[AfrICANN-discuss] DCA expresses commitment to work with African ccTLDs

Tue Nov 22 00:52:43 SAST 2011

Badru,

First, we think the innuendo to
“beauty contest” is a very sexist remark which was meant to show disrespect to
the person of the spearhead of the Yes2dotAfrica campaign.  It is very disturbing that even the slightest discussion about DCA and DotAfrica
can no longer be conducted in a civilized way, without it becoming personal.  Therefore, for this very unnecessary allusion
to ‘beauty contest’ that was done in bad taste to reflect the gender of the DCA
Executive Director, we demand an immediate and unreserved apology, and a
retraction of the offensive sexist statement.  She is a very well educated, articulate and
very capable woman, and we think such sexist remarks have been deliberately
made to reduce from her important accomplishments regarding the DotAfrica
initiative, which that she has led successfully over the last few years. We
think it is also ‘cultural’ in Africa to show respect for women, and not to see
them only from the perspective of ‘physical beauty’. We must add that such
thinking and objectification of women is very retrogressive.

Having clearly expressed the
above, we wish to now clarify that DCA is not looking to capitalize on anything
regarding its plans for DotAfrica.  The
current ICANN gTLD programme to expand the Internet DNS to encompass new
geographical TLDs like DotAfrica is NEW and DCA has done its level best to
campaign and actively promote it, and involve key stakeholders, and in the process
managed to win key supportive endorsements for the initiative it proposed.  

In spite of this, DCA has
unfortunately suffered alienation and victimization at the hands of the so called "leaders" of ‘community’, and the relationship so far has been typified by,
at best, indifference to the positive works of DCA, and at worst acrimony; that
is, as you have rightly admitted, “the history of acrimony” which has
manifested itself as the open hostility displayed towards DCA.  Even now, DCA is being antagonized simply
because it received a positive press coverage which its detractors have tried to
detract from, by turning the discussion into a series of personal attacks on the
spearhead of the Yes2DotAfrica campaign.

As you have already noted that
“DCA might have a good strategy on paper, and might be able to lobby and
mobilize well”, it is therefore important that we all recognize that DCA has
also made very important contributions in building a larger ‘constituency’ to
support the DotAfrica initiative both at the continental and global levels. 

Therefore,
DCA’s real intention is to contribute to the continent based on its DotAfrica
initiative.  On the other hand, the
African Internet Community has engaged in “training and positive sensitization”
in the past, the point is that such training and sensitization was not related
directly to DotAfrica, the topical issue of the moment. 

DCA has always wanted cooperation
with the community, but our experience so far reveals a deliberate strategy
that aims to constantly undermine our efforts.  You talk of dialogue and combining forces for
an “inclusive African solution”, but where is the trust? How can trust be
established in the present circumstances?

We all know that DotAfrica is a
geographic TLD, but the community wants it to be operated for its benefit as a
community TLD.  Thus there is already a clear
difference in vision, and we recognize this as a huge impediment that cannot be
transcended at this point. 

Therefore, we believe that a good
starting point for honest dialogue is for the ‘community’ to first of all
recognize, and accept DCA’s prior endorsement for the DotAfrica gTLD that was
obtained from the African Union. In our estimation, this would help restore
trust between and amongst us to enable the commencement of the fruitful
dialogue that would form the basis of the cooperation that you believe is
possible.

However, if the leaders of the
‘community’ refuse to openly acknowledge DCA’s prior AU Commission endorsement
for DotAfrica,   DCA will continue with
its initiative independent of the community, since DCA’s aims in terms of its
mission and purpose for the DotAfrica gTLD is quite different from the aims of
the community regarding DotAfrica, since DCA’s outreach efforts are to a larger
Pan-African constituency.

Finally, DCA hereby reiterates that it is
simply committed to the ICANN new gTLD programme and would abide by its
stipulations and other conditions and instructions enshrined in the Applicant’s
Guidebook.  Therefore, to those who have
expressed a wish to know about DCA’s corporate information, even though we
believe that the request by one who is openly adversarial to DCA is simply
fueled by a frivolous and malevolent desire, we would like to inform such
persons that all necessary information and data will be submitted with our
DotAfrica gTLD application at the appropriate time to ICANN as the only
authorized body to perform administrative and other background checks on every
application.  Let ICANN evaluate DCA’s
eligibility and suitability or otherwise to apply successfully for the
operation of the DotAfrica gTLD and the registry, and DCA will accept the
outcome of that globally-approved governance process that will determine
whether the new DotAfrica gTLD will be delegated or not delegated. 

________________________________
 From: Badru Ntege <badru.ntege at nftconsult.com>
To: "africann at afrinic.net" <africann at afrinic.net> 
Cc: "africann at afrinic.net" <africann at afrinic.net> 
Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2011 10:26 PM
Subject: Re: [AfrICANN-discuss] DCA expresses commitment to work with African ccTLDs

On 20 Nov 2011, at 20:16, Dr Yassin Mshana <ymshana2003 at gmail.com> wrote:

> That is a good move - DCA to work with African partners!!.
> 
> My small question after several months of rumble but no rain is that,
> "where was everybody since 2004?" -  Now that when DCA and supporters
> is about to take the lead in .africa it has suddenly become a big
> issue" - Even drawing Hon Ministers into the middle of it all.

Many people have been building the capacity and sustainability that DCA is looking to capitalize on now.  Its not just a beauty contest its a case of what substantial contribution have you done for the community.  Let's not forget that a good foundation is very important for long time sustainability.  I think if you go back since 2004 and compare how much training and positive sensitization both parties have done we can start on some positive discussions. 

After all is done we want an inclusive african solution. We already have a number of them to show with over 10 years of Positively working on the continent.  I do not see why we are now trying to re-invent the wheel.  Yes DCA might have a good strategy on paper and might be able to lobby and mobilize well, but what else ?

For the sake of the community, we need to have some humility.  

I do think there could be room for compromise if the real intention of DCA is to contribute to the continent in a way others have to date.  

Let's dialogue this is not a simple commercial deal but if done well could have a fundamental positive impact on our continent.  Give the community some respect and put the pure facts on the table, forget the semantics, forget who said what when, lets look at who is capable to take us where we want to go and the evidence that they will be able to do that.  But also the value of  either combining forces for an eventual single solution which I hope is not too late due to the history of acrimony.

> 
> One wonders what is the role of GAC if  Africans draw Hon Ministers
> into the middle of ICANN Process. That kind if discussion would have
> been done at Home and come into the meeting with a    well defined
> Agenda - not 'start cooking with the chief guests'
> 
> Enough has been said before the ICANN-42...... why kick the dust now?
> 
> That is to politely ask fellows ad friends to be strategic and
> professional - not to put sand into the flour.....
> 
> Kind regards
> 
> Yassin
> 
> 
> On 19/11/2011, McTim <dogwallah at gmail.com> wrote:
>> http://www.africasciencenews.org/en/index.php/technology/45-hitech/217-dca-expresses-commitment-to-work-with-african-cctlds
>> 
>> 
>> So the strategy seems to be to split ccTLDs as many ccTLDs from AfTLD
>> who are also making a competing bid for .africa. ??
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Cheers,
>> 
>> McTim
>> "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A
>> route indicates how we get there."  Jon Postel
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>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
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> Do You really NEED TO PRINT THIS?
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