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Echo Chamber Project: Interviews at OSS '06

Praise for this effort

Submitted by Robert David Steele (not verified) on Sat, 2006-03-11 18:48.

I have never, in 18 years of OSINT advocacy, seen a more professional and intelligent endeavor to understand and report on what we are trying to do. This is absolutely world-class, and my admiration is unbounded. This creative individual has a lifetime free pass to our conferences. His technical, legal, and people skills are of the highest order.

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Kent's photo links to the ten video interviews he did at OSS '06, the last conference before it was stolen and consequently destroyed by an individual that broke his promise (one of several) and is fortuitously no longer responsible for anything of significance. All of the interviews are recommended, but then Congressman Simmons, now running for Senator in place of Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticutt, is especially noteworthy. No one in government has, in the twenty one years we have been fighting this fight, gotten a better grip not just on the idea of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) as a separate discipline, but on OSINT as a means of revitalizing American education, improving decision-support to every Congressional jurisdiction (most get NOTHING from the secret intelligence world), and helping the President and the Cabinet Secretaries manage Whole of Govenrment Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Operational Campaigns.

Among those interviewed that we hold in very high esteem are Michael Andregg, Carolyn Stewart, Mats Bjore, Ralph Peters, Robert Young Pelton, Stephen E. Arnold, and Peter Morville. There is also an interview with Robert Steele, who is not tagged within this website.

Below is a direct link to Kent Bye and a collage of clips from each of the people he interviewed. We consider this the single best most brilliant piece of citizen journalism on the concept of OSINT.

Below are the currently available links for audio only for all those interviewed:

Michael Andregg on Secrecy and Insanity

Stephen E Arnold on Technology

Mats Bjore on Globalization

Peter Morville on Ambient Findability

Robert Young Pelton on Hearing all Sides

Ralph Peters on Wars of Blood and Faith

Rob Simmons on the Big Picture for America

Robert Steele on Washington Running on 2%

Carolyn Stewart on Information Operations

Below links directly to the Simmons interview, use the photograph link above to select any of the others. NOTE: the video portion appears to have been disabled for all of them, you get audio only right now, we are working on this with Kent, it is vastly better to see these individuals in full multi-media form.

2007/01/022009/12/04

Review: Blue Frontier–Dispatches from America’s Ocean Wilderness

5 Star, Capitalism (Good & Bad), Economics, Environment (Problems), Environment (Solutions), Information Society, Intelligence (Government/Secret), Intelligence (Public), Survival & Sustainment, True Cost & Toxicity, Values, Ethics, Sustainable Evolution, Water, Energy, Oil, Scarcity

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Extremely Important Work,–Tsunami of Data NOT Reaching Public,

January 2, 2007

David Helvarg

There is so much solid, worthwhile information in this book, including valuable insights in why Western political interests are undermining proper representation of our national oceans, coasts, and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in Congress, that I would urge those interested in the oceans (hugely more important to our future than the Amazon or globla forestry, just to make the point), to buy this book, suffer its limitations, and ultimately benefit from the wisdom and experience of the author, for whom my respect is unqualified and whole-hearted. In passing, it would probably be helpful if the first thing we all demanded was that EEZ stand for Exclusive Environmental Zone, rather than treating the oceans as a for-profit target area.

There is one other information-related observation I would make that emerged from reading this book: both the United Nations and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are clearly doing heroic and deeply important work vital to the future of the oceans–and they are doing a terrible job of communicating the basic information about the oceans and their work to the larger world of voters and concerned citizens. What really came home to me as I reflected on what to emphasize in this review is that there is a very wide, almost impenetratable, barrier between what the UN and NOAA know, and what is being communicated to the citizens who have the right to know (they paid for that information with their tax dollars) and the need to know and the desire to know. From this I would say that the next big step for those who would seek to save the oceans, is to demand that all UN and US Government information paid for by the taxpayer be put online henceforth, available at no further cost to the public. It is this information, the bullets and beans of the information war between corporate and citizen interests, that will decide the future of the oceans.

