Technology-Enhanced Stabilization Initiatives for "At-Risk" Countries
Effective Stabilization Requires Technology-Enhanced Teamwork
Roles
-- Team initiatives (invited by "at-risk" host country): implementation, training, curriculum and materials development, security technology and procedures, culture briefings, language and geographic briefings / training for non-host country team members
-- Host country military and civilian groups: joint operations will help achieve goals through mission-critical assistance, technology, techniques, training, coordition, skills transfer, access to computing / web resources.
-- Humanitarian aid partnering: community development, socio-demographic data, association-building, democratic processes, information management
-- Consultant(s): design, development, administration of web-enhanced elements, coordination between host country, U.S. ngo-military-private-sector initiatives, and aid & economic development projects; assure access to computing / web resources and training in use; find low-cost, "appropriate technology" solutions. Cultural bridging. Identify "umbrella organizations" for various tasks, including safety net rebuilding.
Tasks
-1- Train "at risk" non-government organizations / government / civilian groups in a joint initiative to build Army Corps of Engineers & National Guard-type capacity to map, track, and repair infrastructure, including but not confined to
-a- border region bridges, roads, electricity off-the-grid capacity (generators, other sources)
-b- multi-use warehouses -- agri-products, small manufacturing, as well as preparedness inventories for emergencies
-c- back-up transportation, electricity and water resources;
-2- Develop a useable & low-cost, accurate & up-to-date database of key socio-demographic and resource items. This would have a web-enhanced side for maximum colloboration. (see "Repairing Safety Nets" white paper on directories and community barter programs)
-3- Initiate expanded community mobilization and support programs in key areas, which would include developing associations that could be multi-use neighborhood security associations, highly trained with protocols and procedures -- for security / stabilization functions as well as health, education, and resource management functions. (see "Repairing Safety Nets")
-4- Integrated analysis of mission statements of not-for-profits, non-governmental organizations, religious groups and political organizations in order to understand their mission (and avoid misunderstandings)
-a- Posting of news and relevant information about each group so that they have an opportunity to present themselves as they see themselves, without fear of misrepresentation, racism, or hate
-b- Individual group profiles and general categories, with an idea of the general history of each meta-group.
-c- Research and analysis of international connections, security issues, the types of fund-raising activities that may accompany their outreach activities
-d- Financial transaction support through online banks, online funds transfer entities (westernunion.com, paypal.com, etc.) to help with initiatives to build resources, develop commercial ventures (for example, museums may wish to set up virtual gift shops)
-e- Understanding Fraud, Risk / Law Enforcement Issues Projects could include setting up online casino and an online auction service to understand how illicit organizations can mimic or co-opt the original intent of bona fide community-building organizations. Investigate money laundering patterns, possibilities
-5- Exploring how association-building and community mobilization can be a stabilizing force, esp with military - civilian cooperations. Improve service, build loyalty.
-a- Improved logistics
-b- Social safety net construction. (see "Repairing Safety Nets")
-6- Training Manual and Procedures Library
-a- Collaborative -- with specific responses & applications for local use
-b- Originals from international partners
-c- Joint exercises -- questions / adaptations from all team members, guided by umbrella organization & consultant
-7- Private-Sector Strengthening with Commercial Partners
-a- Identify commercial and technical support services needed to help the country maximize production and profitability
-b- Maintainance items and programs to help host country achieve higher operational efficiency: infrastructure, corrosion control, gas conditioning, electricity power station maintainance, roads / bridges
-c- Agri-business partnerships -- rural production, processing, export/import of equipment, processed products, etc.
-d- Logistics / transport -- equipment, technical assistance, spare parts
-e- Investment in financial services, credit, etc., with equal focus on rural and urban regions
-f- Online banking; e-commerce, with focus on regional / rural access, as well as in urban centers
-g- Micro and small business -- manufacturing / service / traditional women-directed enterprises
Sunday, May 25, 2003
REBUILDING SAFETY NETS
Economic and Political Stabilization with Low-Cost Web Enhancement
This is a step-by-step approach to a low-cost way to quantum-leap the efficacy of community mobilization efforts, and to assure that joint operations (multi-national or military-civilian) achieve immediate results.
