Nuclear fusion --- Regarding nuclear development, I believe that it is worth carrying out research on nuclear fusion as a technology that could eventually provide sustainable energy.

Source author: Carlos Arturo Garcia Bonilla carlos.garcia@cancilleria.gov.co

nuclear fusion --- Nuclear fusion can solve the need of human to energy. It is like making a sun on the earth. It is safe, clean and everlasting energy. It is much safer than nuclear fission used in reactors.

Source author: Encieh Erfani encieherfani@gmail.com

Land-locked countries --- Land-locked countries are countries without litoral which means direct they don't have access to the sea and its resources

Source author: Carlos Arturo Garcia Bonilla carlos.garcia@cancilleria.gov.co

Why? --- Whay do you consider it is not affordable? I have an example of the opposite. My parents farm works on solar energy just because it's cheaper than installing a connection to the main network. This is in a rural and very poor zone in Colombia so I don't know if is not the same in another contexts

Source author: Carlos Arturo Garcia Bonilla carlos.garcia@cancilleria.gov.co

collaboration --- governments, private sector. stakeholders

Source author: Encieh Erfani encieherfani@gmail.com

or decades, as might be the case? --- Seems like a typo...

Source author: Vid Nukala Vid.Nukala@gmail.com

distribution of energy --- Even the renewable energy is not distributed equally, e.g. in some countries one can not even use solar energy as an economical energy. So it is not clear how countries will help these countries to access the sustainable, affordable energy.

Source author: Encieh Erfani encieherfani@gmail.com

Coal & Gaz --- As COP26 did not make a clear statement on stopping those energy sources, the SDG goals on the mix of sources will hardly be met. I feel concerned that this last minute change in the final text comes from two of the most powerful economic regions of the world, China and India... with extremely harmful health related consequences for their own population too...

Source author: Patrick Furrer Patrick.furrer@smartfree.ch

? --- What does this mean?

Source author: Encieh Erfani encieherfani@gmail.com

properties are in conflict --- These properties are in conflict of each other ;e.g. solar energy is sustainable and modern but it is not affordable

Source author: Encieh Erfani encieherfani@gmail.com

Involved actors --- Although the government is one of the main actors in the achievement of MDG 7, the private sector as well as the beneficiary populations are also very important actors, as they are consumers of energy

Source author: Désiré NEBOUA dneboua@yahoo.fr

SDG 9? --- Transportation is related to SDG9 (not 8 as mentionned): the quality of trade and transport related infrastructure, e.g. ports, roads, railroads and information technology

Source author: Désiré NEBOUA dneboua@yahoo.fr

Do targets have country specific applications? --- On the point of metrics, are they specific to countries? Like target 7.3, double the global rate in energy efficiency. What is the global rate? I imagine different countries have different energy requirements and capacities. In defining metrics and standards therefore, we would need to look at each country. Who, on an earlier HT point of liable authorities, would be responsible to determine the global and national rate? Is this where the scientific input would be required?

Source author: Kiconco Patricia kictricia@gmail.com

Measurement of Transparency --- How to measure transparency without any measurement?

Source author: YingChu Chen jungheng@gmail.com

Use of clean energy technologies --- Following up on where is the application of science in these collaborations I think we can see it is the safe and successful use of clean energy technologies.

Source author: Petal Punalall Jetoo pjetoo@gmail.com

Everyone - Governments, Private Sector, Citizens --- Everyone can be considered as key actors in creating or contributing to the challenges and solutions in response to SDG 7. Governments engage in drafting and implementing policies and strategies that embrace clean energy as in the case study of India with the use of solar powered pumps. The farmers are key stakeholders and their ability and willingness to cooperate with the transition is vital. Botswana engaged municipalities and Mexico the Private sector.

Source author: Petal Punalall Jetoo pjetoo@gmail.com

Information vs Knowledge - SDG 4 --- SDG 4 is crucial in transforming information to knowledge. It is when information is successfully processed that knowledge is created that generates changes. Quality education is emphasised in SDG 4 and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) embodies transformative learning over the traditional transmissive modes. The UN ESD Pillars of 1) learning to know, 2) learning to do 3) learning to be and 4) learning to transform oneself and one's society are essential for change management

Source author: Petal Punalall Jetoo pjetoo@gmail.com

Great Example for LAC --- This case study from Mexico demonstrates that there is power in partnerships and willingness to change. It is a good example that shows a balance between the inertia to change and the benefits of change. Bridging government policy and commitment with the private sector clearly depicts how public-private partnerships can support the SDGs.

This example can certainly be transferred to LAC. A similar call from the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission in Guyana two days ago to invest in hydropower by harnessing the Amaila Falls - https://www.caribbeantrakker.com/amaila-falls-project-big-boom-to-the-private-sector/

Source author: Petal Punalall Jetoo pjetoo@gmail.com

A Caribbean Example - Net Zero Energy Building --- SDGs 7 and 13 linkages is demonstrated in the design of the Net Zero Energy building located at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus Jamaica. It also demonstrates linkages to SDGs 9, 11 and 12 This video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEt2zQSDJNI - shares some information on this building

Source author: Petal Punalall Jetoo pjetoo@gmail.com

LoL!:) --- Thanks for sharing this clip Mamta, it made me laugh...especially the 'a few hiccups along the way'!:) It just shows how ready and willing we are to justify our beliefs even when confronted with undeniable facts to the contrary....

Source author: Andrej Skrinjaric andrejs@diplomacy.edu

If that were the case... --- ...I guess the 'fellowship of the Ring" characters would never leave their homes and would simply trash talk the 'dark forces' via SMs.:)

Source author: Andrej Skrinjaric andrejs@diplomacy.edu

Good question Marie! --- I can't think of any such study, but if you come across something online, please share the link with us!

Source author: Andrej Skrinjaric andrejs@diplomacy.edu

More often than not MacOswald... --- ...just think of the images of migrants stuck in no-mans-land between Belarus and Poland. Their plight is shamelessly (ab)used by both sides to make their point in a tug of war that has absolutely nothing to do with the migrants themselves.:(

Source author: Andrej Skrinjaric andrejs@diplomacy.edu

so... --- ...associative it is!:)

Source author: Andrej Skrinjaric andrejs@diplomacy.edu

Double-edged sword --- As powerful this technique may be, it's also very risky as the listener can just as likely conclude something completely different from what the speaker had in mind (as a matter of fact, this the basic definition of misunderstanding).

So, to be sure you'll achieve the desired outcome, you should not only leave gaps but also influence the inference by prepping the listener through connotations, metaphors, examples, etc.

Source author: Andrej Skrinjaric andrejs@diplomacy.edu

@Bi: coercion through language in the socialist system --- Thanks for the suggestion! I will read it, although I might say, in all modesty, that I have some knowledge of my own in that particular respect. :)

Source author: Petru Dumitriu PetruD@diplomacy.edu

@Bi: WMD related activities --- Yes, you are right. "Related activities" means that one does not have the weapons but some of the work is doing might lead to the acquisition of such weapons. There is an ambiguity in that sort of formulation. The "related activities" might be real intelligence, proving an intention, but they also could be just coincidence.

For example, in the case of Iran, "related activities" aim, according to the Iranian government, to the development of nuclear energy capacity. Israel and United States claim that such activities are a step forward in producing nuclear weapons.

Or, in simpler terms, if I go to the Los Angeles Car Show 2021, I take photos with the newest model of Porsche 911, study the engine, take note, ask the price, and exchange cards with the half naked young lady that escorts the car, these are clearly Porsche acquisitions related activities, in the eyes of my envious neighbour! In reality, I have no intention whatsoever to buy a Porsche 911 latest generation, because simply I cannot afford it!

Source author: Petru Dumitriu PetruD@diplomacy.edu

Tolkien's Views on Social Media --- For me, it is not hyperbole to say that one who enters the world of Middle Earth, created from the imagination of JRR Tolkien, inevitably leaves it irrevocably changed.

The internet and social media emerged after Tolkien. He passed in 1973. January 1, 1983 is considered the official birthday of the Internet. The largest social media platform is Facebook, not launched until February 2004.

What might Tolkien have thought about its influence? An impression may be formed from his opinion of the father of fantasy films, Walt Disney. Tolkien didn’t think much of Walt or his creations.

