Mexico at Expo Dubai --- The Mexican Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020 has an area of 900 square meters and is expected to receive 4,000 people daily and 728,000 visitors throughout the 6-month duration of the expo. Expo Dubai will present also the “Mexican National Day” on November 10th by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard. The architectural project highlights three defined spaces to carry out: cultural exchanges, promotion of Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), investment promotion and gastronomic proposals.

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

The role of the Ministry of Tourism --- May I propose in this inter-ministerial contestation to include also the Ministry of Tourism? It could be another active player in the economic promotion work orchestrated by the MFA. The GDP of a country can be positively impacted by the development of the tourism industry, which in turn can lead to an increase in the demand for tourism services. In this sense, companies dedicated to the tourism sector can be stimulated by this increase and open the door to new FDI flows to the country.

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

CPTPP and the Pacific Alliance similar investment provisions --- One of the advantages offered by both the Comprehensive and Progressive Treaty of Trans-Pacific Partnership "(CPTPP, a free trade agreement between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam), of which Chile, Peru and Mexico are also part, is that it incorporates provisions similar to those that can be found in the Pacific Alliance (Mexico, Peru, Chile and Colombia), since it offers investors a standard regulatory framework and an almost identical regulatory structure in terms of international investment provisions, which could translate into greater cooperation between the two blocks. Additionally, both agreements contain the controversial investor-State dispute settlement rule, which in our opinion is an important rule in international investment law that is quite efficient for the investor when making any claim.

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

The USMCA and the poison pills --- The USMCA negotiation process was extremely complicated since President Trump wanted to impose on Mexico and Canada the “sunset clause”, considered as one of the “poison pills” according to which the three countries must renew every five years the treaty, otherwise, it would expire. For Trump, it was intended that with the sunset clause the jobs that had been lost in the manufacturing sector for the United States would return to that country, as well as correct the trade deficit he alleged against Canada and Mexico. However, both countries were strongly opposed and finally they agreed that the USMCA will be renewable every 16 years with the possibility of an extension.

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

That's an interesting point. --- Are countries able to coordinate positions across different regional organizations (ROs)? Typically, different ministries have the 'lead' position for each RO...It is often very difficult for the MFA to impose coordination, and that leads to the kind of situation that Simataa mentions. So what should be done? Comment please.

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

Regionalism is Sothern Africa --- Within Southern Africa, there are a number of regional integration agreements taking place within the context of the worldwide multilateral trading system. these include:

1. Souther African Customs Union (SACU)
2. Southern African Development Community(SADC)
3. Common Market for Eastern and Southern African (COMESA)
4. East African Community (EAC)
5. Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)

while the existence of numerous agreements within the region in itself is not a problem, overlapping membership between the groupings has the potential to cause conflict and imposes greater transaction costs on the business communities and governments.

Source author: Simataa Matali simatamatali@icloud.com

Governance, Policy, Cooperation, Finance --- These 3 targets are quite complex to achieve in low- and middle-income countries. As mentioned before, action at the WTO/WIPO (TRIPS) can help address the research and production part, with cooperation from international organisations (ITU, UNESCO) and scientific communities. Retaining the healthcare professionals might be the more difficult part, as reasons for expatriation and migration can be multidimensional. Offering better working conditions is only part of the answer. Using the ever expanding diaspora networks and expertise in life sciences and healthcare could help, as they would be contributing back to the country that gave them the first opportunity. Capacity building is key and impacts 3.a and 3.b as well. This is where the Global North (G20 promises?) can have the most impact in the short term (in the long term, investing in the education system and retaining expertise), as well as cooperation with intergovernmental organisations such as the WHO. In any case, financing for impact will become paramount in order to achieve these targets.

Source author: Mouloud Khelif mouloud.khelif@gmail.com

Policy evaluation --- Coming from a country that faces all the challenges mentioned, I argue that we most need a policy evaluation and policy change or modification in the health sector. Innovations around medicines for common diseases and conditions are not supported, funding and research is largely left to private institutions or individuals. Health financing is poor and we unfortunately get constant protests by medical workers and students over the poor pays. As a country, we have capacity to do better, but poor appropriation of the resources at hand by our policy makers. A policy evaluation (M&E as @Muna stated) would help get farther than we are now. I would add that we also need better policy makers.

Source author: Kiconco Patricia kictricia@gmail.com

Impact of the digital divide --- A very promising initiative indeed. Another reason for linking SDG3 (health and wellness, access to healthcare) to SDG9 (infrastructure, particularly ICT and Internet coverage and connectivity), SDG11 (Smart Cities), SDG1 (No Poverty) etc.

Source author: Mouloud Khelif mouloud.khelif@gmail.com

What needs to be done on global, national, and local levels to get closer to achieving SDG3? --- Note that I have already replied to this question with my comment in response to Muna's comment on the same question, as well as with my comment to the previous "Reflection question" of this article. Eager to know your thoughts about these comments (mine and those of Muna).

Source author: Massimiliano Lombardo m.lombardo@unesco.org

By Max Lombardo - response to the reflection question about SDG3 targets --- To overcome the related public health gaps and health issues, and to achieve the relevant SDG3 targets (3b, 3c and 3d) by 2030, the UN Member States would need to commit to establishing national and/or international legally-binding agreements, to be enforced at least at the national level, and internationally monitored by the WHO. Furthermore, Member States and Multilateral Donors need to promote and support such commitments with dedicated funding streams/mechanisms. If this will not be done, it will be impossible to achieve not only those targets, but also most of the SDG3 targets. As regards target 3.d in particular, the article already suggests the potential solution: a scaling-up of the application of the International Health Regulations, to be internationally coordinated and monitored by the WHO, with a massive investment in educational programs, institutional capacity-building/development and public awareness campaigns at all geographic scales/levels.

Source author: Massimiliano Lombardo m.lombardo@unesco.org

"The prime focus of R&D in the health sector is not in sync with global health demands" --- I fully agree with this sentence of the article, and COVID19 demonstrated such global gap. In response to the reflection question further ahead in this article, I make a related comment about how to overcome such gap, and how to achieve the related targets by 2030.

Source author: Massimiliano Lombardo m.lombardo@unesco.org

Need to correct this expression in the article --- The article here wrongly refers to "reductions in maternal health" in relation to the "considerable progress" made for "several important health indicators since 2000, (...)". The remaining part of the sentence should, instead, read like this: "such as reductions in maternal, neonatal and child mortality".

Source author: Massimiliano Lombardo m.lombardo@unesco.org

"migration and cross-border movement are not adequately addressed in risk reduction and management systems" --- Unfortunately, as stated by the above sentence of the article, this is true. Therefore, as regards Target 3.d, to strengthen the countries' capacity, it is necessary to establish relevant initiatives, which, unfortunately, in many cases are hindered by issues of political/ideological controversy, "national security" and "national sovereignty", which determine the difference between the actions of "simple diplomats" and those of the "science diplomats" (the former are "government officials" only; the latter could be enlightened government officials, but most commonly, in the case of SDG3, are not government officials, but national/international health researchers and other experts on public health with ability to access and advise the government officials). With reference to Brazil, for example, this is the case of the problems at the border with Venezuela, which generated several health-related issues.

Source author: Massimiliano Lombardo m.lombardo@unesco.org

not payment of staff -> migration --- In some - historically not highly understaffed in regional comparison- countries, staff is chronically not being paid, so emigrates to other countries. I saw this with Zimbabwe (mainly nurses) or DRCongo (doctors), where they go to Namibia which until recently had no own educational system, or South Africa. But this has also been true in Europe with Greece in the recent crisis (many came to Switzerland), and Poland where student study German or Scandinavian languages next to medicine and leave as soon as they can.

Source author: Katharina Beyer katharina.beyer@etu.unige.ch

Need of UN Member States to cooperate to ramp up the backbone of health infrastructure --- The text of the article here is perfect, very well put! (Un)fortunately, also given the COVID19 pandemic, UN Member States are starting to increasingly understand that working on/for global health issues means preventing the insurgence and/or spread of related health problems in their territories. But they still need to translate this into appropriate incentives (not only financial) to promote and accelerate Research and Development (R&D), which will involve working together to achieve, for example, the SDG9 targets.

Source author: Massimiliano Lombardo m.lombardo@unesco.org

By 2030 or later, achieving SDG3 targets is one of the top priorities of all countries --- Dear Muna, I tend to agree with you, but I would not be so worried about achieving SDG3 by 2030. As I had noted in the comments to the issues of Module 2, we need to look much more to the SDG targets and indicators than to the goal itself. If we, as UN Member States, will do that, we will be able to organize ourselves to achieve the targets in our own territories (first) and, at the same time (and not necessarily after that), cooperate and learn with other countries to promote science diplomacy, research and development to fill the gaps (measured and monitored by the respective SDG target indicators). But, here again, I reiterate that, for this to happen, UN Member States will need to promote a fully open and inclusive intercultural, ecumenic dialogue to go beyond national/regional/international differences and find common ground in terms of actions needed to achieve the targets. An example of what I mean is offered by Target 3.7 (By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes). Such Target involves achieving universal inter-cultural and inter-religious consensus about sexual and reproductive health AND rights, which will involve, for example, a consensus about the need to promote the dissemination of contraceptives. So, the consensus will also involve the ability of country governments to promote and achieve a match between individual and collective beliefs, values, rights and duties.

