Wikinews interviews 2020 Melbourne Lord Mayor Candidate Wayne Tseng

2020 Melbourne Lord Mayor candidate Wayne Tseng answered some questions about his campaign for the upcoming election from Wikinews.  The Lord Mayor election in the Australian city is scheduled to take place this week.

Tseng runs a firm called eTranslate, which helps software developers to make the software available to the users.  In the candidate's questionnaire, Tseng said eTranslate had led to him working with all three tiers of the government.  He previously belonged to the Australian Liberal Party, but has left since then, to run for mayorship as an independent candidate.

Tseng is of Chinese descent, having moved to Australia with his parents from Vietnam.  Graduated in Brisbane, Tseng received his PhD in Melbourne and has been living in the city, he told Wikinews.  Tseng also formed Chinese Precinct Chamber of Commerce, an organisation responsible for many "community bond building initiatives", the Lord Mayor candidate told Wikinews.

Tseng discussed his plans for leading Melbourne, recovering from COVID-19, and "Democracy 2.0" to ensure concerns of minorities in the city were also heard.  Tseng also focused on the importance of the multi-culture aspect and talked about making Melbourne the capital of the aboriginals.  Tseng also explained why he thinks Melbourne is poised to be a world city by 2030.

Tseng's deputy Lord Mayor candidate Gricol Yang is a Commercial Banker and works for ANZ Banking Group.

Currently, Sally Capp is the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, the Victorian capital.  Capp was elected as an interim Lord Mayor in mid-2018 after the former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle resigned from his position after sexual assault allegations.  Doyle served as the Lord Mayor of Melbourne for almost a decade since 2008.

Can you tell us something about yourself?

((Wayne Tseng))  [I am an] Australian Citizen of Chinese descent [and] fluent Cantonese, Mandarin and English speaker.  Born in Vietnam and migrated to Australia with parent in the 1990s.  Graduated as a computer engineer in Brisbane and received a PhD in Melbourne.  Lectured in RMIT University before launching [my] firm eTranslate.

I authored two teaching texts: Open Learning, Introduction to Project Management and Open Learning, Introduction to Assembly Language.

The firm which shares the same name as the USA firm eTranslate (but not related) specialises in language expertise and language information technology.  The firm has two arms — The technology arm focuses on services to help developers to create language variants of their software.  The language/cultural services arm provides cultural communication services to local government.  Australia is a lot of ethnic minorities speaking over 120 languages and over 80 cultures.

As the firm grew, I spent more [...] time in the cultural communication services arms.  There I served as the principal consultant leading a team which delivered consultancy services to all three levels of government in Australia.

I also founded the non-profit organisation Chinese Precinct Chamber of Commerce which was responsible for a lot of Australia first Chinese and Australia community bond building initiatives.  I have a passion for community activities that leads to the betterment of Australians.

In 2014 I invented the Australian Chinese Zodiac which matches the Chinese zodiac animal with the Australia local wildlife.  The design was aim[ed] to promote better understanding between Chinese and Australian community.  It went viral.

I always have been active in politics.  [I] was a member of the Australian Liberal Party and participated in a federal election.

During my time in politics, I saw the limits of Australia's Westminister system.  This system was designed by the British government to be used in its colonies in 1842.  It assumed that the colonies do not have their own ideals and follow just one single set of social values.  The system only allows a government and an opposition.  These are often occupied by either the Progressive — The LEFT (Labour Party) and the Conservative — the RIGHT (the Liberal Party).

However, 21st Century Australia is much more culturally diverse.  There are different ideals and social values.  Australian[s] can not see themselves fit into either the LEFT or the RIGHT ideology online.  The people of Australia is more comfortable with fit for purpose policies or CENTRE.  The current system does not support a third centre party.

In fact, Australians have become more cynical about the two major parties (LEFT and RIGHT).  They are well educated and well informed.  They believe they can offer the government so much in input and suggestions.  They want to have more say in the governing of [...] Australia.

I have since come to the belief that direct vote or participating democracy is the key for the next stage of the country's evolution.  This is [a] movement overseas in terms of direct vote or direct democracy.

In Australia, I believe introduction of direct voting needs to be [a] gradual process.  Laws needs to be enacted to allow direct voting.  But before this, the public and [sitting] government needs to see the benefit of direct democracy.