He wrote about his feelings in a number of letters, calling Disney “hopelessly corrupted” and the overall effect of his work “disgusting”. He wrote, “Some of his movies have given me nausea.” Tolkien was determined never to let Disney touch The Lord of the Rings.

Tolkien would have thought Netflix and social media generally to have been made in Mordor, this was the realm and base of Sauron, the evil protagonist in Tolkien’s novels.

Source author: John D. Hipsley jhipsley@igc.org

not (A), it is (B) --- This is such an effective way to drive the point home.

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

Tim Sebastian (TS) and Josep Barrell (JB) --- Whilst TS is using logos and ethos JB is using logical fallacies to make his argument particulary ad hominem and the tu quoque fallacy (personal attacks, "You don't know anything you are talking about" and diverting blame, "the other european countries are doing the same"

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

As was mentioned in my last entry --- where "victims" were called "rioters." The media ran with it as in the case of "rebels" versus "rioters." in the Arab Spring...different circumstances, but changed connotations...or "manipulated" connotations.

Source author: Marie Betts-Johnson mbj@ipicalifornia.com

Murder Trial --- There's a murder trial going on in the US at the moment where, during a riot last year, a young man, in self-defense, killed two men who were attacking him. Normally, the people who were killed would be called "Victims." In this case, the Judge ruled that they be called "Rioters." Significant distinction for the Jury.

Source author: Marie Betts-Johnson mbj@ipicalifornia.com

X versus Y --- So well done. Such an eloquent speech!

Source author: Marie Betts-Johnson mbj@ipicalifornia.com

On a personal level --- I love to tell stories in my seminars...can't help it, I'm Irish...gift of the gab! I believe, in one of Roger Axtell's books on speaking, he says that if the audience are walking down the hall after your presentation and they're discussing the story you related, it was a good speech! I agree wholeheartedly...that's probably the "invested" trait in me! Facts couched in stories are so much more interesting...at least for "invested" people!!!

Source author: Marie Betts-Johnson mbj@ipicalifornia.com

Bankers are wolves in sheep's clothing --- I agree with MacOswald that this is a good technique. However, it may not always achieve the desired result as we are allowing each individual listener to conjure up the image based on their individual filters. Some may see it as a positive if they associate wolves with strength, monogamy and an ethos of family and can be interpreted as Bankers as being modest by being in sheep's clothing. Just another school of thought.

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

Soft persuasion --- migh also be termed public diplomacy...we are being persuaded without even knowing it!

Source author: Marie Betts-Johnson mbj@ipicalifornia.com

Stepping on Toes --- I agree with MacOswald that this is a good technique. However, it may not always achieve the desired result as we are allowing each individual listener to conjure up the image based on their individual filters. Some may see it as a positive if they associate wolves with strength, monogamy and an ethos of family and can be interpreted as Bankers as being modest by being in sheep's clothing. Just another school of thought.

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

Examples of Ethos --- in my opinion include: Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Princess Diana, Mother Theresa. What do they have in common? They told the truth and were universally trusted.

Source author: Marie Betts-Johnson mbj@ipicalifornia.com

Yes Blanca, --- I believe culture in particular plays a role in the delivery of reasoned arguments. For example, a person from the West might present resoned arguments in logical order considering it their professional duty to do so and demand a counter argument...as if they were playing tennis - winners and losers. People from East Asia may divert or avoid the argument entirely as most issues are hashed out behind the closed doors, middle men (or women) are used as go-betweens in smoothing out the rough edges and ensuring there's not a breakdown in the relationship. In the Middle East, they may regale you with stories and one has to decipher what the actual message is.<br /> Going back to the exercise a few weeks ago where we went to our detached, invested and associative rooms - personality traits further affect how we present our arguments. In essence, it is a combination of cultures, personalities, values and much more! An afterthought: are there any studies in the effectiveness of reasoned arguments on Zoom?

Source author: Marie Betts-Johnson mbj@ipicalifornia.com

Logical fallacies on display with the trump administration --- This administration survived on logical fallacies; both formal and informal. From ad hominem, to strawmen argument to appeal to ignorance, and more. I would say their slogan, "Make America Great Again" itself was a false dilemma as illustrated in this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CBbqLSaxDg

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

Context rules, OK! --- Agreed, context is essential in determining connotations

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Bravo! --- Your visual reminds me of an Advent calendar in which each new illustration triggers delight and surprise! I love the story-capsule and drawbridge especially! The typecasting and redress are very funny too. All the illustrations are effective, thank you!

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Clarification sought --- Please tell me more and provide an example as I am uncertain what you have in mind when you say 'this meaning' and 'its meaning'

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Good question! --- Soft connotes weakness in nearly all languages, so much so that the term 'soft power' makes little sense in those languages where it does not carry positive connotations. So yes, soft power can indeed be equated with weakness and one has to argue, as Joseph Nye did, in favour of the pulling power of attraction, role models, aspirations, lifestyles etc... in order to demonstrate its power.

Gandhi also advocated what we now call soft power. 'Turning the other cheek' is also a form of soft power I would guess, though many would see it as meekness.

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

The loophole in control --- An interesting application of Classical rhetorical categories to Tolkien's novels, thanks for the visuals!

I wonder what Tolkien would have made of our social-media driven world?

To what extent do they who control the media control our minds? How can we safeguard ourselves against this kind of control?

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

connotation --- This meaning is most related to culture, psychology and emotions, which link its meaning to the word.

Source author: Maryam Almheiri jody_06@hotmail.com

Denotation and connotation --- The direct lexical meaning, and the indirect meaning, and its often determined by the context and intent of the speaker.

Source author: Maryam Almheiri jody_06@hotmail.com

SOFT --- Could it be a weakness if it didn't come with logical arguments?

Source author: Maryam Almheiri jody_06@hotmail.com

A wash out? --- I am curious not about the meaning of WMD but of 'WMD programme related activities' where each of those subsequent words 'programme related activities' seems to dilute the referent into something washed clean of specific meaning.

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Language change over time --- Interesting pair of terms, thanks for this example! Yes, I would say that in the context which you describe, these two terms refer to the same type of activity/person but attribute slightly different qualities to each. Blasphemy and apostasy would also occupy the same semantic field.

I note that the etymology of 'heresy' derives from the Greek verb for choice / to choose. This is a further example of how meaning changes through connotations and eventually acquires a different referent over time (choice > choice of beliefs > choice of non-standard beliefs > opposing beliefs > treachery to God).

Sorcery today does not have the same meaning as the one you discuss, so it has changed over time too.

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

An allusion rather than a quote --- My guess is that 'toil' is a difficult word to remember as it has no obvious cognates (it comes from Latin 'tudicula' machine for crushing olives and by extension, to stir up), so Pons is alluding to Churchill's speech here rather than quoting it directly. Also, the tricolon is easier to remember and trips off the tongue more readily than Churchill's original. I'm definitely OK with EGP's version, but can see why it might prove irksome ('irk' = 'annoyed' from Old Norse yrkja ‘to work’

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

I must have set you up... --- .... to fill the blanks and take ownership of this idea - how scary am I?!

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Plausible deniability --- Very true, ambiguity afford us plausible deniability. We will be revisiting ambiguity in week 7.

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

The devil is in the detail and reversals --- The familiar expression is 'wolves in sheep's clothing' but here, in this variant, the wolves are dressed as shepherds - pretending to guide us while leading us into a trap. A shepherd, moreover, is very symbolic in the Christian tradition, adding further layers of meaning.

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Intersecting categories --- Very useful link to a previous lecture, thanks Oswald. Courtesy can also be seen as part of a person's ethos, as well as their appeal to pathos and fellow-feeling. This is a good example of how these three categories are not watertight but intersect.

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

paired terms charged with meaning --- We should not go so far East to find examples. "The English Channel" on the British Maps is "La Manche" on the French ones. What I am about to do when I have to write my reports about fishing incidents, in Romanian?

What about the "Persian Gulf" vs. the "Arabian Gulf". Are these nice connotation good to make a war for?

