[Advisors] RE: [CivicAccess-discuss] Endorsements - Open Government Partnership
michael gurstein
gurstein at gmail.com
Fri, 3 Feb 2012 08:51:18 -0800
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_00C6_01CCE250.FF885E90
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Colleagues,
=20
I very much appreciate this transparent process of requesting =
endorsements
for those seeking an "official" invitation to this most significant =
event.
I understand that such an invitation will at least symbolically be seen =
as
identifying a representative of Canadian civil society in the context of =
the
OGP and thus the "decison" concerning this (in this case through a =
process
of endorsement by civil society organizations) is not a trivial one.
=20
A brief background, I have been working in the area of community and
grassroots based Information and Communications Technologies as a
practitioner, advocate, policy advisor, researcher and teacher for =
almost 20
years (17 to be exact) beginning with work developing the first research =
and
development group for community based Internet applications in Canada in
2005 in Cape Breton.
=20
Since then I've worked in these areas in Canada and internationally in a
wide variety of capacities. =20
=20
My interest in OGD and in the issue of endorsement comes from this
background, my personal interest and my role as a Board member of
Telecommunities Canada <http://www.tc.ca>=20
which is Canada's oldest continuing organization concerned with =
"ensure(ing)
that all Canadians are able to participate in community-based =
communications
and electronic information services by promoting and supporting local
community network initiatives"
=20
With this as a background I have in recent times become somewhat active =
in
the Open Government Data space by commenting on (and critiquing) certain =
of
the positions being taken within that space from the perspective of the
broadest base of potential end users of OGD (i.e. local communities and =
the
grassroots).
=20
In this context I would refer you to a series of posts on
<http://gurstein.wordpress.com> my blog concerning open (government) =
data
and specifically what I have termed processes to ensure "effective
<http://gurstein.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/open-data-2-effective-data-use/=
>
use".
=20
What I was attempting to do overall in the series of contributions to =
the
O(G)D discussion and specifically in the post on "effective use", was to
insert into the OGD discussion a concern for ensuring the widest =
possible
base of end users for OGD and including those who might otherwise be
considered among the socially excluded (or in other contexts the =
"digitally
excluded"). My argument was that unless OGD implements pro-active =
measures
to support this broad base of OGD "inclusion" it runs the risk of =
further
empowering those who are already being empowered with Information and
Communication Technologies and thus further widening existing social and
economic disparities.
=20
I have now reviewed David Eaves' application and have examined the =
Community
Data Program's website and regrettably I did not see in David's blog any
reference to these issues although I may have missed this. On the CDP
website I did see as one of their core purposes to "Train organizations =
to
analyze community data and use it for better decision making" and =
elsewhere
on their blog I note some examples of their providing training and =
support
in government data use for community based (including advocacy)
organizations.
=20
The direction of my leaning concerning endorsement (and my =
recommendation to
Telecommunities Canada concerning its endorsement) is thus clearly =
towards
CDP but I would like to use this opportunity to invite David to comment =
on
the above and perhaps to clarify his own position on these matters.
=20
(I should also like to add as a sidenote that the Journal of Community
Informatics <http://ci-journal.net> (open access open archive double =
blind
peer reviewed) of which I am the Editor in Chief will be publishing =
later
this year, a special issue on Community Informatics and Open Government =
Data
edited by a leading (UK) OKF member and a leading member of the Indian =
open
access community in which a number of these matters will be more fully
reviewed.)
=20
Best,
=20
Mike
=20
Michael Gursten,=20
Ph.D. Executive Director: Centre for Community Informatics Research,
Development and Training (CCIRDT)=20
Vancouver, BC CANADA=20
tel/fax: +1-604-602-0624=20
email: gurstein@gmail.com=20
web: http://communityinformatics.net <http://communityinformatics.net/> =
blog: http://gurstein.wordpress.com <http://gurstein.wordpress.com/> =20
twitter: #michaelgurstein=20
-----Original Message-----
From: civicaccess-discuss-bounces@civicaccess.ca
[mailto:civicaccess-discuss-bounces@civicaccess.ca] On Behalf Of Tracey =
P.
Lauriault
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 7:39 AM
To: civicaccess discuss
Subject: Re: [CivicAccess-discuss] Endorsements - Open Government
Partnership
The Community Data Program is not a social media based organization but =
has
a large membership. The letter is still in draft form as members of the
program participate in the drafting process. If you would like to see =
the
draft please do not hesitate to ask.