((WN))  What made you decide to run for the Melbourne City's Lord Mayor?  Why do you think you should be the Melbourne's Mayor?

((Wayne Tseng))  In [the] 2020 Melbourne local government election, I was nominated for the Lord Mayor of Melbourne.  I hope to use the election as a platform to seed public awareness on participating democracy.

I advocated for the creation of a platform called Participate in Melbourne where the people can begin with submitting their issues/concerns, offer suggestions, hold public debate and send those conclusions to elected councillor to deliberate and vote.  [I] hope once the benefits are known, the council will enact laws to allow direct vote.

I have founded an organisation called eTranslate that has offices in different countries.  Over the years, [I] have gained a considerable amount of business and life experiences which are important in public life.

Apart from my professional life, I have always engaged in community work.  I have a passion to enter public office and serve the community in a larger capacity.

I have always been active in politics.  I was a member of the Australia Liberal Party and participated in a federal election.

During my time in politics, [I] understood the inner workings of major parties and the Australian political system.
Most importantly, I have lived in Melbourne since 2000 and understand the city intimately as a business operator and as a resident.

((WN))  [C]ould you please explain what are the powers of Melbourne's Lord Mayor?

((Wayne Tseng))  Unlike the City of London where its local government administer London CBD [Central Business District] and greater London, the City of Melbourne is divided in 76 areas and the Melbourne City Council only administer the Melbourne CBD and two surrounding residential areas, Docklands and Southbank.

While the area Melbourne City Council administer is small, the Melbourne CBD (second only to Sydney) is the engine of Australia's Economy.  So [while] the scope of power is limited, the policies are wide-ranging.  The Lord Mayor of Melbourne is partly a ceremonial role and partly a directorship role.  It is like the Chairman of a company.  The CEO of the council has all the executive powers.  But the mayor and the councillors are like the board of directors and the chairperson.  The only difference is that this chairperson sets the agenda for the CEO to implement.  The chairperson drafts the agenda based on the wishes of the people — the voters.

((WN))  Tell us about your team Zorin.  Tell us about your partner Gricol Yang.

((Wayne Tseng))  As required by the Victoria Election Authority.  All candidates that contest for the seat of Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor must form a team for ease of identification.

So I choose Team Zorin as a name that represented me, Wayne Tseng — Lord Mayor Candidate and Gricol Yang — Deputy Lord Mayor Candidate.

I chose Zorin because I also have another company called Zorin Industries which specialise in Robotics.  The name will only last until the result of the election is known.

Gricol Yang obtained a degree in commerce and worked in the ANZ Banking Group as a Commercial Banker.

((WN))  You ran in an election as a representative of the Liberal party in 2010 — why did you quit the party?  What have you learned since leaving the Liberals?

((Wayne Tseng))  I quit the party so I can run as an independent in the council election.  I am pursuing direct democracy which is not an element of the Australian Liberal Party platform.

However, during the time as a member of the Liberal party, I have learnt so much about...

((WN))  Tell us about your company eTranslate.

((Wayne Tseng))  I founded the firm eTranslate which shares the same name as the USA firm eTranslate (but not related).  We specialise in language expertise and language information technology.  The firm has two arms — The technology arm focuses on services to help developers to create language variants of their software.  The language/cultural services arm provides cultural communication services to local government.  Australia is a lot of ethnic minorities speaking over 120 languages and over 80 cultures.  We have offices across Australia and in selected countries.

Some of our past achievements include:

We also won a number of awards for our innovations.

((WN))  In the Candidate Questionnaire and Answers, you had listed operating eTranslate has given you expertise in undertaking the role of Councillor.  How?  Can you please explain?

((Wayne Tseng))  As the firm grew, I spent more of [my] time in the cultural communication services arms.  There I served as the principal consultant leading a team which delivered consultancy services to all three levels of government in Australia.

[A] politician needs business and life experience so they can make decisions that address real business and life situations.

So I do believe after years of growing and operating a business in so many areas, I could be of a service to the city.

((WN))  What do you think of the current governance of Melbourne's Mayor?

((Wayne Tseng))  The current mayor, Sally Capp, entered mid-term when the previous mayor Robert Doyle was outsed for sexual harassment allegation.

