By Sarah Granger

As I dragged my bags into Geneva's airport, the PalExpo complex looming before me, I anxiously envisioned what the WSIS scene might be like. It was two days before the official summit would begin and I had been forewarned to expect an obscenely large conference environment. In my head, that meant hoards of people, scores of vendor booths, and excessive amounts of paper everywhere. I envisioned scores of organizations merchandizing: WSIS T-shirts, sweatshirts, buttons, bumper stickers, watches, DVD box sets, the works.

The conference scene T-minus-one day from WSIS was fairly chaotic: wires everywhere for wireless equipment that wasn't running yet, booths being constructed to hold so much information my head was already preparing to explode, and the Suits were making their rounds schmoozing and sighing, Swiss military testing the security equipment. I registered and got my official WSIS badge and bag (which I must admit were pretty cool). I then searched for food, but found only yesterday's curry, wilted sushi and soda. I snarfed down an indeterminable meat-byproduct sandwich and returned to work. Our group had an event that afternoon, but the table we had been promised for our room was not there. Searching high and low for something on which to place our materials, I enlisted the help of a UN Security Guard to translate. We asked everyone we could find, but the PalExpo facilities people didn't seem to notice or care. Oh, well. We couldn't solicit members from a table, so the floor became our display area.

Soon after our event ended, a matterhorn summoned all attendees for a special presentation including songs from an international children's chorus and a speech by Kofi Annan. On with the show! Excited for peanuts and popcorn, I had no such luck. The restaurants on the conference level had closed soon after lunch, and nothing was available inside the plenary room - not even water. Settling into the impressive, black-lit surroundings, I found the headsets the most entertaining: "universal multi-stakeholder process " in six languages! As soon as the show ended, we were released into the hallways like pigs to the trough for hors d'oeuvres and wine. Such a feeding frenzy I've never seen. One thing unites all people: free booze and food. A nice touch, but after being famished all day, I needed real sustenance, so I sadly left the PalExpo in search of dinner.

The next day, full-blown WSIS began. Security stepped-up, and I saw a glimpse of what a biometric national ID airport system might be like while waiting in line behind twelve Suits and an African headdress. Looking around for a souvenir booth, I became frustrated, so I asked at the Information Desk: "pardon moi, parlez vous anglaise?" "Yes," a kind woman replied. (Like I'd be fluent in French - I'm an American.) "I was wondering. where are the t-shirts?" "What t-shirts?" she replied. "You know. WSIS t-shirts. Souvenirs. Stuff I can take home to show-off that I came here." She didn't know what I was talking about. she directed me to the U.N. booth.

Shocked and dejected, I found my way to the United Nations center, an impressive booth on the outskirts of the ICT4D universe, filled with publications in a variety of languages. In a small, glass case, nearly unnoticeable to the human eye were a few simple U.N. souvenirs: pens, posters showing flags of the world, and an umbrella that proceeded to fall off the top of the case, nearly poking my eye out. It took me ten minutes to get to the front of the queue. I then selected my item, a brand new, shiny United Nations pen, and a nice woman retrieved it and rang it up. The service wasn't as bad as a Soviet department store, to be sure, but it was no Starbuck's.

I left the PalExpo that day thinking "well, maybe someone will be selling t-shirts in downtown Geneva." During the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, the entire USA had t-shirts and hats for sale in souvenir ships and airports. Most special events in the States have $45 souvenir sweatshirts made in China for $5 so they can make a nice profit. Feeling that WSIS should be no different, I continued my hunt. I found watches, more watches, clocks, some Swiss flags, and a lot of great chocolate. This was all fine and good, but I was on a mission. I began searching for more U.N. paraphernalia. No such luck. Finally, when all of the stores closed, I gave up.

The rest of the summit was a fairly standard conference - somewhat interesting, mostly uneventful, filled with people-watching, sneaking in and out of sessions, and dozing-off in uncomfortable chairs. I learned a few things, met some interesting people, and enjoyed my time in Geneva. Upset that I couldn't find a "Kofi Annan With Laptop" doll or at the very least, a WSIS 2003 souvenir t-shirt with the Nokia sponsor label on the shoulder, I settled for my U.N. pen. which I promptly lost somewhere between gates at Charles DeGaulle Airport. Go figure.

Maybe I'm a warped, spoiled American, but I do seriously believe that a big opportunity was missed here. The conference organizers could have made up some of the WSIS costs by providing souvenirs, and delegates would have enjoyed having the option. As for the PalExpo, they need to learn the concept of continuous food and caffeine availability. My only hope is that the Tunis organizing committee will see the light. When I arrive there in 2005, hope to see WSIS t-shirts and lighters for sale in the airport before I even hail my first taxicab. After all, if we're to unite the world in developing a universally accessible information society, I'd like a memento from the trip.

By Sarah Granger
Project Director, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
(Civil Society Delegate)