David Bailey MBE.
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Tweets
- Just been for a short walk with Cooper down the valley ;) http://t.co/uuQgjc6C
- Just Loving the Weather Today :) http://t.co/4KsuWwnw
- My new sounds: Just loving the weather today at Cardacani http://t.co/PZyUSYHT on #SoundCloud
- Looking at possible temperatures later today it might JUST be the first outing for the AC ;) http://t.co/4pwNdGiI
- Yesssssss!!!!!!!!! #thatisall
- @Amela_Hukic sorry for not tweeting the stress is too great but now in extra so ... Still a chance
- @Amela_Hukic if I can think with all this stress and excitement will do! Don't eat too much jelly!
- Come on Chelsea! Watching here in Bosnia @chelseafc @Amela_Hukic
- UEFA final + Djoković in the semis + tech + meza + pivo, all happening at ours tonight. CHELSEA!!!!!!!!! http://t.co/mCGAqSwV
- UEFA final + Djoković in the semis + tech + meza + pivo, all happening at ours tonight. CHELSEA!!!!!!!!! http://t.co/ph3Qi3V3
- New bedding ;) http://t.co/UFcxCeXy
- Getting ready for Chelsea vs Bayern München tonight (on Croatian TV) [vid] — http://t.co/8PxjWTHq
- Yep! Lovin the weather! 3 weeks till My "Super Guests" arrive, especially Mali Jack! :) http://t.co/zb0Cp0ff
- getting ready to shout CHELSEA!!! from Bosnia this evening @chelseafc Lets DO IT!!!
- Great Ethiopian Music from my recent trip to Addis Ababa, Hawassa and Haramaya Ethiopia Special http://t.co/lE... on #SoundCloud
- @buddhamagnet @gavinleone having said all that please dont be put off coming this way in europe :)
- @buddhamagnet @gavinleone if the grass hasnt been cut DO NOT take a risk. ask locals if unsure. BiH still has 10's of thou still around
- @buddhamagnet @gavinleone the golden rule is NEVER go off hard standing unless u know 100% there are no mines
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- Making Money out of Misery
Living in the Balkans is wonderful. Well most of the time.
As in every country across our world not everything is perfect in so many ways and I suppose that’s normal.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has more than its fair share of dysfunctionality and that is certainly a fact, combined with an amazing low standard of human rights, it can be depressing at times.
I find myself at times looking away from my normal optimisic view of the future of BiH and wondering about “how much lower can certain things go”?
There are always campaigns here to raise money, especially for children, who need medical help that the country simply can’t afford (maybe because politicians believe that grandiose government buildings are better value for money) and the population are asked to donate.
One such campaign at the moment is for a young boy from Trebinje, who has Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is a cancer originating from white blood cells.
He needs a lot of financial help if he is to survive. One of the ways people can help is to call a dedicated phone number where an automatic donation is deducted from the phone bill.
No problem you might say, EXCEPT (alledgedly), that the government levy value added tax to it (some 20% I think).
You can dress the levy of a tax on a donation like this anyway you like, but it comes down to making money out of misery!
As I say, how low can officials go?
If Bosnia and Herzegovina was a functioning democracy (which it is far from being), this might not occur, but unfortunately the country isn’t. The citizens just accept it. They moan. Yes. They critise, Yes. But they won’t speak out and challenge the ruling powerbase.
When Josip Broz (Tito) successfully put these current nations to sleep for some 40 years he also sapped the will from the everyday person to question and demand.
Next time I drive past the impressive government buildings, I think my revulsion will be even worse than before.
Unfortunately as a foreigner I can’t do anything more than to “suck it up”.
Sad :(
- Balkan Acrobatics
Last week I spent a short, but enjoyable, amount of time in the village of Krupa na Vrbasu, some 25 kilometres south of Banja Luka, here in Bosnia and Herzegovina, watching a collection of International acrobats and circus skills performers conducting workshops with children from the locality.Krupa na Vrbasu was the location chosen to host some 35 performers for a 7 day period, where professional development workshops would be held, as well as a chance for like minded acrobats to get together in an informal gathering to exchange experiences.
The 2011 BiH Acrobatics Festival was the brain child of Berengere Dambrine and Daniel Meijers, French and Dutch respectively, who now live and work in Banja Luka.
Daniel is an expert acrobat in his own right and sees the benefits to all aspects of the continued development of BiH through activities such as acrobatics and circus skills.
In a country where western, urban, progressive moves and developments are shunned and discouraged by both politicians and the current establishment under the guise of “infecting and destroying the rich historical culture and heritage” of the area, the efforts of Berengere and Daniel are continued small steps to better the chaotic world that is BiH.
My impression of both the work conducted in Krupa as well as an excellent, FREE, open air acrobatic performance on the 19 August in the centre of Banja Luka, was that a real breath of fresh air was blown through this part of the country.
Of course no one will know if both Berengere and Daniel “broke even” (events like this do cost money to put on) but I do know sponsorship, even a tiny amount, was difficult to generate.
The courage of people like this to forge forward and do something for a country that isn’t theirs is truly commendable.
Sometimes it’s a pity and a shame that the leadership of this region fails to acknowledge the efforts of outsiders, rather preferring to find continual excuses why anything and everything that is bad, is not their fault, blaming it on a corrupt international community.
So, well done Berengere, Daniel and their team of acrobats that came to BiH!
To see some of the success of the festival you can check out the following links:
Acrobatics Festival in BiH - Experimenting at Demofest
I really think it must be hard to be a rebel here in this part of the Balkans. I really do. The peer pressure that’s so evident stifles the will of most young people to want to do much in the way of progression (apart from run away to another country where they think the streets are “paved with gold”). They simply don’t want to see that it’s “Same Shit, Different Location”
Being an immigrant is cool.
