TIGblogs - David Sontag's TIGBlog http://dsontag.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us N. Korea Reports 1st Nuclear Arms Test http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/50689 N. Korea Reports 1st Nuclear Arms Test - New York Times. Seems like a good time to post an analysis I wrote two years ago on the subject: Six-party negotiations on North Korea's nuclear ambitions.]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2006 12:09:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/50689 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 Frustrated with apathy! http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/24401 500 residents from all around the world) for over a week before the concert. I posted flyers, I handed out notices, I told people about it repeatedly. Not one person from the I-House came to see the performance (although 3 persons donated money)! What's up with that? Sure, some of the people felt that their studying was more important. Sure, some people had prior committments. But, overall, what it boils down to is that this kind of effort ranks low on people's priority list. We were asking for $5 to $7 for an amazing perfomance (I was so thrilled with it that I gave $25), with a superb speaker who had just come back from Sri Lanka, and all the money was going to help children. Shouldn't people be falling all over themselves to come to such events??]]> Mon, 02 May 2005 03:36:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/24401 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 Words with Leon Fuerth http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/167563


One of the panelists was Leon Fuerth, former National Security Advisor to Vice-President Gore. After the event finished, I managed to grab his attention for a couple of minutes, and I asked him for his opinion of how future US administrations should proceed with regards to the Kyoto Protocol. He responded that it doesn't make sense to consider future administrations, because by the time President Bush leaves office, the foundations of that agreement will be non-existent. I had remembered reading in one of my books on diplomacy that, at the time of Gore's departure to Japan for the last-minute attempt to save the Kyoto talks, no one expected the US Senate to ratify an agreement. I asked Fuerth about why Gore went, if he had known that there was no chance of Senate ratification. Fuerth responded (a bit indignantly) that he had been on Air Force Two with Gore, as they went to Japan, and that Gore did *not* know that the Senate wouldn't ratify. Furthermore, he said, something is better than nothing, and Gore wanted to keep the negotiations going (and look at the result: the US didn't ratify, but the Protocol is now in effect).



Overall, an interesting night. I definitely need to study more international relations (and history). I am, however, currently taking a seminar called "Issues in U.S. Foreign Policy."]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2005 04:02:00 EST http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/167563 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 Ukrainian youth movement http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/167565 New York Times article today talked about the leadership provided by youth in the current Ukraine political crisis. I'm amazed to see that the Yushchenko supporters are so well organized. You can find up to the minute updates at one of the organizer's sites, PORA. Can someone give a ring to Mariana Savytska and interview her for TakingITGlobal?]]> Sun, 28 Nov 2004 01:11:00 EST http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/167565 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 Tell Congress to Investigate the 2004 Election http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/20560
(This is for my American friends)

Dear friend,

Questions are swirling around whether the election was conducted honestly or not. We need to know -- was it or wasn't it?

If people were wrongly prevented from voting, or if legitimate votes were mis-counted or not counted at all, we need to know so the wrongdoers can be held accountable, and to help prevent this from happening again.

Members of Congress are demanding an investigation to answer this question. Join me in supporting their call, at:

http://www.moveon.org/investigatethevote/

Thanks!]]> Thu, 11 Nov 2004 15:40:00 EST http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/20560 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 Iran Jails More Journalists and Blocks Web Sites http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/20483 Iran Jails More Journalists and Blocks Web Sites. I've been concerned about this issue for a few years now, in regards to China's similar actions. I think that there is a technical solution here. What we need to do is to set up a global distributed network of secure proxies, both within and outside of Iran/China. It'd work like this. Let's say that person A is within Iran/China, and B is a computer outside of Iran. When person A wants to see a web page (let's say of Amnesty International, which would surely be blocked), B would receive the web page and encrypt it, then send the encrypted version to A. Anyone listening to A's internet connection would be unable to see what web page this person is viewing. There are some important details here. First, the Chinese government could easily just block access to the proxies. Thus, we need a very large and dispersed network of proxies, which would make it impossible to block. Second, it is important that there be proxies *within* the country (China or Iran), storing cached versions of the data. This way, if the government decides to block all Internet access going outside of the country, some of the data will still be available. Third, individual users need to be instructed to turn off their browser's caching mechanism, so that it is more difficult for the government to see what they were looking at if they were to come knocking at their door. Fourth, this needs to be implemented simultaneously on tens of thousands of computers. The government would then have to choose between prosecuting everyone or letting the practice continue. Especially for China, which is becoming a global trade power, total enforcement would result in a significant blow to their economy, which would be a good deterrant.]]> Mon, 08 Nov 2004 07:00:00 EST http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/20483 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 Iran Jails More Journalists and Blocks Web Sites http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/167567 Iran Jails More Journalists and Blocks Web Sites. I've been concerned about this issue for a few years now, in regards to China's similar actions. I think that there is a technical solution here. What we need to do is to set up a global distributed network of secure proxies, both within and outside of Iran/China. It'd work like this. Let's say that person A is within Iran/China, and B is a computer outside of Iran. When person A wants to see a web page (let's say of Amnesty International, which would surely be blocked), B would receive the web page and encrypt it, then send the encrypted version to A. Anyone listening to A's internet connection would be unable to see what web page this person is viewing. There are some important details here. First, the Chinese government could easily just block access to the proxies. Thus, we need a very large and dispersed network of proxies, which would make it impossible to block. Second, it is important that there be proxies *within* the country (China or Iran), storing cached versions of the data. This way, if the government decides to block all Internet access going outside of the country, some of the data will still be available. Third, individual users need to be instructed to turn off their browser's caching mechanism, so that it is more difficult for the government to see what they were looking at if they were to come knocking at their door. Fourth, this needs to be implemented simultaneously on tens of thousands of computers. The government would then have to choose between prosecuting everyone or letting the practice continue. Especially for China, which is becoming a global trade power, total enforcement would result in a significant blow to their economy, which would be a good deterrant.]]> Mon, 08 Nov 2004 04:11:00 EST http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/167567 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 Kyoto Protocol - The Climate is Changing Now What? http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/20453


Here is some background information: Primer on the Kyoto Protocol - The Climate is Changing Now What?, and the Wikipedia listing.



Russia just finished ratifying the Protocol. The Protocol will become active 90 days after they submit the ratification to the United Nations. The United States has not ratified the protocol, and will not be subject to its . Gore came to my University last month, and stressed that global warming is the single most important issue facing the world today. So why hasn't the US signed? My first thought would have been to blame it on the Bush administration, but a bit more reading seems to show that the Senate has been the real blocker (President Clinton never submitted the treaty for ratification). President Bush said of the treaty:

"The world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases is China. Yet, China was entirely exempted from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol. This is a challenge that requires a 100 percent effort; ours, and the rest of the world's. America's unwillingness to embrace a flawed treaty should not be read by our friends and allies as any abdication of responsibility. To the contrary, my administration is committed to a leadership role on the issue of climate change. Our approach must be consistent with the long-term goal of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere."
The issue is important, and the US does need to act to "save the environment." However, I'm not sure whether the United States should ratify the agreement. The Senate wants binding targets and timetables for developing countries as well as industrialized countries. Differential treatment for developing countries may indeed be necessary. Still, China and many of the other developing countries are advancing very rapidly. If and when they become economic superpowers, should they not be subject to the same emissions quotas as today's industrialized nations? By choosing not to sign a possibly ineffective treaty, the US keeps its bargaining chips, leaving the door open for future negotiations.



--
Posted by David to David's commentary at 11/6/2004 03:09:55 AM]]> Sat, 06 Nov 2004 06:39:00 EST http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/20453 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 Kyoto Protocol - The Climate is Changing Now What? http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/167569


Here is some background information: Primer on the Kyoto Protocol - The Climate is Changing Now What?, and the Wikipedia listing.



Russia just finished ratifying the Protocol. The Protocol will become active 90 days after they submit the ratification to the United Nations. The United States has not ratified the protocol, and will not be subject to its . Gore came to my University last month, and stressed that global warming is the single most important issue facing the world today. So why hasn't the US signed? My first thought would have been to blame it on the Bush administration, but a bit more reading seems to show that the Senate has been the real blocker (President Clinton never submitted the treaty for ratification). President Bush said of the treaty:

"The world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases is China. Yet, China was entirely exempted from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol. This is a challenge that requires a 100 percent effort; ours, and the rest of the world's. America's unwillingness to embrace a flawed treaty should not be read by our friends and allies as any abdication of responsibility. To the contrary, my administration is committed to a leadership role on the issue of climate change. Our approach must be consistent with the long-term goal of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere."
The issue is important, and the US does need to act to "save the environment." However, I'm not sure whether the United States should ratify the agreement. The Senate wants binding targets and timetables for developing countries as well as industrialized countries. Differential treatment for developing countries may indeed be necessary. Still, China and many of the other developing countries are advancing very rapidly. If and when they become economic superpowers, should they not be subject to the same emissions quotas as today's industrialized nations? By choosing not to sign a possibly ineffective treaty, the US keeps its bargaining chips, leaving the door open for future negotiations.