Source author: Massimiliano Lombardo m.lombardo@unesco.org

Exceptions to Consensus - reply to Patrick --- Brilliant observation, Patrick! But, unfortunately, the Security Council is still a legacy of the post-WW2 which the UN will not be able to change until there is a "consensus" to do it, which will need to include the WW2 "winners", the "losers" and the rest of the world.

Source author: Massimiliano Lombardo m.lombardo@unesco.org

Respond to inequities --- not only the fact to access vaccination programs, having these vaccines that are manufactured and approved by their origin manufacturing elsewhere. Some countries, partners in the COVAX, not allowing vaccines that are not manufactured in their own countries, this has changed now, but having these rules out and in the public, brought a lot of questioning of the vaccines taken so far and a lot of hesitation for those who did not take it yet.

Source author: Muna Zaqsaw zaqsaw.muna89@gmail.com

On point --- This reference just confirmed a previous point I made here. Countries raced to join this platform even during a national crisis for their own, but not to lose the 'soft power' they have in the international sphere. Quoting from the reference: 'ACT-A may be large in scale, but it suffers from the same shortcomings as countless previous global health initiatives', shows that these partners/donors since they are not all governments, have not been through this once only, but even when a global and ugly pandemic, hit us all this hard, they could not use the lessons learned from previous global health intitiatives to avoid the same shortcomings, because their focus is not on the impact, rather on the POWER. If these as diplomats, had to think smarter, not in different direction, they would have achieved both.

Source author: Muna Zaqsaw zaqsaw.muna89@gmail.com

OR --- in other words, a step closer to grasp the power, again. After a huge and unexpected impact on the biggest countries, to recover and focus on the national level, the international scene has been ignored a little while. Can we say that this for countries, might be the race for those who want to have the grasp of that soft power that we discussed in our first module (the US example during the Iraq war launching the Full bright and scholarships to international students?)

Source author: Muna Zaqsaw zaqsaw.muna89@gmail.com

Science for nerds --- I think this is a very important lesson learned not only for the public and governments but also for scientists. The stigma around science being only of those straight A students has to change, I am on individual who believes that science is for all, and having lower IQ people in the science field would definitely contribute to the success of the sector and its acceptance by the public. There is a huge gap in where science is located within the ecosystem, a topic we are discussing in this course, but also between two scientists perceive themselves. Which brings me back to my always point: Communication

Source author: Muna Zaqsaw zaqsaw.muna89@gmail.com

Can't agree more! --- indeed Patrick, a country like Jordan locked down its borders keeping its total cases to 6 and only when we opened borders and while the world overcame their first wave, we went back to square one. Thinking solos is no longer a way of thinking in a time of globalization.

Source author: Muna Zaqsaw zaqsaw.muna89@gmail.com

Achieving by when? --- We can think of possible solutions to achieve SDG3, but now looking closer at the impact of C-19 on the progress of SDG3, I am not sure what can be done to get it achieved by 2030. This delay, has impacted all countries not one more than the other, even those biggest and most resilient countries were impacted and need at least 3 years to recover and be able to assist others get over the destruction caused by the pandemic. In a parallel world, without C-19, I would say science based solutions that would have prevent the damage that happened if it interfered from the very beginning. Building trust between the people, political sphere and scientists way ahead would make it easier and faster for people to respond to solutions like the vaccine when a crisis is to happen. Keen to read other's thoughts on this.

Source author: Muna Zaqsaw zaqsaw.muna89@gmail.com

Making it to the targets --- A big question, however, knowing that in these countries financing is the key to come closer to achieving these goals, I would also make better and clearer communication on how to reach to these. Specialized committees to set out clear communications, best practices, and to review closely the performance of these countries and their use of finance. Close and frequent M&E is the answer.

Source author: Muna Zaqsaw zaqsaw.muna89@gmail.com

Understaffed and under-qualified --- Adding to it the fact that unfortunately, rural areas are not always equipped with the higher quality personnel who would love to move to the main city/capital with all the available resources rather than working with lower income and less career development opportunities, which by a result impact the brain drain issue dramatically.

Source author: Muna Zaqsaw zaqsaw.muna89@gmail.com

Supply vs Demand in Health sector in Jordan --- I could not but stop here to say, for a low-middle income country like mine (Jordan), pharmaceuticals are considered number one in the industrial sector in Jordan and the strongest, the economy relies hugely on this sector, however, this sector is focusing on the International (more specifically) the regional demand rather than the national one, because they won't have a market for a country with economic challenges like Jordan. It is a very difficult equation to workout and the government would take advantage of such sector, therefore there are no incentives to focus more on the local demand. Here, politics has to come on the way of science and scientists have to be diplomats to be able to meet their goals and remain in the market as long as they can.

Source author: Muna Zaqsaw zaqsaw.muna89@gmail.com

Exceptions to Consensus --- I am a great supporter of consensus. I am only wondering whether in case of emergency situations like a pandemics a consensual decision-making is the only possible way... it needs quite a long time to establish, and in crisis situations institutions have no time. By the way, for emergency situations, a global consensus is hardly reachable. It seems that access to health (and vaccines) needs a consensus of all UN nations, whereas the maintenance of peace and security is delegated to the security council... Is peace les important than health not to require the agreement of all UN members?

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

GREAT example indeed --- I find this multilateral cross-border surveillance system a very efficient way (scientifically speaking) of controling communicable diseases on the long run. I wonder if this can be expanded in other regions of the world. I am convinced that closing borders is not the solution to fight against pandemics, especially on the border of countries/regions which do extensively rely on cross-border exchange of workforce or goods (as Switzerland for instance).

Patrick Furrer 30-10-2021 9:05

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

national treatment --- This rule prevents countries from taking discriminatory measures on imports on the one hand, and to prevent countries from offsetting the effects of tariffs through non-tariff measures.

Source author: Mavis Tungulu mtungulu@gmail.com

agree --- National treatment (GATT Article III) stands alongside MFN treatment as one of the central principles of the WTO Agreement. Under the national treatment rule, Members must not accord discriminatory appropriate treatment between imports and like domestic products (with the exception of the imposition of tariffs, which is a border measure). The GATS and the TRIPS Agreement have similar provisions.

Source author: Mavis Tungulu mtungulu@gmail.com

Brexit a Political issue that became an economic issue --- The decision for Britain to leave the EU led to economic issue of the devaluation of the British Pound.

Source author: Mavis Tungulu mtungulu@gmail.com

Tourism promotion --- The Role of Economic Diplomacy is Expanding Tourism Promotion Opportunities for Developing Countries,

Source author: Mavis Tungulu mtungulu@gmail.com

Rating agency --- BRICS is becoming a force to be reckon with. In 2015 it established the development bank. The bank's mission is to raise funds for infrastructure and long-term development. The recent talk of BRICS establishing a rating agency has apparently caught the interest of investors, and experts believe that the planned establishment of the ratings agency will aid the BRICS nations' determinations to increase funds from capital markets and develop their bond markets

Source author: Matshedisa Emily Mokoena mokoenamati@gmail.com

SOE --- Agree with both of you. Most state-owned enterprises in South Africa have suffered major governance failures as a result of lax accountability, unnecessary politicization, and ambiguous objectives. Furthermore, state-owned enterprises appear to benefit from a favourable market position, which clearly hinders rather than promotes competition and economic growth. I believe that embassies should promote both, primarily because both provide employment, which has the potential to reduce poverty levels.

Source author: Matshedisa Emily Mokoena mokoenamati@gmail.com

Yes, China has called this 'dual circulation'... --- ...a fancy term to say that it will pay more attention to the domestic market, not just foreign trade....But behind the words, China still depends greatly on foreign trade and FDI....Consider, XJP is engaged in a vast PR campaign to prove his credentials for a Lifetime Presidentship, in the face of the pandemic, the massive and rising income disparity and a host of other problems....Till today, China has no Property Tax -- so the rich buy multiple apartments as capital assets for rapid price growth through housing inflation....Now they are talking about this Tax. I admire much that China has done, but don't buy into all they say....

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

You are completely right that the legal framework... --- ...is crucial. But my first task in this course is to focus on the PRACTICE of eco dip. Example: Exports depend on shipments, and delays at the port carry not just the added cost to business, but the danger that the 'transaction' cost will become too high, and foreign partners will shift elsewhere....One reason India has not been so prominent in 'Supply Chains' in Asia is the high cost of shipment, esp. the cost of delay....Imagine, at the ports of Dubai and Singapore, ships get an hour-by-hour berthing and departure time. And turnaround is sometimes 10 hours or less!!

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

Example of Nigeria --- This is a widely known fact that it is impossible to access certain services while living in Nigeria and sometimes extreme precautions/conditions are added to the most basic services both online and offline, diplomas' authentication, online payments (need authorization for the bank to make online payments, etc.), and so on.

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

Drug analogy --- To figure out the answer, stakeholders can take the example of drugs (originally harvested for good then quickly evolved to what we see and can no longer control). What lessons have law enforcement, countries, stakeholders and international cooperation have learned and which mistakes are we willing not to repeat? Here, both the sellers and the buyers are responsible...but to which extent are stakeholders willing to be realistic enough to agree upon what is legal and legitimate and the opposite. Tough mitigations ahead...