Yeah right!
Together with the schadenfreude that is expressed almost on a daily basis here, the recipe for disaster especially for civil society lurks and looms over the shoulder every single day.Why this depressive tone you may well ask.
These past few days, I have spent some time at “Demofest”, a local indie/rock band competition organised for groups based in the region. It’s well put together and has managed to get the financial support of a Serbian brewery to cover the costs.The reason for attending the event was that, together with two local girls, I had the crazy idea of seeing if using simple equipment and free social media tools and platforms, we could provide some alternative coverage of the event and have fun. The experience would be useful even if it all went wrong. It was self funded so what the heck! Maybe someone would ask us to cover their event.
Our initial experiment can be seen HERE
You will come up with your own comments and criticisms (please make then constructive?) I am sure, but during the course of gathering content I found out two rather disturbing facets surrounding Demofest.
The first was a response from someone in the audience when I asked about how events like this are funded. It seems that the local/regional/entity/national government are not too interested any more in stumping up cash and so the commercial sector has to be approached. That’s normal actually as I still believe hard earned taxes shouldn’t be spent on raves or “headbanger gatherings”. Funding hospitals etc is FAR MORE important.
Pause here. OK Bosnians aren’t too keen on paying taxes but you get the drift?
The local brewery, “Nektar” had funded the first few Demofests, and, allegedly, once they found they were the most recognised beer brand in the area, ceased to sponsor any further as “well we are the top so what’s the point”. Now I say allegedly. I haven’t checked the facts in any way whatsoever, and to be frank am not going to bother, but the perception on the streets is powerful. The perception is that a major local business doesn’t care about promoting anything youthful. If the big players don’t care it won’t say much for the small ones. As I say, perceptions.
The current sponsor “Jelen” is a Serbian brewery, no local connection there at all.
The next concerning strand was that during interviewing some of the festivals’ organisation it seemed that Banja Luka youth don’t want (or don’t see the point) of paying to attend these types of festivals etc. Demofest hadn’t sold too many tickets preferring to allocate various media outlets with competition give-aways.
Pause again.
The “urban” youth of the region aspire to be at the cutting edge of entertainment, technology, fashion and sport. To a greater degree they are doing extremely well in all of the above, but when it comes to pay to see something that’s professionally organised there’s a “push back”. It’s certainly strange to see why.
Bringing good quality acts and performances that are seen across Europe don’t come cheap. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Sponsorships are a contribution towards operational expenses NOT the funds that will totally pay for an event.
On Day 1 at this years Demofest, there were numerous local bands to see, Kelis was the major attraction and the after party was Ian Pooley. Now argue if you want about the standard of the artists I mentioned, but for 10 BAM (the local currency) = £4.50 = 5.12 Euro = $US 7.40 to see all that is the bargain of a lifetime.
So what is causing young people to complain, to baulk at paying such a small amount?Maybe they prefer to spend what little money they have on drinking coffee in coffee bars. Maybe “smokes” are better value for money. Maybe the “dependence” culture that the International Community so successful cultivated here both during and post conflict in the late ‘90’s and early 2000’s is now maturing.
I don’t know the answer. I am not that clever.
What I do know is that slowly sponsorships wont be including quasi free entrance to events. If the youth of Bosnia and Hercegovnia don’t start to place some value on their cultural and social activities, then international performers wont come and possibly unscrupulous political concerns will fill the void to manipulate with their own twisted perceptions.God help us all if the “Turbo” world fills the void.
- Missing Something can be SOOOO Painful
I had really planned to get to Social Innovation Camp, in Sarajevo, to see what was brewing and to meet some people I feel can stimulate me professionally.
Sadly it wasn’t to be BUT this video really makes the pain of not having been there worse (in a good way people)
- A Supersized Update?
Well the Sarajevo “Arches” has some 18,750 likes on their Facebook Fan Page as at 19 July, so the “Games afoot”.Menu is: BigMac, Royal, Cheeseburger, Nuggets, Pomfrit, McSundae, McFlurry, Happy meal s poklon igračkom, McCafe sa izvanrednom ponudom različitih vrsta kafa i kolača
NO “Turbo-Mac” YET!
- Would you like that Supersized?
My holiday “read” this summer has been “The Dark Tourist” by Dom Joly.
For me it was a book that showed the human, more personal life of Dom, who is famous for his off the wall and cutting comedy on TV. You can get the book and read it for yourself if you are weirdly interested in what a “Dark Tourist” does, but Dom said something that struck me in regards to Bosnia and Hercegovina where I now live.
“Spotting your first Starbucks or McDonald’s in any travel destination is such a depressing experience”.
Well, in the next few weeks McDonald’s will finally arrive in Bosnia. The first store will open in Sarajevo followed by Banja Luka. Banja Luka authorities are still to give planning consent for the outlet.How successful will the “Golden Arches” be in a business sense?, we’ll have to wait and see.
“Maccy Dees” will be setting up in direct competition with the quintessential Cevapcinica that are plentiful across the country.
Initial reactions from people are:
that its a western fad and wont last long, that the cevap is made from high quality ingredients that McD’s cant deliver, that no one will want to go there at all.Whilst I am an avid supporter of the small restaurants that sell the culturally incorruptible cevap and šiš, I can’t help but think that the underground “new urbanites” will simply be ecstatic at Bosnia taking another positive step towards both Europe and wider international integration. That they will be able to enjoy a burger (and apparently eating a Big Mac can be enjoyable) in their own country rather than travelling to Croatia, Serbia or Macedonia (where the nearst arches are).
