Hopeful words from Costa Rica

“…privacy, security, and protection of intellectual property should not become an excuse to justify trends seeking to exercise highly restrictive controls on cyberspace…

Internet belongs to us all, and we should all participate in the discussion on the rules that should govern the Internet. The design of Internet governance should be based on a multistakeholder approach with — regardless of our political, corporate, financial power. We can participate in a process of reciprocal trust that will reinforce coordination and organization mechanisms in a democratic way. Internet is the great opportunity that we have in history, so as to not repeat our past errors that led to the creation of international governance institutions that are vertical, closed and bureaucratic.

Internet should not be conceived as a threat but rather as a hope. Internet is the hope of an integrated world without frontiers, a common world without controlling owners, a world of opportunities and equality. This is a utopia that we have been dreaming about that is a world in which each and every one of us are protagonists of a destiny that we have in our hands.

- Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla addressing the global Internet community at ICANN 43

Hopeful words from a country that seems to really get it. I visited a few years ago, and I remember being impressed with their progressive views on education, military spending and green power. I think this seals the deal – I officially have a new favourite country

A complete transcript in PDF can be found on the ICANN web site.