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

IoUT --- @Eduardo Sorry I laughed out loud at the title! It was a great one! On another note, you are making a super valid point about the usefulness of all those connectivities. As someone that still logs in my passwords manually, I have always found IoT especially in domestic set-ups (smart houses for example) a bit too extreme.

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

Definition --- A definition I found interesting is the following: Cybercrime are illicit activities that use technologies of information, such as computers, software, electronic means, internet, or others, as means but also as targets.

I think it's interesting that cybercrime uses the electronic technologies as a mean to obtain a benefit not linked to the technology, but also as a target in itself.

Source author: Guillaume Michel Blin gmichel@sre.gob.mx

Dark till the last mile --- As @Bennette explained, the dark web is just one part of the "value chain", there are also the dark networks offline to ensure the activities and "real-life" transactions go smooth and delivery happens as anonymously and unproblematically as online...

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

same? --- I would have thought that cybercriminals had common denominator (causing harms whether directly or indirectly) but not necessarily the same purpose of earning money. If we had to figure out a "same purpose" if we can call it that way, it would likely be "gaining power". And that power in a broad sense can be exchanged/bargained for money or more money, personal/political satisfaction (getting the upper hands over an enemy, etc.), you name it.

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

The new --- For sure, criminals would take any opportunity but isn't it a bit tone deaf to say covid-19 brings nothing new to cybercrime while it has created an unprecedented context of highly advanced technologies, people moving from more secure digital environment (offices) to more digitally vulnerable set-ups (homes)? Not to mention, that those changes happen globally at the same time, unlike a natural disaster, political unrest or Olympic games? I think here the point is the synchronicity of changes happening at the same time at a global level and the high dependence on technologies (hospitals, research centers, etc.).

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

lol --- People still unfortunately have to step into Bank branches in my country, but working now for a fintech, we were recently laughing at regulatory headaches while wondering how outdated it was compared to how fraudsters just needed nowadays to just move few fingers to cause wrecks... lol

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

Would be worth it use tor for all our online activities? --- Tor sounds great. So, why aren't we using it for daily tasks?

The Tor's network traffic jump from one node to another node as results seems slower. The reason why we do not use it is to watch a video on Youtube or streaming. However, I believe is worth it when we are handling sensitive data.

Some people save their login password in their browser just to "save" time, I can not imagine them choosing privacy over speed.

Do you consider that force the use of tor will help with the privacy and stop cybercrime?

Source author: Alan Kaheri Chavez Castro itsupportirl@sre.gob.mx

Challeges --- @Guilaume It is a huge and daunting challenge for law enforcement to deal with these dark web issues. However cooperation and effective collaboration between all the key stakeholders from police officers to lawyers and legal experts to judges and of course technical experts and the will and commitment of the political directorate will greatly assist in combating this issue. It has to be a collaboration

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

round business --- I've always wondered, as many others have, if hackers that initiate the attacks are the same than hackers who offer the protections. Put it simply, they infect you with a virus, so they can sell you the antivirus.

I understand this is much more complex, but it's interesting also to reflect on to what extent cybersecurity is also a business that auto feeds itself.

Source author: Guillaume Michel Blin gmichel@sre.gob.mx

Escalation --- I agree, however appropriate measures will never be enough as new technologies will bring new vulnerabilities, which might require new technologies opening new vulnerabilities. Security investments might escalate endlessly and will never be 100% secure.

Source author: Guillaume Michel Blin gmichel@sre.gob.mx

Digital humans --- As I imagine digital humans, they will be interacting with us and replacing real people in providing services, such as in banks, shops and others. Cybercriminals will be able to use these digital humans as proxies, luring us into giving information or doing actions while we believe these are people we can trust.

Source author: Guillaume Michel Blin gmichel@sre.gob.mx

Jurisdiction challenges --- Besides the technological challenges to identify criminals and criminal operations, another important challenge resides in the fact that internet has no borders and legislation vary from country to country, as well as the capacities of law enforcement agencies.

Which country would be competent when an operation has used networks/hubs located in different countries?

Source author: Guillaume Michel Blin gmichel@sre.gob.mx

Crime defintions --- @Eduardo. Great point. I recall working with an international legal expert on cybercrime matters and while reviewing some laws he informed me that there is a difference between technical and legal definitions and commented that many of the laws in this piece of legislation had legal definitions and not technical

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

Liability vs legislation --- @Scott. Can one be held liable in law if there is either no such law or loopholes in the law? Many persons and organizations escape prosecution due to technicalities in law and actual use such deficiencies to accomplish their objectives. Thus, vendors or persons may actually be aware of the impact of their product but use the legal loophole to act in their interest.

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

Accountability v- robot or programmer --- @Florence. Very interesting scenario. When seeking to determine responsibility or accountability, is it simply a binary relation or should there be intent, motive and what constitutes illegality? Was the robot aware of the illegality of the weapons? Did the programmer knowingly designed the code for theft or possibly to legitimately purchase a legal commodity which was used for an illegal purpose (like legitimate technology being used or exploited by bad actors for criminal activity? Should the vendor be charged for bad actors using good assets or technology for nefarious use?

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

Art reflects on our society... --- This is a very interesting project, surely an eye opener for many and a "safe" window to the darknet, as most people, I believe, would be scared to dive into the deep web. We prefer to leave it to the police.

As to the question if a robot can be jailed or hold accountable for buying illegal items on the darknet? I believe those items are not for the robot and it is not paying for it.... The owner or the programmer of the machine is responsible. Any other toughts ?

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

Car accidents --- Few years ago I participated in an insurance industry related conference where new technology was used to read modern cars' "black-boxes" and data stored in cars' integrated computers (recorded data few seconds before the accidents occurred)...What this new equipment has proved in Scandinavian countries was - that a lot of car accidents that previously were assumed to be just accidents, were in fact suicide cases....the new "data readers" uncovered that the drivers in fact accelerated before the critical moments (suicide attempts)...the new tech significantly changed the car accident statistics in the region...

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

particularly if legislation is not in place --- I should imagine this is particularly a problem if good legislation is not in place. And I wouldn't blame the vendor or online provider of services. Why expose themselves to liability in the absence of an effective legal framework for proper litigation and/or prosecution of the matter?

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

cry me a river (if cybersecurity risk assessment isn't undertaken) --- This takes us back to our discussion last week. Cry me a river if a company doesn't undertaken an appropriate cybersecurity risk assessment (of its own vulnerability) and is then hacked with significant financial and customer trust consequences.

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

shipment of the illegal items --- Ok so you can buy the illegal items on the dark web. But they still have to be shipped. This is where customs enforcement (and training) comes in. Customs agencies which have traditionally been revenue focused must increasingly be on the lookout for illegal item shipments (also known as smuggling).

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

interesting implications for export control --- This has interesting implications as well for export control. For example, in the area of dual-use equipment (equipment in the nuclear, chemical and biological fields that can be used for peaceful as well as for weapons applications) how can we control the export of files that aren't the dual-use equipment items themselves but the digital instructions for them?

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

Dog Day Afternoon --- I'm reminded of the 1970s film Dog Day Afternoon where there are a series of bank robberies. It seems so quaint now - I can't even remember the last time I stepped into a bank branch.

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

Tor --- If the Tor browser has this level of security to almost make one’s existence anonymous while surfing, why is it not used on the surface web to reduce the many criminal and illicit incidents that is so common at this level of the web?

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

Technology and hacking --- @Nikolov. Drones are already being used to facilitate political assassination. Add this technology to AI where travel routines of political actors are studied and tracked using some personal smart device using GPS technology. Technology has now made it possible to be innovative for both the common good and the darker side of humanity.

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

Dark markets --- @Nikolov. To ship these guns or drugs or any such “products” there is a network of facilitators from law enforcement personnel to immigration officers to men on high places to judges etc etc. that’s why when the criminal enterprise is busted, many “well dressed and respectable” officials are caught. These officials may even have access to the dark web using fake names to remain anonymous!!!

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

Political assassinations by hacking smartCars --- It will be possible for state sponsored cybersecurity experts or even private hacker-groups or individuals to hack a smart-connected car of a foreign or domestic politician/high profile target and execute a political assassination....

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Centralised crypto platforms --- I'm not sure if the absolute privacy and reducing dependency as goals were achieved. Today ordinary citizens (not IT-tech experts) can buy crypto mostly on centralised institutional crypto-exchanges (as Coinbase, Etoro, Binance etc.) which in fact act as regular brokers with KYC processes and regulatory oversight, so basically nothing is private (to open an account you need ID/Passport/Address). Moreover, global banks started to buy/hold/ and trade with Bitcoin and stronger crypto-currencies, thus, in some way these banks (together with crypto-whales who hold large amounts of cryptocurrencies) "hijacked" the ideals for reduced dependency and alternative currencies - not controlled by institutions.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Tor vs Speed --- @Vlada, will the 5G make the slow speed of Tor thing of the past? Tor browsing is currently much slower than browsing with "normal" open internet browsers.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Surfing the darkweb --- @Vlada, thank you for the video and the darkweb essentials :) ....Is it possible to be held accountable just for browsing/surfing through the illegal markets on the darkweb and/or accessing their webpage...Obviously law enforcement now have their own ways to track & detect who uses TOR and to go deeper and discover what for...-as we see from the last couple of cases in mainstream media. Thank you.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Dark markets --- I don't get how the shipment is made...Ok, you will pay for a gun in cryptocurrency to a seller from USA and then what, they will ship the gun via post :) ? Obviously not...I don't understand how they ship illegal stuff across the globe...