The presence of a McDonald’s seems to be widely associated with “normality”.
McDonald’s do have high standards, everyone knows that and the design of the restaurants will be corporate, the packaging corporate, in fact there won’t be much that’s culturally Bosnian, except the language on printed products.
So can McDonald’s do what the International Representatives here have failed to do?
Can they bring a powerful and successful business model into a country where local politicians and criminals think that they set the commercial agenda?
I mean, you need a bucket load of cash to sue McDonald’s and McDonald’s profits are way way way in excess of the entire GDP of Bosnia and Hercegovina.
No Contest.
My Fear is that McDonald’s allow a concession to Bosnia and launch the “Turbo-Mac” complete with sponsor credits from Jelena Karleuša!
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A “Cooper” solution until we find something better. At least he ant run off and get hurt.
Back on Keek. Thx Phil C! Would luv you all to follow my blog about life in Bosnia at davidbailey.posterous.com
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Where I Live
Where I Live
- Laktaši, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Posts
- Apr 15, 12
Well, for those of you that regularly check in on the blog you will have noticed that we have a new contributor who has just joined our team.
Uli Janssen is an expert within the Stratcom and Influence world and has embraced the power of Social Media, particularly in how to incorporate Social Media tools into the comprehensive approach to planning.We are really pleased that Uli has joined the team here on the blog and look forward to many thought provoking posts to come.You can follow Uli on twitter at @UliJanOgau - Apr 14, 12
Last week I attended the very interesting Strategic Communications Masterclass at Madingley Hall, University of Cambridge. And of course, discussions also went on to New and Social Media. It was said and I totally agree that Social Media could and should be used to rapidly spread out our narrative.
Ups, here we are. What the heck is a narrative? Different interpretation have been discussed. One said everyone of us has an individual narrative, a personal story to tell. That's it - it's a personal story rather than a narrative. It's the story why I am what I am.
Narrative in my opinion is more than that - is a sort of overarching story on why WE do what WE do. So narratives combine multiple individual stories, maybe even more than one (organizational, institutional, or local/community) narratives. Take the Christian narrative as an example. This narrative comprises of all Christian values and beliefs. On the other hand, each and every individual following these values and beliefs - each and every Christian - has his/her own story to tell why he/she is a Christian.
By chance I happend to walk into Cambridge's Round Church, and guess what surprised me? There is an exhibition shown these days on Christianity. Under the simple top level message "Discover Cambridge - Visit the Round Church - The gateway to understanding Cambridge and its contribution worldwide." Admittedly not a very unexpected message, but simple enough to allow people prioritize a visit of the Round Church right at the beginning of their trip around the center of the city, concrete enough to let people remember, credible enough to let people believe or agree considering this church exists for more than 1100 years, emotional as soon as you enter, and full of stories.
Inside the Round Church the Christian narrative is told by displaying different periods in time of the more than 2000 years on 12 movable panels; on each of them the information is provided following the same structure. The panells aim to tell the Cambridge (community) Story from the time of the Romans to the 20th Century. In each panel the national and cultural context is given with a particular emphasis on the influence of Christianity on our culture and on Cambridge's history. All in all it is the Christian narrative seen through the Cambridge glasses. See the attached photos that illustrate what I said, culminating in a panel on "I am what I am"
How does that fit into the 21st century way of high speed delivery of information using Social Media? Let's assume we had an institutional narrative for the military or - more precisely - for NATO. The narrative on Shared Responsibility for Common Security could be supported by a set of panels telling the NATO Story in different periods of time, for example along the strategic concepts from Deter Aggression via Massive Retaliation and Flexible Resonse to Active Engagement - Modern Defence. We could ask the people who are interested in engaging with NATO via Social Media to tell their story that supported the narrative in different phases. At the end we'd have a collection of individual stories told on Social Media. This collection could either stand next to, or replace the current printed NATO Handbook which actually perfectly tells the NATO Story to those who read the book :-)Ulrich M. Janßen
- Mar 24, 12
In the second of a series of guest blog posts, Chris Archer Editor of IDGA talks to Pat Fiorenza, Research Analyst at GovLoop.com on Social Media within Government.
Pat, at the Social Media for Defense Summit you’ll explore how GovLoop allows public sector employees and those who interface with the public sector to collaborate – explain this further, and what role does social media play in this?
A lot of it comes down to the ease of sharing information. By using a hashtag like #gov20 on Twitter, people can quickly find discussions and what the hot topics are in government. In a similar fashion, blogs/discussions, research reports, guides and trainings on GovLoop all help people connect with one another to find solutions to common challenges. The goal is to connect people in a meaningful way to help them drive innovation and change within their agency.
Explore the ways in which the GovLoop platform can enhance social media?
GovLoop allows like-minded public sector professionals to collaborate in a single online space, share best practices, case studies and resources. Social media is fast moving, things often change - and in the public sector, there are some unique challenges that social media professionals face. GovLoop allows state, local, and federal government officials to connect and share information. Through collaboration and sharing knowledge, GovLoop helps highlight best practices and cases studies for public sector social media experts to implement within their agency.
Evaluate how government is using social media currently – what are some common pitfalls and opportunities you see?
I think there are a lot of opportunities for social media in government - everything from citizen outreach, disaster/crisis management, as a collaboration tool and even as a way to improve public discourse. With all these opportunities, challenges still arise; two that come to mind are providing access for all and crafting strategies that encompass the entire agency's mission.