I do appreciate the hard work Sally did to bridge the political divide in a council chamber she inherited.  This year the pandemic has made her work even harder as for any other leaders.  But what she fall short off is to stand up to the State Government (provincial government) which [has] restricted the city ability to take its own decisive action to better protect the city.

She is Labor aligned so she can not compromise too much of the Labor State Government reign.  But a local government needs to be separate [from] State government so it can exercise its power to protect [its] constituents.

((WN))  Could you please [tell] us about the 'Precision Policies'?

((Wayne Tseng))  Team Zorin pledge to bring all Melbournians to the council chamber.  We will deploy an online platform to let Melbournians participate in the running of the city.  You can post issues in your area, submit your solutions, raise alerts about wrong doing, rate your councillors action and comment on council decisions.  It's called Participating Democracy.  We pledge not only [to] formulate policies for the majority, but also [to] formulate precise policies for the minority.  We called this Precision Policies.

You see the majority rule in current democracy.  If you are in the minority, you will not be in luck.  Our participating democracy platform ensure[s] that the needs of everyone includ[ing] those in minority group are captured.  The government should work harder to ensure there are policies that precisely addressed the needs of everyone including minority group.  Thus Precision Policies.

((WN))  What are some of the things you can bring to [the] table if you were to be elected as the Lord Mayor?

((Wayne Tseng))  Many other candidates in the election only advocate big spending and relief in payment of taxes.  Just like the Spanish Flu that shaped the 20th century, COVID-19 is shaping our time and the city is ill prepared for the post COVID world.  Our council processes and bureaucracies are still paper base, our revenue model is not flexible to enable rapid recovery and take advantage of new opportunity.

My strategy is to Re-open, Reset, Reform as part of Melbourne Recovery.  There is a comprehensive plan for recovery in all sectors from business to residents.  See attached document.

((WN))  What does Melbourne lack under Sally Capp's Mayorship which you plan on improving?

((Wayne Tseng))  Sally['s] current strategy is to spend to recovery.  While this is necessary, fundamental reforms are needed.

My strategy is to Re-open, Reset, Reform as part of Melbourne Recovery.

Key Reforms include:

Make Melbourne a full digitally transformed city with intelligent systems.

Melbourne needs an efficient platform to recover and to seize new opportunities.  Some of our processes and bureaucracies are still paper base.  The tech needed are already available and proven models of digitisation are easily accessible.  We should move towards full digitisation plus installation of intelligent systems.  In simple jargon, these intelligent systems can enable efficiency projects such as:

This new platform will be Melbourne "Digital Railway" to recovery.

Make Melbourne the first to reform council rate calculation.

Post COVID Melbourne will see many empty shops, office floors and rental apartments.  This is in addition to the many heritage-listed and old CBD properties that are not rentable but incredibly valuable.  The current council rate calculation which is based on property value will send these owners off the cliff.

Our team advocate a fundamental change to how council rate is calculated — based on yield and property value.  A property of high value that remains vacant can receive lower rate bill.  This will give relief but also give incentive for the property to attract new tenants.  For commercial property where the tenant pays for the outgoing, the reduced rate bill will help to attract new tenants and relief for the tenant to grow their business.

The same applies to heritage-listed properties and residential rental properties.  The list of beneficiaries is long.

Make Melbourne an active Jobweaver.

In some of candidates' campaigns have been alluded Job — Job — Jobs; unfortunately, reality is we know old industries including retail will not return the same number of jobs.  So where will new jobs come from.  Local government should enact policies and implement initiatives to attract new industries.  While the federal government hands out Job Maker financial assistance, local government should implement "Job Weaver" initiatives to attract new industries.

While one candidate stated he has attracted a billion-dollar project to Melbourne, little of this money trickles to small businesses and local workforce.  Melbourne's well-educated workforce can attract industries such as Robotics, AI Systems, Smart Financial Services and Accreditation Services.  The key to attract these new industries is the development of the e-engagement platform.

Australia [may] enter a new NATO style trade pack with US, Japan, India, and other friendly nations.  With so many Indian students and professions in Australia, Melbourne can seize the opportunity to be the business and finance center to administer these new alliances.  Again, an efficient digital e-engagement platform is the key to seize these opportunities.