A community may find itself unable to respond to or rebound from political crises, war, regime changes, natural disasters, or economic shocks.
Why? Safety nets have collapsed.
- Government-subsidized safety nets are both the most stable and the most fragile. They collapse completely during times of political dissent, war, or regime change.
- Association-based safety nets are usually locally or regionally-funded. If there are economic or political shocks, these, too, collapse.
- Religious or faith-based organizations sometime have a destabilizing agenda and/or rigid structures that are effective in providing initial assistance to a community in crisis, but they ultimately corrode the glue that holds a community together by introducing intolerance and dismantling the structures and attitudes that encouraged cultural diversity and inclusion.
- International humanitarian aid organizations should not be considered permanent safety nets or alternatives to local structures. Humanitarian aid organizations provide intervention and on-going technical-managerial assistance. Their ultimate goal is to strengthen local resources.
New alliances, new strenghts through joint operations
- Multinational, binational (between nations)
- Civilian - military cooperative ventures
- Faith-based and non-faith-based organizations
- Inter-regional, representing urban and rural communities
Community-driven / community-centric perspective must prevail
Safety Net Construction
Procedures: Use a cost-effective, integrated web-enhanced technology solution which includes
-a- Multi-use, multi-function web-logs for collaborations, information sharing, announcements
-b- Websites for directories, library resources, training materials, white papers, technical assistance
-c- Portal for gateway to shared information
-d- Access to central server for high-level applications (accessed remotely from personal computers and network hubs using thin-client software)
-e- Information management / project guidance through integrated customized "umbrella organization" portal
-f- Financial services provided via outsources services -- payments, funds transfers, etc.
-g- Resource bartering provided via e-store, e-commerce solutions
-h- Open-source courseware for online training and education // distance collaborations
What is created? What is a workable sequence?
Phase I: Information and Resource Networking
Philosophy: The primary objective is to utilize a joint / multi-national team effort in order to share resources, gain insight, enable programs to work effectively, and to train local and regional personnel. Sustainability is emphasized, as well as the development of productive linkages.
-Step 1- Directory of regional centers
-a- Identify cities or towns
-b- List key contacts
-c- List of services, municipalities, key businesses
-d- Profile the economy
-e- Overview of growth areas / challenges
-Step 2- Match Safety Net Components to specific elements in a community
-a- Health (includes water, waste treatment, shelter)
-b- Security
-c- Commerce
-d- Roads and Transportation
-e- Education and skills transfer
-f- Governance
-g- External fund raising
-Step 3- Solve immediate problems by facilitating cross-community exchange or barter
-a- Updated list of items available for exchange barter
-b- "Wish list" creation -- prioritize in terms of urgency of need and possibility of obtaining it
-c- Terms of trade // create barter framework (contacts, products, etc.)
-d- Logistics -- basic issues of transport and warehousing
-Step 4- Safety-net Task Force
-a- Assign Joint Force person to oversea a region
-b- Identify Safety Net components & the responsibility for each
-c- Joint Force person must develop Action Plan
-Step 5- Training and Transition
-a- Onsite training with access to distance expert who responds to specific issues, provides customized guidance
-b- Online / distance training
-c- Travel-study programs
Phase II
-1- Business Information Centers -- Information partners work with coordination of umbrella entity
-2- Health Information Centers -- Information partners work with coordination of umbrella entity
-3- Association linkages
Phase III
Political Stabilization
-1- Democratic institution-building
-2- Information access
-3- Transparency
-4- Anti-corruption
-5- Team-building
-a- Cultural diversity
-b- Conflict resolution
-c- Inclusion strategies
-6- Associations
-7- Harmonized tariffs and taxation
-8- Income tax normalization
Phase IV
Accounting and Financial Management
-1- Thin-client software to central computer for financial accounting
-2- Access to planning, analysis, etc.