In terms of the digital divide, there is a constant pressure on agencies to provide new and innovative technologies to improve citizen engagement, while maintaining traditional methods of engagement. In the past year we have seen the Obama Administration perform a Google+ Hangout and a Twitter Town Hall. These are great uses of technology, and incredible ways to connect with citizens in a meaningful discourse. Although these kinds of initiatives are great to do – they by no means replace traditional town halls. So the challenge is incorporating social media into traditional methods, creating initiatives to reach key stakeholders through technology, expanding access of technology and empowering the citizen to take action.
In terms of crafting strategies that encompass the entire agency’s mission, there still are some challenges related to buy-in, along with related cultural and institutional hurdles. Building great case studies and sharing them with management needs to keep occurring. The metrics to perform an evaluation on a social media plan are still not quite defined. Learning to measure engagement, and understanding what that means for an agency, is still a challenge for an agency. Measuring engagement extends beyond a simple analysis of fans, followers, tweets and retweets – there is something else in learning what makes an agency and citizen actually engaged on social media.
We are faced with these kinds of challenges all the time at GovLoop and how we measure engagement on our site. We are always looking at data and how that impacts our strategy. Agencies are doing the same. Learning how to best use data to get desired results means that agencies need to have a clear-cut plan and strategy, that maps with the agencies overall strategy and goals.
Do you believe social media allows government to be more transparent? How so?
I do – but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Social media allows agencies to present information to citizens quickly and efficiently. Transparency is tough to define and measure; social media is just one tool that helps agencies meet their transparency objectives. I think an overall theme of social media is that social media needs to encompass elements across the agency and present the right information to citizens, quickly and easily. This requires communication across departments and the agency.
This is no easy task within large federal departments. What really makes social media work is all the background planning by departments. It’s easy for agencies to know that they should be posting on Facebook to reach constituents; the challenges start to arise with what to post and how often. Transparency efforts improve naturally as agencies are engaging with citizens and listening to their needs. It’s a basic benefit of social media. Agencies also need to have a culture that is conducive to transparency and an open philosophy.
There lots of great examples from agencies. Some agencies are more transparent than others, just by the nature of the work they perform and citizens they interact with. A common challenge for defining transparency lies with how much data is released and in what format.
Some agencies will release data sets in raw form, allowing citizens to manipulate the data and tailor the data toward their needs. Some very technologically adept citizens might create mobile apps from the data and share the information across social media. For those kinds of constituents, that kind of transparency works. Others would just like to be able to see information quickly and easily through easy to produce graphs and/or visualizations.
I think the challenge for agencies is to really understand their stakeholders and the kinds of constituents they serve, once they have a good handle on this – social media will help facilitate the agency improve their transparency efforts.
You’ve said in your blog ‘There is no question that local government agencies should be using social media and Gov 2.0 applications, but understanding the tools and how they can solve certain problems has become the key question’ – expand on this for me – how so?
I think the important thing to remember about social media is that it enables action. So what agencies are tasked to do is figure out how to use all the data they collect and information across their social media channels. Agencies are flooded with ideas and have thousands of interactions with citizens, so the challenge is how they can make social media channels transformative, not just another sounding board for a citizen that creates limited action.
This is really the key and where I see social media going - agencies really using the interactions on social media channels to drive action. We see this a lot with the gamification and initiatives like challenge.gov. Likewise, we can see open innovation platforms as a way for agencies to collect ideas and crowd source information.
At all levels of government agencies are challenged with tightening budgets. On GovLoop there have been a lot of great conversations saying that in this time of fiscal uncertainty – there is a lot of space for innovation in the public sector. The chants of “Do more with less” are everywhere, and public sector employees are pressed to cut costs, and improve citizen engagement efforts. Social media is part of the solution, as many social tools are free for government to use. Finding the right strategy, identifying the right problem and using the right kind of platform is what many agencies need to explore prior to expanding or developing a social strategy.
The exciting part is that as more agencies take on these tools, they fall into the philosophy that government can’t solve all its problems alone. Government faces complex problems and social media tools allow agencies to reach a broader audience, and work towards achieving solutions to its’ most pressing challenges.
Social media is still an emerging field, and sometimes we are all learning on the fly, but it is an exciting ride to be on.
IDGA’s Social Media for Defense @SocialMedia4Def will address how the nature of ongoing combat operations have reshaped the way the military and government use social media platforms. Visit the website for more information: http://bit.ly/yDFfMX
- Mar 19, 12
The past 5 days here have been busy with conducting a Social Media for the Military course, tailored for the needs of "JP".
As part of the activities we looked at an app called "everytrail pro" and if it could be utilised for gathering meaningful patrol info from (for example) CIMIC etc for inclusion into the analysis piece.
We went into Banja Luka to walk a pre-determined course and to create content (image, audio, text).
We managed to integrate almost immediately static imagery and video. We still need to find out how to place the audio (which we created using another platform).
The initial results are encouraging considering this was all created on a smart phone in REAL time.
- Mar 17, 12
There has been much criticism of the so called "Twitter War" between ISAF Media based in Kabul and the Afghan insurgents.Whatever and whoever, the sad fact remains that ISAF and their embracing of Social Media (in my opinion "because its there") has not done them any favours and they still fail to see that they need to "engage", or start the converastion(s) rather than regurgitate press releases and tweet rather immature 140 character messaging.Afghan expert Alex Strick van Linschoten has written an interesting piece HERE, with his view on the whole saga.Alex can be found on twitter HEREYour thoughts would be appreciated in order to "start the conversation"
Stay safe.
- Mar 16, 12
Picked this up yesterday at a hyper local "pub".
Targeting fathers and grandfathers?
