Changes

{{CompanyInfo|

{{CompanyInfo|

| logo            =  

| logo            = Dotafrica_africa_union_uniforum.PNG

| type            = Campaign

| type            = Campaign

| industry        = DNS, ICT, Domain, Branding

| industry        = DNS, ICT, Domain, Branding

The "No Campaign DotAfrica" featured high drama and ran from 2010 and peaked in the fall of 2011, when DCA circulated many No Campaigns to its readers.

The "No Campaign DotAfrica" featured high drama and ran from 2010 and peaked in the fall of 2011, when DCA circulated many No Campaigns to its readers.

==Why the NO Campaigns==

==Why the NO Campaigns==

According to the justification issued by the company, the ‘No Campaigns’ were further used by the DCA to help shed more light on the opaque activities and shifting tactics of detractors that might not be readily transparent to those who have been following the DotAfrica debate, to expose the acts of illegality, and other conflicting interests of the detractors of DCA, and show that they are not suited to lead, or be engaged in the DotAfrica project.  <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107732654578.html The Justification for our "NO" Campaigns]</ref>

According to the justification issued by the company, the ‘No Campaigns’ were further used by the DCA to help shed more light on the opaque activities and shifting tactics of detractors that might not be readily transparent to those who have been following the DotAfrica debate, to expose the acts of illegality, and other conflicting interests of the detractors of DCA, and show that they are not suited to lead, or be engaged in the DotAfrica project.  <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107732654578.html The Justification for our "NO" Campaigns]</ref>

Most observers praised DCA for its commitment to transparency which was evident in the content of the No Campaigns, as can be read from the comments received from various individuals.  <ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/media-coverage/comments/ Comments to the "NO" Campaigns]</ref> Other persons also criticized DCA for running a negative campaign and for naming names (mentioning the names of certain individuals) in its email circulations. Because of such criticisms, the DCA was forced on several occasions to defend itself and explain why it had to embark on the No Campaign by issuing clarifications. <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107732654578.html The Justification for our "NO" Campaigns]</ref>

Most observers praised DCA for its commitment to transparency which was evident in the content of the No Campaigns, as can be read from the comments received from various individuals.  <ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/media-coverage/comments/ Comments to the "NO" Campaigns]</ref> Other persons also criticized DCA for running a negative campaign and for naming names (mentioning the names of certain individuals) in its email circulations. Because of such criticisms, the DCA was forced on several occasions to defend itself and explain why it had to embark on the No Campaign by issuing clarifications. <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107732654578.html The Justification for our "NO" Campaigns]</ref>

 

==History on NO Campaigns==

==History on NO Campaigns==

The No campaigns were first used by the organization to raise awareness to misleading information pertaining to the process of obtaining the first ever African top level domain. ‘No Campaign’, is an obverse to the “Yes2dotAfrica Campaign”. DCA’s involvement in the ‘No Campaigns’ as follows: When DotConnectAfrica started the .africa journey they did not foresee the adverse effect on their yesto dotafrica campaign work by detractors who, if left unchecked would torpedo the DotAfrica dream.  

The No campaigns were first used by the organization to raise awareness to misleading information pertaining to the process of obtaining the first ever African top level domain. ‘No Campaign’, is an obverse to the “Yes2dotAfrica Campaign”. DCA’s involvement in the ‘No Campaigns’ as follows: When DotConnectAfrica started the .africa journey they did not foresee the adverse effect on their yesto dotafrica campaign work by detractors who, if left unchecked would torpedo the DotAfrica dream. [[File:Say_No_to_the_.africa_CABAL.jpg|450px|thumb|right|Say "No" to the DotAfrica CABAL:06 September 2011|link=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107431408048.html]]

This was evident after they had won the pivotal AU endorsement, the willful sabotage of these efforts foisted an ‘underground cold war’ of attrition on DCA, thus forcing DCA to fight in self-defense and respond to issues where it is either a named party or as a sidelined interlocutor. The issues included but not limited to misrepresentation of DCA’s mission and purpose, its principals and stakeholder communities, misinformation to the public on the implementation of DotAfrica and its merit, and efforts to counter mass media manipulation.

This was evident after they had won the pivotal AU endorsement, the willful sabotage of these efforts foisted an ‘underground cold war’ of attrition on DCA, thus forcing DCA to fight in self-defense and respond to issues where it is either a named party or as a sidelined interlocutor. The issues included but not limited to misrepresentation of DCA’s mission and purpose, its principals and stakeholder communities, misinformation to the public on the implementation of DotAfrica and its merit, and efforts to counter mass media manipulation.

====DCA Commentary: AU "Briefing Note on DotAfrica"====

====DCA Commentary: AU "Briefing Note on DotAfrica"====

DCA used this commentary to set the records straight and debunk some of their untruthful claims, whilst exposing their lack of proper knowledge regarding how the ICANN process works.[[File:Confusion_dotafrica.jpg|450px|thumb|left|Say "No" to the DotAfrica CABAL:06 September 2011|link=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107431408048.html]]

DCA used this commentary to set the records straight and debunk some of their untruthful claims, whilst exposing their lack of proper knowledge regarding how the ICANN process works.[[File:Confusion_dotafrica.jpg|550px|thumb|left|Say "No" to the DotAfrica CABAL:06 September 2011|link=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107431408048.html]]

DCA used this opportunity to set the records straight and debunk some of their untruthful claims, and also exposing the African Unions lack of proper knowledge regarding how the ICANN process works: The Response noted that "It is clear that the extraordinary process instituted by the AU Commission more or less usurps ICANN's bidding process at the international level and could be interpreted as an attempt to blacklist the rest of the competition to the extent that it (the self-endorsing AU) wants to apply directly to ICANN and also choose the registry operator. Whereas the open international competitive bidding process regarding the DotAfrica gTLD is owned by ICANN, it is obvious that the AU now intends to take-over the entire process as a sort of supranational telecommunications regulator and Internet governance body for Africa.  Perhaps the African Union might as well own and operate Air Afrique and become a participant in the airline business sector as well, since 'Afrique' refers to a named geography like DotAfrica."  <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1105700646250.html  DCA Commentary on AU "Briefing Note on DotAfrica" ]</ref>

DCA used this opportunity to set the records straight and debunk some of their untruthful claims, and also exposing the African Unions lack of proper knowledge regarding how the ICANN process works: The Response noted that "It is clear that the extraordinary process instituted by the AU Commission more or less usurps ICANN's bidding process at the international level and could be interpreted as an attempt to blacklist the rest of the competition to the extent that it (the self-endorsing AU) wants to apply directly to ICANN and also choose the registry operator. Whereas the open international competitive bidding process regarding the DotAfrica gTLD is owned by ICANN, it is obvious that the AU now intends to take-over the entire process as a sort of supranational telecommunications regulator and Internet governance body for Africa.  Perhaps the African Union might as well own and operate Air Afrique and become a participant in the airline business sector as well, since 'Afrique' refers to a named geography like DotAfrica."  <ref>[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1105700646250.html  DCA Commentary on AU "Briefing Note on DotAfrica" ]</ref>