[ALAC] ALAC statement on eG8

[Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond]

Dear members,

a final version of the text which was originally drafted by Cintra
Sooknanan, and supported by many, thus turning it into a proposed ALAC
Statement on the eG8 Summit can be found on:
https://community.icann.org/display/alacpolicydev/ALAC+Statement+on+the+eG8+Forum

The comment period for amendments to this text is now closed, but prior
to sending it, I wanted to answer a few questions which I have received,
and also asked myself over the week-end.

- Who is this Statement going to be sent to?

There have been several proposals. It is clear that writing a statement
for the sake of writing a statement and not sending it to anyone, would
be a waste of time. In order to have the widest dissemination, and after
enquiring, copies of this statement in English and in French will go to
the following:

- The person in charge of electronic communication at the Elysée Palace
(who are the organizers of the eG8)
- The French GAC representatives
- The ICANN Board
- The ICANN CEO
- Agence France Presse, Le Monde Newspaper, the eG8 Forum Organising
Office (via an indirect vector)


- Is this statement going to be ratified?

Yes, this will be either ratified at the ALAC call on 24 May 2011 or in
a 5-day vote after sending the statement out. We shall decide this as a
group during the ALAC call. PLEASE READ IT BEFORE THE ALAC CALL ON 24
MAY 2011.   


- Why has this statement been drafted?

The eG8 Forum is a direct result of the renewed interests that
Governments have regarding the Internet. However, looking at the eG8
Forum Agenda ( http://www.eg8forum.com/en/documents/EG8_Program.pdf ),
it is clear that the speaker list is far from reflecting the worldwide
Internet community as it exists today. Indeed, the speaker list is a
world away from being multi-stakeholder.
Several members of At-Large have voiced their opinion that the ALAC
should send a statement to complain to the organisers of the eG8 Forum.
Many other organisations around the world have already also written
emails, letter and petitions to complain about the lack of
multi-stakeholder participation. Rather than signing another
organisation's petition or public letter, it was decided to write our
own, targeted statement.


- Isn't this outside the ALAC's realm of activity?

That's a good question. The current ICANN bylaws define the ALAC's
function in Article XI, Section 2.4.a:

"a. The role of the At-Large Advisory Committee ("ALAC") shall be to
consider and provide advice on the activities of ICANN, insofar as they
relate to the interests of individual Internet users."

The eG8 conference organisers have sent invitations to attend the
conference as a participant to several individuals at ICANN, including
both ICANN's current CEO and Chairman. Clearly, ICANN's functions
constitute an essential part of the Internet infrastructure. Yet, ICANN
has not been given a speaking slot in a long line-up which is not short
of private sector speakers:
http://www.eg8forum.com/en/documents/EG8_Program.pdf

As grassroots members of a bottom-up organisation, it is up to us, the
Internet's users, to show our support of the ICANN multi-stakeholder
model which affords us and all other stakeholders to have an equal input
into the way the ICANN functions are developed. Our advice, as sent to
the organisers of the eG8 conference, goes no further than supporting
the multi-stakeholder model which is a core ICANN activity.
This is a model that we need to defend through education and outreach.
The statement is a clear attempt at doing just that.

Kind regards,

Olivier

-- 
Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond, PhD
http://www.gih.com/ocl.html