- Mar 16, 12
I get so annoyed and, well, furious when I keep hearing that Target Audiences in conflict and post conflict areas are not technologically mature. Of course some areas aren't but Afghans ARE using social media (more and more people everyday) and so are Somalis.The other day I was given a bit of a talking to, if you like, about Somalia being in the dark ages as far as Social Media was concerned. That person reads this blog. So read on and weep!
"Somalia is a very sophisticated economy, it has one of the best mobile phone communication systems in the world," said Jessica Lincoln, director of intelligence at Rubicon Resolution, a risk consultancy.More information regarding the above HERE
- Mar 12, 12
From Uli Janssen
Thanks for those who organized and conducted the first Social Media Workshop at Shrivenham, UK, on 9 March. This workshop was a kind of add-on to the annual Information Operations Influence Activities Symposium held 7-8 March. The attendees have been provided with a comprehensive overview on Social Media in general and beyond that with a special look at Social Media considerations for the military in planning, execution and assessment. - Mar 11, 12
At the recent Social Media Workshop held in Shrivenham a question came up regarding Target Audiences NOT knowing how to use platforms such as twitter in conflict and post conflict areas, so why should we even consider even thinking about deploying Social Media.
Well thanks to a hat-tip from @kjstinson we have found out that news organisation Al Jazeera is addressing the issue.
The Qatar-based news network launched an educational campaign this month that aims to teach viewers in Turkey, Bosnia and elsewhere in the world how to use Twitter and Facebook.
The videos are being distributed on a new, dedicated YouTube channel called Al Jazeera Unplugged.
The future is looking ......... More info here - Mar 10, 12
For those who attended (and those who could not) here is the day in slide form.
- Mar 01, 12
I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!!People have had their data stored and used against them for years.
Remember the instore cards that generated junk mail towards you? Did anyone go crazy then? Nope!
So why are people reacting so noisily to Social Media?
There's no such thing as true freedom in any state or country.
Learn how to harness Social Media. Play the game.
Data storage and capture is here to stay. No law can stop it (Governments need that data so...)Get over it and MOVE ON!
Your thoughts and comments appreciated as always!
- Feb 28, 12
In the first of a series of guest blog posts, Chris Archer Editor of IDGA talks about 'Anti Social Media"
When it comes to issues of national security, the proliferation of social media is cause for concern. You might say it has become ‘Anti-Social Media’
Operational ‘insecurity’
Social media represents a fundamental shift in the way people communicate. The instantaneous nature of a tweet or status update has significantly changed how people consume news – more often than not people do not look for the news, the news finds them.
While this improves the transparency of news, it creates a serious problem for the military – jeopardizing operational security (OPSEC).
More frightening is the collaborative nature of websites and blogs, including Facebook, that allow individuals and even terrorists to build a following of fanatics: like-minded individuals who share a common (and for the purposes of this article, an anti-American) point of view.
Clearly, the enemy is listening!
"By using these tools, the organizations [Terrorist Groups] are able to be active in recruiting new friends without geographical limitations. Social media is enabling the terror organizations to take initiatives by making 'friend' requests, uploading video clips, and the like, and they no longer have to make do with the passive tools available on regular websites" said Gabriel Weimann, a professor at Haifa University in Israel, who has studied the Internet use of terrorist organizations over the past 10 years.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Mr. Weimann also learned that about 90 percent of organized terrorism on the Internet is being carried out through social media.
Scary as this sounds, America is playing its part in monitoring online activities in pursuit of those looking to destabilize the United States. Operation Earnest Voice (OEV), an online monitoring software and CENTCOM initiative, “supports classified blogging activities on foreign-language websites to enable CENTCOM to counter violent extremist and enemy propaganda outside the US,” said CENTCOM spokesman Commander Bill Speaks in March 2011.
U.S and Them...
The services must also do everything in their power to ensure compliance and the safety of their servicemen and their families. According to Major Juanita Chang, Director of the Online and Social Media Division (DOA), every post on social media is scrutinized before it is transmitted, “for the Army, it is important for us to ask ‘What can our adversary gain from this piece of information?’ and we ensure that each item cannot be used to put any of our soldiers at risk”, she said.
Please don’t tag me…
One of the true dangers to OPSEC is in geo-targeted posts. Whether the location of a military base is sensitive or not, the intelligence gained by US adversaries can be devastating.
“Soldiers should never tag photos with geographical location when loading to photo sharing sites like Flickr and Picasa. Soldiers should not use location-based social networking applications when deployed, at training or while on duty at locations where presenting exact grid coordinates could damage Army operations. While soldiers are engaged in Army operations, they should turn off the GPS function of their smartphones. Failure to do so could result in damage to the mission and may even put families at risk,” warns the US Army Social Media Handbook.
Careless use of social media can jeopardize the mission. An OPSEC violation was detailed in an article written by Airman 1st Class Precious Yett, with the 502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.
"I had a situation with a member who was deployed downrange in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Tech. Sgt. Darrell Williams, the 902nd Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog section NCO in charge. "I logged onto Facebook one morning and noticed he had checked-in to his search pit on the base”.
"He wasn't thinking that by doing so, he's broadcasting the grid coordinates to a strategic location on base via an unsecured medium," Williams said. "Anyone with hostile intentions could have utilized those coordinates to not only locate an entry point into the installation but target those who work there. Additionally, the deployed member had posted what equipment was currently in use and identified these pieces of equipment by name."
The post was deleted, but by that stage, the damage could have been done.
OPSEC aside, social media is an unwieldy force that requires good strategy and standards to manage. Like all relationships, there will always be anti-social conflicts – even on social media.
- Feb 16, 12
Today we are launching the first in a series of thought provoking micro presentations linking social media in an all round military context.