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2007/01/022009/12/04

Review: Big-Box Swindle–The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses

5 Star, Capitalism (Good & Bad), Economics, Misinformation & Propaganda, Peace, Poverty, & Middle Class, Power (Pathologies & Utilization), Truth & Reconciliation

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Author has created a meme, essential part of a bigger picture,

January 2, 2007

Stacy Mitchell

The author of this book has gone way past good authorship–the business reporting in this book has achieved meme status and “Big Box Swindle” is now a term that leads to all sorts of interesting findings when one searches the web and the literature.

I recommend the other book listed above as part of the literature on “True Cost,” a meme that is resonating with the public much more than is “inconvenient truth.” True cost covers water (4000 liters in a T-Shirt), fuel (hundreds of gallons to move Wal-Wart toys from China), sweatshop and child labor (Wal Mart again), and tax avoidance as well as convictions for breaking various laws.

Although they do not appear in the list above, I recommend the varied books on Wal-Mart, especially the one focusing on the high cost of low price.

This author and the literature surrounding this author will shortly be matched by a point of sale ability for buyers to photograph any bar code, send it to Amazon or other sources, and get back the “True Cost” as well as comparable prices and alternative purchase suggestions.

This book could represent a turning point in the public mind, and is therefore of considerable importance to how we choose to react to its findings so that our children and grandchildren are not swindled–however, and the author would among the first to agree, it is not enough that we eradicate these unethical companies; we must also educate our future generations so that they do not lose sight of the “True Cost” of the “Big Box Swindle.”

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2006/12/312013/03/17

2006 Water Centers of Excellence

12 Water

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Water

EIN Starting Points [Use Table Sort Function for Alpha Sort]	Rank
World Water CouncilWWC was established in 1996 in response to increasing concern from the global community about world water issues. Its mission is to promote awareness, build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levels, including the highest decision-making level, to facilitate the efficient management and use of water in all its dimensions and on an environmentally sustainable basis.	1
Worldwater.orgWorld Water is a site dedicated to providing water information, data, and resources to individuals, organizations, and institutions working on solutions to a wide range of global freshwater problems. Site includes water data, water conflict chronology and bibliography, and links to other resources.	2
WaterAid UKWaterAid is an international charity dedicated to helping people escape the stranglehold of poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation. Founded by the UK water industry in 1981, WaterAid developed into a leading water and sanitation charity. Includes links to several other WaterAid sites, including The Right to Water, the International Site and several fund raising pages.	3
UNESCO Water Portal The site provides links to the current UNESCO and UNESCO-led programmes on freshwater and will serve as an interactive point for sharing, browsing and searching websites of water-related organizations, government bodies and NGOs, including a range of categories such as water links, water events, learning modules and other on-line resources.	4
The Water PageThe Water Page is an independent initiative dedicated to the promotion of sustainable water resources management and use. A particular emphasis is placed on the development, utilization and protection of water in Africa and other developing regions. Site features disasters, water in religion, groundwater, rivers and regions and water policy and law.	5
Water ConserveWater Conserve is a Water Conservation Portal dedicated to protecting and conserving drinking water and ecosystems worldwide – with a genuine Internet water search engine, constant water news and link tracking, and biocentric commentary.	6
International Water Management InstituteIWMI is nonprofit scientific research organization focusing on the sustainable use of water and land resources in agriculture and on the water needs of developing countries. The objectives are to identify the larger issues related to water management and food security; develop, test and promote management practices and tools; clarify the link between poverty and access to water; and to help developing countries build their research capacities.	7
International Desalination Association IDA is committed to the development and promotion of the appropriate use of desalination and desalination technology world-wide by encouraging research and development, exchanging, promoting communication and disseminating information. The IDA publishes periodicals and related information on the desalination and water reuse industry. IDA also sponsors several specialized seminars and workshops in different regions of the world during the year and holds Congresses every two years.	8
WHO – Water, Sanitation and HealthWHO works on aspects of water, sanitation and hygiene where the health burden is high, where interventions could make a major difference and where the present state of knowledge is poor: Drinking-water quality; Bathing waters; Water resources; Water supply and sanitation monitoring; Water, sanitation and hygiene development; Wastewater use; Water-related disease; Healthcare waste ; Emerging issues in water and infectious disease.	9
Global Policy Forum – Water In ConflictAs demand for water hits the limits of finite supply, potential conflicts are brewing between nations that share trans-boundary freshwater reserves. More than 50 countries on five continents might soon be caught up in water disputes unless they move quickly to establish agreements on how to share reservoirs, rivers, and underground water aquifers. The articles and analysis featured on the site examine international water disputes, civil disturbances caused by water shortages, and potential regulatory solutions to diffuse water conflict.	10
U.S. Geological Survey – Water Resources of the U.S.The Water Resources’ mission is to provide reliable, impartial, timely information that is needed to understand the Nation’s water resources. WRD actively promotes the use of this information by decision makers to; minimize the loss of life and property as a result of water-related natural hazards, such as floods, droughts, and land movement; effectively manage ground-water and surface-water resources for domestic, agricultural, commercial, industrial, recreational, and ecological uses;. Protect and enhance water resources for human health, aquatic health, and environmental quality. and contribute to wise physical and economic development of the Nation’s resources for the benefit of present and future generations.	11
U.S. Water NewsIn addition to a great deal of advertising, there are regularly updated water-related news reports and an extensive archives section with stories on water supply, policy/legislation, conservation, water quality, litigation/water rights, and global waterfront.	12
Middle East Desalination Research CenterThe mission of the MEDRC is to conduct, facilitate, promote, co-ordinate and support basic and applied research in water desalination technology and supporting fields, and to raise the standard of living in the Middle East and elsewhere by cost reduction and quality improvement in the technical processes of water desalination.	13
International Water Law ProjectBased at Texas Tech University School of Law, the IWLP website was created to provide pertinent information on international water law and policy and related topics. Specifically, it offers treaties, articles, news stories, case law, Internet links, and other relevant information. Many of the materials, such as treaties and articles, are offered in full text.	14
Centre for Ground Water StudiesThe Centre for Groundwater Studies is a joint venture in Australia for groundwater research, education and training. Site includes research and education information, links and publications.	15