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Question --- @Vlada, can you please elaborate what is meant by illegal medical research...is it unethical human experimentation that is forbidden in most countries or something else? Thank you.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Way of life --- @Phannarith, I agree with the factors you list. In addition, I believe that some hackers or group of hackers (involved in cybercrime) in fact do have a special way of life. They operate in a niche area that to ordinary people is unknown (coding, software development, hacking), they possess knowledge that helps them to easily go behind and above the laws and jurisdictions...many of them maybe see themselves as modern Robin Hoods...others probably have patriotism or national romanticism or other ideological motives - especially the ones working for state security / military cyberwarfare teams and like.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Children & tech --- We supply children from early age with tech that is designed mostly for use by adults (as PCs, smartphones, social networks and so on)...then, it is us to blame for making them exposed to the unrestricted internet and as a consequence more vulnerable to online predators...Maybe the usage of PCs and internet for children up to a certain age should be restricted only to software needed for school, research and learning or entertainment software/games designed for children...There is probably smart enough software to automatically detect if a PC or smartphone or other tech device is used by minors so in such case to automatically enter in a "child mode" with limited capabilities and access to the internet (unrestricted access to internet information that is suitable for children). Why such software or prevention apps are not widespread? Do you go along with this idea?

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Additional protection --- Why all banks or payment processors do not implement mandatory 2FA for all credit cards when shopping online!? Most banks upgraded their security policies the recent years and implemented 2FA but obviously not all of them. I also think that credit cards are already becoming obsolete...I've recently watched a documentary about bigger Chinese cities where for several years they don't use credit cards at all but depend on other methods of payment (Alipay and others...) and bio-metric scanning by advanced cameras.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Internet of Useless things --- @Bennette, really good article, I've read it and I recommend reading it to the other participants....Probably there is no easy way to stop designers/developers of "useless tech gadgets" as there always will be a number of people proud of their "inventions" regardless of their usefulness to the wider audience. Sometimes such gadgets are even released as fun...However, this overproduction of useless tech also uses resources that are limited...Maybe the circular economy movement that is gaining momentum across the globe will succeed to reduce the production of these not so important devices and gadgets.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

who defines legal responsibility? --- It is said that "good" people like whistleblowers or political dissidents who wish to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation or even death might use the dark web for such anonymity. In such cases, "legitimate" and legally approved organizations or states are likely to support these "good" people and pay for their services; Yet these whistleblowers become targets and subject to injury, hurt, covert actions to silence them or even death. How would law enforcement treat these persons who are paying for these services who may be seen as subversives or anti-state?

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

emerging technologies --- Digital humans - this technology can actually seek the creation of an insensitive, cruel and emotionless entity using AI and can actually be given simulated human intelligence coupled with knowledge of the human genome characteristics to become a lethal electronic weapon in cyberspace. Sounds fictional but we once thought of fictional characters 30 years ago and now its reality.

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

There is always a doubt about their methodologies --- One always has to take these estimates with caution indeed (as we warned in the course materials). The conservative estimates seem to be rather low because of latency but of course one can question the methodologies of McAfee and likes because they have vested interest in these growing numbers. There is no perfect methodology for evaluating the losses from cybercrime: we can't fully trust these figures but we can assume the real figures are indeed high in any case.

Source author: Tatiana Tropina tatiana.tropina@gmail.com

Internet of dumb things --- I remember a CISO of a big telecom companies said: when you make two dumb people talking to each other will the conversation get them smart? No. So, why do we call dumb devices that lack basic security features but can communicate to each other "smart devices"?

Source author: Tatiana Tropina tatiana.tropina@gmail.com

motivation? --- I think these are rather factors that facilitate the development and growth of cybercrime than motivation (to me motivation would refer to the motives of cybercriminals, which can be financial gain, but also other motives like political, personal revenge, etc). What I can add to this list is: - the availability of technologies and also services, e.g. "cybercrime as service" - the ability to reach to/target countless a large number of victims across borders (relates to ubiquitous connectivity) - for some crimes: ability to generate big harm or high profits by stealing small sums and go unnoticed. To illustrate: there were cases when the banking malware stole very small sums from each account of the victim, but due to the high number of victims the criminals generated large amounts. In a nutshell, instead of robbing a bank and stealing 100000 EUR at once one can steal 1 EUR from 100000 account with a less risk to get noticed and reported.

Source author: Tatiana Tropina tatiana.tropina@gmail.com

criminal operations --- We can agree that cryptocurrencies do have its many benefits for financial institutions and conducting of online activities for the common good; yet it can be manipulated by the bad actors and making things very complicated for investigators to follow online money laundering, fraud and other illegal financial transactions. How do we mitigate against this dual actions? How is the role of law enforcement and international law assist in this endeavor?

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

smarter things --- In this age of technology, everything seems to be smart - Smart Phones, SmartTV, Smart City, Smart Village and then we integrate Connected Cities. If every "dumb" thing can be made smart and we get all these "Smarts" gadgets connected, aren't we facilitating additional areas of vulnerabilities in an already dangerous world? What prevents a dark web enthusiast making contact to the IP address of my Smart watch?

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

dependency --- @Eduardo. Great question re the value of these digital currencies. In hindsight, its value may be compared to how the Euro Dollar started - it was the first currency which was traded as an actual currency like the US dollar but was valued even higher on the World's Stock Exchanges than existing currencies at the time. Why? Most likely there was the need for an alternative to the US dollar as well as the need for a harmonized currency unit for the Euro-zone countries. Hence the Euro was being traded without it being an actual currency at the time. Similarly, netzines may believe that we have our own space (cyberspace) and hence we need a strong and harmonious currency (crypto-currency like Bitcoin or Ethereum, etc). As the population of netizens increase and consent to this currency, the value skyrockets!!!

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

crime definitions --- I am not sure if the current definitions of crimes in national criminal laws could be enough to encompass cybercrimes, because at the end of the day frauds, robbery, sabotage, terrorist attacks and so on are crimes already established in the laws, which could happen in the real or the cyberworld. For example in Mexico, the laws applicable to cybercrimes are the federal and local criminal laws plus the federal law on personal data protection. Maybe the specificity of cybercrimes will be more in the instrumental aspect (tools employed) or the subjective aspects such as the intentions, premeditation or technical preparedness to commit the crimes?

Source author: Eduardo Ruiz Mazon eruizm@sre.gob.mx

GDP equivalent --- This amount is almost equivalent to the yearly GDP of Mexico, which is among the first 20 economies in the world. I do not know how these companies make such estimates, but being McAfee an antivirus vendor, could be possible that they inflate a little bit such figures?

Source author: Eduardo Ruiz Mazon eruizm@sre.gob.mx

internet of useless things? --- Maybe this situation could be a good occasion to reflect on how necessary and useful is, that all things, devices, appliances and so on, are smart and connected to internet. Average users of Alexa, smart vacuum cleaners, or illumination environments do not know the technical intricacies of these technologies (for bad or good), but developers should know that the more connections to internet, the more vulnerable they are for hackers or attackers.

Source author: Eduardo Ruiz Mazon eruizm@sre.gob.mx

dependency on centralised financial institutions --- For me is still not very clear where the value from the digital currencies come from. I understand that there is the scarcity, supply/demand and work value factors involved in the blockchain algorithms and data mining developed by the participants, but still there is not a fiat institution or agreement that establishes that a bitcoin, for example, is equivalent to 3 days of data mining or blockchain programming. So far, people buy bitcoins with real money in shops or agencies dedicated to that for the purpose of buying real things or investment in the future course of the currencies. Does that mean that it is only a game of speculation or mere exchange value involved? Does that not increase the risk of recurrent crises? Is also cybersecurity vulnerabilities a factor to determine the value of cryptocurrencies?

Source author: Eduardo Ruiz Mazon eruizm@sre.gob.mx

The KEIP and the COVID-19 pandemic --- It is remarkable how Australia has played a primary role in this initiative to help Kiribati improve the quality of basic education. I learned that the KEIP program has three main phases. First, building policies (AUD $13 million). Second, learning outcomes for 1 to 4 school years (AUD$22 million). Phase III, improving learning outcomes in basic education (years 1 to 9). The KEIP III ended on 30 September 2020. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the delays that this crisis has caused at an international level, how will the governments of Kiribati and Australia be able to apply this program to improve the quality of basic education David?

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

Who in the Global South is not an admirer of SA? --- But you folks are doing a great deal of harm to yourselves, through mis-governance, compounded by bad leadership.....Yes, we all live in Glass Houses, and face our own self-made ills. But SA is an icon for all of us.

Source author: Kishan S Rana kishanrana@gmail.com

Investors putting out of SA --- Yes, capital outflows from South Africa will affect not only South Africa but also its neighbouring countries. Some of the suggestions for resolving the situation concern South Africa's public and private sector commitment to work together to attract more incoming investment and develop the domestic economy.