Your thoughts, comments, questions etc are as always appreciated.
This Thought has 5 Slides 1 - Feb 10, 12
- Jan 31, 12
I interview the author Paul Smyth about his book and his experiences with using Social Media in a military environment
- Jan 30, 12
An effective quick and dirty video recorded, edited and published from a mobile device using the imovie app.
Great use of fast moving social media content.
Well done to ISAF!
@ISAFmedia "Afghanistan ISAF Commander GEN John R. Allen Visits Tbilisi"
- Jan 30, 12
- Jan 27, 12
Well I am on the train back to London (where I am stopping over), before my onward journey to the Balkans.A great week in Shrivenham. Lots to take in. Great challenge ahead.
9th March I will be back conducting a social media workshop which I am very excited about.
But for now it's sit back and let my brain settle.
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Posts
- Sep 18, 11
Ajvar is made principally from red bell peppers, with eggplant, garlic and chili pepper. Ajvar originates in Serbian cuisine, and was therefore long known as “Serbian salad”. It becаme a popular salad (side dish) throughout Yugoslavia after World War II and is nowadays popular in the Balkans. Original homemade ajvar is made of roasted peppers and depending on the capsaicin content and the amount of added chili peppers, it can be sweet, piquant (the most common), or very hot.
Ajvar can be consumed as a bread spread, a side dish, or as a salad.
- Aug 15, 11
Blackberry jelly is an incredible taste sensation. Smeared liberally on hot toast with lashings of butter, the flavour is sinfully delicious. This blackberry jelly recipe is a doddle to make.
Pick 4lb of blackberries. This should take less than 20 minutes if you do it with a friend or family, and find a bumper crop.
Wash and drain the fruit.
Take out your preserving pan (an essential piece of kitchen equipment, especially if you’re going to be preparing wild preserves on a regular basis). Put the blackberries into it.
Add the juice of 2 lemons, 1/2 pint of water.
Now simmer your blackberry jelly mash for 1 hour.
Grab your jelly bag straining contraption, and strain the blackberries until they stop dripping.
Towards the end of the juice straining, sterilise some jars by washing in hot soapy water, rinse, then put in an oven at 175F, and leave for 25 minutes.
For every 1 pint of juice you extract, measure out 1lb of sugar.
Add the sugar to the blackberry juice, and heat the juice on low, stirring all the time until the sugar has dissolved.
Then simmer for 1 hour, until the liquid has reached “setting point”. Setting point is when you can put a little bit of the juice on a plate. Now push your finger through the juice. If the juice doesn’t automatically fall back into itself, and stays at the point you pushed it to, then it’s ready to bottle.
Pour your blackberry jelly juice into your hot sterilised jars.
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Posts
- Jul 05, 11
A car ride around the area surrounding Kabul (Part 2) from David Bailey MBE on Vimeo.
Many thanks to my good friend Navid - Jul 05, 11
A car ride around the area surrounding Kabul, from David Bailey MBE on Vimeo.
With thanks to my good friend Navid! - Jun 05, 11
0015 on 6 June (D-Day remembrance) and it's a Starbucks Latte in Terminal 3 at Dubai International.Later today, when I have arrived in London and relaxed a bit I will close "DFBMBE does the 'stan". It will then just stay as a sort of history of my year in a very troubled country,
The fact that's it's all over still hasn't sunk in but I am sure that once back in my daughters flat in West Dulwich, and I start to write that final post on this blog that I will, just for a second maybe, think back to my first post I wrote from the same place a year ago.
At the moment it's like going on leave. I am doing all the routine as I have done on my breaks away from Kabul. EXCEPT in 2 weeks I won't be coming back.
The last few hours have seen some really nice posts and messages on both my Facebook and Twitter streams and they've brought a smile to my face.
I hope that the power of Social Media enables all the cool people I met in the 'stan to keep in touch with me and also for them to share in whatever adventures I get up to next.
I'm rambling now so time to prepare mentally for the enjoyment that is "flying Emirates"
Ciao!
- Jun 05, 11
I am sat in departures in Kabul airport. Just over an hour ago I was in the base at HQ ISAF going through the farewell ritual. I hate these. I prefer just to fade away (as all old soldiers do).
I just don't get the sentimentality of it all.
Some people will say it's impolite to just walk away, but for me I see it as life moving on.
My first thoughts of the past year are of an experience I am glad I went through. Afghanistan has left it's mark that's for sure.
I feel a bit of a fraud for not being able to really contribute much but hope that some word or advice I might have given has helped.
I have just seen a young man sporting a T Shirt that says "proud afghan". Well that makes me smile, as it's a tiny piece of positiveness for the future here.
My former afghan colleagues exposed me to a different way of doing, almost anything. They struggle every day to make life tolerable and safe for themselves and their families. I don't have those pressures so .....
My emotions are all over the place sat here and I hope that on arrival in Dubai they will have settled somewhat.
I am so excited about going "home" but a little scared about "living normally" (whatever that is).
Will I cope?
- Jun 02, 11
It seems crazy to me sometimes, that I prefer to write these short posts on my iPhone rather than use a netbook, notebook or PC.
I think "geekiness" is taking hold of me!
It's 0730ish on a Friday morning. 2 days away from leaving Kabul and the start of the long and winding road back home.
I would lie to you if I said I wasn't so excited to seeing the Balkans again.
But there is a sense of sadness in leaving some great people behind. You know, when I was a serving soldier I knew that people you met on posting or on tour were just acquaintances, not really friends. Friends are those who you don't see for years and when you finally meet again the atmosphere is like you were never apart. But acquaintances are cool people too.
