Friday, December 16, 2005
U.N.: "Ve must zomehow wrest control of ze Inter-Veb!"
Do you treasure the freedom to wade out into the vast sea of information that is the Internet and surf the World Wide Web? Then look out for what is coming over the horizon: a fleet of ships is bearing down on you and your little surf(key)board, and they are flying the blue Jolly Roger of the United Nations.
ICANN is a collaborative effort of the global community. The ICANN website notes that, "citizens of Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Senegal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States," gave all served on the organization's board of directors. "ICANN's President directs an international staff, working from three continents."
The audacity comes in the form of declaring the Internet to be a "global resource" belonging to the world. While this "resource" is global in scope, it clearly bears the stamp "Made in the U.S.A. " Its origin can be traced back to U.S. Defense Department efforts in the 1960s to build an interconnected network - or "Internet" - of computers that could survive a nuclear war. Although others have contributed to the Internet, the primary technology and hardware that make it possible belong to the United States. To declare that the U.S. has done such a good job of creating the Internet that it is now obligated to give it up for the sake of the world is ludicrous.
Through the technical know-how of automobile manufacturers such as Volkswagen and BMW, Germany has excelled at making automobiles. Is Germany going to turn over these companies to the United Nations because everyone in the world deserves an affordable, fuel-efficient vehicle? Nokia of Finland owns 32 percent of the global cellphone market. Is Finland going to turn Nokia over to the UN's International Telecommunication Union because 100 percent of the worlds inhabitants deserve to have a cellphone? Sony Corporation of Japan has become the leader of the home game console market with its PlayStation 2, and is gearing up to release a powerful new version next year. Is Sony going to turn over this technology to UNICEF because every child in the world deserves to play games? Don't hold your breath waiting for these or any other members of the UN to put a new car, cellphone, or game console under your Christmas tree.
The Always Defiant Kofi Annan: "Please, please, let us return to Engineering Our Social Agenda."
Alabama Internet
accordance and compliance with Fair Use Section 107 U.S. Copyright Code.
All other images and content © 2005-2009 David Drake.
Not responsible for content contained at linked sites.
Policy on commenting:
- Anonymous comments have little chance of being published.
- Comments made on posts 60 days old or older have little chance of being published.
- Published comments do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog author.
- Discretion of publishing or rejecting submitted comments rests solely with the owner and creator of this blog.
- Comments that egregiously "plug" (i.e. advertise or promote) another site or blog will be rejected. This doesn't mean you cannot include a link to your story, blog or to another site, but don't go overboard.
- Profanity is not a disqualifying factor, but profane rants solely for purposes of profanity are unlikely to be published.
- The owner and creator of this blog is not liable or responsible for the opinions of those who comment.