Source author: Matshedisa Emily Mokoena mokoenamati@gmail.com

TOR --- An interesting discussion is also what happens when a cyber criminal is using a system such as TOR, in which our computers are being used, without our knowledge, to facilitate the illicit activity. Could we be seen as complicit for such crimes?

Source author: Guillaume Michel Blin gmichel@sre.gob.mx

Bilateral agreements and extradition --- Is it possible for cyber criminals to analyze the current global situation of signed bilateral and multilateral agreements and then with tech and software solutions (like VPN or somth. else) to launch cyber attacks with IP addresses from countries that either don't have any bilateral agreements or do not extradite citizens to foreign countries...So, such countries can become safe havens for launching attacks...(lets take North Korea as an example)...

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Cyberspace and ideas --- @Nikolov Actually cyberspace is its own universe and ecosystem with behaviors that are unique to it though there are synergies with what we call the traditional universe. In that context there can be exclusive laws for such a unique ecosystem making allowances for the “physical” world where necessary. ICANN, the International Corporation for Internet Addresses Names and Numbers is an international organization which is based in California USA managing all Country Level domains with legal jurisdiction for all countries. Because of its international nature, countries like Russia and China questioned how international countries can be legally governed with Californian laws. The same can be applied in cyberspace that the international nature of Cybersecurity should be governed by international laws for such an universal entity

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

Cyberspace - ideas --- I'm questioning myself, is it possible (or realistic to expect) the Internet to be accepted as an universal "territory" similar to what "international waters" and/or "space" are...and based on this, what the implications will be....will it be easier to adopt an unified legislation, investigation procedures and cooperation....!? What I mean is - states not to have sovereignty over the internet...I know this will be seen as controversial idea to many...but, lets just share different thoughts and ideas.

Source author: Vladimir Nikolov vladimir984@yahoo.com

Bilateral agreements and extradition --- If countries do not have MLST agreements or it is perceived that MLATs are slow in expediting prosecution, can’t countries who permit criminals to use their territories for criminal activities be prosecuted under internationally recognized conventions or laws? Can’t I use ILO convention to prosecute if I do not have sufficient local labor laws enacted? Therefore it may be possible to use international law to deal with these cross border criminal activities in the absence of specific local legislation. As for countries who act as “safe havens” I do not believe they are that safe if the rest of the world act together

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

this will be an ongoing, long-term process --- Having worked with law enforcement, border control authorities, national authorities of various stripes (involved with biological, chemical and nuclear materials management and authorisations), this will be a long-term process with ongoing train-the-trainer, table top, roundtable, awareness-raising and capacity-building activities, workshops and exercises. No doubt about it.

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

initiatives --- A very interesting point. The private sector, especially the Big Tech companies, should be involved in the international regulations process from the beginning, to know first of all their expertise and command of the technologies at the global level, but also to incorporate them in impartial settings such as those conformed by agreements reach by sovereign nation-states. In this case caveats or conditions imposed by these companies, for example to provide assistance in investigations to countries which -for their ways of interpretation- “honor baseline principles of privacy, human rights and due process” could be avoided.

Source author: Eduardo Ruiz Mazon eruizm@sre.gob.mx

pursue of consensus --- That is common at the UN level, and not very encouraging if we consider antecedents such as the conference on disarmament, which has been discussing its agenda for decades without reaching a consensus. However, it could be also essential for global issues such as cybercrime. It seems that an important axis of the discussion is to reach a balance between those who want stronger regulations for the behavior of users and those who want stronger regulations for providers of services that enable the networks under which crimes can occur.

Source author: Eduardo Ruiz Mazon eruizm@sre.gob.mx

implementation --- Again the same point. What should be first, the commitment or the capacity to implement it? At the individual level, each person is considered accountable for its acts, but at the international level it is more complicated. Being the UN Charter an almost universal instrument in aspects like the basic human rights, that can be an incentive for the political will of signatories, but when it comes to the technical aspects of implementation the situation is different. Another incentive could be a UN process which, from the beginning, is open to everyone and works, for example, from the basis of recommendations adopted by the UNGA, for example the GGE?

Source author: Eduardo Ruiz Mazon eruizm@sre.gob.mx

negotiation process --- It is very common to see this kind of positions among countries negotiating treaties, and maybe is not only a matter of procedure. Even when in substance many countries would agree on the main provisions of an instrument, there are specificities that need to be discussed, for example the individual conditions of countries to adopt commitments. In the case of cybercrimes the technical preparedness to enforce a commitment could be essential, so this could be a challenge for the global community. Would be for example not relevant to develop technical cooperation projects, as a condition for some countries to access to this kind of technical treaties?

Source author: Eduardo Ruiz Mazon eruizm@sre.gob.mx

yes --- Indeed, good point! But many consider this one as a part of "procedural law" (cooperation in investigations).

Source author: Tatiana Tropina tatiana.tropina@gmail.com

Another Radio promoting the dissemination of understanding and peace --- In Central African Republic, Radio Ndeke Luka is the most popular and listened to media. This radio took the succession of Radio Minurca, the United Nations radio in CAR.

The aim of the radio is to allow the audience to better understand the stakes of the reconstruction of the country by accompanying the democratic process.

Source author: María Romero Pardo sohi1z1@hotmail.com

Accountability to Affected Population --- Social media may have enhanced the accountability to affected population through the comments/DM/likes feedback system. It also forced organisations to move from complex language to simplistic and concise language. I'm sure we have all read five page emails that could have been a single paragraph, unfortunately in the humanitarian world we often fall in the trap of talking and writing too much.

Source author: Marwa Shabbar marwashabbar@yahoo.com.au

Example: Technical assistance in prisons --- In context X (sorry I can't be specific) the authorities submitted its new prison plan for ICRC comment prior to building stage because they trusted ICRC's expertise in detention and wanted to ensure that they were meeting the minimum international standards. The prison was state of the art, everything operated on motion sensors etc. The recommendation was to design a less technologically advanced system because there was no government budget for maintenance or specialised engineer to follow up on system failures if they occured. This trust and reliance on expertise ensured that international standards for detention would be met and maintained for many years to come.

Source author: Marwa Shabbar marwashabbar@yahoo.com.au

the slow reaction in large organisations --- Decisions in large organisations are painstaking and slow processes. When a change happens it requires a rapid response but that is often difficult to achieve in large organisations thus by the time a decision is made then the momentum would be lost and the new actor has already determined their priorities and agenda.

Source author: Marwa Shabbar marwashabbar@yahoo.com.au

clusters and system failures --- Supposedly the UN cluster system was designed to resolve this rush and overloading of the system. However, it's doubtful to what extent this is in fact successful. MSF have publicly criticised the cluster system as a failure and maybe in places like Haiti it was, but I still think that it has come a long way since then.

Source author: Marwa Shabbar marwashabbar@yahoo.com.au

Fragile States --- This may be particularly problematic in fragile States and transitional governments where the situation is both volatile and dynamic, thus shifting priorities on almost a daily basis.

Source author: Marwa Shabbar marwashabbar@yahoo.com.au

Trust --- This is the first step before you forward in doing anything. Even in our cultures things like marriages, local agreements are based on trust. So trust is key in everything

Source author: John Lobor john.lobor@ssdredcross.org

Radio --- The UN Radio Miriya in South Sudan is playing a crucial role in dissemination of the peace agreement to the general public . Good case of how local radios can create awareness in the population on matters of national interest.

Source author: John Lobor john.lobor@ssdredcross.org

extraordinary changes --- This sometimes happens due a number of reasons which include change in leadership, Policy of non recognition of the opposite party describing them as criminals who only need to be eliminated and cannot be talked to. As HD continue the dialogue and eventually they will listen although it is time consumption.

Source author: John Lobor john.lobor@ssdredcross.org

Sphere standard --- I haven't seen it mentioned yet but they are such a great tool to use when ensuring minimum standard's are met and would be a useful tool in HD discussions.

Source author: Catherine Gearing cathgearing@gmail.com

Alliances --- In matters of Public concern forming alliances is always a good approach as you stated. This brings in the issue of combining resources, expertise and the comparative advantage of each other .

Source author: John Lobor john.lobor@ssdredcross.org

Joint monitoring --- In some situations undertaking joint monitoring can be beneficial to re-engage committment, especially if the participating parties can hear first hand the benefits or needs.

Source author: Catherine Gearing cathgearing@gmail.com

Due diligence --- Due diligence comes in here.

Source author: John Lobor john.lobor@ssdredcross.org

Acid attacks on women. --- As acid attacks has become a global issue, can it also be classified as terrorist attacks and under which branch of International law ?

Source author: John Lobor john.lobor@ssdredcross.org

obstacles to implementation --- A number of factors can derail the implementation of agreements . Case in question the revitalized peace agreement in South Sudan is moving at ''snail'' speed due to a number of factors: agreement seen as imposed by Regional powers, lack of full political commitment, political defections, lack of trust of the parties to the agreement , lack of resources for the implementation of the agreement despite promises from the International community and continues factional fighting . .

Source author: John Lobor john.lobor@ssdredcross.org

Would an evaluation not also be valuable? --- I think evaluations can be really beneficial to access the process undertaken and the outcomes achieved. It could be really useful to understand how it could be done better, or capture some best practice approaches and also learn for future engagement and diplomacy.

