[ericas] Starting the discussion

[S Moonesamy <[e-mail]>]

Hello,

I would appreciate if anyone or any organization from non-emerging 
regions do not take any ideas proposed by people from emerging 
regions and take credit for it.  There are some people from 
non-emerging regions on this mailing list who have been unselfish and 
have helped emerging regions.  I have not seen them taking credit for that.

There are currently only three persons from emerging regions on 
directorates (Fernando, Vinayak).  What I would like to highlight is 
that it is difficult to find people from emerging regions who can and 
will contribute.

There is the money barrier.  It is very expensive to attend IETF 
meetings.  It's nearly impossible to get funding probably because the 
local community does not see any value in the IETF.  There are a few 
people who may have heard of the IETF.  Some of them have very little 
understanding of how the IETF works.

It is mentioned that individuals from Africa or South America are 
participating in the IETF when it is well-known that the number of 
individuals is so small that it is not even relevant.  As someone 
mentioned in a report, it is a known fact that organizations will 
bring in people from these regions even though it is well-known that 
they cannot participate.  There are people from emerging regions who 
make the matter worse.  They understand the politics and use it for 
their own gain.  Emerging regions end up having a bad reputation 
because of that.

It would help if the IETF put in effort in reaching out to people 
from emerging regions.  That is not happening at the moment.  I 
understand that the IETF does not have the resources to do that.

I would describe the main barrier as politics.  Some people from 
non-emerging countries turn a blind eye to the problems or choose to 
tackle problems where the outcome might suit their interests.

I would like to thank Lars Eggert for setting up this mailing 
list.  I encourage people from emerging regions to use this 
opportunity to discuss about the challenges.  It is up to you to 
speak up by posting you opinion to this mailing list.  If you do not 
do that people from non-emerging regions will speak in your name and 
it is unlikely that it will be in your interest.

Regards,
S. Moonesamy