The application requires that the following be provided by those who =
apply:
Organizational information that demonstrates the following minimum
transparency and accountability criteria (Please provide weblinks or =
direct
documentation detailing these elements):
* Transparent governance structure=20
* Annual financial statements are subject to external audit=20
* Publish all sources of funding=20
* Publish operational budget=20
* Publish annual narrative and financial reports
Along with the following:
* Your experience in the open government field to date=20
* How you have been engaged with OGP to date in your country Why you
want to attend the April 2012 meeting and how you will contribute =
to/learn
from it=20
* What outreach you plan to do on OGP with civil society and others
when you return home=20
* What funding you require to attend the Brasilia meeting=20
* A CV/resume=20
* A list of organizations, names and emails of their leaders that
have endorsed your application to participate in the April 2012 meeting, =
and
how the selection process took place (an in person meeting, an email =
vote,
etc.)=20
=20
On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 6:13 AM, David Eaves <david@eaves.ca> wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> I've posted my Open Government Partnership application on my blog in =
an
> effort to be transparent about my history in the space, why I want to =
go,
> what I'm hoping to accomplish and how I can engage a broader =
community.
>
> I would be deeply grateful if anyone wanted to support my application. =
If
> you were interested in doing so please do email me. Please do also =
send me
> any questions, comments or thoughts you might have about the =
application,
> I'd love to improve it by making it better reflect people's concerns =
and
> ideas regarding the OGP.
>
> Hope this finds you well!
>
> Dave Eaves
>
> _______________________________________________
> CivicAccess-discuss mailing list
> CivicAccess-discuss@civicaccess.ca
> http://lists.pwd.ca/mailman/listinfo/civicaccess-discuss
--=20
Tracey P. Lauriault
613-234-2805
=20
"Every epoch dreams the one that follows it's the dream form of the =
future,
not its reality" it is the "wish image of the collective".
=20
Walter Benjamin, between 1927-1940,
(http://www.columbia.edu/itc/architecture/ockman/pdfs/dossier_4/buck-mors=
s.p
df)
------=_NextPart_000_00C6_01CCE250.FF885E90
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dus-ascii">
<TITLE>Message</TITLE>
<META name=3DGENERATOR content=3D"MSHTML 9.00.8112.16440"></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D769411216-03022012><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2=20
face=3DArial>Colleagues,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D769411216-03022012><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2=20
face=3DArial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D769411216-03022012><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 =
face=3DArial>I very=20
much appreciate this transparent process of requesting endorsements for =
those=20
seeking an "official" invitation to this most significant =
event. =20
I understand that such an invitation will at least =
symbolically be=20
seen as identifying a representative of Canadian civil society in the =
context of=20
the OGP and thus the "decison" concerning this (in this case =
through a=20
process of endorsement by civil society organizations) is not a trivial=20
one.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D769411216-03022012><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2=20
face=3DArial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D769411216-03022012><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 =
face=3DArial>A=20
brief background, I have been working in the area of community and =
grassroots=20
based Information and Communications Technologies as a practitioner, =
advocate,=20
policy advisor, researcher and teacher for almost 20 years (17 to =
be exact)=20
beginning with work developing the first research and development =
group for=20
community based Internet applications in Canada in 2005 in Cape=20
Breton.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D769411216-03022012><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2=20
face=3DArial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D769411216-03022012><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 =
face=3DArial>Since=20
then I've worked in these areas in Canada and internationally in a =
wide=20
variety of capacities. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D769411216-03022012><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2=20
face=3DArial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D769411216-03022012><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 =
face=3DArial>My=20
interest in OGD and in the issue of endorsement comes from this =
background, my=20
personal interest and my role as a Board member of <A=20
href=3D"http://www.tc.ca">Telecommunities Canada</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN =
class=3D769411216-03022012>which=20