((WN))  On Team Zorin's website, you wrote "Melbourne is too precious to be used as a test lab for half-baked policies."  What are some of the current policies that are under-serving the residents of Melbourne?

((Wayne Tseng))   There are many current policies that are not working and under serving.  Here are two examples:

The Melbourne city council [...] advocate for more residential towers and approve[d] a lot which is under construction.  But there are no essential services in these areas to service residents.  Essential services such as doctor, dentist, child care, mental health services and women's health services are almost non-existent.

Here is my advocacy: There is little on other candidates' platforms for Melbourne as Residential Precinct.  There is a Chemist Warehouse in every block.  But where to go when you are sick at night.  Our team propose to attract essential services (such as 24 hours super-clinic) to service Melbourne residents including GPs, dentist, childcare, radiology, mental health, men's health, women's health and crisis management.  We have over 50,000 students in Melbourne; however, they are not entitled to free medical at St Vincent even with a medical insurance.  Gary Morgan rightly said, young family will settle in CBD, but where do they send their children for childcare, early learning, kindergarten, primary and secondary schools.  Schools will lift apartment resale value.  New apartments are being approved but with little green space and essential services.  This will be failed.

Melbourne City council advocate to re-open business but there is not enough measure to make sure the premises are COVID safe.

This is my advocacy: Make Melbourne the first to install a city-level outbreak detection team.

A hard COVID lesson learnt is that outbreak needs to be contain fast.  COVID-19 will not be the last.  There are also frequent gastro outbreaks.  Our team propose Australia first city-level Rapid Response, Virus education / awareness, Outbreak Detection and Containment Team (jokingly called Bug Busters).  While we may not like to mention it, China's city level Bug Busters are key for them to contain outbreaks.

In addition, we advocate installation of health check gates at shopping centers and places of high people concentration.  These gates will not only measure temperatures but will have regularly updated features to detect other symptoms.  Just like security check points, they will become part of the post-COVID world.  They may be integrated as part of security and drug checks.  (The technology is already in used overseas).

Think again, this along with PPE when mandated and social distancing is the key to safe opening.

((WN))  On your website, you wrote "Team Zorin pledges to bring all Melbournians to the council chamber" — how do you plan to do that?  How will this affect people of Melbourne?  What technologies would you require to achieve that?

((Wayne Tseng))  The phrase bring all Melbournians to the council chamber is a metaphor.  The reality is that all Melbournians will have their opportunity to submit their issues and their suggestions into the digital democracy platform.  They can participate in virtual debate and trials.  Those findings will be submitted to the council chamber for formal debate.  Now even if the laws do not allow direct vote, the platform has online polls to allow the people to vote.  The elected councillors can see the "wish" of the people and voted accordingly.  Thus — "Bring the Melbournians to the council chamber".

To a number of Melbournians who have been so stressed and depressed, it will take sometime for them to appreciate the opportunity to have their say.  At the same time, so many Melbournians are tired and fed up with the current mayor for the lack of real solutions and the state government errors and mistakes, they will look for alternatives.

I believe instead of installing another leader who is not going to be any wiser or someone who just want[s to] offer sensationalism just to win power, this is the time where we open the pathway to collective governing.  The direct democracy or participating democracy (depends on who is framing this concept) will allow Melbournians to work collectively, find out solutions, TRIAL solutions, hold [...] forum and see what really works and then tell their leader to consider these well-founded solutions.

It does not affect the people of Melbourne other than giving them a new avenue to seek their answers.  It will put the elected official on notice that people demand more, want to take part in the process of governing.  Also the demand for greater transparency.

There are emerging technologies for participating democracy.

MiVote is one prominent technology using blockchain to enable secured voting.  Since the model on how direct democracy is going to unfold, the technologies are catching up with the needs of the people.

For the first time in digital revolution, it is technology that is catching up with the people.  In this case, it is the digital democracy platform trying to the catch up with the inspiration of the people.  Other less sophisticated ones include WordPress with template UpVote.

((WN))  What do you think of one's right to privacy?  Will the people of Melbourne have to compromise a part of their privacy to accommodate to your plans for the city?