]]> Sat, 06 Nov 2004 06:11:00 EST http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/167569 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 Democracy is a lot of work http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/20339 Wed, 20 Oct 2004 00:00:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/20339 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/167571 The New York Times > International > Middle East > How the White House Embraced Disputed Arms Intelligence



In this article, they quote a front page New York Times article, from two years ago, that gave "the first detailed account of the alumnimum tubes," yet "gave no hint of a debate over the tubes." Why doesn't this article say anything about why the New York Times article refrained from discussing the debate? I'd like to know, for example, whether the New York Times had spoken to their contacts in the Energy Department, and knew about the debate, or whether they were completely relying on the White House and CIA's skewed intelligence reports.]]> Sun, 03 Oct 2004 07:10:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/167571 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 The New York Times gt; International gt; Middle East gt;... http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183741 The New York Times > International > Middle East > How the White House Embraced Disputed Arms Intelligence



In this article, they quote a front page New York Times article, from two years ago, that gave "the first detailed account of the alumnimum tubes," yet "gave no hint of a debate over the tubes." Why doesn't this article say anything about why the New York Times article refrained from discussing the debate? I'd like to know, for example, whether the New York Times had spoken to their contacts in the Energy Department, and knew about the debate, or whether they were completely relying on the White House and CIA's skewed intelligence reports.]]> Sun, 03 Oct 2004 07:10:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183741 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 I spent the last couple of hours beginning to read... http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183743 9/11 Commission Report. While it is very sad reading, it is also extremely interesting, and I encourage everyone to take a look. I've so far read the first 50 pages, which review the circumstances surrounding the four plane hijackings, and all communication between the planes, ground control, and the military. Later in the report, historical information on Bin Ladin and terrorism in the USA is discussed. Everything is very well written.



One of the key applications of my current research on identity uncertainty is airplane tracking, and this report really highlights the deficiencies of the current radar tracking systems. In situations where an airplane's transponder is shut off (such as occurred during the highjackings), it is still possible to use radar beams to determine the approximate location (but not elevation) of these planes. However, there doesn't seem to be any integration between the two systems, and the airtraffic controllers must manually switch between the two systems. Without the transponders, how can you determine which blips correspond to which airplanes, and which blips correspond to the same airplane over the time it is being tracked? My research hopes to solve these problems, and having read this report, I have a much better understanding of its applicability - and it's urgency.]]> Thu, 30 Sep 2004 01:09:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183743 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 The face of global AIDS This was a very well-wr... http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183745 The face of global AIDS



This was a very well-written article on a very important subject. In the past I've wondered what the correct strategy to fight AIDS should be: providing funds for antiviral medicine research, vaccine research, or using all funds to promote prevention of the spread of the disease. This article made me realize, for a second time, the importance of stopping the circle of death. By keeping mothers with HIV alive and healthy longer, perhaps they will be able to influence (and care for) their children enough to prevent their children from falling into the same trap they had.]]> Sat, 25 Sep 2004 08:09:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183745 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 I just tried out eMusic.com. A word of warning for... http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183747 eMusic.com. A word of warning for future users: it doesn't have a large selection of popular music. I searched for Avril Lavigne and for Black Eyed Peas, and it had neither. I didn't lose much though, as it was a free trial.]]> Thu, 23 Sep 2004 04:09:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183747 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 The streets of Berkeley http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/18605
We were at first pretty shy, and we just asked a couple of interesting looking kids on the street if we could take a picture of them. We said that we were doing a chronicle of Berkeley street life. They were wearing black, gothic looking clothes, with cut pants and a nose ring... they had their packs with them and were clearly living on the street. Later on, when we walked a block to take a picture two girls sitting on the street, with a sign saying "Out of work Pornstars," the guys came back and we chatted for a bit. They were from North Carolina and had just been traveling around for a while, and ended up in Berkeley. I asked them where they sleep, and they said in shrubs and other locations where the police don't bug them. Not staying much longer, we moved on and walked down the street until we reached a group of 3 people. One black man who was in his mid 30's, very well dressed, and clearly very intelligent, another younger guy, who was stoned and didn't speak much, and an older hispanic guy who was quite drunk and spent 20 minutes trying to tell me his life's philosophy (but not very successfully), and trying to tell me where he grew up in NYC and New Jersey. These guys definitely didn't want their picture taken, but they were interesting to talk to. They didn't accept our change, making a joke of it by passing it around among themselves until it reached back to us... they said that there were more needy people. The drunk dude told me that he was only half-homeless, that he has an uncle whose place he can go to. And the guy who was well dressed has had a job in the area, and he seemed to just around to smoke some pot. We spoke politics for a while, specifically about illegal immigrants coming from Mexico, and whether their children should have education provided by the state. The general consensus was yes, because they are working and contributing to the US economy. It took a while to peel away from these guys, because the drunk dude kept on trying to put his arm around my shoulder and talk nonsense to me.