Source author: Petru Dumitriu PetruD@diplomacy.edu

Weapons of mass destruction: denotation --- I tend to disagree. Weapons of mass destruction is a term that designate very clearly specific categories of weapons: nuclear, chemical, radiologic and biological.

It is true that there is no international treaty that consecrates a definition of weapons of mass destructions but in politics, in diplomacy and in the military people know what "weapons of mass destruction" means. The big manipulators in the Iraq case did not play with connotations, they simply lied.

Source author: Petru Dumitriu PetruD@diplomacy.edu

Heresy and sorcery. Denotation and Connotation? --- Heresy (denotation) was a good reason for the Church to torture and condemn freethinkers, but in some cases the victims were intellectually so innocent that a theological debate about theology was simply not possible. The victims were not all Galileo Galilei or Giordano Bruno.

So, the Inquisitors resorted to another word: "sorcerer" (connotation). Is that a good example of denotation and connotation?

Source author: Petru Dumitriu PetruD@diplomacy.edu

Metaphor --- This is a metaphoric expression.

Source author: MacOswald Jumali macjumali@yahoo.com

France under German occupation --- The German used to designate the members of the French Resistance (partisans, franc-tireurs, maquis) as terrorists. For all the "official killers" in the history it was so easy to deflect the meaning of words.

Source author: Petru Dumitriu PetruD@diplomacy.edu

Very true. And home manufacturing capacity.... --- ...depends on economic governance at home. Do we apply the right policies? What's our real rate of corruption? And bad policies, adopted to suit vested interests at home?

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

Hon Cons make great economic salesmen. --- And at virtually zero cost!!.....The key is to appoint the right kind of person....A small test: Almost never appoint anyone who is over-keen for this -- such a person may have a personal agenda. Far better to find a local person of high standing who has to be persuaded to take up the appointment.

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

An excellent point. While at Germany (1992-95), I made it a point... --- ...to give as small presents at festive occasions Indian-made watches (the market price was equal to DM 25); one of the recipients was an Auswaertiges Amt official who told me in 2015 that he still used it! It only needed a battery replacement every 2 years.

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

And that's in Germany! --- Good example how C-19 has taught us new tricks. (Consider, now all it takes is pushing a few buttons to see a relative of friend at the other side of the world, at zero cost!). But do you think MFAs are learning to shift to Online Learning? Besides Mexico re-affirming this month its sterling arrangement with Diplo (which has brought in 800 Mexican diplomats into our courses) -- I honestly don't see a real shift to this method which is almost purpose designed for MFAs that typically have 50% or more of its staff abroad. Comment?

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

Helping local companies --- This can also work where the local companies being assisted contribute in the value chain of a certain product manufactured in your home country

Source author: Lapologang Judah lapoduna@gmail.com

It is true and understandable --- that another role for Embassies might be to help local companies of the host state to export to the home country when so approached for such assistance, but I my contention is that the Embassy officials should also apply their diligence appropriately so to avoid assisting influx of competing exports to the local businessmen and women.

Source author: Malefetsane Dominic Mosala mosalalaw@gmail.com

Manufacturing capacity --- may be another impediment to a state's export market share. This is the case with a lot of LDCs like Lesotho who may not be able to meet targeted demand and supply chain due to low manufacturing capacity or lack thereof, even when markets are adequately open for exports in any given country or region.

Source author: Malefetsane Dominic Mosala mosalalaw@gmail.com

Honorary Consuls --- Honorary Consuls play a very important role of supporting the work on Embassies at usually no cost. Most of the time the role is given to citizens of the host county who are run successful enterprises. Their connections and network usually help in promoting commercial and trade ties with the host country

Source author: Lapologang Judah lapoduna@gmail.com

new products --- sometimes it helps as an Embassy to have some of your local products that can be promoted during trade fairs or direct engagements with potential investors. this approach helps small local manufacturers with marketing their products in foreign markets

Source author: Lapologang Judah lapoduna@gmail.com

ICT --- The Covid19 pandemic has been a blessing in disguise for Economic diplomacy. lately i have noticed that it has become easier to secure appointments or have access to investors or stakeholders from our home country using the newly embraced virtual platforms.

Source author: Lapologang Judah lapoduna@gmail.com

Very interesting. --- Do you mean that the UK targets Francophone African countries, to help them indirectly to reduce dependence on France -- though you do not say that? And what does SSA represent?

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

I am truly sorry to hear this. --- Does no one has a way out, from within the domestic stakeholders? Or a workable plan to improve matters?

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

I honestly don't know of any example of any foreign country... --- ...that provides such 'tutorship' to another country, or even where a Global South country accepts such guidance or mentorship from a rich state. Please give a concrete example....Anyone in the Class knows of such instances?

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

Is that not an example of bad economic governance? --- No one can rescue another country from bad governance -- we have to fix such issues, within the concerned country....And here the free media can play a real role. Would you agree?

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

Tarniem, if diplomats have limited understanding... --- ...of their own country's business needs, the answer is simple -- improve the conversations between both sides. But if diplomats favor their own cronies at home, that is a form of 'corruption'. Should be stamped down hard, I think.

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

Tarniem, that is a part of the problem. --- Some countries do not have a clear, published strategy on such key issues as trade or FDI, or it is full of waffle. And that amounts to self-inflicted damage.

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

And what is the actual FDI inflow, if hard numbers... --- ...can be given? As we know, the World Bank's 'business rankings' method stands discredited, even though the basic concept remains valid. For me the moral is to use it as an indicator, but of itself, it does not really produce results.

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

Thanks for your observations. So in effect... --- ...the blame shifts to the media for alleged low quality of their comment, and motivation to criticise and oppose?...Yes, we see that among our 892 TV channels -- 402 are news channels!! Unlike the print media, entry cost is low, and sophisticated methods are devised to ensnare viewers....But with all their faults, the media have a right to criticise and oppose. That does not absolve govts from their task of effective governance.

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

I am not sure if anyone outside an enterprise can... --- ...project a business idea -- but they can speak of investment conditions, and the environment of the country. All the rest is very pertinent...BTW, is 'elevator pitch' a management term with a special meaning? I have not encountered this earlier.

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

Mexico's diplomatic tourism strategy --- On April 5, 2019, an agreement signed between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came into effect to promote the professionalization and training of the diplomatic corps in international tourism. The agreement will be in force until September 30, 2024 to strengthen the dissemination of Mexico's tourist attractions. Diplomats are trained through the MFA’s Matías Romero Institute and the Ministry of Tourism Competitiveness Institute (ICTUR) for the management and development of tourism promotion in the international arena.

Source author: Cecilia Treemonisha Barros Ruiz cbarros@sre.gob.mx

Elevator pitch method --- I believe that the elevator pitch method could be useful to convince potential investors that our country is the best place to invest. For this, it is necessary for the Head of Mission to present a business idea to investors, who may be interested in being part of a new venture. The strategy presented must be clear, explain what will be the direct and indirect benefits that investors will obtain if they decide to be part of the new project or business idea, which can be decisive to encourage them to bet on it.

Source author: Cecilia Treemonisha Barros Ruiz cbarros@sre.gob.mx

The importance of Trade fairs --- I totally agree Mavis. Trade fairs are effective to promote the company's products, whether new or existing. They are the most accessible method to connect with new markets. Trade shows tend to show higher rates of return than those generally obtained through direct marketing and advertising. The latter procedures are mainly successful when the industry is small, organized and with a scarce supply, or when the personality of the consumer market is fully understood.

Source author: Cecilia Treemonisha Barros Ruiz cbarros@sre.gob.mx

MFA's media powerabroad --- This is one of the MFA’s strategies abroad. In Mexico, usually, Consular offices and Embassies should have a diplomat playing a media role, reporting not only local news, but also engaging in promotion activities with journalists, magazines, radio hosts and the most important media companies in situ on behalf of the Consul General or Head of Mission. On the other hand, the Media Consul or Media diplomat should have total control of the official Twitter and Facebook’ (Meta) accounts of the Embassy or Consular Office. In every corner of the world, Mexico’s diplomatic network uses social networks to promote the country’s image, cultural, economic and commercial events, community issues, and also, a calendar for passports, birth certificates and powers of attorney issuance, to mention a few. Facebook (Meta) is used to record official messages, but also weekly live sessions in which the Head of Mission or Consul General or Career Consul and their teams discuss about protection, human rights, health and culture, business opportunities and legal issues on behalf of Mexicans living abroad. The MFA monitors the number of Facebook (Meta) sessions in each Embassy or Consular Office checking also followers total number in Facebook (Meta) and Twitter as a way to promote and reinforce Mexico’s image globally and its relation to its own people, but also, as a competitive method between top diplomats in their daily work.