((Wayne Tseng))  Australia has a very strong privacy protection law. By participating in the democracy platform, the people would not disclose much of their details other than:

((WN))  How would you ensure the digital platform you intend to deploy for residents to participate for the running of city is not misused?  In what ways will you ensure only the residents of the city can use it?  Will the platform use user's privacy respecting software?

((Wayne Tseng))  The model in which how this participating democracy works itself will also be debated.  Of course, I will seed the initial model.

The initial model do not allow anonymous posts or vote.  Every one [who] contributes must verify that they are registered voters against the voters roll in the election authority.  The voting itself are base on block chain which is the most secure we now have.

The software will respect Australia privacy law.

((WN))  How do you plan to help those Melbournians who are in the economically weaker category?

((Wayne Tseng))  The homeless and people living below the poverty line are part of the Melbourne community.  On policy, the council will rent back empty home to give temporary shelter to the homeless or reduce rental for those who are economically weaker.

((WN))  Statistics show number of crimes reported in various cities in Australia including Melbourne have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.  How do you plan on handling the COVID-19 pandemic?  What policies would you introduce to reduce the rate of crimes in Melbourne?

((Wayne Tseng))  On my policy platform, we have advocate[d] for night safe zones, additional CCTV and patrols.  We will work with the police department (run by the state government) to ensure they monitor the parts of the city that pose higher risks.

((WN))  Why do you think "Melbourne is poised to be a world city by 2030"?  What are some of the things necessary for ensuring that comes true?  What are some of the current barriers which may prevent that from happening?  How would you remove those barriers?

((Wayne Tseng))  Australia is an island continent.  It has the world largest iron, lithium, uranium and rare earth reserve[s].  It has the most agriculturally sound land.  It has every geographical [feature] you can find [on] earth.  There is enough land to support a population of 2 billion.

Melbourne like Sydney is a business, administrative and cultural centre.  Yet it does not have the financial burden of being the largest city in Australia.

Melbourne can seize the opportunity to be administration centre of the new opportunities.  From new opportunities comes [new] found wealth and city development.

But what is stopping the city is its old paper base bureaucracies.  This is why I advocate full digital transformation of council processes and install new smart systems.  I also advocate the development of a[n] e-engagement system which allow[s] new industries from overseas to quickly engage with the City of Melbourne.

((WN))  Tell us about "Guided Governing".  How would that play out?  Your campaign talks about Democracy 2.0.  What are the things where democracy is currently failing?  How do you plan to fix it?

((Wayne Tseng))  In the Democracy 1.0, the majority rules.  If you are a minority, you[r] needs may not be addressed.

Melbourne is so much more than those issues raised by the mayoral candidates.  The recovery needs to include everyone, not just those whose needs are on the candidates' policy platform.

Melbournians will no longer accept that if your needs are not on their agenda, [bad] luck try again in 4 years.  A lot can happen in 4 years.  One COVID-19 lesson is to address issues head on, fast and with well-founded solutions.  We can see from Stage 4, there were mistakes — 50 mistakes as the Herald Sun reported.

We understand politicians are human, there is a limit to how much they know — especially career politicians.  Melbournians as a collective can offer so much.  Take my extensive policies.  In fact, the list is much longer.  These are real issues submitted by people at the ground level including suggestions by the people on my mini digital democracy platform.

For example, when Sally advocated for the expansion to Southbank Boulevard and big events, residents in Southbank already unhappy at sound levels rejected this completely.  They advocate that the council should enforce a quiet zone after 10pm at residential areas.  This is on my platform.

Melbournians can submit their observations of any failures.  One election issue is the self-injecting room (I know it is the state government who put it there).  While every candidate concedes having one near QVM [Queen Victoria Market] and near residential towers is bad, no candidate mentioned that there are dealers hovering 150 meters away supplying the goods creating an epicentre of drug deals around the self-injecting room.  Chinese students living in EQ towers on A'beckett street  reported this on my platform even if they are not voters.

You see citizen participating can also stop bad policy in its track, this is guided governing.

Melbournians can offer topics/suggestions that the candidates don't see.  As a collective they have a greater foresight.  In my policy document, topics discussed include:

These potential ideas and virtual forum findings can be submitted to the council chamber for councillors to debate guided by the evidence presented.  Of course the current laws do not allow citizens to directly vote on council decisions.  But Melbournians can conduct their votes on online polls.  The result will show the councillors in the chamber the wish of the people.  If they do not vote reflecting the wish of the people, they will know their [fate] come next election.

