Dear all,

My personal opinion is that it is important as CNSIG to take a position
for such a crucial matter.

Many EU Chapters are doing so:
https://www.isoc.ch/archives/3859
https://www.isoc.fr/vente-du-point-org/
https://www.isoc.cat/isoc/pir-org-internet-society-ethos-capital-isoc-cat-point-of-view/

CNs is a really delicate concept, with the line between empowering
communities and exploiting them very thin.

And exactly because CNs are used as an excuse in this debate, I think it
is a matter of credibility for CNSIG to act as representative for CNs
all over the world to take a position based on values and not financial
returns.

But if the majority here thinks that "real politiks" is the best
strategy, I understand and I would simply exclude myself from this group.

The truth is that my stakes are much lower than most of the people here,
since the only very small CN I helped to create, the network in Exarchia
Athens offering access to refugee squats in the neighbourhood, is not
existent any more (all squats have been evacuated by the police).

So, I really understand that people are afraid to loose critical support
for their projects and it is not a coincidence that it is mostly EU
chapters that have publicly opposed the .ORG sale.

But life is full of hard choices, and I have made mine even if in a more
"comfortable" position than others (but not sure for how long): Dignity
is more important, and more healthy, than dirty money :-)

Best,

Panos.

On 07.12.19 20:40, novaes@riseup.net wrote:
 Hi Panos, all

 Great to hear from you!

 Personally, I think this decision is a disaster for the Internet in
 general, not only for the "reputation" of ISOC.

 If CNSIG would like to take a position, maybe it's time to do it now
 (even though it would mean not really much in the process in my
 opinion). I vote against selling a common good to Ethos Capital. 

 My aim was to advise that ISOC is using CN as an excuse, and we should
 be aware of it. Besides the advice, as a SIG inside ISOC, real politiks
 could be useful for the development of CN; if not now, in the near
 future, CNSIG could play an important role in demanding programs and
 funds based on ISOC own public discourse, that's all.

 On 2019-12-07 15:28, panayotis antoniadis wrote:
 Hi all,

 Just to say that I am involved in this debate through the ISOC
 Switzerland Chapter, which has joined the "opposition" to this decision
 together with a few other chapters, especially because of the
 non-transparent way that this was made.

 My opinion is that independently from the decision making process, this
 is a bad development that can harm significantly the reputation of ISOC.
 I am not sure if it is still possible to stop it, but I don't feel like
 "building on it", at least not at this stage.

 For now I would ask if the CNSIG would be willing to take actually a
 position on the selling of .org to a private firm.

 Btw, the Swiss chapter recently received the news that we got a Beyond
 the Net Grant to run a platform (a monthly gathering in NetHood's new
 space in Zurich, http://langstrasse200.ch/) for "digital self-defense"
 in collaboration with different organizations including the
 pep.foundation, CCC Switzerland, the University of Zurich and more.

 Best,

 Panos.

 On 05.12.19 23:20, novaes@riseup.net wrote:
 Dear Colleagues,

 You're probably aware of the fact that ISOC sold .org to Ethos Capital
 (I was just reading the transcript):

 https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/INTERNETSOCIETY/9326b863-2164-403d-bacf-a8d25486b943/UploadedImages/Community_Webinar_PIR-Ethos-ISOC-transcript.pdf)

 What seems relevant for CNSIG is that one of the arguments used to
 justify the transaction was "connecting the unconnected":

 "Gonzalo Camarillo: So this actually allows us to fulfill the mission,
 which I think has been stated several times. It's very wide and when it
 comes, for example, with connecting the unconnected, we are talking
 about like 4 billion people that could be basically positively affected
 with this". (p.26)

 Maybe it would be opportune for the CNSIG to organize it better in order
 to demand funds/programs more specifically designed to CN goals (I take
 this moment to congratulate Sarantaporo!). What do you think?

 all best,

 Thiago
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