is Canada's oldest continuing organization concerned with <EM><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D3>"ensure(ing) =
that all=20
Canadians are able to participate in community-based communications and=20
electronic information services by promoting and supporting local =
community=20
network initiatives"</FONT></FONT></EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
class=3D769411216-03022012><EM></EM></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN =
class=3D769411216-03022012>With=20
this as a background I have in recent times become somewhat active in =
the Open=20
Government Data space by commenting on (and critiquing) certain of the =
positions=20
being taken within that space from the perspective of the broadest base =
of=20
potential end users of OGD (i.e. local communities and the=20
grassroots).</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D769411216-03022012></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN class=3D769411216-03022012><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff>In this context I would refer you to a series of posts =
on=20
</FONT><A href=3D"http://gurstein.wordpress.com"><FONT =
color=3D#0000ff>my=20
blog</FONT></A><FONT color=3D#0000ff> concerning open (government) data =
and=20
specifically what I have termed processes to ensure <A=20
href=3D"http://gurstein.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/open-data-2-effective-da=
ta-use/">"effective=20
use"</A>.</FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D769411216-03022012></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN =
class=3D769411216-03022012>What I=20
was attempting to do overall in the series of contributions to the O(G)D =
discussion and specifically in the post on "effective use", was to =
insert into=20
the OGD discussion a concern for ensuring the widest possible base of =
end users=20
for OGD and including those who might otherwise be considered among the =
socially=20
excluded (or in other contexts the "digitally excluded"). My =
argument was=20
that unless OGD implements pro-active measures to support this broad =
base of OGD=20
"inclusion" it runs the risk of further empowering those who are already =
being=20
empowered with Information and Communication Technologies and thus =
further=20
widening existing social and =
economic disparities.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D769411216-03022012></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN =
class=3D769411216-03022012>I have=20
now reviewed David Eaves' application and have examined the =
Community Data=20
Program's website and regrettably I did not see in David's =
blog any=20
reference to these issues although I may have missed this. On =
the CDP=20
website I did see as one of their core purposes to <FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D3>"Train =
organizations to=20
analyze community data and use it for better decision making" <FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial>and elsewhere on their blog I note =
some examples=20
of their providing training and support in government data use for =
community=20
based (including advocacy)=20
organizations.</FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D769411216-03022012></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN =
class=3D769411216-03022012>The=20
direction of my leaning concerning endorsement (and my recommendation to =
Telecommunities Canada concerning its endorsement) is thus clearly =
towards=20
CDP but I would like to use this opportunity to invite David to comment =
on the=20
above and perhaps to clarify his own position on these=20
matters.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D769411216-03022012></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN =
class=3D769411216-03022012>(I=20
should also like to add as a sidenote that the <A=20
href=3D"http://ci-journal.net">Journal of Community Informatics</A> =
(open access=20
open archive double blind peer reviewed) of which I am the Editor in =
Chief will=20
be publishing later this year, a special issue on Community =
Informatics and=20
Open Government Data edited by a leading (UK) OKF member and a leading =
member of=20
the Indian open access community in which a number of these matters will =
be more=20
fully reviewed.)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D769411216-03022012></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D769411216-03022012>Best,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D769411216-03022012></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D769411216-03022012>Mike</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D769411216-03022012></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN lang=3Den-ca><FONT size=3D2 face=3DGaramond>Michael Gursten,=20
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P><SPAN lang=3Den-ca><FONT size=3D2 face=3DGaramond>Ph.D.</FONT></SPAN> =
<SPAN=20
lang=3Den-ca><FONT size=3D2 face=3DGaramond>Executive Director: Centre =
for Community=20
Informatics Research, Development and Training (CCIRDT)</FONT></SPAN> =
<BR><SPAN=20
lang=3Den-ca><FONT size=3D2 face=3DGaramond>Vancouver, BC =
