Mao Zedong winds up to slap Secretary of State Hillary Clinton right in the mouth

I exaggerate of course, but who would’ve thought that China hacking into millions of private e-mails stored on large American corporations’ servers could ever cause tension between the two countries? In response to Hillary Clinton’s recent criticism of  that country’s internet policies China responded with sharp words of rebuke aimed at both the Secretary of State and the country. In one interview with state-run Xinhuanet.com. Beijing Association of Online Media Chairman Min Dahong said “How China’s Internet develops and how it is managed are Chinese people’s own affairs,” He then added that  “On the Internet question, China doesn’t need any lessons from the United States on what to do or how”

I couldn’t disagree more with his first comment. How ‘China’s internet develops’ to me is like saying how China’s air or rain develops, it is inevitably linked to the larger internet-ecosystem around it. Policies shaped to serve internal political culture or needs denies China the full power and utility of the world wide web. The internet is increasingly becoming a global concern, much like diseases or climate change, it affects too many people for countries (especially one as populous and economically robust as China) to be thinking about it in insular terms. Creating isolated policies and localized practices will leave the Chinese people in their own feedback loop of information if China retreats into its own cyber island of controlled virtual space.  And as we move forward that’s the last thing I would hope to see.

The world needs an engaged and participatory China if we are to tackle the global problems we face today and future ones of tomorrow. Working to make a universally safe and open internet is an important step in that process and one that can improve relations between China and its trade partners rather than create bones of contention. Considering all the other problems causing tension between China and the US these recent hacks and the blowout from them is the last thing we all need.

I invite both sides to sit down together at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and come to terms with their differences. Now that they are no longer a smoke free Olympics both sides can stay up late chain smoking their way to a mutually beneficial resolution. I will happily mediate these discussions and will provide catering and DJ services as well.

My rate is $2,500 per hour for this kind of work, please include a list of any allergies or food sensitivities well in advance.

News today that the Vancouver Police have recently purchased a Sonic Crowd Control Device has many civil liberties advocates and liberal college students very concerned. According to the CBC, the medium-range acoustic device (MRAD) “can use sound as a weapon, emitting piercing sounds at frequency levels that cross the human threshold of pain and are potentially damaging to hearing” The police deny that it was purchased specifically for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, which is expected to draw many protesters when it is held here in February. Apparently it’s purely coincidental.

Judging by the outrage over Vancouver law enforcement’s recent record with Tasers in Vancouver I can understand how a sonic super weapon in the hands of Vancouver’s finest may concern some. The dust hasn’t settled from the Robert Dziekanski case in which Vancouver RCMP tasered Polish immigrant Dziekanski numerous times Oct. 14, 2007 after he became distraught by being delayed in immigration. He died shortly after.

For more information on other possible crowd control technologies the Vancouver Police and RCMP may want in anticipation of the Olympics visit this earlier Senses post.

It’s no surprise that some groups are genuinely concerned about crowd control and the use of these technologies at the 2010 Olympics. A recent guest column piece written for the Province by Mayor Gregor Robertson (Vancouver) and Mayor Dianne Watts (Surrey) titled Turning our profile into investment and jobs, illustrates how important the event is not only to Vancouver but the entire region and province. The business community, politicians, civic leaders and proud Olympic supporters in Vancouver and perhaps the whole country, really want this thing to go off without a hitch. A successful Olympics means attracting investment, it means raising the profile of this city and region, creating jobs, and attracting talented and educated people who may have otherwise chosen to move to Seattle, Calgary or San Francisco. OK, maybe only San Francisco.

In any event, I don’t want to be anywhere near that thing when the Police fire it up. I shudder to think what will happen if Team Canada loses in the Gold Medal Hockey Game. Visions of the 1994 riot all over again, this time with piercing brain melting  sonic super cannons. But if I am nearby, I’ll be the guy with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic tinfoil hat stand. 30 bucks each.