We continued walking down the street until we met a young (I would guess mid 20's) kid named Justin, who was dressed in some interesting clothes, and was happy to allow us to take pictures of him. Justin has been living in Berkeley for six weeks now. He is from Mississippi, and chose to come to the city of Berkeley because of the University and the intellectual atmosphere. We chatted for over an hour, about a range of topics: from how to feed the world's population with 250 greenhouses to the five basic needs of humans (according to him, health, food, shelter, communications, and transportation). He's held a variety of jobs - web designer, graphics designer, dish washer, and 6 others. Apparently his decision to come to Berkeley and live on the streets was part of a desire to "rough it out," envisioned during an episode with Mushrooms (drugs). He was an extremely intelligent person... We learned a lot from him about street life in Berkeley. He said that he sleeps with two other people, most nights in shelters at local churches. He said that *no one* in Berkeley, unless they're very dumb, goes hungry. A homeless person could be hiding in the most remote location, and some local Berkeley resident will find him to give him food and/or money. Everyone on the streets seemed to know each other's names. They have a strong sense of camraderie. While I was talking to Justin, another (much more disheveled looking) homeless guy walks up and hands 3 small (new) tubes of toothpaste to Justin. He doesn't ask for anything in return. Then he says that he'll be back in 15 minutes, and returns carrying a blanket, sweater, and a very old-looking Indian shirt (corta). The sweater ended up getting passed on to another guy sitting on a skateboard next to Justin. I was astounded to see so much sharing! Justin told me that Berkeley shop owners, knowing that their trash cans are sifted through, leave items that are good either towards the top of the trash, or right next to it.

I learned so much. For example, these guys are perfectly welcome on the streets, so long as they stand to the side (there is actually a clear separation between the sidewalk and the location where they are allowed to loiter). However, they're not supposed to lie down, and he was telling us about a nearby shop owner who has recently been calling the cops because of one guy who, far away, was innocently resting his legs. Apparently these homeless guys keep a good repetoire with the Berkeley police. They want to keep the streets safe just as much as the police do, and they do what they can to keep them safe. Most of these guys smoke pot and do some other drugs, but the Berkeley police don't seem to really care. I mean, in past times I've seen homeless people with signs saying "please give me money to feed my pot addiction". Safety is a bit of a concern though, and Justin had slept his first couple weeks with a weapon in his hand. He said it is safer because he has two other persons that he regularly sleeps with at night.

Ok, that's all for tonight. I'm waiting for Jonathan to write up his observations; maybe I'll edit mine later. I walked home around 12am at night, but then since it was such a nice night I decided to go walking through campus... so until about 1am I was strolling through the Berkeley campus by myself (it is pretty safe, there are cops driving by very frequently), taking pictures and reading a book.]]> Fri, 06 Aug 2004 05:10:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/18605 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 Fahrenheit 9/11 http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/18016 Sun, 11 Jul 2004 08:39:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/18016 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 United Press International: Senate: Iraq intellige... http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183749 United Press International: Senate: Iraq intelligence was faulty



I remember walking along the beach in Santa Barbara with my dad, talking about how much of a threat Iraq was - before the war. I claimed that I hadn't heard enough evidence to warrent war, and he thought that the risk of WMD was sufficient. I wish that my senators had asked more questions, done more research!]]> Sat, 10 Jul 2004 05:07:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183749 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 How long till everyone is a TIG'er? http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/16576 Sun, 16 May 2004 05:05:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/16576 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 Bridge to Baghdad http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/12105 Sun, 16 Nov 2003 02:27:00 EST http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/12105 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 Google lt;-- Where I've been working! http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183751 Google <-- Where I've been working!]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2003 12:08:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183751 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 I'm in NJ now. Need to spend the first week finish... http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183753 Sun, 10 Aug 2003 11:08:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/183753 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111 I'm horrified http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/872 Tue, 11 Sep 2001 19:43:00 EDT http://dsontag.tigblog.org/post/872 42.3750000 -71.106111142.3750000-71.1061111