[okfn-discuss] idea: open knowledge manifesto

Sat Jun 14 11:27:02 UTC 2014

Hey!

great discussion! I have copied the different ideas to the pad:
http://pad.okfn.org/p/manifesto_ideas

I think it would be great to have a manifesto containing

   - definitions of what it is open data, information, knowledge - which
   data is private
   - which challenges do we currently encounter
   - which vision do we share for the future (how would a world look like
   where open knowledge is widely available and used in daily life - how would
   key sectors of life be impacted - like relation between government and
   citizens, education, culture, science, research and innovation, consumers
   and economy, international development, transport?)
   - by which means we want to fight for more open knowledge - are there
   some key strategies that we endorse and use to build sustainable local open
   data ecosystems?
   - why we do this and believe in Open Knowledge.

@Tim: I do not understand that this manifesto needs to be different for
chapters and the global movement - do you think there are local issues that
needs to be considered? Do you imagine that certain local chapters might
not endorse some principles?

Apart from this we certainly need a clear and shared understanding about
how the different parts/entities of the open movement relate to each other
- maybe a guidelines document? in these guidelines I would address the
following topics:

   - which role has the open knowledge (core organization), what is the
   role of chapters, local groups or local activists?
   - how do different organizations that are in the open movement relate to
   each other
   - how can we work together on projects and activities that are important
   to all of us.- are there some projects that are community driven projects
   and in which we all participate? (maybe to make them more sustainable and
   relevant?)
   - how can new organizations and individual become part of the open
   movement

Furthermore, I would like to see in such a guideline document how we could
better share knowledge and information about things that are going on, how
decision-making should work (I personally would like to be this far more
democratic and participatory then it is currently), and also how we can
better co-work on future project for the open movement and build these
project in a bottom-up process.

Regarding the process: I like the steps you suggest, Tim. I was wondering
about whether such a community project needs some sort of coordination - I
mean, you suggest community calls and that contents should be blogged on
some website and that then a collaborative process with comments should be
offered.

   - Have you ideas for how the infra-structure should be provided and who
   should help to support the whole discussion?
   - Is this a potential role for Open Knowledge core or would you rather
   suggest a board of volunteers or elected representatives (?) from the
   community?
   - How should the collaboration between different organization that
   participate in the open movement work? Will this be led by the Open
   Knowledge community and then later on other organizations and groups
   (Internews, Transparency Movement, OGP community, Civic Tech community,
   Free Software community, etc. will be asked to endorse) or should we make
   an effort to have a joint discussion from the early beginning?

@Laura: I also looked at your idea for the manifesto
<http://pad.okfn.org/p/LJ-manifesto-ideas>. I personally have difficulties
to collaborate on a text that is already quite elaborated and seems to be
finished. (Nonetheless, it is great to see your texts and the issues that
you personally would like to address.)

In order to have a broad participation on the text I would at first start
to brainstorm some topics that we would like to address in such a text
(what we are currently doing). Then we can start working on these issues
and provide deeper discussion and arguments - I liked the idea of Tim that
different entities (chapters, groups, working groups etc) should work
independently on this - I hope that this will help people to participate
that are currently a bit underrepresented in the discussion - for instance
because they speak a different languages or are less represented on our
mailing list.

Will think more about all these issues.

Have a great weekend

Daniela

On 14 June 2014 06:28, Tim Davies <tim at practicalparticipation.co.uk> wrote:

> Hello Laura,
>
> Great to hear that the privacy and open data workshop was an inspiring
> one, and that an analysis of power was core to the discussions.
>
> I think there is great potential in the development of a Manifesto as a
> project to explore the shared vision and diversity across the broad Open
> Knowledge Community.
>
> The important thing will not so much be the platform for drafting, as the
> process of building a manifesto: how it is made into an inclusive community
> process that could strengthen and rebuild community trust, deepening shared
> understanding of where there are common, complementary and divergent goals
> amongst us all.
>
> So - in response to the specific questions below:
>
>  Do you want to have a manifesto?
>>
>
> I certainly think trying to develop a manifesto would be a valuable
> process. It would be interesting to consider whether this should be
> approached in the development as:
>
> - A manifesto for Open Knowledge (the core organisation)
> - A manifesto for Open Knowledge affiliated groups
> - A manifesto for a broader open knowledge movement, such that many
> different organisations could help create and subscribe to it
>
> I think the second two options are likely the stronger options.
>
>
>>  What should it look like?
>>
>
> It should be broader than the Open Definition. The Open Definition already
> provides a core concept which groups can draw upon - but many of the issues
> of power, empowerment and social justice around openness rely on going
> beyond a formal definition, to argue for open processes and action to
> address inequalities outside the features of an item of content itself, in
> order to secure the kind of vision of a world where open empowers.
>
> It should also represent the breadth of fields in which open knowledge can
> be applied - from culture and hardware, to governance and development.
>
> One approach might be to invite different thematic groups to start with a
> process of developing their own manifestos combining:
>
>  - A vision for openness in their respective fields
>  - Specific things that need to change
>
> And then look at synthesising those into an overall (short, 2 page max)
> manifesto that represents the richness of open knowledge.
>
>
>> Which issues should it include?
>> Which issues should it not include?
>>
>
> Address in the above.
>
>
>>  What's the best platform for collaborative drafting - an etherpad, a
>> google document, a github repository, something else?
>>
>
> As mentioned, I think process over platform is the best place to focus
> right now.
>
> Possible elements of a process might include:
>
>  - Providing WGs, local groups and core OK projects with a template for
> putting together their own mini-manifestos and giving a 2 - 3 month window
> for drafting these; hosting a community call or two about the idea of the
> manifesto;
>
> - Encouraging people to independently blog about their vision for an Open
> Knowledge manifesto and to tag those posts so they can be aggregated
> together;
>
> - Tasking a small group to synthesise all these drafts into a first
> proposed text for an open knowledge manifesto (with that group working in
> the open through whatever tool best allows tracking of how the various
> inputs make it into the final text; and having a couple of public calls
> during their discussions)
>
> - Putting the draft out for comment through a tool like Digress.it
> (Wordpress plugin for line-by-line commenting) or using Annotator (so that
> we're keeping with open tools, as tools like Google Docs are clearly
> excluding some members of the community who hold strong views on use of
> proprietary platforms).
>
> - Redrafting the final text based on comments - and sending it out for
> validation by working groups / community members / etc. and perhaps even
> setting a threshold such that it can only be adopted as a core OK manifesto
> if 75% of OK affiliated groups endorse it.
>
> I know this isn't a quick-and-easy process (probably needs c. 6 months
> start to finish at absolute minimum), and I'm mainly putting it forward as
> a straw man proposal for discussion, but it does provide the opportunity
> for community engagement that was missed in the rebrand, and for thinking
> about how on substantive issues like identity and vision OK can really
> empower the community in shaping the vision.
>
> I've set up an etherpad to gather ideas on these questions:
>> http://pad.okfn.org/p/manifesto_ideas
>>
>
> Replying whilst offline - so sorry for not dropping this direct into the
> Etherpad. Feel free to copy there if useful.
>
> Tim
>
>>
>> Look forward to hearing from you!
>>
>> Laura
>>
>>
>> PS - I was so inspired by the workshop.  Sometimes it can seem like the
>> privacy folks and open data folks have different views, but we ended up
>> concluding many of us in both areas are driven by the same motivation - to
>> use information power in the cause of human rights. On the train home, I
>> was feeling super excited about this, so I quickly wrote up what was in my
>> mind after the workshop here
>> <https://docs.google.com/a/okfn.org/document/d/1dxwEV3Qt9S3sbOP7XSnefZ6koOcN7Xj3LGfvpkTuWlQ/edit>.
>> If you were at the workshop, thanks for all your contributions - it was a
>> great two days! Especial thanks to Mark Lizar and others in the 'power'
>> session before lunch yesterday for inspiration and fervour :)
>>
>>
>
> --
>
>
> w: http://www.timdavies.org.uk | m: 07834 856 303 | twitter: timdavies
>
> Co-director of Practical Participation:
> http://www.practicalparticipation.co.uk
> --------------------------
> Practical Participation Ltd is a registered company in England and Wales -
> #5381958.
>
>
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>

-- 

Daniela Mattern

Open Data Project Manager | skype: e1aste2000

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