Source author: Cecilia Treemonisha Barros Ruiz cbarros@sre.gob.mx

Bad governance --- I have always said that most of the chronic under-developments in poor countries have a lot to do with bad governance (a mix of very bad policies or good/clever policies poorly implemented). So it's poor governance at best and no real approach of governance (pilotage à vue)

Source author: Ndeye Gnagna Kone gnagna.pro@gmail.com

Re: I am wary of looking at a tally... --- ...@Amb. Rana: Yes, obsessing over numbers will ruin the value of the much needed diplomatic work which is more qualitative than quantitative. Numbers would really "lie" as sole indicators. Motivating embassies to either work with or "for" others in achieving goals should ideally mean keeping their work as "wise gatekeeper/advisers" and super well-informed enablers (pivotal kingpins)

Source author: Ndeye Gnagna Kone gnagna.pro@gmail.com

not only --- I think with the ever-growing 'geopolitics' in the world due to globalization, Embassies are not anymore just facilitators. They are also enablers whose behaviors, involvements, efficiencies, presences or absences can make or break trades and relations. Their work in trade and investment promotion will grow more and more as part of their mainspring but it would be better to have it as a subtle and non-official yet essential part of it. I think UK embassies in French speaking SSA countries go that route.

Source author: Ndeye Gnagna Kone gnagna.pro@gmail.com

Trade deficit --- This paragraph is basically the story of my country, where from elementary school up-to-nowadays the trade deficit remains a central part of our economic issues and policies and political measures. So far, nothing seems to work...

Source author: Ndeye Gnagna Kone gnagna.pro@gmail.com

Not so free --- Such "free helps" are known to be at the sometimes very costly prices of "political dependence" that most companies do not want to mingle too closely with. The helping embassy as appointee of the current political at power at home serves the "good pupils" if I may phrase it that way and it can be hard for the companies to sustain their businesses abroad peacefully when a change of power occurs, with generally new govts. considering them just as the "protegé" or "product" of the previous one they tend to erase...it creates very flacky "mobilization" and super prudent companies that just prefer not to deal too much with their countries embassies abroad.

Source author: Ndeye Gnagna Kone gnagna.pro@gmail.com

Question --- So, is it possible in an eventual conflict among states, a powerful state (as USA for instance) to decide to disable/delete let's say the www***.gov (governmental or administrative sites) of a particular country, thus disabling public services or disrupting the government's operation...maybe this is outdated information, because I believe there are many clusters of DNS servers across the globe, so if one goes down the others will have the same information to provide...

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

of course it depends on who is issuing the certificate --- As we read, it depends on who is issuing the certificate. I was relieved to read that Google stopped using one certificate provider for the reasons in the course text.

Source author: Scott Spence scott.a.spence@gmail.com

yes I have seen them and yes I've reacted --- Yes, I've seen these warnings and I did not proceed to view the website. If website hosts can't pull their act together and go through the secure certificate protocol then I'm not interested in visiting their site!

Source author: Scott Spence scott.a.spence@gmail.com

yes, on cybersecurity/cybercrime multilateral negotiations --- Yes, this model could be useful as steps are taken towards a multilateral agreement on cybersecurity and cybercrimes.

Source author: Scott Spence scott.a.spence@gmail.com

model --- Yes the multi-stakeholder model can work for other IG issues. The nature of the Internet calls for collaboration by both the technical group for internet stability and the Government and other Stakeholders groups to develop policy decisions. The Government Advisory Committee (GAC) is a very powerful committee at ICANN yet every member has his/her say and can change policy decisions which can or may affect national positions.

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

multi-stakeholder model --- This model has worked very well for ICANN- the beauty of this "bottoms-up" multi-stakeholder approach is that no single country, not even the US or China or Russia can dominate as I have sat at many ICANN Meetings and see the role that SIDs play and despite the positions of the more wealth nations, decisions are made on consensus. It is for this reason that as many countries as possible (eg Niue) can hold back proceedings on any major issue once they are present.

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

decision by zone file manager --- If the zone file manager can in theory cut off countries or entire domains, who oversees this process to avoid unilateral actions?

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

CIR should remain a technical topic --- I would say Yes! To keep internet open and accessible to all, the governance of CIR should be kept as technical as possible and as non political as possible. It should involve governments, Tech Companies and users.

Source author: Florence Tinguely Mattli florence.tinguely-mattli@eda.admin.ch

DNSSEC Deployment --- The complexity of DNSSEC implementation usually results in misconfiguration, which leads to a broken chain of trust.

Source author: Muna Hemoudi mhemoudi@gmail.com

ICANN's role --- I think ICANN has been transforming into an international policy organization, but it remains a technically oriented organization and provides basic technology solutions to these challenges. Moving forward, ICANN needs to improve its policy research in linguistic diversity, not only to evolve beyond technology solutionism but also to find innovative way in policy involvements.

Source author: Muna Hemoudi mhemoudi@gmail.com

response --- @Jorge, about undersea cables in national waters I'd imagine that the particular country in question under such international instrument will have responsibility to safeguard and protect such infrastructure. Moreover, all countries could contribute financially in the management of these CIs and share the costs.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

biolabs --- I would include biolabs (those working on vaccines and on biological agents for other peaceful purposes) in the list of CI that needs attention. This would probably fall under the public health sector in the US, for example, as a subsector.

Source author: Scott Spence scott.a.spence@gmail.com

a cyber incident could be a crime (or terrorist act) --- I'd argue that a cyber incident could be a crime or terrorist act rather than additional threats to CI.

Source author: Scott Spence scott.a.spence@gmail.com

US approach --- In preparing my mid-course assignment, I discovered that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in the US government does not include election systems in its CI list. I wonder if this will change now?!

Source author: Scott Spence scott.a.spence@gmail.com

National waters --- What about when undersea cables cross or reach national waters?

Source author: Jorge Ernesto Salcido Zugasti jsalcido@sre.gob.mx

Controls --- Whoever controls the infrastructure does not necessarily exerts control over the data in transit, just as it happens with pipelines. Gas or petrol can be transported by rented pipelines. However, data and information can be stolen or copied while being transported, and yet reach its destiny without the senders or recipients knowing it has been targeted.

Source author: Jorge Ernesto Salcido Zugasti jsalcido@sre.gob.mx

Smart cities --- Future smart cities will completely rely on interconnected services, provided mostly by IT. Cyberattacks to these cities will be more devastating, and citizens and government more vulnerable to cybercriminals, unless there is effective international regulation that prevents and punishes online criminal activities.

Source author: Jorge Ernesto Salcido Zugasti jsalcido@sre.gob.mx

Health services --- I would also include health services. We have seen examples of hospitals been hacked, and the problems that poses for ordinary citizens, doctors, patients. This can cause enormous damage and cost many lives.

Source author: Jorge Ernesto Salcido Zugasti jsalcido@sre.gob.mx

Dependency --- In this case each one has a dependency of each other, I main with out anyone it model would not work. Maybe we most to think in solutions with out make coupling of other technologies. Like in software development, it is a good practice not coupling classes and objects, in order to quite dependencies.

Source author: Iván Arnulfo Fernández Hernández administracionini01@sre.gob.mx

Future --- I guess this is just the beginning, this pandemic just accelerate the transition of a lot of services, at some point we were thinking about moving toward online services, this is just the pick of the iceberg, new technologies are coming therefore more challenges, risk and cyberattacks.

Source author: Iván Arnulfo Fernández Hernández administracionini01@sre.gob.mx

Transportation --- A lot of companies has move into online home office therefore the communication services have raise the demand. But what about mobility and transportation, people still need to commute to their jobs, in my city I don't see to much impact.

Source author: Iván Arnulfo Fernández Hernández administracionini01@sre.gob.mx

What about social media? --- In my opinion also social media plays a big roll into the influence people, and my questions is, are they hackers? I have seen a lot of fake news on social media and it is the same people how is posting this information. I don't think so they even have any idea about cyberattacks.

