I also think this has gone too far off topic but the responses you have given don't correspond to the statements made earlier and assume rationality on the parts of various governments, which has been shown not to be a good assumption worldwide. I have no problem with incorporation in Malaysia. But it won't help much, if and when we have a meeting in the US and need to collect fees for the meeting. If business is to be conducted in a country, I believe that incorporation in that country will be required particularly if it is to be a non-profit company. Incorporation in Malaysia won't help much in this respect. I assume that OSHCA has engaged a lawyer to deal with this business process and to make recommendations.
Dave Tim.Churches wrote: > David Forslund wrote: > > Tim.Churches wrote: > > > David Forslund wrote: > > > > Molly, > > > > > > > > Incorporating OSHCA in the US doesn't necessarily imply US > domination. > > > > > > No, but US citizens need to be sensitive to the negative feelings > > > towards the US which are present and growing in many countries around > > > the world. Whether this antipathy towards the US is justified > depends a > > > great deal on one's standpoint - and I don't think we should > debate it > > > here - but it definitely exists and is remarkably pervasive - in some > > > countries it is the dominant attitude, in others, it is present in a > > > sizeable minority of the population. > > This certainly is too bad as the characterization of things in the US by > > the press outside the US is certainly not very factual or unbiased. > > This is a bit off-topic, but anyway... I don't think attitudes to the US > are informed primarily by press reports of the internal situation in the > US. I think that attitudes to the US are informed more by reports or > direct experience of the actions and policies of the US govt and of US > businesses outside the US. > > > > Given these attitudes to the US, incorporation of an international > > > organisation in the US may be perceived negatively by some would-be > > > participants in OSHCA, and certainly by many potential funding or > > > collaborating bodies, such as the WSIS. Thus it *is* a practical > > > consideration. > > What about unwarranted bias against the US that some organizations might > > have? > > Whether the biases are warranted or unwarranted depends a great deal on > one's point of view - but either way, it is not OSHCA's role to fight > against anti-US sentiment. It does need to be mindful of it when dealing > with other agencies and individuals, but should certainly not pander or > play up to it. OSHCA needs to be seen to be non-aligned. Incorporation > in Malaysia is a good basis for such a stance, I feel. > > > > > I did not hear an > > > > answer to my question about the possible necessity of incorporating > > > > OSHCA in multiple countries. > > > > > > Yes, that may be necessary, but OSHCA should cross that bridge if and > > > when it comes to it. There is no need for immediate, simultaneous > > > incorporation in many countries in the first instance. If the > need for > > > incorporation elsewhere becomes apparent, then the necessary > steps can > > > be taken. But let OSHCA walk before forcing it to run a cross-country > > > race. > > It wasn't clear why it needs to be incorporated anywhere. I thought > > Molly talked about "registration". > > Incorporation is needed in order to handle funds in an accountable > manner from just about any source. > > > > > I didn't understand Tim C.'s comment about there not being > freedom of > > > > political expression in Malaysia. > > > > > > I was alluding to the case of Anwar Ibrahim - see > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_Ibrahim - amongst others. But that > > > was a while ago now, and Mahathir has retired. This happens in many > > > democracies from time to time - see for example > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mccarthyism > > > > > > > How does that fit with a form of democracy? I just read this > week in a > > > > Australian paper about a government > > > > official threatening to jail non-Muslims if they were > "perceived" as > > > > insulting Islam. These types of things concern > > > > me if an international body is to be organized in such a country. > > > > Perhaps this information is totally erroneous? > > > > > > Such things are often misreported. However, OSHCA is unlikely to ever > > > make insulting comments about Islam or any other religion for that > > > matter. In fact, the only religious topics which might be > discussed are > > > emacs vs vi or Java vs Python or Ruby. Thus I can't see why such > things > > > are of concern with respect to where OSHCA is incorporated. Note that > > > incorporation of OSHCA in Malaysia or anywhere else has no impact on > > > your freedom of speech as an individual, even if you are also a > member > > > of OSHCA. > > > > > > Tim C > > > > > > > > It isn't that OSHCA would deliberately do such things, but when the > > interpretation is by a government official > > and an action is perceived to be offensive, it could run into trouble > > and have no recourse. > > I think that the likelihood that OSHCA will offend anyone's religious > sensibilities is vanishingly small, provided that it sticks to its > business of promoting and advocating for free, open source software in > health. OK, it would not be a good idea for OSHCA to promote open source > software designed for running an abortion clinic in the Holy See, or > in Eire. Obviously common sense and a degree of sensitivity is called > for on some issues. But that will be the case not matter where OSHCA is > incorporated. > > Tim C > > > This would be > > counterproductive to the advancement of OSHCA's principles. I actually > > think that multiple organizations > > that work together might be better, if people would have the energy to > > do so. This is the same as the > > organization mentioned as an example. Open Source issues in the US may > > well be different than in other countries, > > but we should all work together to promote the general cause, which > > OSHCA as presented could do. > > > > Dave Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/openhealth/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
