Global Dot Org Alliance

Because the healthcare internet is dominated by profit motives
Because it is hijacked by venture capital and large corporations
Because intellectual freedom is compromised daily
Because I want to preserve the healthcare internet ethos of the early
pioneer days
Because I want to influence the future of internet governance
Because I want to protect and enhance the enablement of the tiny

For all these reasons and more, I call for the establishment of the Global
Dot Org Alliance. Current working title: Health Internet Society (HISOC)

Here are few thoughts on the 'dot org culture' and the call for the
alliance:

1. There are many health websites that fall under the generic description of
dot org, i.e., not for profit
2. There is no one protecting and promoting the interests of those entities
3. Yet, they provide immeasurable value to the health internet
4. Furthermore, many decisions and developments that affect the entire
internet community are taken by the few, who are sometimes, as far removed
from the dot org culture, they might as well be from Mars
5. Take, for example, ICANN. You will agree with me that decisions by ICANN
have profound effects on all of us, yet we do not have any representation
6. With that in mind, what if we organise? What if we can muster 1000 dot
orgs under one banner and take one or more of the 7 remaining seats reserved
for the 'at large' directors (nobody knows when the elections for those
seats will be held, but they must be held at some point)
7. This is just one example, there are many others
8. I believe that 'the dot org culture' has been and will continue to be a
major force in delivering high quality throughout the health internet
9. Yet, we are fragmented and lack in coordinated representation, advocacy,
funding and participation
10. The "Global Dot Org Alliance" (generic title) will be a truly
democratic, worldwide organisation-membership body spanning both developed
and developing nations, whose objectives include:

a) the preservation of free and open exchange of knowledge
b) the promotion of the members' interests in all fields and on all fronts,
including national governments and international bodies
c) ensuring the spread of best practice
d) the application of strict democratic principles and the widest possible
participation, transparency and representation
e) the adherence to, and the promotion of high ethical standards and
accountability principles
f) the creation of a 'sink fund' through support from foundations, socially
responsible corporations and philanthropic organisations and individuals to
enable the continuation of entities that would otherwise disappear for lack
of funding, conduct research and disseminate best practice

11. This alliance will cooperate and collaborate with other bodies like the
Internet Healthcare Coalition (of which I am a proud founder member and
director), dot com trade associations, regulatory and government instruments
and international organisations like WHO, for example.

Further clarifications on the project:

1. I use the term dot org to signify the original culture behind it
2. This does not preclude non-dot orgs who are engaged in the open and free
exchange of knowledge or other not-for-profits who are trading under other
TLDs, including hospitals, foundations and institutions
3. Please appreciate that my emphasis here is on a spirit and a culture that
I believe to be under grave threat, and that both of which deserve
preservation
4. The alliance is first and foremost for those of you who've burnt the
midnight oil and toiled hard to enhance human knowledge about health without
having to do it under corporate pressure or imperative
5. I am aware that dot org is open for anyone. I use the term generically
rather than specifically
6. The alliance is about civil society, it is about the high ethical
grounds, it is about ideals and altruism
7. Therefore, may I suggest this new working title: Health Internet Society
8. As it happened I own the domain hisoc.org (high sock for Health Internet
Society). This will, of course, be made available should we proceed in this
direction.

In the meantime, please help by spreading the word (use my words if you want
to). Discuss within your organisations and affiliations, post to mailing
lists you belong to and publish on your websites. Talk with the press and
generally disseminate the call for action.

At this stage I am merely gauging the level of support for the idea. I am
overwhelmingly encouraged so far.

In the interim I'll continue to coordinate the effort until such time we are
organised enough to set up structures and hold elections. Please continue
to send your comments to me. I am very grateful and feel terribly
optimistic about this enterprise.

Ahmad Risk MD

['HIF-net at WHO' profile: Ahmad Risk is editor of Health Informatics
Europe, Co-Chair of the eHealth Code of Ethics Steering Group, Board of
Directors member of the Internet Healthcare Coalition, and Chairman of the
British Healthcare Internet Association. ]