Source author: Iván Arnulfo Fernández Hernández administracionini01@sre.gob.mx

Huawei --- @Nikolov. Because of this East/West geo-political game, Digicel, the premier mobile service Operator in the Pacific with their regional Headquarters in PNG sold their entire network in a deal with the Australian Government and Telstra. Why? China Telecom was moving to buy Digicel so the US and Australia took first step and made the Australian government buy it out !!!

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

Vienna Convention --- Absolutely yes, such international instrument is a necessity! But the cyberattacks-domain is still blurry and state-sponsored attacks obviously seek ways to hide behind non-state actors or to hide the digital traces...

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Posible --- @Nikolov We mentioned in many HTs that what was fiction 10 years ago is realty today. Let's not encourage/entertain that thought and turn our fictional scenarios into the realty of some rich warped mind...but true, its possible. Revenge attack!!

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

Huawei --- Great article! But it opens many questions....due to the political and legal reality in China...the main question that arises is who in the future will dare to collaborate with Chinese giant companies (if they are legally obliged by Chinese law to help their domestic intelligence services).....Probably this will lead to new West-East incidents similar to the 5G Huawei case.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Posible --- Yes! Lets imagine this kind of situation. A rich foreign businessman operates very profitable companies in USA. His firms enter in a legal-battle with US courts, and loose the case, while senior managers face prison sentences due to some financial "mistakes". The foreign owner decides to "revenge" by employing a strong ransomware attack on a US firm/s....I think it is quite doable scenario.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

response - rules in conflict --- @Nikolov. The Vienna Convention provides a certain code of conduct for treating diplomats even in times of war; shouldn't a similar convention be established which places certain obligations on how the rules should be administered for CI/CII despite being in conflict over a non-related issue?

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

response --- @Bennette, what you described is perfectly ordinary process of purchasing a software product from a (foreign) vendor, and in peaceful times everything seems ordinary. But if a political conflict arises among the two states, probably there is a possibility the national security agency of the state where the vendor is registered to try to use the situation against the other state (If some critical data is in question of course)...Probably somth.similar/comparable occurred in the Ukraine/Russia relations and the massive cyber-attacks in Ukraine.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Price --- @Nokolov. I wouldn't close my eyes to the prospect of some rich guy like the billionaires of this world might possibly play such a game. As you indicated, money is the game. There may well be warped minds among the rich with such ambitions

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

:) --- :) I'm asking just out of curiosity, not to rent such services myself :) , but in order to assess what kind of player can pay for such an attack (for instance is it possible one rich businessman or political party to pay or maybe is so expensive that only few global actors or states can buy such services.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

response --- @Bennette...really good explanation and idea! Thinking out of the box and joining resources (human, financial or hardware) by several countries facing similar circumstances in same regions is really an interesting/applicable approach.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

response --- @Nikolov. If I were to expand your analogy to the limit then then no entity is really safe since purchasing products from vendors who are non-resident is a natural aspect of trading; it means that these proprietary products will always have back-door access since support agreements are usually part of the purchase which most times allows the vendors (or their product experts) to have access to the product in one's country or organization. Is this perceived as intrusion or illegal network access or a sovereignty issue?

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

response --- @Bennette, I agree. However developing countries have difficulties to protect their data. I will share examples...many small countries through public tenders buy foreign services for instance for printing the bio-metric national passports or IDs, or when having elections they use software produced abroad....and so on...So, probably only bigger states with developed ICT/software industries can really be totally sovereign in this context (if they don't have to purchase foreign services/software). And even if the software is domestic, probably it will be produced by a private firm (not by government or law enforcement)! So who guarantees that everything will be secure?

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Expectations --- How real is to expect that data will be secured by such projects when maybe 90% of connected devices in USA have "Made in China" imprint on them? (smartphones, integrated chips, smartTVs, music players, car parts,PCs & PC cameras, home or office printers/scanners, modems, routers, 3d printers, general public drones, Apple PCs and phones are also produced in China, and the list goes on...)

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Info --- @Bennette, I've read many general articles about the opposition to 5G Huawei equipment from western actors. Do you have any articles/information/links you can share if indeed there was evidence for espionage by Chinese firms or is it just a precaution/fear from possible espionage. I'd like to read more on this topic. Thank you.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

interconectivity --- These smart solutions (that integrate various IoT devices, sensors, algorithms, networks, data collections) anticipate that all links in the chain will work as designed. Some of the parts of such solutions will come from different designers/suppliers with different types of vulnerabilities. They will have to be interconnected and to "a priori trust" the other parts of the chain...Thus an attack of only one part can affect the performance of the whole system. Indeed the risks for attacks will be high.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Risk assessments --- I've had experience with business continuity planning in larger organizations...The regulators set forth rules that large firms had to implement...But, what happens in the business continuity planning process is - firms use consultant services and the process transforms more or less in just another bureaucratic work assignment. At the end of the process a firm will have all the needed paperwork with designated teams, processes and procedures, but the real question is will it have objective capacity to do anything aside of reading/studying the paperwork. Will it be more resilient if an incident occurs? The problem often lays if an organization will have enough highly trained relevant experts/individuals...and this is a huge problem for developing countries (lack of human capacity).

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Technology gap --- Are we facing a risk from a new technologically driven "colonialism" in the period ahead!?

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Microsoft --- Is there any simulation what could happen if suddenly Microsoft Windows goes down....as most world computers probably use Windows and are more or less 24/7 connected is it possible some cyber attack to target eventual Windows' vulnerabilities let's say with some new update?

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Question --- Are there any other ongoing states' projects that can replace this today's management of CIR by a US based only entity?

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Private cables & national assets --- @Nikolov @Florence As many HTs have suggested, circumstances can in fact change one's definition of CI and as such, if undersea fiber cables are now classified as a National CI, laws were meant to be amended or modified. The agreement establishing the original ownership or lease arrangement can now be re-visited by Governments to safeguard its national interest - in that case undersea fiber as a National resource.

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

trusted partners --- Yet, the Snowden and WikiLeaks showed that mass surveillance was in play even among trusted NATO partners. So if Huawei is put aside, who guarantees that another UK or US supplier is 100% safe!?

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Out of the box apptoach --- Maybe the critical internet infrastructure as the undersea cables should become ownership of all the nations of the world as the seas, oceans, the air (i..e to be de-privatized)...and to be managed by joined financial resources by the largest international organization...today, probably UN is closest to such...!? Any opinion?

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Private cables & national assets --- @Florence, exactly. I will add one more question. How can we declare cables as critical national asset when most of the cables/infrastructure is owned by corporations. For instance, how can (let's take) Italy protect undersea cables as national critical asset and adopt policies in this context when let's say the Chinese owner of the cable in eventual political or military conflict decides that it is in Chinese interest to cut-off the "Italian critical asset". p.s I'm choosing the countries just randomly. Private corporations have their own profit-led interests, while states have other Geo-strategic, national or economic interests that can collide or be opposite to the interests of the private owners of the cables.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Price --- @Nikolov. I thought a man of your caliber would have checked into the red store on the Dark Web :-) Interesting request..

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

social media algorithms --- Great example. It is scary to imagine what will the impact be among young populations if they face hacked/modified social network algorithms that can spam them with intentionally "contaminated content" (extremism, violence, child-sexual abuse tricks and so on)....

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

COVID-19 and the internet --- @Vlad. Maybe we would have to resort to "smoke signal" whenever a Covid case was detected? lol; Seriously, without the Internet, news and information were still readily available maybe not as instantaneously as now; the radio continues to be one of the best communication services; the issue with technology as you have right observed is the proliferation of misinformation and conspiracy theories plus fake news which have cause the chaos in fighting the virus. Technology is both a bright spark and a hindrance.

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

Price --- Does anyone know what is the dark-market price for renting cyber attack services (ransomware as a service) of this kind? - As the one on Colonial Pipeline for instance.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Safe mode --- Is it possible to design such industrial systems with integrated "safe mode" operational protocols that if incidents occur, can turn offline the industrial facility in safe mode operation (not connected) in order to continue with minimum needed performance. Designing whole industries to be connected only will just multiply future risks.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Transport --- I would also add transportation among the most critical. The COVID-19 problems showed that most of the world was dependent on Chinese exports. Interruption of global transport/supply chains can be critical. Many industries across the world still face challenges and deficit of components for production (because of the delay in transport from China).