2006/12/312009/12/04

Review: Peacekeeping Intelligence New Players, Extended Boundaries

3 Star, Intelligence (Government/Secret), Intelligence (Public), United Nations & NGOs

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Adequate Content, Disgusting Pricing,

December 31, 2006

David Carment

I am a publisher, author, and intelligence professional. I was a speaker at the conference from which most of this material is derived.

I wish to respectfully inform all prospective buyers that a book like this, in lots of 2,500, costs a US penny a page to produce. I could produce this book for $34.95, with Amazon paying me $15.75, which after cost of printing and graphics would leave me with a $10 profit.

I am–to put it mildly–outraged at the disgraceful overpricing that the publishers are attaching to this book. This kind of over-pricing urges the violation of copyright and the posting of a pirated copy of this book to the web.

I earnestly hope that Amazon will get into the business of direct publishing to Kinko's and localized delivery by Federal Express, and put such dishonorable publishers completely out of business.

SHAME!

Free peace intelligence at Earth Intelligence Network.

All OSS books, including Peacekeeping Intelligence: Emerging Concepts for the Future are free online at OSS.Net, or reasonably prices on Amazon. We are opening a new edited book on Peace Intelligence (Col Jan-Inge Svensson, SE Ret) as editor and inviting contributions from authors who are not happy having their work buried by publisher greed.

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2006/12/312013/04/04

2006 Stephen E. Arnold (US) Google and Sharing Across Boundaries

Historic Contributions, Technologies, Tools

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Stephen E. Arnold has been the virtual Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the global multinational open source information grid, and remains the “top gun” for seeing the future of non-state civil society information technologies.

PLATINUM LIFETIME AWARD, Mr. Stephen E. Arnold

For his constant demonstration of the utility of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) in the understanding of social networks, emerging technologies, and cultural realities. As a world-renowned authority on information and communications, with a deep understanding of the public policy value of open source information, he has made himself available around the world, and had much more influence than most realize. His publication of the book, “The Google Legacy,” is a mere milestone in one of the most distinguished information careers in the world

Frog Left gets you to his online book for sale, really an intense analysis of Google patents, most not visible to normal researchers, entitled Google 2.0: The Calculating Predatory. Frog Right gets you to our review of Arnold contribution, which was also send to four Ambassadors and eight CEOs with the most to gain or lose from understanding the totality of the Google supranational strategy.