Phase V
Online Financial Services
-1- Online banking
-2- Web-enhanced credit organizations
-3- Commodities exchange
-4- Affiliated services (financing, brokering, transport, warehousing, etc.)
Economic and Political Stabilization with Low-Cost Web Enhancement
This is a step-by-step approach to a low-cost way to quantum-leap the efficacy of community mobilization efforts, and to assure that joint operations (multi-national or military-civilian) achieve immediate results.
A community may find itself unable to respond to or rebound from political crises, war, regime changes, natural disasters, or economic shocks.
Why? Safety nets have collapsed.
- Government-subsidized safety nets are both the most stable and the most fragile. They collapse completely during times of political dissent, war, or regime change.
- Association-based safety nets are usually locally or regionally-funded. If there are economic or political shocks, these, too, collapse.
- Religious or faith-based organizations sometime have a destabilizing agenda and/or rigid structures that are effective in providing initial assistance to a community in crisis, but they ultimately corrode the glue that holds a community together by introducing intolerance and dismantling the structures and attitudes that encouraged cultural diversity and inclusion.
- International humanitarian aid organizations should not be considered permanent safety nets or alternatives to local structures. Humanitarian aid organizations provide intervention and on-going technical-managerial assistance. Their ultimate goal is to strengthen local resources.
New alliances, new strenghts through joint operations
- Multinational, binational (between nations)
- Civilian - military cooperative ventures
- Faith-based and non-faith-based organizations
- Inter-regional, representing urban and rural communities
Community-driven / community-centric perspective must prevail
Safety Net Construction
Procedures: Use a cost-effective, integrated web-enhanced technology solution which includes
-a- Multi-use, multi-function web-logs for collaborations, information sharing, announcements
-b- Websites for directories, library resources, training materials, white papers, technical assistance
-c- Portal for gateway to shared information
-d- Access to central server for high-level applications (accessed remotely from personal computers and network hubs using thin-client software)
-e- Information management / project guidance through integrated customized "umbrella organization" portal
-f- Financial services provided via outsources services -- payments, funds transfers, etc.
-g- Resource bartering provided via e-store, e-commerce solutions
-h- Open-source courseware for online training and education // distance collaborations
What is created? What is a workable sequence?
Phase I: Information and Resource Networking
Philosophy: The primary objective is to utilize a joint / multi-national team effort in order to share resources, gain insight, enable programs to work effectively, and to train local and regional personnel. Sustainability is emphasized, as well as the development of productive linkages.
-Step 1- Directory of regional centers
-a- Identify cities or towns
-b- List key contacts
-c- List of services, municipalities, key businesses
-d- Profile the economy
-e- Overview of growth areas / challenges
-Step 2- Match Safety Net Components to specific elements in a community
-a- Health (includes water, waste treatment, shelter)
-b- Security
-c- Commerce
-d- Roads and Transportation
-e- Education and skills transfer
-f- Governance
-g- External fund raising
-Step 3- Solve immediate problems by facilitating cross-community exchange or barter
-a- Updated list of items available for exchange barter
-b- "Wish list" creation -- prioritize in terms of urgency of need and possibility of obtaining it
-c- Terms of trade // create barter framework (contacts, products, etc.)
-d- Logistics -- basic issues of transport and warehousing
-Step 4- Safety-net Task Force
-a- Assign Joint Force person to oversea a region
-b- Identify Safety Net components & the responsibility for each
-c- Joint Force person must develop Action Plan
-Step 5- Training and Transition
-a- Onsite training with access to distance expert who responds to specific issues, provides customized guidance
-b- Online / distance training
-c- Travel-study programs
Phase II
-1- Business Information Centers -- Information partners work with coordination of umbrella entity
-2- Health Information Centers -- Information partners work with coordination of umbrella entity
-3- Association linkages
Phase III
Political Stabilization
-1- Democratic institution-building
-2- Information access
-3- Transparency
-4- Anti-corruption
-5- Team-building
-a- Cultural diversity
-b- Conflict resolution
-c- Inclusion strategies
-6- Associations
-7- Harmonized tariffs and taxation
-8- Income tax normalization
Phase IV
Accounting and Financial Management
-1- Thin-client software to central computer for financial accounting
-2- Access to planning, analysis, etc.
