated in an equitable/fair manner"? Point
taken, all countries deserve adequate representation - point NOT taken, there is
no representation.
(snip)
>Edmundo Valenti, expressed
>support for an At-Large presence on the Nominating Comittee, I'm sorry, but this will be powerless, and is a wholly inadequate
substitution for AtLarge elected representatives on the Board. This is
ignominious defeat. Be clear about this. We cannot accept these terms. Millions
and millions of users - the largest constituency in the world - reduced to a
possible place on the Nominating Committee (where it can be outvoted anyway).
All this is about is the ICANN leadership making sure that its most critical
dissidents are rendered powerless. Let's get real about this!
(snip)
>I stated that it was important to clarify ALAC
membership
>criteria and how/by whom criteria will be applied; A good point, Sotiris : it must be defined and applied by the AtLarge
movement itself, NOT imposed by the ICANN Board - otherwise it merely ends up
representing the ICANN Board, not the AtLarge. And as I say, if it is not
coupled to elections to the Board, it is not acceptable anyway - because its
just perpetuates the Board's coup anyway
also that it would
>probably be a good idea to clarify that should the ALAC proceed that it >should be viewed as open-ended and evolving (i.e. that it might have room >to expand its role if necessary at a later time and not be pigeon-holed >from the get-go). I don't entirely agree. It should have clear and defined purposes, and its
purpose should be to demand AtLarge elected representation on the Board. After
all, ALSG was a kind of Advisory Committee, and that's what THEY advised. If you
make it too open-ended and fuzzy at the edges, then the CENTRAL issue of
representation on the Board will be swept under the carpet ("for the time being"
eg forever) and a morass of residual issues will be used to indicate that the
ALAC is, in fact, the ideal way to represent the AtLarge movement. To return to
Izumi's earlier comments about "capture", the real danger of capture comes if
you DON'T have elections!
Núria de la Fuente Teixidó, (STEC - Sistemas Técnicos
>de Enseñanza Consultores, www.stec.info) thought it important to take the >necessary steps -- i.e. to identify main actors and build communities; >it's hard to talk about an election without a structure; ALAC ought to >try to put At-Large inside ICANN No, no, no : the AtLarge is a community - and should become a movement -
independent of ICANN, but with the right to be represented at the heart of
ICANN. The vast majority of people we represent are just ordinary individuals
who use the Internet or potentially benefit from it. There must be a distinction
between the permanent independence of the AtLarge, and its legitimate roles
inside ICANN.
If Nuria means we should have representatives on the Board "inside ICANN"
then I agree. If Nuria means the AtLarge should be run and operated from inside
ICANN, as a part of ICANN, then that's missing the point.
>but to emphasize education, outreach,
>and a bottom-up approach to the ALAC so it listens to people. I >suggested a web form which would forward directly to all members of the >ALAC or some such direct input vehicle. I also asked about whether ALAC >discussions, drafts and topics could be shared with ICANNAtLarge.com >members to which the reply was affirmative. If ICANN goes ahead and foists an ALAC on the AtLarge community, instead of
elected Board members, there should definitely be an ALAC Public Forum and also
a Mailing List, so that ALL members of the AtLarge community can participate and
be heard - moreover, all members of any ALAC and also the ICANN Board itself
should actively participate in such open forums. If you look at the Public
Comment Forums at the moment, the ICANN Board just runs away and hides, because
it can't answer the issues and views raised. There is NO dialogue. There is no
responsiveness. I'm still waiting 121 days and 82 days after I sent Dan Halloran
two serious mails. There should not just be "top-down" drafts sent to the
AtLarge community. There should be mechanisms for "bottom-up" comments. And most
importantly, there should be mechanisms and a willingness on the part of the
ICANN Board and Staff to actively engage in dialogue... there has been NO sign
of this to date. ICANN pretends it wants an interface with the AtLarge - but in
fact, it doesn't want an interface (which would involve sustaining criticism and
having to answer difficult questions)... it wants a means of controlling the
AtLarge...
This whole ALAC initiative is about "damage limitation"...
And that's why our very participation in it is potentially so
damaging
(snip)
>the teleconference ended. If I missed or
misrepresented
>anything, Denise, Izmi, and Esther are all on this list and they can >point it out. >Sincerely,
>Sotiris Sotiropoulos
> ICANNAtLarge.com ALOC Representative Sotiris, I heartily thank you for your openness and transparency, and this
was a really helpful posting by you to the AtLarge community.
Kind regards,
Richard Henderson |