Source author: Catherine Gearing cathgearing@gmail.com

Good communication to maintain trust --- Delays can have a negative impact on trust with affected populations and they may wonder if implementation will ever actually happen. This is where it can be important to maintain consistent transparent communications to ensure everyone is on the same page and has the same info/understanding. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we had some significant delays on the delivery on certain items required to progress a project and had to keep going back to the community with updates.

Source author: Cara Ceriani caraceriani@hotmail.com

Better self esteem --- The advocacy done by Care is a good example of HD Advocacy to reduce the vulnerability of women and restore their dignity in Society. Thousands of women especially in developing countries face similar challenges as there is no regulatory frame work to protect them.

Source author: John Lobor john.lobor@ssdredcross.org

strong humanitarian partner --- This is built on long term HD engagement based on evidence , trust, transparent and accountability and strong network of volunteers across the country who are able to deliver as well. This is a good example of Auxiliary role to Public authorities that NS plays in support of vulnerable population.

Source author: John Lobor john.lobor@ssdredcross.org

Use of social media as feedback mechanism --- I also want to add that many politicians often use social media to test the waters, as they will get almost immediate responses and feedback on their proposed policies from constituents and non-constituents as well. I suppose this can fit into ‘public advocacy’ strategy and may be related to what Shane was referring to. Companies can also do this before launching new products.

Source author: Ivy Susanti ivysusanti@gmail.com

Radio --- Yes, and very often it is a vulnerable group such as the elderly who still listen and gain a lot of information from the Radio. There are instances where Radio is deployed for information dissemination, but I would advocate it can be used more, especially given the audience it speaks to.

Source author: Shane Wilkes swilkes4129@gmail.com

Time frame for implementation. --- it is critical to develop the implementation matrix which defines the time frames and who is responsible for what. We have seen cases where the un timely flow of resources for the implementation of the agreement has caused conflict , mistrust and blame game among partners .

Source author: John Lobor john.lobor@ssdredcross.org

Are minutes suitable for the recording of informal agreements? --- In many ways, humanitarian diplomacy necessitates wisdom. One of these events involves recording informal agreements in such a way that it does not attract the attention of the persons involved and causes them distress. Is it advisable to use minutes as a tool for recording in this case?

Source author: Wossene Hailu Wossene_Hailu@wvi.org

Mitigating delays in implementation --- Because humanitarian work contexts are inherently dynamic, every second has the ability to change the impact of a certain activity. Humanitarian diplomacy should consider the value of time in this regard and endeavor to make points on time. When delays occur, humanitarian diplomats must move quickly to minimize the impact.

Source author: Wossene Hailu Wossene_Hailu@wvi.org

Sense of Ownership in the implementation agreements --- Engagement and involvement are the primary sources of a sense of ownership among the participants to the agreement. Humanitarian diplomacy should ensure that all sides are fully engaged and participate. This will undoubtedly ensure the implementation's success and has a potential to reduce the obstacles.

Source author: Wossene Hailu Wossene_Hailu@wvi.org

Social vs traditional media --- Unlike traditional media (newspaper, radio, TV etc) whose main purpose is to inform and educate, social media is mainly used to share information that promote interaction in real time with our audience and followers. One trick I learned from communication studies is to post a short message as ‘teaser’, ‘breaking news’ or ‘sneak preview’ with link to a blog, another social media, or other longer information sources, in a way that will attract response, reaction, or ‘Like’ from the cyberspace, and drive website traffic to the initial sources – this is also how people earn their living from social media. It’s more or less similar to what we do now with HT entries. But you also pointed out, Shane, that not many people have the knowledge on how to optimise use of social media to achieve their objectives.

Source author: Ivy Susanti ivysusanti@gmail.com

Social media & short attention span --- Good points, Shane & Gerhard. The word limitation is because our attention span has become a lot shorter than a goldfish (human: 8 seconds, goldfish: 9 seconds – according to Microsoft Corp) as compared to the older generation. As users, we can only adjust our approach and way of working and continue to learn how to spread messages effectively via social media.

Source author: Ivy Susanti ivysusanti@gmail.com

Revamping Agreements after leadership change --- In instances where there a leadership change has taken place, strengthening original Agreement may relay on the stakeholders involved earlier in negotiating the Agreement. The media and think Thanks are valuable here!

Source author: Taban Sabir Alahai taban.sabir@ssdredcross.org

No proper records --- when a country's leadership is changed, sometimes those close or involved in earlier agreements flee for their lives or have no access to handover government unfinished businesses. This sometimes impacts negatively on implementation of agreements entered in with a country's former leadership.

Source author: Taban Sabir Alahai taban.sabir@ssdredcross.org

Monitoring implementation --- during the regular meetings stipulated in an agreement, documentation of learning on issues that emerging and affecting implementation should be evaluated and actions taken or mitigated. Sometimes a context may evolve that may make counterpart have change of mind on implementation.

Source author: Taban Sabir Alahai taban.sabir@ssdredcross.org

Helping while building trust and gaining access --- This campaign had a very good impact for the population while it reinforced the trust and the image of the LRCS. Very important the fact that government's impossibility and inaction to respond to the IDPs situation reinforced even more the role of the LRCS promoting its access to the population in needs.

Source author: María Romero Pardo sohi1z1@hotmail.com

Twitter --- I agree to that, e.g. to squeeze a complex issue in a 280 characters message has limitations and carries risks!

Source author: Gerhard Tauscher gerhardtoday@gmail.com

SWE vs Bangladesh --- Pretty surprising that in a country, like Sweden, which is seen widely as a welfare state, irregular migrants did not have access to the public health care system. That is has been used in a neighbor country is nice , but to me its an example which show how difficult it is to advocate for e.g the Rohingya in Bangladesh to have a similar access to health care.

Source author: Gerhard Tauscher gerhardtoday@gmail.com

SPHERE --- I assume that the NRCS used the Sphere standards to convince the Nepal government that some minimum standard needs to be kept. A good example how a internationally recognized initiative can support humanitarians everywhere.

Source author: Gerhard Tauscher gerhardtoday@gmail.com

max growth --- Maybe we should set a maximum growth rate of International assistance a country can absorb in a health way!

Source author: Gerhard Tauscher gerhardtoday@gmail.com

Another point --- Another point I would add is that while the goals are common and everyone has their own agenda, the states are in very different positions to implement the SGDs - most mentioned is the difference between Global North and Global South.

Source author: Pavlina Ittelson pavlinai@diplomacy.edu

offline vs online --- I think must of these actions are reflections of social issues we have on the offline world. We hope that addressing these challenges on the cyber space can solve their existence on offline world, by the time.

Source author: Muna Hemoudi mhemoudi@gmail.com

individual security --- ideally, individuals security is national security, not vice versa, and must be prioritized when working on addressing cyber security challenges.

Source author: Muna Hemoudi mhemoudi@gmail.com

Cyber Army --- Such statistics make governments feel so vulnerable, that they recruit cyber army to emphasize their own agenda.

Source author: Muna Hemoudi mhemoudi@gmail.com

Javelin thrower or all-round sportsman? --- Do you agree with Bergson, John? I certainly agree that there is often. barb in humour, which is why I suggest caution, but also see humour as playing other roles: solidarity, bridging, defusion of tension... What is your view?

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

True --- Yes, this part of the job is usually critized and misunderstood from the outside. But the key words here are "part of the job". Sometimes, one goes to a cocktail with a specific "mission": to get to know the newly-arrived legal advisor of certain country, to ask someone about what their Ministry thinks of X or Y matter, to make a position clear even by only being present. And all this fall, I think, under the category of "We know that they know that we know what we are all doing here", but it is just part of the dynamics and the more relaxed environment actually helps.

Source author: Desirée Colomé Menéndez dcolome@sre.gob.mx

It takes two indeed --- I agree. Just reading Biden's responses makes him look as completely unpolite and unpresidential himself. However, a more complete analysis asks for the whole exchange to be presented, in order to see Trump's reactions and/or statements that motivated such replies. Not that this will make Biden's statements more polite, but they will offer more context. I know I said before that fighting back is not necessarily the best answer, but in certain occassions, maybe that is all you have left given the insistance of the oponent in attacking you.

Source author: Desirée Colomé Menéndez dcolome@sre.gob.mx

I am not so sure --- I wonder if personal or ad hominem attacks truly are more effective at the end. I am guessing this will also depend on context and the intended audience. If a president dismisses critics by using personal attacks, he may gain some points with his/her base, but I would like to think that experts, analyists and even diplomats will not buy the argument. In the case of Farage's insults against van Rumpuy, given the environment and context in which they were expressed, they were not effective. In fact, I think they did more damage to Farage himself, after seeing the reactions of others, such as the President of the EU Parliament, while van Rumpuy, in my opinion, saved face by "taking the punches" in a diplomatic and institutional way, instead of jumping straight to attack back.

Source author: Desirée Colomé Menéndez dcolome@sre.gob.mx

People like to understand --- I agree , notably with the third one. People prefer a person talking clearly about a subject even if he/she is inaccurate than an expert presenting the same subject in a complicated manner. The second one makes them feel excluded.

