<p dir="ltr">Hello SM and Dr EL</p>
<p dir="ltr">The point for me is that Africa unfortunately came in the internet business at a time when remote participation/communication is Paramount to everything and then we blame ourselves because we are not able to maximise the tool. However we seem not to acknowledge that ietf must have started with discussing drafts physically before it's participation expanded and grew so much that a call for remote participation became inevitable. Check those who participate very well in ietf remotely, you will find that if we exclude those who participate because it's part of their job description (which carries the larger percentage) others are either from the region where ietf has physically held events, OR had the opportunity to attend the meeting and thereafter became active.... physical events within region improves awareness, allows participants to be more challenge through the relationship and understanding they get. ICANN that held in Kenya and south-africa with the next that will happen in Africa (hopefully in my country) has no doubt proven that regional events are helpful.<br>
I am not saying all this because I am trying to look for flimsy excuses for Africa. However I just like us to recognise the unique challenge that we find ourselves. While I know some people only attend conferences for travel experience (which does not only happen to Africans). It does not also seem accurate to term other non ietf events as talkshops.<br>
Now ISOC(ietf convenor) which has a global reach should continue to make IETF as such so as to allow Africans develop more interest and see RFCs development as part of their responsibility as internet users.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Best Regards<br>
sent from Google nexus 4<br>
kindly excuse brevity and typos.</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On 2 Mar 2014 10:45, "SM" <<a href="mailto:sm@resistor.net">sm@resistor.net</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Hi Seun,<br>
At 23:50 01-03-2014, Seun Ojedeji wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
+1 hopefully the IETF will bring itself closer to Africa (to reduce cost of participation). Has any ietf held in Africa in recent time? Well we may argue that it may not receive participation even if it held; we may be surprised ;)<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
There has never been an IETF meeting in Africa. Attending an IETF meeting is not considered as participation.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
-sm <br>
</blockquote></div>