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

National or international? --- This is interesting point. It is indeed a national asset. However even outside the "internet" the world today is more connected in different inter-governmental associations/unions. Lets take the European Union which achieved high degree of integration of member states. What happens to the EU If some part of the CI of Germany (national asset) shuts down due to a cyberattack!? Will the impact hit Germany only? or the whole E.U? Probably there is room and need to look on some critical CI as international assets. In this sense, is there a need for defining critical European infrastructure or even Critical World infrastructure?

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Attacks on CI --- Does anyone know of an example when in a war-conflict some part of the CI of the Internet was damaged? Is there an international instrument adopted by many states that protect the core internet infrastructure (something similar to the protection of historical/archaeological sites in case of war).

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

national or international --- @Nikolov. Instead of declaring one's national asset an "international asset" which might have other implications by member states, maybe it remains a national asset and declare it "a national heritage site") but in this context we might call it "a national CII asset" having defined CII with an internationally.

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

Cables and services: what drives what? --- Eduardo, great question: "The physical layer design follows the transport and content layers, or the other way around?"

Initially, the cables (esp. Europe to America) followed the old telegraph cables; further developments obviously went hand in hand with the development of services - telephone and later telecoms - which were dominant in US, and then Europe.

These days internet is used all over the world - but the major chunk of data flows mainly between US and Europe still. Why? Among other because the public cloud - which we all use - is mainly located in the US and Europe (and it is, in turn, hosted there because of the good backbone, but also because of other economic, legal and political circumstances).

As cloud hosting is being diversified - for both economic reasons (content delivery networks, or CDNs, host place copies of the most wanted content closer to users around the world) and political (many countries push for 'data localisation) - we may see greater development of fibre in developing countries as well, to support this diversified infrastructure.

PS Note that this map shows submarine fibre only; there is, of course, the entire structure of terrestrial cables buried under the ground as well, which is not shown - but it is commonly national or regional rather than international, shorter and with lower bandwidths but with greater redundancy/multiple cables, and of course less exposed than the submarine ones.

Source author: Vladimir Radunovic vladar@diplomacy.edu

Sensors to protect submarine cables --- Good idea. I admit I can hope that companies are doing that as well :) Though major submarine cables are not laid down so often - it takes years to complete one route. So probably most of the current cables don't have a 'smart' environment, but we can expect the future ones will do. Worth exploring more about the practices of companies that are deploying the cables!

Source author: Vladimir Radunovic vladar@diplomacy.edu

Internet backbone and net neutrality --- Deploying submarine fiber is very expensive (especially laying them down on the ocean's bottom), and this is the reason why we still don't have many redundant links (especially in developing world). Take a look at the PLCN cable example (in the box below) - it took years to complete, and some of the major players like Google and Facebook are involved in the consortium.

Congestion is not the main issue when it comes to intercontinental traffic in regular times: investments are in fact following the needs for the bandwidth. The reason why cables are dominantly leading to the US is not only historical, but also economic: most cloud services and digital industry is there - and provided to the world from there. Of course, developing countries do cope with low bandwidth - though situation is slowly improving (observe the new fibres around Africa, for instance).

Net neutrality issue - making sure that all traffic is treated equally, and not according to who pays more to reach to customers - remains a critical issue on the 'last mile' level, when telecoms and ISPs need to invest in the access to remote users, or reduce congestion in populated areas. It is indeed for another discussion :) But is an important issue nevertheless. Diplo covers it within our "Introduction to Internet governance" online course.

Source author: Vladimir Radunovic vladar@diplomacy.edu

CI in different context --- Bennette, important point - CI depends on the context, and cyber is not the only context that maters. You connected here with the environment as well - increasingly, we will have to look at what our CI is in terms of climate change (eg. drinking water and water in general, forests, clean energy, etc).

CI in general is not a cyber concept, of course. It is often defined by the more general legislation, not by cyber; cyber has only pushed many countries to (re)consider what they see as CI, and try to define it. Thus, in defining the CI we should also look at what are the risks to each, and consequences - cyber, climate, hazards, etc.

Source author: Vladimir Radunovic vladar@diplomacy.edu

COVID-19 and the internet --- Inspiring exchange!

It drives me to ask how would the pandemic look if there was no internet? What would have been the measures against COVID-19 outbreak if we had no internet? And what would have been the effects and societal (including lives) and economic costs of any such measures? Would there be lockdowns, and of what sort? Also, would the vaccination actually go up in absence of social media and conspiracy theory spread? Or, would it be possible to get to the vaccines so quickly in the first place?

I don't know if anyone did such a 'thought experiment' research on 'what if' scenario, but it would be interesting to learn and compare with reality.

Source author: Vladimir Radunovic vladar@diplomacy.edu

Elections: perception and trust --- Florence - good point. Perception is the key when it comes to citizens' trust in elections.

Since the elections infrastructure goes well beyond voting machines (if any) - into voters' lists, counting process, databases, publishing (and election campaigns - misinformation, leaks, etc) - possibilities for a hack are diverse. More importantly, possibilities for allegations of the hack are diverse. And regardless of whether anything really happened, the trust in the entire process might be ruined. While perceptions mattered before the digital age as well, with digitalisation and obscurity of the system ('it is in computers') it is harder to do a control and transparency of the process.

It occurs to me that there is probably a whole class of trust-related CI: unlike power grid, dams or transport, which either work (deliver) or not, there are CI sectors which can work but not the way we expect them to - and this undermines trust.

Besides elections, I can also see - vaccine production and distribution (has the process been meddled with?), - water supply (can we be sure both the production and the control facilities haven't been hacked - like what happened with Stuxnet when the Iranians didn't even know the turbines are being destroyed?) - certain digital services (what content is delivered to me via social media? has the algorithm been meddled with)? ...

Should we identify such 'trust-related' CI sectors, and have a different - probably more complex and societal - approach to defending them?

Source author: Vladimir Radunovic vladar@diplomacy.edu

Motivations in dark markets --- I understood Eduardo's comment as distinguishing between the criminal motives of dark markets that are hosting the infrastructure and tools for cyberattacks (such as botnets or malware), and the political motives of those that are renting such tools for particular attacks?

In a way, dark markets that provide ransomware-as-a-service try to stay 'criminals only', and not get into how their clients will use their tools and services. I don't think this can them help much in case of prosecution?

But there are two important elements to discuss here: - To what extent such 'as a service' markets, which allow politically-motivated groups to perform attacks, make the forensics and attribution even more complex - or easier? On one hand, this adds a layer of intermediaries; on the other, the cooperation between dark market renters and their clients is 'trust based', so when law enforcement take down such markets, they might be more willing to provide details related to their clients, to stay clean of political motives of their clients?

• Could greater use of rented tools and services, hosted by criminals, for politically-motivated attacks actually make criminals more cautious whom they are renting their services to and for what reasons? The goal of criminals are to stay in the play for as long as possible, undetected; politically motivated attacks raise attention and put them into risk. Ultimately, this may reduce the reliance of politically motivated attacks on rented services.

Any thoughts?

Source author: Vladimir Radunovic vladar@diplomacy.edu

Critical services --- Bennette, good point: utilities certainly have to include also water supplies and similar.

I wonder if 'financial services' should be extended to a broader set of services - even digital services (which is different from telecom as utilities, and can include e-government, e-health, etc)?

One important lesson is that the mere identification of critical sector is not the end; each of the identified sectors have certain elements (infrastructure, suppliers) that are critical, while others are not so much. For instance, while the energy/power supply sector is certainly critical, within it there may be small hydroplants or other whose eventual shut-down wouldn't really result with a national security issue; same goes for telecoms where not all providers/ISPs are critical.

If we simply mark 10 or 15 critical sectors, will we have resources to protect all to the full extent? US and EU might possibly have resources, but how about individual countries - especially developing? Thus, whether we identify more specific sectors, or only 2-3 very broad ones, we anyhow have to dive deeper and see what is critical in a particular country.