There's been lots of new experiences for me here in Kabul.
I have learned a lot.
Been so disappointed in seeing that NATO can't or won't learn from it's previous mistakes (I blame institutionalised arrogance of the worst order).
Observed a totally failed state struggling to regain self esteem and continually struggling.
And have felt more tolerant than ever in my life.
Ummmm.
Deep things for early morning.
Well all I have left in my containerised room (which had less in it that Ratko Mladic has in the Hague),are my techy day sack and my normal pack which will carry the few clothes I have left (which are in the laundry as I write).
My boxes departed via DHL two days ago. The one shipped to Bosnia took just 36 hours! I am still in shock over that. Let's see how long the other takes to London?
Off for a farewell brunch with colleagues later.
Hopefully a few images to share with you soon.
- Jun 02, 11
Not in order of priority:Will miss ....
1. Working in a multi-culti (international) environment
2. Speaking German
3. Shocking the military with my "Britishness"
4. The Salary
5. Kabuli PillauWon't miss ....
1. Living in an "open prison" environment
2. DFAC "slops" (food from the dining facility)
3. The Kabul pollution in winter
4. Internationals (ISAF) who "THINK they know the Afghan culture"
5. The security everywhere in Kabul (I know it's needed but it's so oppressive) - May 27, 11
On my penultimate Friday morning here in Kabul I am sitting on the verandah in the Distille Gardens. The weather is already typically hot (26 in the shade and it's not 1030 yet) and the sun out there is fierce.Having heard the news yesterday that Ratko Mladic had finally been captured in Serbia, I promised myself a leisurely English breakfast to celebrate and which i have just devoured, although I have to say the terminology of English Breakfast is stretching things a bit, especially as the toast here is notoriously anaemic!
My mind still races no matter how I try and to slow it down and without wishing the time away, I am day dreaming about the near future, getting my new passport, arriving back home in Bosnia, holidaying on the island of Rab and creating an English kitchen garden back in the village ;)
However, I still have my tea to finish and I am contemplating a second cup. There's something about just sitting comfortably, watching the world go by, with a cup of tea.
In 2 weeks all this will be recent history, no more feeling the "prison claustrophobia", of being behind the wire, wondering about increases in threat levels and being surrounded by soldiers with weapons.
It's 9 sleeps and a farewell certificate left.
I am in SINGLE figures!!
- May 24, 11
Today has been very much escapist in a number of ways for me.To start with can I say that my "get up and go" has truly ....
Escape 1.
It's a struggle getting up these past mornings and so after the usual 0830hrs update or as it's called the "huddle" it was off for a lovely cup of "Rosie Lee" in the Distille gardens with Darren.We sat on the verandah chatting about everything and nothing but the time was "Diamond".
The last place I wanted to be was in the office trying to summon up enthusiasm for something I know ends for me in 10 working days.
My international colleagues are away on leave before coming back to a "world of pain" here when they will relocate the radio station from it's present location to (OPSEC).
I am just the babysitter so to speak ;)
Escape 2.
After lunch (still trying to find that that has got up and gone) a phone call informed me that the route I had requested to fly back "home" had been approved.I collected said approval and delivered it to the Travel Office.
Escape 3.
Now crashed on the proverbial "scratcher" in the dark at 2120hrs in my container, window open with the slightest of breezes (I hate the AC at night) and the shine of a security lamp bouncing of my walls.I am in an intimate session with my iPod.
So earbuds fully in place and classics at "full belt" from "ghost-town" by Kode9 to the amazing album "Disraeli Gears" by Cream.
More to follow without a doubt!
Maybe tomorrow I'll try and emulate Steve McQueen in the film "The Great Escape" and try and breach the Walls and Wire.
- May 22, 11
Working in post conflict (and in Afghanistan) conflict countries, you get to appreciate life in such a powerful way.
For me the experience over the past 13 years has produced a more tolerant person who no longer stresses over insignificant things (NATO operational matters excepted!).
This morning in the office we discussed yesterdays tragic, terrible and disgusting attack on the Afghan military hospital by a suicide bomber.
What did the Taliban think they could achieve through this sort of action etc.
We "chewed" the usual fat coming out with nothing really sensible.
Then I was asked about the future of Afghanistan and what my views were.
I can't recap word for word my thoughts that I articulated but I did say that this situation that exists can't continue.
Now back in my room i am reflecting on my time here. I feel that ISAF is so deep in bed with the corrupt government of Afghanistan that's it's virtually useless. Sad to have to say that considering how many young men and women have died (for what?).
That Afghans don't seem to see that once the insurgency is over, that the "turf war" between ethnic groups and tribes will start, in other words Civil War.
Only an Islamic dictator can sort this out once and for all.
But while there's westerners preaching democracy and 21st century behaviour to a 13th century conservative Afghan culture, there's no end in sight to the misery everyday Afghans experience.
When I arrive back "home" I will have to decide about "sanitising" my life of Afghanistan or not.
I hope the emotions won't make that a hard decision.
- May 20, 11
I didn't expect there to be this long a gap from my last post to this one. There's really no excuse save that a sudden lethargy has come over me, "all my get up and go seems to have got up and gone".
Rapidly.
I am quietly crucifying my work colleagues with my constant countdown of how many sleeps and an early breakfast I have to finally driving out of the base here, to the airport and away from Afghanistan.
These last days are dragging I have to say.
I have already downsized massively in my living space and 50% of what I used to have is already "home", unpacked and in it's new location.
This time last year I was enjoying a 3 week break in South London waiting on my flight details to come here. I was excited and simply couldn't wait to start another mission and get more experiences.
