Interesting debate: geoengineering and ecological systems thinking

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "David P. Reed" <dpreed () reed com>
Date: July 9, 2010 10:02:55 AM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Interesting debate: geoengineering and ecological systems thinking

Dave - I recommend to you (and your readers) the following very interesting pair of podcast speakers, because it 
highlights a truly scientific and engineering challenge beyond "denialism" and "free market/economism" in the climate 
change issue:

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/8/gwynne_dyer_on_climate_wars_the
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/8/a_debate_on_geoengineering_vandana_shiva

The deep question to me is one of engineering values: large-scale narrowly targeted "big engineering" as opposed to 
large-scale broadly thought through programs - when the systems being explored are complex and very poorly understood.

Appeals to elites and powerful policy "moves" are in the air.  Can regulating BP save us?  Who is "us"?  What does it 
mean to be saved?  Are policy wonks the answer?


On 07/09/2010 01:40 AM, Dave Farber wrote:
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> > From: Bob Rosenberg <bob.redmountain () gmail com>
> > Date: July 9, 2010 12:55:25 AM EDT
> > To: "Farber, Dave" <dave () farber net>, "Weinstein, Lauren" <lauren () vortex com>
> > Subject: CNet: Report: NSA initiating program to detect cyberattacks
> >
> > Dave & Lauren
> >
> > Have you seen this?  
> >
> > Bob
> >
> >
> > July 8, 2010 7:06 AM PDT
> > Report: NSA initiating program to detect cyberattacks
> >
> > by Lance Whitney
> >
> >       
> > The National Security Agency is reportedly launching a program to monitor for cyberattacks against government 
> > agencies and private companies responsible for key services such as electricity, nuclear power, and transportation, 
> > according to a story in Thursday's Wall Street Journal.
> >
> > The program, known as "Perfect Citizen," is already triggering mixed reactions, says the Journal. Some in industry 
> > and government see it as an attempt by the NSA to intrude into domestic matters, while others believe it's a 
> > much-needed step in fighting the threat of cyberattacks.
> >
> > Perfect Citizen would establish a series of sensors across various computer networks that would sound an alarm in 
> > the event of a possible cyberattack. The sensors would be deployed at agencies and private companies that handle the 
> > nation's most critical infrastructure, including the electrical grid, nuclear power plants, subway systems, and 
> > air-traffic control networks.
> >
> > The program would reportedly focus on older computer systems and networks that were initially designed without 
> > Internet access or any real security in place but have since been linked to the Internet, leaving them open and 
> > vulnerable. Since it can't force private companies to accept Perfect Citizen, the government would dangle various 
> > incentives to get them to tie into the new system, according to the Journal.
> >
> > In spite of privacy concerns, many businesses might find the extra protection valuable, as in the case of Google, 
> > which enlisted the aid of the NSA last year to help investigate the cyberattacks launched from China. Reportedly, 
> > Google and the NSA chatted earlier this year about a more formal partnership to thwart future cyberattacks.
> >
> > Officials in Washington and executives in the private sector have increasingly expressed fears that major 
> > cyberattacks launched against the country's critical infrastructure could seriously harm the government and economy. 
> > U.S. intelligence experts have already been monitoring attempts to hack into the electric grid and other key 
> > services, which they believe stem from China and Russia, the Journal reported.
> >
> > The new program is getting funding from the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative. This multibillion 
> > initiative hinted at the Perfect Citizen project with plans by the NSA to expand its surveillance into the private 
> > sector through a network monitoring system named Einstein. Defense company Raytheon has already scored a contract 
> > worth up to $100 million for the initial stage of the project, the Journal said, citing a person familiar with the 
> > project.
> >
> > Since Perfect Citizen is still in its infancy, key questions will need to be addressed, including which network 
> > systems will be monitored and how information will be gathered. The NSA would probably kick off the project with the 
> > most critical services, such as electricity, nuclear power, and air traffic control systems, said the Journal.
> >
> > Lance Whitney wears a few different technology hats--journalist, Web developer, and software trainer. He's a 
> > contributing editor for Microsoft TechNet Magazine and writes for other computer publications and Web sites. You can 
> > follow Lance on Twitter at @lancewhit. Lance is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and he is not an employee of CNET.
> Archives      




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