Source author: Vladimir Radunovic vladar@diplomacy.edu

National security - what is and how critical? --- Guillaume, Shabanah, when you refer to national security as CI, what is its 'embodiment'? Do you refer to various security agencies (intelligence) and committees (oversight) as part of the government, and/or army/police (operational forces), or?

Can we get into details how critical each of those elements is for protecting CI from cyberattacks? Can we 'prioritise' comparing to other CI sectors we identified?

Source author: Vladimir Radunovic vladar@diplomacy.edu

Multi-sector governance for CIIs --- It is always best practice to have collaboration on such issues from a multi-sectoral/stakeholder model to ensure viability and competence in delivering national strategies for CI/CII

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

strategic data as national security concern --- @Eduardo and Guillaume. I tend to agree with your views expressed. However, while the cold war rages between East and West for geo-political dominance, other countries do not necessarily have to be caught up in their game of thrones; the Issue of lack of IT resources to maintain own's sovereign data, assumes that there must be a Level 4 top quality "bells & whistles" Data Centre or high cost to pay for housing data from the Amazons or IBMs or Googles of the world. If there are limited financial resources, why not compromise and have a regional cloud to take care of say 10 countries within a particular region?

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

national data as a critical resource --- A country's data should be considered sovereign and as such any country ought to be in control of its national resource for which its data is no exception. Matters of state secrets, national security , economic sustainability and sensitive confidential state resources should not be available to non-state actors.

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

cybersecurity and space-borne platforms --- The use of space exploration and tourism with terrorism always on the edge lurking, this could be a major international problem and poses serious risks for the future of this industry. All the need to have collaboration by all stakeholders in the fight against enemies of the common good.

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

US-China relations --- The issue with Huawei and China Telecom in the Pacific are clear examples of the role of geo-politics in cybersecurity issues and apparent espionage.

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

risks/concerns for IoTs & smart cities --- If these smart devices are able to interact with AI technology and "learn" from their previous mistakes, this is a massive cybersecurity concern for all. what happens when these devices are used by hackers to control the smart cars but providing wrong or faulty directions causing massive traffic jams or initiate a terror attack? so many permutations and combinations with these systems

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

Insecure IOTs --- Why allow known insecure-by-design IoTs to be on the market which becomes a vulnerability with the risk of shutting down massive segments of the Internet? shouldn't his be classified as irresponsible marketing or again the debate of profits over people or the debate along "no perfect product"?

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

confidence building measures and CII Policies --- If CIs and/or CIIs are seen as national assets which must be protected from outside attacks, why should there the development of confidence building measures in establishing code of conduct against one's sovereign asset? shouldn't this be seen as a no-strike zone? By seeking to negotiate through confidence building measures aren't we in effect stating that this national asset is not sovereign and liable to be attacked if necessary?

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

CI/CCIP as sovereign assets --- If CIs and CIIs are seen as critical to the economic survivability of a country, shouldn't they be categorized as sovereign assets and any attack on these systems is seen as a declaration of hostiles against a sovereign state?

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

competences --- @Eduardo. You are right on point on this. As the CII gets more complex and advances, small island development states will not be able to keep abreast with the skillset and hence the more developed nations will take a monopolistic stranglehold on the Internet and begin to set their own rules thereby leaving out the smaller nations. Hence, the weakest links will begin to pop and hackers will find areas of vulnerability at will. It is therefore in the interest of all to ensure knowledge sharing

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

Cooperating with China --- @FLorence. If China is seen the power behind the Chinese major Telecom companies which the US and EU suspect that be using their network for espionage, isn't the same to be said where US companies have similar presence in China or Russia or the EU?

Source author: Bennette Thomas thomasb@dominica.gov.dm

Outcomes when CC is not the only problem --- Propably yes. As the problem increases and becomes not only 'ethical' (as some still considers CC to be, while it is 'existential'), the size of the effort put to achieve concrete results also increases. In fact, finding alternatives to rare earths availability has become a key policy for the EU, included not just under the Green Deal but mainly also under the post-pandemic Industrial Strategy in order to increase EU supply chains autonomy.

Source author: Veronica Elena Bocci v_ele_bo@hotmail.com

A push to green national development --- Very correct. I wonder if science diplomacy can make an even more intense use of science and technological advancements in green development in order to turn this 'right to national development as I want it' - that is limiting the effectiveness of science diplomacy action on multilateral stages such as COP26 - into a 'right to a green national development'.

Source author: Veronica Elena Bocci v_ele_bo@hotmail.com

Blockchain --- I agree with YingChu: cryptocurrencies and the blockchain technology should be separated. The latter enables the former, but also many other applications in all possible (positive) fields.

Source author: Veronica Elena Bocci v_ele_bo@hotmail.com

Measurement of advantages --- I was wondering if anyone had measured such gained advantage. A very basic estimation only focusing on CO2 produced by transportation vs. digital technologies would bring us to see that the former produces at least 25% of total CO2 while the latter from 2 to 4%. A more holistic analysis taking into consideration all environmental impacts produced by both "ways of working" would be very interesting.

Source author: Veronica Elena Bocci v_ele_bo@hotmail.com

Q3 --- A diplomat will persuade to serve and defend the national interests of his/her country. A politician will persuade or in most cases, manipulate to serve his/her own interest i.e enter or remain in power.

Source author: Hervé Pool erve619@gmail.com

Q2 --- With music, the emotion of the listener is intensified or even provoked to a certain point. This in itself is appealing to pathos.

Source author: Hervé Pool erve619@gmail.com

Q1 --- Persuasion usually carries a certain connotation of ethics. To cooperate with all parties involved rather than controlling them which manipulation is. In diplomacy, both may work tin helping advance the strategic interests of the state (in negotiations). Outside of a professional setting is where the line should be drawn.

Source author: Hervé Pool erve619@gmail.com

It makes perfect sense Mamta.... --- ...and thanks for providing an example to explain this very important distinction that deceptive is not always the same as negative/bad!

Source author: Andrej Skrinjaric andrejs@diplomacy.edu

Hate the player, not the game --- A sobering example indeed John, but please note that mass gatherings with loud music and giant flags can also serve good 'purpose' too, i.e., they enhance the feeling of a group belonging which is of the utmost importance for our survivor and evolution. In other words, hate the player, not the game.

Source author: Andrej Skrinjaric andrejs@diplomacy.edu

The importance of context --- Thanks John for reminding us once again (via these examples) to the importance of context when making judgment about certain things!

Source author: Andrej Skrinjaric andrejs@diplomacy.edu

"Neural reorganisation" sounds a bit scary... --- ...a term as it evokes images of medical labs where 'crazy scientist' are rewiring one's brain, but nonetheless I'm so glad to hear that this is actually something that really works!

Perhaps we should introduce a background music for our weekly chat-based class meetings to enhance the learning process too!?:)

Source author: Andrej Skrinjaric andrejs@diplomacy.edu

persuasion =ethical ; manipulation = effective --- An interesting school of thought.

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

intention --- Yes, I can see where you are coming from.

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

kid --- I would say manipulative.

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

deceptive --- Yes, it can be deceptive but may not always be negative. I point this out as deception has a negative connotation.

For example, if a 1 year old child is running out of the house onto a busy road as habit, and we place a stopper beyond the child's reach. We then proceed to tell the child that if they can open the door they can go out. The child is obviously unable to open the door and we pretend even we cannot open the door. The child is convinced that he/she is not being stopped from going out but he/she just needs to eat more healthy food and drink more milk to be able to open that door.

In this case, it is deceptive but can be very positive as it can be an opportunity to lead the child into a more positive direction without making them feel they are being stopped.

I hope this makes sense.

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

persuasion vs manipulation --- I would argue that manipulation is when you give the other person no choice but to comply with the 'suggestion' being made as you use information about them to achieve this. This can be positive or negative. Manipulation is not always negative as one may think. Where as persuasion is when a person is being presented with information to make them change their mind but it is of their own will. They can see the validity of changing their opinion/decision.

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

Faux pas v cultural nuance --- People are often quite forgiving with faux pas, particularly if the person is seen as trying to learn. For the humanitarian diplomat it's probably the subtleties that are important as you work to understand the nuances of personal interactions.

