Without specifically citing Ebola, ICANN moves meeting due to Ebola-inflicted attendance concerns.
That “confidential agenda item” at last week’s ICANN Board meeting? A decision to move the next ICANN meeting, which was scheduled for Morocco in February. It will be held in Singapore instead.
Without specifically citing Ebola, the board resolved to move the meeting due to attendance concerns. In addition to people being scared of traveling to the region and catching Ebola, there was concern that travel bans might prevent people from Africa attending:
Similarly, hosting a meeting in the African region with significant groups of Africans likely not able to attend negates the rationale behind ICANN’s regional rotation of meetings.
ICANN plans to hold the meeting in Morocco next year, instead.
It’s worth noting that attendees of this year’s ICANN meeting in Los Angeles were probably as close to an actual transmission of Ebola (Dallas) as anyone in Marrakech is, at least as of right now.
I don’t think I’ll attend the Singapore meeting. I’ve been to the last two ICANN meetings and will have just attended the NamesCon conference one month before the Singapore meeting. There’s also the potential of the summer meeting being somewhat close to the United States.
“ICANN plans to hold the meeting in Morocco next year, instead”
They are kidding themselves to think Ebola will not be a continued threat next year.
Well,
officially the reason that ICANN states is indeed that “….. in the African region with significant groups of Africans likely not able to attend negates the rationale behind ICANN’s regional rotation of meetings.”
Bullshit of course. Only Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea would be banned – IF a ban would be issued by the Moroccan government! Because there is no other country with anything like an “Ebola Outbreak”.
The participation from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea at the ICANN 49 in Singapore has been: One delegate. Not per country. Combined.
So by setting up the meeting in Singapore they have GUARANTEED that the participation from Africa is totally diminished.
Alexander.berlin