Phase V
Online Financial Services
-1- Online banking
-2- Web-enhanced credit organizations
-3- Commodities exchange
-4- Affiliated services (financing, brokering, transport, warehousing, etc.)
ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN: Why This? Why Now?
In 1976, when Watergate was still fresh on everyone's mind, a rather self-congratulatory film emerged. Because Vietnam and the profound trauma of earlier years were yet unclosed wounds, the fact that this film was, in many ways, simply about media heaping accolades upon itself was lost on most people. On the other hand, isn't that what the Oscars are all about? Hollywood gives honors to itself, and we're forced to watch (and agree). But -- that's another story.
The film in question, All The President's Men, dramatized the courageous investigative reporting of the Washington Post's Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Thanks to their source, dubbed "Deep Throat," they were able to break the story of malfeasance in the White House. An overview of the film and the events can be found on the Washington Post website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/features/dcmovies/allthepresidentsmen.htm
It's a gripping cat-and-mouse game. As a film, it's deeply engrossing. It seems as fresh as ever -- perhaps because in our Internet-driven times, we're inundated with sites that promise to tell us "the real story" which will expose the Machiavellian scheming that goes on at the highest levels. Conspiracy theories abound, and it's tempting to think that some people are able to manipulate the system like some grotesque octopus, with tentacles on all pulse points.
"Deep Throat" was Woodward and Bernstein's sole source. It amazes me that they swallowed Deep Throat's story without thoroughly checking it out, or getting corroborations. Deep Throat was probably the ultimate Machiavellian puppet-master. In essence, he completely manipulated Woodward and Bernstein. If what he had given them was disinformation, where would they have been?
At least Woodward and Bernstein had one source. As recent scandals at The New York Times reveal, some journalists aren't even bothering with that. They just make it all up. Just give the public what it wants to read, seems to the message. Pander to the powers that be. Be a "useful idiot" for partisan politics in an election year. What a mockery of the freedom of the press! The New York Times reporter tacitly institutionalized disinformation.
All The President's Men reminds us how lucky we are (or at least how lucky Woodward and Bernstein were) to live in a country that does not order the deaths of reporters who pry into the activities of the powerful and the elite. It's a good thing they weren't working in Colombia or Russia -- the world's worst offenders, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Throughout the world in 2002, 19 journalists were killed in pursuit of their profession (as far as we know). That was significantly down from 2001, when 37 journalists were killed. 2003 is looking pretty grim so far.
Freedom of the press is a great thing. The ability to raise questions, to dissent, and to probe the motives of our elected officials and business entities is important in order to preserve a freedom that many people have fought and died for.
On the other hand, All The President's Men raises other issues. There is no doubt that Watergate and Vietnam ushered in an era of profound cynicism. The idea that the government engages in sneaky and sometimes incredibly dumb machinations is pretty much accepted as a truism. The government and elected officials are regularly accused of a whole spectrum of misdeeds, ranging from sexual harrassment to kidnapping space aliens and hiding them in the Nevada desert.
Of course, everyone loves a good conspiracy theory.
But, think about it. Is this healthy? Have we become a nation of doubters, paranoids, and stalkers? Are we a nation of Othellos?
I'm as guilty as the next person, I suppose. I actually enjoy the theories promoted by the poor, mad former star sportscaster, David Icke. He is convinced that all the world's powerful government officials are descendents of space aliens, of the "reptilian" sort, who have the ability to shift their shapes and morph in and out of reptilian form.
But, I also realize that when I indulge in believing in conspiracy theories, I also assume a kind of intense passivity. How can you fight not one, but a horde of reptilian aliens?