Nearly a year later my mind is adjusting to the fact that I have to slow down now, I have done what I set out to do (I didn't feel the Kosovo gig was successful for me) which was to relaunch the IA radio station here and let others now do what I thought I could do the best.
To be honest the "new team" will be brill and I think achieve what I could only dream of.
Well the time is dragging thats for sure but as Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance, I am downloading tons of movies from the welfare server we have here (The Fortress).I mean, there's going to be loads of opportunity to watch them with a nice cup of English Tea and Marmite on toast in the not too distant future.
Right?
- May 11, 11
Yes! That's how many more nights in a container in Kabul I have to cope with.
I am in Dubai International Terminal 1 near my gate for the last flight back into Kabul that I will be making.
It's been a full on day for me. A long flight from Oberammergau, I have been invited to speak again at the NATO school, (there's a possibility that the Netherlands Armed Forces would like me to speak at their school) and I have realised that as those 24 sleeps end, I can retire 6.75 years earlier than most British Males.
My thoughts are, for the very first time in my life, no longer about the job, making sure there's a comprehensive handover, that it all wraps up smoothly, rather, if the next 24 days will drag or race by.
Weird!
Maybe my inner self is gradually turning the "slow down" control?
The future is scary that's for sure but I am looking toward to it though.
Someone wrote recently "the old 40 is the new 50", "the old 50 is the new 60".
Well if that's truly the case, "Bring it on!"
- May 06, 11
- May 03, 11
I am back in Kabul after an exceedingly tiring journey.
It's been a day of catching up on things at work as well as moving into a new container and unpacking.
At least I get a container to myself and more importantly the bed next to the window, so it's fresh air and natural light for the last month here! (even though I see satellite dishes).Back permanently to the Balkans in 35 sleeps time.
W00t!
- Apr 17, 11
This time last year I was wondering what it would be like to be in Kabul, the envrionment, the job, everyday life, security etc etc. The answers to those thoughts I have yet to write here in the blog(but I will don't worry).
Exactly a year later I am sitting at home in my kitchen in the western Balkans thinking about how life will pan out after the 7th June when my time with ISAF/NATO will end (and by default Afghanistan). What lies ahead?For the next few weeks you can follow me as I start to readjust to "Balkanisation" (and home).My Balkans Blog can be found HERE.
I hope you'll want to keep following my adventures, in this really cool part of south east Europe.I'll be back in the 'Stan in early May :)
- Apr 04, 11
The trip "down" from TV hill, passing the poor people who live up in the pollution belt that lies above Kabul - Apr 02, 11
A trip from the base of TV Hill back to our "home " location in the Green Zone of Kabul - Mar 31, 11
Part of the rich tapestry we call life, here inside the wire in Kabul, is the ever changing military population. Every so many months the faces change, the personalities differ, even the nationalities of the soldiers are replaced. It's a weird period to experience and invariably good people get replaced with bad and vice versa. It really is a sea of ever shifting sand.This evening saw the farewell of the last 2 Germans to serve with my section. It's sad in many ways as they were first class chaps. Their return to Germany was ordered almost out of the blue as together with the remainder of this small detachment they only had a week to pack pack and pack ready for withdrawal.
We said farewell to them with very little ceremony BUT with a small, intimate Afghan meal which was shared with some of our Afghan colleagues. I think it was a personal and heartfelt send off indeed!
Our Technician, Rene, is looking to come back to the section as a civilian and our chief (Sebastian) I am planning on meeting in München in September, to experience the Oktoberfest !!!
You know, you never really make friends in this line of work, rather acquaintances. The friendship part comes after the first après tour meeting.
So, I am looking forward to something enjoyable in the not too distant future!
Thanks colleagues for a great time shared together :)
- Mar 28, 11
Escaping into the clouds of day dreams!There is something that everyone who lives in the shared container environment here suffers with, of which I am sure, I refer to it as "Container Condition".
The 10x8 feet of limited privacy can get to the most hardened "conflict junkie" trust me.
I have been giving this some thought recently. My personal living space is far less than awarded to a convicted man who has been found guilty of the most heinous of crimes (back in the UK).
I move around like a scared church mouse so as not to disturb my container mate. I have given up listening to music through loudspeakers (iPod buds are the order of the day), if we all used loudspeakers the cacophony would kill us. I try to whisper when skyping. And trying not to talk "shop" really is the acquired skill. The alternative is outright ignorance of the other persons presence :(
At present my container mate is on leave and so I have that privacy. 2 weeks! Deep Joy! Orgasmic! I now find myself confined voluntarily inside for as long as possible just to overdose on solitude. Self imposed solitary confinement.
Not only the above to contend with, I find myself indulging in watching films on the laptop that I am familiar with. You know, those great classics? The Sunday afternoon BBC TV repeats? AND/OR albums on the iPod. The ones you buy now because the original LP was never given back after you lent it out?
So it's all nostalgia that overwhelms and the mind starts wandering all over the place. I am sure this can't really be healthy. BUT every morning we greet each other as if we are living a "normal" existence. Instead of a neat row of terraced houses it's neat white containers we emerge from.
Why I am I writing this? Well just listening to Pink Floyd and identifying with the words to "Shine on you Crazy Diamond". I know the song is about the late Syd Barrett but it's me in a way at the moment.
"Is there anybody in there?"
Not sure, but he's definitely "out there" lying on his scratcher, coping (just) and counting down the remaining 70 days or so till the jailer opens the door to "Ford Open"
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The views expressed on these websites represent David Bailey MBE. The
content and everything related to these sites, DOES
NOT IN ANY WAY reflect the views of any other person or Governmental or
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