Presentation prepared for APC Equitable Access forum, 10 November 2007, Rio de Janeiro. Prepared by Andrew Garton based on materials by Karen Woulfe, C31 Digital Campaign Coordinator.

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Observations on the final plenary session, Emerging Issues, at the 2007 Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

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Observations on the "Access and connectivity for remote rural" panel, held on Tuesday 13 November in Rio de Janeiro, as part of this year's Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

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I was alarmed by the significant threats to ICT rights in South Korea as explained to me by Jinbonet's President, Jong Hoi Lee. Jong participated in the recent APC Council Meeting during which time we worked together on a briefing paper outlining three key issues. They include the Internet Real Name Law, a new defamation act and biometrics data retension issues.

You can read all about these very significant issues in Threat to Sth Korean ICT Rights.

It's been a long road since I'd landed in Currajuggle and Mongarlowe... a road that has taken me back to Melbourne and Sydney twice, Akira's 21st, Ma's sudden heart related operation and on to Rio de Janeiro from where I now write these few words.

I've been here for over a week now attending the 10th APC Council Meeting during which we had set out the framework for our strategic plan for the next 5 years. We'd also ratified the revised Bylaws and voted in a new Board which saw me revoted to the Board and take up the position of Secretary.

The Council Meeting went directly into APC's Equitable Access day, a series of forums and workshop style presentations that formed a kind of prepartory meeting to the Internet Governence Forum (IGF) which began yesterday.

I first visited Rio in 1992 as part of APC's communications team which provided the Earth Summit with access to email for both the Global Forum (the NGO component of the Summit) and the UN meeting. Now we're here to mobilise our Internet Rights Charter into the processes of the IGF.