15 Feb. ICANN Nairobi Update: Mtg is Still On

[Robin Gross]

Today's update from ICANN:

ICANN Nairobi is still on.  ICANN is beefing-up security in Nairobi  
and remote participation for non-travelers.

See:
   http://nbo.icann.org/meetings/security-information-15feb10-en.htm

ICANN #37 Nairobi -- Only for the Intrepid!     ;-)


15 February Nairobi Update
Date:
Monday, 15 February 2010
ICANN's internal team – including staff from the US (California,  
Texas, New Jersey), France and Niger - continued to meet daily over  
the weekend to discuss and share information regarding the ICANN  
Nairobi meeting.
Today and last night, we had direct contact with the local Kenyan  
members of the security planning committee, and there has been an  
enhanced, on the ground commitment for additional security and this  
group will work closely with the on-site security experts that ICANN  
has under contract. ICANN's security team thinks these are strong,  
positive steps.
The Kenya National Intelligence Service (NISIS) has increased its  
efforts to mitigate potential terrorist threats.   The Kenya Anti- 
terrorist Police Unit (ATPU) is currently actively involved in the  
security planning process and has already started to put detection,  
as well as other preventative measures in place. The Kenya Diplomatic  
Protection unit has also been activated to assist with the security  
of the conference. Additionally, covert and overt security forces are  
being deployed at the KICC, hotels and venues where official  
functions will be held. Additionally, the airport, and road from the  
airport to hotels. will be actively monitored and patrolled by  
security forces.
It is important for delegates to understand that ensuring a safe  
conference is a very important to the Government of Kenya.    The  
country relies heavily on tourism and strives to be a preferred  
destination for international conferences.
We are all seeing community members starting to react to the  
situation in Kenya, as they perceive it. There have been posted  
letters from Neustar and GoDaddy, among others, indicating that they  
will not attend or send representatives. Also, the Intellectual  
Property Constituency (IPC) has decided to hold an alternative  
meeting in New York.
Others in the community are re-confirming their attendance in  
Nairobi. In a note from ccNSO Chair, Chris Disspain, to be posted  
today, he has confirmed that the ccNSO is expecting to participate in  
the Nairobi meeting, as planned, with all or most all counselors in  
attendance. Less formally, I've heard that many in At Large have  
expressed the same view.
So, where does this leave all of us?
The first order of business, is that ICANN will continue to monitor  
the status in Nairobi, and will share all relevant information with  
the community, in accordance with our goal to be fully transparent .  
I will ensure we do that on an ongoing basis.
We are left with a situation where some people would choose to attend  
the meeting, and some choose not to attend, based on exactly the same  
information. One answer will clearly not work for all.
One alternative being discussed is how to better support a meeting  
where remote participation is going to be a more significant part of  
the meeting. What does enhanced remote participation look like in the  
context of an ICANN meeting? Remote participation is a challenge when  
a minority of participants are using that mode; if many were, how  
effective could that be? How would this work with scheduling, time  
zones, and the expected meeting formats we've used? Any comments you  
have on this would be greatly appreciated. Look for a posting on the  
ICANN blog, where you can respond directly.



IP JUSTICE
Robin Gross, Executive Director
1192 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA  94117  USA
p: +1-415-553-6261    f: +1-415-462-6451
w: http://www.ipjustice.org     e: robin at ipjustice.org



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