If I was to be elected, I will take gradual steps to introduce a platform for participation and direct vote.

My plan is to expand "Participate Melbourne " to empower Melbournians to

It goes further:

((WN))  Why do you plan to make Melbourne Australia's capital?

((Wayne Tseng))  Melbourne was Australia capitol until 1927.  Then it was moved to Canberra.

The indigenous people of Australia do have rights.  But their identity and their rights are either suppressed or not encouraged.

I want to use Melbourne public space to be a place where the First Nations (Indigenous) people can hold their discussion forum.  I want to have the map of their different tribes displayed in Town Hall.

I also want a day where we have the Indigenous festival.

((WN))  You have plans to create a city level disease detection swat unit and to install temperate and health check gates — how much time would it take to do it all across Melbourne?  How much resources and funds are you planning to put behind the disease prevention of the city?

((Wayne Tseng))  I am [not(?)] privy to council records.  So I don't have all the tools to calculate.  But because the area that Melbourne City Council is small.  I can work out the budget.  I may budget to be the same that the city is spending now controlling the outbreak.

((WN))  Your manifesto also mentions reviewing "animal management plan" — could you tell us more about it?

((Wayne Tseng))  Pets are not support[ed] and unwanted in City of Melbourne.  The current animal management plan advocates if lost pets are not claimed within a certain number of days they are killed.

Many people who moved from the suburbs to the city often left their pets on the streets.  This is sad.

I think we should be compassionate.  I will definitely review the pet plan and called it "Creatures big and small care plan".

((WN))  How do you plan to preserve the indigenous art and support multi-cultural aspect of the city?

((Wayne Tseng))   Mining companies frequently blasted sacred aboriginal sites destroying precious aboriginal artwork.  Some of their art work are actually dumped in shipping containers.  Melbourne has so many public galler[ies] and museums. They can be commission to preserve, store and exhibit aboriginal artworks.

((WN))  Given the owners profit from pairing up with Airbnb which hikes the house rent — what is your stance on Airbnb and similar short-stay rentals and their long-term effect on affordability?

((Wayne Tseng))  Airbnb and similar short-stay rental are [an] important source of income for city apartment landlords.  Yet they are also a source of disturbances for residents.  Residents deserve peace and enjoyment.

So Airbnb needs to be regulated.  My plan is to have public consultation where all stakeholders get to have a say on the digital democracy platform and hold a virtual forum.

Some of the initial key consideration[s] include:

((WN))  What are some of the strongest criticisms you have received for your plans for Melbourne?  How did those criticisms change your views?

((Wayne Tseng))  My policies for the city of Melbourne have been collectively suggested by talking to the people of Melbourne through my digital participating democracy platform.  So they are populist policies.  Few actually criticise them.

However, there is one major challenge.  The current tension between Chinese and Australia fuel public speculation about why so many Chinese candidate.  They are worried about foreign infiltration.  While I enjoy pretty good coverage, many other Chinese/Asian candidates are being teased or harassed.  Overall, this does not give a good public image for all Chinese/Asian candidates.  Any voters who [do] not know me, may not vote for me because I have a Chinese face.

((WN))  If you had to vote for the current candidates other than yourself for this year's election, which three candidates would you vote for?  Why?

((Wayne Tseng))

((WN))  What are some of the reasons people may not vote for Team Zorin?

((Wayne Tseng))  Reasons:

((WN))  In case if you do not win the election, what would be your next plan of action?

((Wayne Tseng))  [My] goal is to leverage on the friend and networks [I have] developed to further advance participating democracy in Australia.

During the time as a candidate, I have used any publicity available to promote the concept.  I have written to the following part[s] of society:

I hope to promote the concept to all level[s] of society so they will become more educated and understand its benefits.  So when future government can enact direct vote, the great people of Australia can easily follow.

I will formally form a party called Zorin Australia which will attract member[s] across Australia through the democracy platform.

We will also gradually establish a nation-wide democracy platform where the great people of Australia continue to post their issues, solutions, vision, hopes and advise the government on the course of governing.

The various champions on the platform can be great candidate[s] to represent the people come next election.