Source author: Joe Cropp joe.cropp@ifrc.org

Negotiation groups --- I've been thinking about this quite a bit. There is definitely a need to understand local protocol, but how much are 'outsiders' able to take on board?. This involves quite a substantive investment in time to have a useable understanding of local practices and customs. The answer seems to lie in working in groups which includes someone expert in the local protocol to guide interactions.

Source author: Joe Cropp joe.cropp@ifrc.org

Protocol --- I find this quite interesting. The term itself eludes to a system of rules governing interactions and harks back to classic diplomacy where two sides meet with a specific frame of reference to guide them. I imagine much humanitarian diplomacy in the field is a messy affair, where people can prepare as much as they can but must adapt to the situation. Is there another term that describes operating inside a loose set of parameters that would be more useful.

Source author: Joe Cropp joe.cropp@ifrc.org

May I suggest that multitasking, plus handling different work areas... --- ...is a basic requirement for the professional diplomat. For me the notion that 'specialists' will come and handle some professional work areas is misconceived -- their narrow specialization becomes a major hindrance in the embassy's functioning.

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

visa --- When applying for a visa to travel abroad in South Africa, one must use the services of a private commercial company that works in collaboration with various embassies and consulates. The company manages your visa application and submits your completed visa application form, supporting documents, and biometric data to embassies and consulates on your behalf. You don’t get to interact with any foreign consulates or embassies. It will be interesting to find out about the process, in other countries?

Source author: Matshedisa Emily Mokoena mokoenamati@gmail.com

specialist --- Some diplomats are political appointees with little knowledge of economics. As a result, seeking the advice of a specialist is critical. The specialist does not have to be employed by the MFA, but could be transferred from another government department, i.e trade and industry. Bringing in someone who does not understand government operations may be risky

Source author: Matshedisa Emily Mokoena mokoenamati@gmail.com

KRAs --- True, in most developing countries, the two sections are integrated. Diplomats as part of their performance assessment, are assessed on a number of KRAs which measure a number economic diplomacy initiatives undertaken, therefore it is expected that economic diplomacy forms part of their job description

Source author: Matshedisa Emily Mokoena mokoenamati@gmail.com

We can --- These two words are empowering and gives the people a positive mental lift.

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

Uniting, Unity --- This is a word that most people can visualise and Biden is doing that here by using these words - he wants the citizens to have a clear positive image of working together.

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

A day of renewal and resolve --- This is to give hope to the citizens and let them know that everyone will get through the trauma of the previous four years.

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

Fourth transformation 4T --- It seems your initiative will be helpful for these and other parrticipants. The traditional diplomatic channels of economic promotion have been overcome by this left-wing movement that in Mexico is known as the 4T (Fourth transformation) whose interest is to change the current internal situation of the country, reducing poverty rates, granting greater opportunities to those who have fewer, fight against corruption (a tentacular task) and reduce social inequality by cutting the number of bureaucrats, granting new opportunities to youth in government management and diversifying strategies abroad, reducing costs and using a contingent of diplomats to promote exports, the internationalization of SMEs and cultural promotion abroad.

Source author: Cecilia Treemonisha Barros Ruiz cbarros@sre.gob.mx

Mexico's economic diplomatic strategy against COVID-19 --- Vaccine supply ordered by President Obrador was to find abroad companies that could sell doses to Mexico to meet the growing number of infections in the country, which has been one of the highest worldwide. The intention of Mexico was not to vaccinate the diaspora, since most of the Mexican community lives and works in the United States, so their vaccination was quick and effective in that country with doses of Moderna and Pfizer. However, internally, as Mexico does not yet produce vaccines against COVID-19 (the manufacture of a vaccine called “Patria” is in process), the President entrusted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This initiative was not for commercial purposes as you thought nor did it seek to sell vaccines abroad, but an unprecedented economic diplomatic effort with the support of Embassies and Consulates to ensure the acquisition of vaccines. The payment and conditions of the contracts were in charge of the Ministry of Health and it was not to guarantee country's economic growth, but to reduce the mortality rates that were growing internally. On December 24, 2021, started the first stage of vaccines application against SARS-CoV-2 virus in Mexico City, State of Mexico and Querétaro, at the time of implementing that initiative (July 2020) no country around the world had vaccines approved against COVID-19.

Why was the task assigned to the MFA? Although it is not part of your questions, I would like to share with participants that it was because the President identified that the Ministry of Health had problems coordinating that effort at the international level to find vaccines and guarantee that Mexico counted on the doses in a timely manner. Internally, there has been criticism regarding vaccination speed. The MFA has been very clear in its position, this internal vaccination task does not correspond to it, but to the Federal Ministry of Health. However, as the search of doses and companies were assigned to the MFA's Directorate General for Global Economic Impulse, it remains then one of the newest economic diplomacy task carried out by this Office under the tutelage of the Undersecretariat for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights relying on a network of 160 Embassies and Consulates to accomplish this mission.

Source author: Cecilia Treemonisha Barros Ruiz cbarros@sre.gob.mx

Outside of e-Cloud --- This is a very good point Carlos. This whole debate is been centered on the e-Cloud, when the main problem for CSAM activities is outside of it.

Source author: Jorge Ernesto Salcido Zugasti jsalcido@sre.gob.mx

It certainly won't --- It certainly won't, but it might make it more difficult.

Source author: Jorge Ernesto Salcido Zugasti jsalcido@sre.gob.mx

Regulation --- Unless there is binding international regulation that includes governments, tech companies and users, there will always be the possibility for single countries to host companies with different values or economic interests.

Source author: Jorge Ernesto Salcido Zugasti jsalcido@sre.gob.mx

Exclusively --- I believe most people would agree to have their photos in the Cloud scanned if they are assured that it will only imply looking for CASM, and not prying in their personal lives.

Source author: Jorge Ernesto Salcido Zugasti jsalcido@sre.gob.mx

Authorization --- I agree with Eduardo. Apple should request authorization from government agencies of the countries whose citizens have been caught in CASM activities, or where the hosting servers are located. But also should expedite the process when national authorities request support to help finding predators of criminals on line. As far as I know the process could take quite a while.

Source author: Jorge Ernesto Salcido Zugasti jsalcido@sre.gob.mx

Question about Brand Botswana --- Botswana has been working in nation branding to position the country in global markets to promote its culture and heritage.With the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects Judah, how Botswana nation brand position itself to attract international audiences nowadays?

Source author: Cecilia Treemonisha Barros Ruiz cbarros@sre.gob.mx

Tourism strategies --- Dear Mavis, what are Namibia’s Tourism Board strategies to market and develop tourism? What is the role played by stakeholders to improve tourism promotion?

Source author: Cecilia Treemonisha Barros Ruiz cbarros@sre.gob.mx

Educating future generations --- I think an important part of this generation shift will also be education. We already see that the digital world and its impact on our lives is being included in syllabi from primary school in some countries and this will go a long way towards normalising the need for cybersecurity. There will also be more expertise at the higher levels, companies will start hiring cybersecurity professionals as part of their staff as the norm. This doesn't mean it will solve the problems of course, but we certainly wouldn't be as ignorant of the risks as we are today.

Source author: Pavitra Ramanujam pavitra.ramanujam@gmail.com

Need for sustained efforts --- This is one of the main reasons it is hard to get companies and organisations to assess and implement cybersecurity measures - it is not a one-time assessment and the risks keep changing over time, so it needs to be a sustained part of the company's policies with appropriate resources allocated to it but since it is not necessarily part of a company's 'core mandate', it is de-prioritised or dispensed with in times of crisis.

Source author: Pavitra Ramanujam pavitra.ramanujam@gmail.com

Top-down approach --- Maybe if it was a top-down approach, implementation might be easier? for instance, govts can mandate that organisations of a certain size and in certain areas of work follow some minimum standards. They can also ensure that govt contracts with all third-parties prescribe some standards for cybersecurity and non-maintenance would be in breach of the contract. This practice would then become part of contracts between companies as well and even smaller and medium sized companies will be incentivsed to implement cybersecurity measures in order to protect commercial interests.

Source author: Pavitra Ramanujam pavitra.ramanujam@gmail.com