CANADA</FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P><SPAN lang=3Den-ca><FONT size=3D2 face=3DGaramond>tel/fax:=20
+1-604-602-0624</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=3Den-ca><FONT size=3D2=20
face=3DGaramond>email:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=3Den-us></SPAN><SPAN =
lang=3Den-us>=20
<FONT size=3D2 face=3DGaramond>gurstein@gmail.com</FONT></SPAN><SPAN=20
lang=3Den-ca></SPAN><SPAN lang=3Den-ca></SPAN> <BR><SPAN =
lang=3Den-ca><FONT size=3D2=20
face=3DGaramond>web:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=3Den-us></SPAN><SPAN =
lang=3Den-us> <FONT=20
size=3D2 face=3DGaramond><A=20
href=3D"http://communityinformatics.net/">http://communityinformatics.net=
</A></FONT></SPAN><SPAN=20
lang=3Den-ca></SPAN><SPAN lang=3Den-ca></SPAN> <BR><SPAN =
lang=3Den-ca><FONT size=3D2=20
face=3DGaramond>blog:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=3Den-us></SPAN><SPAN =
lang=3Den-us> <FONT=20
size=3D2 face=3DGaramond><A=20
href=3D"http://gurstein.wordpress.com/">http://gurstein.wordpress.com</A>=
</FONT></SPAN>=20
<BR><SPAN lang=3Den-ca><FONT size=3D2 face=3DGaramond>twitter:=20
#michaelgurstein</FONT></SPAN> </P>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr lang=3Den-us class=3DOutlookMessageHeader =
align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D2=20
face=3DTahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
civicaccess-discuss-bounces@civicaccess.ca=20
[mailto:civicaccess-discuss-bounces@civicaccess.ca] <B>On Behalf Of =
</B>Tracey=20
P. Lauriault<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, February 03, 2012 7:39 =
AM<BR><B>To:</B>=20
civicaccess discuss<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [CivicAccess-discuss] =
Endorsements=20
- Open Government Partnership<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>The Community Data =
Program=20
is not a social media based organization but has a large membership. =
The=20
letter is still in draft form as members of the program participate in =
the=20
drafting process. If you would like to see the draft please do =
not=20
hesitate to ask.<BR><BR>The application requires that the following be =
provided by those who apply:<BR><BR>Organizational information that=20
demonstrates the following minimum transparency and accountability =
criteria=20
(Please provide weblinks or direct documentation detailing these=20
elements):<BR>
<UL>
<LI><B> Transparent governance structure </B>
<LI><B> Annual financial statements are subject =
to=20
external audit</B>
<LI><B> Publish all sources of funding</B>
<LI><B> Publish operational budget </B>
<LI><B> Publish annual narrative and financial=20
reports<BR></B></LI></UL> Along with the following:<BR>
<UL>
<LI>Your experience in the open government field to date
<LI>How you have been engaged with OGP to date in your country Why =
you want=20
to attend the April 2012 meeting and how you will contribute =
to/learn from=20
it=20
<LI>What outreach you plan to do on OGP with civil society and =
others when=20
you return home
<LI>What funding you require to attend the Brasilia meeting
<LI> A CV/resume
<LI> A list of organizations, names and emails of their leaders =
that=20
have endorsed your application to participate in the April 2012 =
meeting, and=20
how the selection process took place (an in person meeting, an email =
vote,=20
etc…) </LI></UL><BR><BR><B> </B><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>On =
Fri, Feb 3, 2012=20
at 6:13 AM, David Eaves <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:david@eaves.ca">david@eaves.ca</A>> wrote:<BR>> =
Hi=20
everyone,<BR>><BR>> I've posted my Open Government Partnership=20
application on my blog in an<BR>> effort to be transparent about my =
history=20
in the space, why I want to go,<BR>> what I'm hoping to accomplish =
and how=20
I can engage a broader community.<BR>><BR>> I would be deeply =
grateful=20
if anyone wanted to support my application. If<BR>> you were =
interested in=20
doing so please do email me. Please do also send me<BR>> any =
questions,=20
comments or thoughts you might have about the application,<BR>> I'd =
love to=20
improve it by making it better reflect people's concerns and<BR>> =
ideas=20
regarding the OGP.<BR>><BR>> Hope this finds you =
well!<BR>><BR>>=20
Dave Eaves<BR>><BR>>=20
_______________________________________________<BR>> =
CivicAccess-discuss=20
mailing list<BR>> <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:CivicAccess-discuss@civicaccess.ca">CivicAccess-discuss@ci=
vicaccess.ca</A><BR>>=20
<A=20
=
href=3D"http://lists.pwd.ca/mailman/listinfo/civicaccess-discuss">http://=
lists.pwd.ca/mailman/listinfo/civicaccess-discuss</A><BR><BR><BR><BR>--=20
<BR>Tracey P. Lauriault<BR>613-234-2805<BR> <BR>"Every epoch =
dreams the=20
one that follows it's the dream form of the future, not its reality" =
it is the=20
"wish image of the collective".<BR> <BR>Walter Benjamin, between=20
1927-1940, (<A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.columbia.edu/itc/architecture/ockman/pdfs/dossier_4/bu=
ck-morss.pdf">http://www.columbia.edu/itc/architecture/ockman/pdfs/dossie=
r_4/buck-morss.pdf</A>)<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_00C6_01CCE250.FF885E90--