Source author: Blanca Jimenez bjimenez@sre.gob.mx

te use of silence by diplomats vs scientist --- Some differences? The silence is used by scientists to simply say they have nothing to say .<br /> A scientist could keep repeating, even loudly, what he/she thinks simply because they know thy are right

Many of the subtilities mentioned during the course about silence make me think , that I should be more careful when keeping silence.

Source author: Blanca Jimenez bjimenez@sre.gob.mx

You both are right --- Arbol torcido jamás su tronco endereza

Source author: Blanca Jimenez bjimenez@sre.gob.mx

reply --- Well, it turn out that the person after reacting positively (as we knew it because she spoke to a colleague), manage to do it him/her way....She/he understood, but decided to act in a wrong way. Therefore, I will take next time the opportunity when using this technique to address directly the person but not in presence of the rest of the group.

Source author: Blanca Jimenez bjimenez@sre.gob.mx

What abou the same behaviour at work --- Nice example In many occasions, the people who know more of a subject want to be the leader of the group. Nut not all are capable of leading as simply they do not know how to deal with conflicts, are not active listeners and do not use a diplomatic language to address the rest of the team. Many of this “not capable leaders” in fact turn to occupy the lead position with unpredictable results . All societies tend to offer the lead position to those that know more.

Source author: Blanca Jimenez bjimenez@sre.gob.mx

2030 Agenda True Universal Values? --- After reading the "What does the 2030 Agenda says about universal values", I understood why I do not like it, This agenda was approved by 195 (or more countries), all developed countries included, right? Then, after having signed and constantly being pushing other countries to meet certain goals, who can Developed countries behave in the way they are doing it in regard to the universal access of vaccines, the recognition (EUROPE notably) on which vaccines are accepted or not ....

Source author: Blanca Jimenez bjimenez@sre.gob.mx

cocktails and bussines trips --- And alternative to cocktails are business trips, even for jobs that develop in office there is always room to look for escapes where you can bond with people, even if it is for an hour. Personally, I find this more productive than cocktails where you are forced to bond

Source author: Blanca Jimenez bjimenez@sre.gob.mx

BIden nicer than Trump? --- Looking first at Biden's comments it seems Biden is a harsh and impolite person. Once, I saw the video of the Trump-Biden debate, it is clear that Trump is also harsh and impolite. He (Trump) managed to disequilibrate Biden for him to react the way he did. However, I conclude that Biden us a harsh and impolite person anyway because he could have reacted in a different way. So far, I've seen only two person that manage to distract/dialogue is an "upper" discussion with Trump: President Trudeau from Canada and President Lopez Obrador from Mexico. Maybe both attended this course :) To dance Tango you need TWO persons

Source author: Blanca Jimenez bjimenez@sre.gob.mx

The Joke as Javelin --- How does humor play in the language of diplomacy? One of the significant contributors to our understanding of language and humor is Henri Bergson, a French writer, philosopher and diplomat, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1927.

Bergson was, the first to elaborate what came to be called a process philosophy, which rejected static values in favor of values of motion, change, and evolution. This is a practical contribution with implications to our study of Language as Action.

He is noted for his writing on war under the title “Meaning of War: Life & Matter in Conflict (London 1915). The Government of France sent Bergson as a special envoy on a diplomatic mission to help overcome America’s initial neutrality in the European conflict; and, to urge the Americans to enter the war, which it did on 6 April 1917. He subsequently worked with President Woodrow Wilson on the formation of the League of Nations.

Bergson’s contribution to our understanding of humor is contained in “Laughter: An Essay on the meaning of the Comic.” According to Bergson, “Laughter is, above all, a corrective. Being intended to humiliate, it must make a painful impression on the person against whom it is directed. By laughter, society avenges itself for the liberties taken with it. It would fail in its object if it bore the stamp of sympathy or kindness.”

Bergson’s approach to humor provides a counter, even controversial, viewpoint to this week’s study on the role of humor in language. He would deploy humor not merely as a barb, excluding the other, but as a javelin aimed at the heart.

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

"The map is not the territory" --- Thanks for this introduction to Korzybski and his theory of general semantics. You have mentioned it once or twice before and I wonder whether you teach it or write about it? It would be interesting to know how you apply it to your work and life.

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Bull in a china shop --- What a great three-part analysis, thank you Mamta!

Although I myself don't have a blood-lust, am not searching for a saviour or father figure, and have an irrational dislike of adjectives, I must admit to missing Trump because this L&D course was so much easier to illustrate during his presidency. Besides, I enjoyed the circus of news updates with their 'have you heard the latest Trumpism?!'.

There were no doubt many policy-related reasons why Trump was elected and supported, even though this constituency tended to keep a low profile.

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Uptake, deniability and greater directness --- Some people will not recognise an indirect criticism and others will certainly appeal to 'plausible deniability'. I suppose we become more and more direct as we see our coded message failing to get through. This is a good illustration of the need to monitor uptake.

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Great example! --- Thank you for this very interesting contribution and video clip, Mamta. So basically, once apart has been formed, all members have to conform. Even when invited to discuss issues and exchange opinions, they remain loyal to the party line. It is only when there is a transition of power that alternative policies can be aired.

A great example of the group being more important than the cause. Other participants are welcome to give further examples.

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Snow flakes generation in low income countries --- "They are 'poor little snowflakes' as they're easily upset. This happened because their parents, who came of age from the late 1960s, were anxious to protect them from threats, such as losing, failure and being called names. " I wonder how this applies to middle and low income countries, where certainly if snow flakes generation exist the percentage must be smaller than in developed ones.... Maybe another more universal example could be how norms vary between different cultures of a same country

Source author: Blanca Jimenez bjimenez@sre.gob.mx

Trump!! --- There is a reason why people pay to watch boxing matches, wrestling matches, and bull fighting (to mention three out of several) which are considered both as a sport and a performing art. But who are we kidding, at the core, most humans love a good take down and to see the weaker opponent be torn. It does not matter that there is pain, loss of blood, potential for debilitating long term damage and many a time, the ultimate, loss of life. We love it, cheer on and pay to watch. Trump provided this satisfaction to at least 74 million people who were made to believe it was not kosher to be nasty to another person. Suddenly, they were given a visual and a free front row seat to watch take down after take down by their leader and an indirect permit to allow their own suppressed nastiness to be out in the open. That is why the nastier he got the more support he got.

The other reason is that he portrays a 'daddy persona'. He makes his base feel he is their dad and he is their to make everything okay, 'MAGA'.He is there, literally, fighting for them and speaking their thoughts. He is there to protect them. It is hard for for most to find fault with a father that they love. Instead, they find excuses and minimise their 'father's' faults as was the case with the grab 'ém by their ----y' tape. Older women, whom one would have expected to be offended chalked it down to 'locker room talk', to 'he made a mistake' to 'he didn't mean it'. It really is like a young child watching his father defending him against a perceived threat.

The third reason is because he uses a lot of simple language and a lot of adjectives. I feel people think in images and his words give them a very clear visual - çrooked Hillary, lying James Comey, Sleepy Joe. He gives his base a few points to chew over and over. They walk away with a very clear picture of his perception in their mind.

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

No one was talking about me! --- Blanca, yes, I agree that this can be a great way to manage an ill tempered person without them losing any face. However, could this also lead to a kind of escape route for the person who is guilty of inadequate behaviour? Do they have a chance to say, "well that was not about me and it was about someone else?"

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

Results from criticizing the King --- I am curious to know if there are any examples of positive changes that came about as a result of a Jester's criticism of a king (and in turn a system of checks and balances on the governance)?

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

Questioning of 'their'status and power --- To take this away from nation diplomacy for a bit... the sentence "Ïndeed some figures of authority cannot countenance any form of disagreement' makes me think of the primary, secondary and tertiary education system in Japan. Students are not allowed to ask any questions as teachers aka Sensei, are believed to be authority figures. Questioning them would mean, questioning their status. Even in critical fields like medicine, student doctors cannot ask a question or disagree with their sensei. It is more important to be seen as being part of the group consensus and never to 'stand out'. I feel this is really an extreme, but it exists and continues in the work place and across the fabric. Here is a video of a press conference held before the recent elections for prime minister and right at the end there is a journalist who asks a question as to why the Corona Virus-related changes being suggested were not suggested during PM Suga's term and the answer illustrates my point above. https://youtu.be/xrq_qB_6w2Q?t=3341

Source author: Mamta Reid liveandsmile@hotmail.com

Talking with all sides --- The video was really good and I think highlighted an good point, that it is really important to talk to all sides. Information is power and I think in HD information and relations are so important. I think we are often told in our work to avoid discussing or engaging with 'difficult' players or people that oppose your view but I think these conversations are important, as was highlighted in the video.

Source author: Catherine Gearing cathgearing@gmail.com

Opted for oral agreement --- Yes, there was an example when a local community leader did not want us to have a written agreement to progress with a community relief distribution because it would then require him arranging regional government officials to attend and would delay the distribution that was urgently needed. His request was, lets just go ahead with the distribution within the week and avoid delays.

Source author: Catherine Gearing cathgearing@gmail.com

Negotiating through text message --- I agree with this point it is really challenging. Text's can so easy be misunderstood or taken out of context. I think meetings vitally when you can see a face and hear a voice really helps to build repour, and understanding through voice intonation.

