[AfrICANN-discuss] Re: Reminder comments on Draft Report WG ICANN Regions

[Dr Paulos Nyirenda]

We are aware that Africa is not the problem on this regions issue but 
there is no doubt that she will be part of the solution. We would 
like to see that Africa is not used as firewood to forge the solution 
on this regions issue.  Regards,

On 23 May 2007 at 11:40, Nigel Roberts wrote:

> 
> > Members of AFTLD are gravely concerned that the regions issue may 
> > lead to partitioning of Africa and members have indicated that they 
> > will act to oppose any such re-partitioning of the Africa region. 
> > Africa has a signifcant membership base in the ccNSO. Members aspire 
> > that Africa continues to be represented by one continent 
> > organisations like AfriNIC, AfNOG and AfTLD.
> > 
> Actually, AFRICA is not the problem.  Ignoring .NA for a minute (I know 
> that's hard!), some regions of the world do cross geographcial continents.
> 
> The Arab region is one, and has constituent parts in Africa (the 
> Magrheb, N. Africa) as well as in other "Regions".
> 
> Cultural diversity demands that ICANN /must/ take account of the 
> legitimate aspirations of /all/ groupings, not just those which fit into 
> an American neo-colonial viewpoint.
> 
> It's actually quite offensive for ICANN, for example, to insist that the 
> Caymans, Turks and Caicos and Monsterrat are in Europe, even if did 
> allow the gerrymandering launce of the ccNSO. (NB. I'm not attacking the 
> current ccNSO, just the process by which it was launched, where two of 
> the five founding menbers of the European region were microstates, one 
> not even in Europe).
> 
> If the Channel Islands weren't geographically in Europe, but were forced 
> to be becuase of a consitutional link to the UK, we'd not be happy.
> 
> I think the old ccTLD constituency idea of self-organising grouping was 
> an extremely good one .. that way there could be Oceania as a distinct 
> entitity for example, or a world=wide region of 'tiny states' which have 
> more in common with each other...
> 
> (Lights touchpaper and stands back).
>