[Advisors] RE: [CivicAccess-discuss] Endorsements - Open Government Partnership
michael gurstein
gurstein at gmail.com
Fri, 3 Feb 2012 09:09:47 -0800
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_0100_01CCE253.948181A0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
As a colleague has just pointed out, I'm a lot older than I look :) and =
the
date for my work in Cape Breton should have been 1995 rather than 2005 =
:(.
=20
M
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: michael gurstein [mailto:gurstein@gmail.com]=20
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 8:51 AM
To: 'civicaccess discuss'
Cc: 'advisors@tc.ca'
Subject: RE: [CivicAccess-discuss] Endorsements - Open Government
Partnership
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_0100_01CCE253.948181A0
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><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN =
class=3D737470817-03022012>As a=20
colleague has just pointed out, I'm a lot older than I look :) and the =
date for=20
my work in Cape Breton should have been 1995 rather than 2005=20
:(.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D737470817-03022012></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D737470817-03022012>M</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=3Dltr>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr lang=3Den-us class=3DOutlookMessageHeader =
align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D2=20
face=3DTahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> michael =
gurstein=20
[mailto:gurstein@gmail.com] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, February 03, 2012 =
8:51=20
AM<BR><B>To:</B> 'civicaccess discuss'<BR><B>Cc:</B>=20
'advisors@tc.ca'<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: [CivicAccess-discuss] =
Endorsements -=20
Open Government Partnership<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<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=20
very much appreciate this transparent process of requesting =
endorsements for=20
those seeking an "official" invitation to this most =
significant=20
event. I understand that such an invitation will at least=20
symbolically be seen as identifying a representative of Canadian =
civil=20
society in the context of the OGP and thus the "decison" =
concerning this=20
(in this case through a process of endorsement by civil society =
organizations)=20
is not a trivial 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=20
exact) beginning with work developing the first research and =
development=20
group for 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=20
face=3DArial>Since then I've worked in these areas in Canada and=20
internationally in a wide variety of=20
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=20
class=3D769411216-03022012>which is Canada's oldest continuing =
organization=20
concerned with <EM><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT =
color=3D#000000=20
size=3D3>"ensure(ing) that all Canadians are able to participate in=20
community-based communications and electronic information services by=20
promoting and supporting local community network=20
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 being taken within that space from the perspective of the =
broadest=20
base of 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=20
I was attempting to do overall in the series of contributions to the =
O(G)D=20
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=20
users for OGD and including those who might otherwise be considered =
among the=20
socially excluded (or in other contexts the "digitally =
excluded"). My=20
argument was that unless OGD implements pro-active measures to support =
this=20
broad base of OGD "inclusion" it runs the risk of further empowering =
those who=20
are already being empowered with Information and Communication=20
Technologies and thus further widening existing social and=20
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=20
have now reviewed David Eaves' application and have examined the=20
Community Data Program's website and regrettably I did not =
see in=20
David's blog any reference to these issues although I may have =
missed=20
this. On the CDP website I did see as one of their core purposes =
to <FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D3>"Train=20
organizations to analyze community data and use it for better decision =
making"=20
<FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial>and elsewhere on their =
blog I note some=20
examples of their providing training and support in government data =
use for=20
community 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=20
Telecommunities Canada concerning its endorsement) is thus =
clearly=20
towards CDP but I would like to use this opportunity to invite David =
to=20
comment on the 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=20
will be publishing later this year, a special issue on Community=20
Informatics and Open Government Data edited by a leading (UK) OKF =
member and a=20
leading member of the Indian open access community in which a number =
of these=20
matters will be more 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>=20
<BR><SPAN lang=3Den-ca><FONT size=3D2 face=3DGaramond>Vancouver, BC=20
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>=20
<FONT 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>=20
<FONT 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=20
</B>Tracey P. Lauriault<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, February 03, 2012 =
7:39=20
AM<BR><B>To:</B> civicaccess discuss<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re:=20
[CivicAccess-discuss] Endorsements - Open Government=20
Partnership<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>The Community Data Program is not a =
social=20
media based organization but has a large membership. The =
letter is=20
still in draft form as members of the program participate in the =
drafting=20
process. If you would like to see the draft please do not =
hesitate to=20
ask.<BR><BR>The application requires that the following be provided =
by those=20
who apply:<BR><BR>Organizational information that demonstrates the =
following=20
minimum transparency and accountability criteria (Please provide =
weblinks or=20
direct documentation detailing these elements):<BR>
<UL>
<LI><B> Transparent governance structure </B>
<LI><B> Annual financial statements are subject =
to=20
external audit</B>=20
<LI><B> Publish all sources of funding</B>=20
<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=20
<LI>How you have been engaged with OGP to date in your country Why =
you=20
want to attend the April 2012 meeting and how you will contribute =
to/learn=20
from it=20
<LI>What outreach you plan to do on OGP with civil society and =
others when=20
you return home=20
<LI>What funding you require to attend the Brasilia meeting=20
<LI> A CV/resume=20
<LI> A list of organizations, names and emails of their =
leaders that=20
have endorsed your application to participate in the April 2012 =
meeting,=20
and how the selection process took place (an in person meeting, an =
email=20
vote, etc…) </LI></UL><BR><BR><B> =
</B><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>On Fri, Feb=20
3, 2012 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 =
application on my blog in an<BR>> effort to be transparent about =
my=20
history in the space, why I want to go,<BR>> what I'm hoping to=20
accomplish and how I can engage a broader community.<BR>><BR>> =
I would=20
be deeply grateful if anyone wanted to support my application. =
If<BR>>=20
you were interested in doing so please do email me. Please do also =
send=20
me<BR>> any questions, comments or thoughts you might have about =
the=20
application,<BR>> I'd love to improve it by making it better =
reflect=20
people's concerns and<BR>> ideas regarding the =
OGP.<BR>><BR>> Hope=20
this finds you well!<BR>><BR>> 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=20
the "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></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_0100_01CCE253.948181A0--