In a time of information overload, agendas, vested interests, security fears, propaganda, disinformation and misinformation, it is more important than ever for journalists to have a clear sense of what their mission is, and why they are doing it. If they are simply selling papers and writing to reinforce the owner's political aspirations, fine. They need to understand that, though -- and question their own motives DAILY. Worse than a populace that believes everything it reads, is a populace that believes nothing and begins to become alienated from itself.
In 1976, when Watergate was still fresh on everyone's mind, a rather self-congratulatory film emerged. Because Vietnam and the profound trauma of earlier years were yet unclosed wounds, the fact that this film was, in many ways, simply about media heaping accolades upon itself was lost on most people. On the other hand, isn't that what the Oscars are all about? Hollywood gives honors to itself, and we're forced to watch (and agree). But -- that's another story.
The film in question, All The President's Men, dramatized the courageous investigative reporting of the Washington Post's Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Thanks to their source, dubbed "Deep Throat," they were able to break the story of malfeasance in the White House. An overview of the film and the events can be found on the Washington Post website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/features/dcmovies/allthepresidentsmen.htm
It's a gripping cat-and-mouse game. As a film, it's deeply engrossing. It seems as fresh as ever -- perhaps because in our Internet-driven times, we're inundated with sites that promise to tell us "the real story" which will expose the Machiavellian scheming that goes on at the highest levels. Conspiracy theories abound, and it's tempting to think that some people are able to manipulate the system like some grotesque octopus, with tentacles on all pulse points.
"Deep Throat" was Woodward and Bernstein's sole source. It amazes me that they swallowed Deep Throat's story without thoroughly checking it out, or getting corroborations. Deep Throat was probably the ultimate Machiavellian puppet-master. In essence, he completely manipulated Woodward and Bernstein. If what he had given them was disinformation, where would they have been?
At least Woodward and Bernstein had one source. As recent scandals at The New York Times reveal, some journalists aren't even bothering with that. They just make it all up. Just give the public what it wants to read, seems to the message. Pander to the powers that be. Be a "useful idiot" for partisan politics in an election year. What a mockery of the freedom of the press! The New York Times reporter tacitly institutionalized disinformation.
All The President's Men reminds us how lucky we are (or at least how lucky Woodward and Bernstein were) to live in a country that does not order the deaths of reporters who pry into the activities of the powerful and the elite. It's a good thing they weren't working in Colombia or Russia -- the world's worst offenders, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Throughout the world in 2002, 19 journalists were killed in pursuit of their profession (as far as we know). That was significantly down from 2001, when 37 journalists were killed. 2003 is looking pretty grim so far.
Freedom of the press is a great thing. The ability to raise questions, to dissent, and to probe the motives of our elected officials and business entities is important in order to preserve a freedom that many people have fought and died for.
On the other hand, All The President's Men raises other issues. There is no doubt that Watergate and Vietnam ushered in an era of profound cynicism. The idea that the government engages in sneaky and sometimes incredibly dumb machinations is pretty much accepted as a truism. The government and elected officials are regularly accused of a whole spectrum of misdeeds, ranging from sexual harrassment to kidnapping space aliens and hiding them in the Nevada desert.
Of course, everyone loves a good conspiracy theory.
But, think about it. Is this healthy? Have we become a nation of doubters, paranoids, and stalkers? Are we a nation of Othellos?
I'm as guilty as the next person, I suppose. I actually enjoy the theories promoted by the poor, mad former star sportscaster, David Icke. He is convinced that all the world's powerful government officials are descendents of space aliens, of the "reptilian" sort, who have the ability to shift their shapes and morph in and out of reptilian form.
But, I also realize that when I indulge in believing in conspiracy theories, I also assume a kind of intense passivity. How can you fight not one, but a horde of reptilian aliens?
In a time of information overload, agendas, vested interests, security fears, propaganda, disinformation and misinformation, it is more important than ever for journalists to have a clear sense of what their mission is, and why they are doing it. If they are simply selling papers and writing to reinforce the owner's political aspirations, fine. They need to understand that, though -- and question their own motives DAILY. Worse than a populace that believes everything it reads, is a populace that believes nothing and begins to become alienated from itself.