Source author: Catherine Gearing cathgearing@gmail.com

Exploring the Connotations of Sacrifice --- Thanks, Biljana. I assumed that the negative connotation of self-sacrifice was the general interpretation. I added the text to provide an association with the origin of the word ‘sacrifice.”

For those interested in philology (the origin of words) the term sacrifice derives from the Latin sacrificium, which is a combination of the words sacer, meaning something set apart from the secular or profane for the use of supernatural powers, and facere, meaning “to make.”

The word literally means “to make sacred”’; but yes “self-abasement” is the more usual understanding. I am not ‘banging the shoe’ but admittedly standing on tradition.

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

In negotiation bend like the willow --- Yes, Biljana, the word ‘unbending’ does imply rigidity. An analogy occurred to me. The practice of yoga consists of various postures (asanas) to promote flexibility and strength; and all asanas include bending and stretching; even when seated there is a measure of physical tension and mental control .

Seated at the negotiation table one may be reminded of yoga since the word ‘asana’ derives from the Sanskrit “to be seated.”

In the alternative to the unyielding rigidity of “unbending, I would propose another metaphor. May one bend like a willow in the wind but not break. The metaphor encompasses a spectrum of human intention from the resolute to the flexible – yielding like the willow whenever prudent, and essential to stretch a little more to prevent being broken by the wind. A good posture and temperament to adopt in any negotiation.

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

On sending --- a Limousine was sent to the Airport to pick up an Ambassador from... the Limousine driver greeted her as: "Are you the little lady from...?" Didn't go over well!

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

I'm in --- agreement!

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

Petru --- Goes to show chivalry is not dead!

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

Protocol --- lays the foundation for successful events/interactions. It is rife with possibilities of disaster especially when heads of state don't pay attention or don't value it's purpose in diplomacy.

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

For sure --- especially when someone takes it upon themselves to change the Name Cards!

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

Blanca --- The expression "Know the land and its people and all else will follow." Mrs. Yitzhak Rabin

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

Most Definitely --- Yes!

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

To ignore someone on purpose --- is worse than doing so out of ignorance. Goes back to intent or even plausible deniability where if one realizes one's mistake, they can apologize if they didn't mean to do so.

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

John --- Excellent solution!

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

I think that --- The underlying fear is that of not being accepted by the group. It is subconscious and is probably an ingrained human need to be part of the pack. As we evolve, it is more recognized but there's lots of room for improvement on every level.

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

Good point John --- I do hope not, but attitudes are changing rapidly these days. It is now more difficult for young men to do well in University and they are no longer sure of what their role is in society.

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

Harve --- Very thought-provoking comment! I will remember that, thank you.

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

Perfect example --- Facebook is now changing its name as if that would make a difference!

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

John --- These days, every interaction tends to be divisive and too many accusations are bandied about without proper comprehension. However, in this case, I'm tending towards a case of definite mysogony. I rest my case!

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

Agreed MacOswald --- I mentioned this in my HT when introducing the topic of how poorly the EU President had been treated (sofagate). Her reply was in how it offended her personally (which indeed it would do to anyone) but I felt that her rebuttal would have been stronger had she said that it was offensive to her office as opposed to a personal insult. I also mentioned the difference between sexism and misogony which is defined as "It is the hostile policing of those women who violate patriarchal norms and expectations, thereby setting a precedent for the cost of feminist transgression." https://theswaddle.com/difference-between-sexism-and-misogyny/

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

Thank you! --- Love the claim that "When practiced, yoga may serve to preserve the highest values of diplomacy embodied in its diplomats. "

Must start practising :)

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Desiree --- Looking forward to the course on Public Diplomacy. For all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in diplomacy, the media is in control and diplomats, whose talents lie in analyzing situations no longer have time due to "breaking news syndrome!"

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

Christian --- I'm so glad you brought this up. It is an entirely new world and I believe many people feel as you do. I doubt things will go back to the way they were BC (before Covid) but I hope we find a new normalcy whereby we can update protocol rules to meet the new realities in societal discourse...We're working on it!

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

With a little bit of spin... --- My reading of your and Petru's exchange is that you are both right! One can be true to one's principles while also compromising. All negotiation involves compromise, but the give and take can still occur within the parameters set by one's brief and convictions.

Perhaps the word 'unbending' suggested rigidity and a refusal to compromise. I'd suggest replacing it with 'honour one's principles.'

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Petru --- I propose a Diplo Course on this...it would be fascinating!

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

Desiree --- True confession! I advised a U.S. company director, who was meeting with his Japanese superiors in Japan, on the vagaries of gift giving. We picked out the perfect gift, advised him to have it gift wrapped at his hotel as it would be opened going through Customs...no bows, no black and white colors etc. All was well until he came home and told me that, although I had advised that he refuse a gift (that he would inevitably receive) three or four times before accepting, that his Japanese counterpart exclaimed "I thought you Americans accepted gifts the first time!" Just goes to show that protocol goes both ways...they're studying your protcol too!!!

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

A question of connotations? --- That's a convincing argument which works because you depict self-sacrifice as noble in each of your examples. I think those who objected to the notion of diminishing oneself (in the context of courtesy and the aggrandisement of the other) did so because they felt the term was negative, synonymous in its connotations with 'self-abasement' or 'putting oneself down' or 'effacing oneself'.

Source author: Biljana Scott biscott@diplomacy.edu

Yes --- That is indeed the job of the protocol advisor to make sure one understands the "rules of the table." This form of social polish is sometimes underestimated as the strongest relationships or bonds are established in social settings. Japan, for instance, is famous for its after-hours entertaining.

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

Desk-work back at the Capital --- That's a great way of putting it Andrej. Even in business, it is essential to "know the enemy," not necessarily that every encounter is with an enemy of course. However, knowing who you will be meeting with, what are their personalities, what are their goals and deciding what your strategy will be before the encounter is the "desk-work" back at the Capital I believe!

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

Yes Christian, --- I believe that dignity (individualism) and face (collectivism) do intersect. Again, going back to my Middle Eastern experience, robbing a person of their dignity means robbing their family of their dignity, indeed their tribe. Similar in collectivistic societies, wounding a person's dignity reflects on their families, their groups, their contacts and can result in being ostracized from their groups entirely.

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

Beyond Personal and National Interests --- Responding to Biljan’s question and taking up Mamta’s observations I conclude with Pertu's insight.

First, as diplomats we identify with the national interest. It is not our dignity or interest but the nation’s that we represent.

Second, and from our human self-interest we make a false identification if we so confuse our professional role that we forget that we are at our core autonomous human beings. I think Mamta is making this point with respect to human rights.

Third, as Andrzej and I exchanged ideas there is the option of resignation (John suggested) or accepting a desk job at the home office (Andrzej responded ) if we cannot fulfil the national interest.

Finally, Petru (13:07:24) provided the practical perspective when he commented: ”Of course, acting in the national interest as diplomat, is paramount! As a practitioner of multilateral diplomacy, I appreciate, nevertheless, when a bit of the national interest is sacrificed for a wider, global interest....”.

Here experience trumps theory and I agree with Petru’s insight as diplomacy involves compromise; and sometimes there is a duty higher than self or nation.

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

So true Liliana --- While living in the Middle East, it soon became apparent that a sense of dignity was foremost in all of their interactions...from greetings to gracious hospitality. The cost of depriving someone of their dignity, particularly in that part of the world, results in dire consequences and most certainly failed negotiations.

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

For sure Andre --- Nothing like a sense of humor and the capability to laugh at oneself! I've seen many a gaffe and most survive to tell the tale!

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

Good diplomatic skills --- to include the art of being assertive not aggressive...the personality of a diplomat is very complex and evolved.

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

Diplomacy Self-Serving or Self-Sacrifice? --- I wondered at those comments Biljana. The natural definition of ‘sacrifice’ is “an act of giving up something especially for the sake of someone or something else.”

The examples of self-sacrifice as a contributor and central to humanity’s existence and advancement abound – the parental self-sacrifice for their child, the soldier for their comrades. The conscientious objector adheres to principles even to the sacrifice their life, liberty and happiness.

Similarly, a diplomat may be required to sacrifice for their country's interests. I suggest that a disposition towards ‘self-sacrifice’ is implicit within a diplomat’s job description.

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

I have a slightly different perspective Petru --- Perhaps "solid principles" would be a better term. If a diplomat has solid principles, they will earn a reputation of trust and respect. As you say, diplomacy is the art of compromise, so the astute diplomat will have to know when to compromise within the bounds of solid principles...just my two cents!!!

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

Very interesting question --- Can dignity be codefied? I doubt it as dignity or perceived slights may be different in different cultures. Something as simple as a gesture may mean something entirely different in another culture. An example is the "OK" gesture which is considered rude, particularly in South America.

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

Respect the dignity of both sides --- This begs the question: What are the attributes of a well-rounded diplomat? I would imagine that communication skills would rate high on the list. Yet, there is a lot to be considered...discernment, patience and integrity. The most important attribute is genuine empathy for the other side and the ability to show it.

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

Agreed Blanca --- So important to make every effort to save face to preserve a person's dignity, most possibly the basic cornerstone of diplomacy.

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