((WN))  What do you think of world dominance?

((Wayne Tseng))  I do not believe in world dominance.  The whole point of the participating democracy or Democracy 2.0 is to give the power to determine by the people.

The people collaborate in their own community.  The different communities collaborate in a city.  Cities collaborate in a state/provinces.  Provinces collaborate in a country.  Countries collaborate together as part of one cohesive entity.

Of course, this is a utopia that is not going to happen anytime soon.  But it is a model that we hope where countries at different stage of readiness will adopt.  Step by step humanity improves.

Imagine we have a new martian colony.  What kind of government will we want to be there.  We will likely want something like participating democracy, everyone['s] needs are address, everyone collectively decides.  So if this is what is in the future, why can['t] we start to slow[ly] adopt this model today.

((WN))  What does the demographic of Melbourne currently look like?

((Wayne Tseng))  According to 2016 census:

Children aged 0–14 years made up 3.8% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 5.1% of the population.  Of people in Melbourne (State Suburbs) aged 15 years and over, 23.7% were married and 5.8% were either divorced or separated.

0.5% of the population, or 24,062 people, identified as Indigenous Australians (Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders) in 2016.  Melbourne has the 10th largest immigrant population among world metropolitan areas.  In Greater Melbourne at the 2016 census, 63.3% of residents were born in Australia.

((WN))  How do you plan on making Melbourne the Repository for Cultural Artefacts and Knowledge?

((Wayne Tseng))  I always believe knowledge is humanity['s] biggest achievement.  Yet they are constantly be[ing] destroy[ed] by successive regime who see certain part do not align with their ideology.  It happens all around the world.

But I [don't] want to be racist.  I am Chinese.  So I can comment on China.  For a millenni[um] each imperial dynasty aim[ed] to destroy the knowledge and culture of those that were not compatible with their regime.

The biggest destruction was [by] the Qin (Chin) emperor when he unified China.  Even to this day, the Chinese Cultural Revolution has further destroy[ed] what was traditional China.

We see it in Afghanistan, Syria and even in Australia.

There are a large part of Australia society which love truth, knowledge and fairness.

Australia for the time being is very stable politically.  The country geographic is stable with no earthquakes and volcanoes.  Humidity is low and weather stable.

To sum it up, it is a country suitable to [store] artefact[s] and knowledge that are at risks in their host country.  The benefit for Australia is that the world will come and see, bring[ing] tourism.

The artefacts will only be preserve[d] here with consent of the traditional owners.

((WN))  Are you aware of the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museum) outreach project run by Wikimedia?  Do you look forward to facilitating the outreach for mutual benefit?  How would you facilitate that?

((Wayne Tseng))  I did not know until now.  I understand what is GLAM.  I think it can serve as a great preservation of culture, artefact while Wikipedia is for the preservation of knowledge.  I will look into it in the future.

((WN))  What according to you is more important: Representation of minorities in the council or minority citizens getting a platform to express their needs, and grievances?  Why?  What are your plans to achieve that?

((Wayne Tseng))  It's democracy in Australia.  The City administration changes after each election.  Certain administration may be pro-minority, some may not.  Some administration may have good minority representation, some may not.

So it is important that there is a platform which empowers the minority to post their needs and discuss their preferences.  [By] law if issues are known, they need to be addressed by the government.

So it will be ideal that we get both good minority representation in government and the platform to support them.  But the former can not be guaranteed.

((WN))  Why did you start eTranslate? What type of advice does it provide to the three tiers of government?

((Wayne Tseng))  eTranslate has two arms — the Technology arm — which focus on empowering technologies to support multicultural user needs and multilingual content.

The other is multicultural communication services — It is a like a Public Relation service but focus on ethnic groups.  So our team provide this multicultural PR services to government.  We empower the government clients with language resources, cultural expertises and ethnic media channel to interact with their ethnic minority constituents.

So we work with all levels of government.

((WN))  What are some of the problems ethnic minorities face in Melbourne?

((Wayne Tseng))  Due to low fertility rate, Australia has [to] constantly embark on increasing migration to top up its population.  As such, there is a diverse set of ethnic minority groups in fact over 80.  Australia treat[s] its minority well compare to other OECD [(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)] countries.  But when you have so many group[s] competing for government priorities, it is hard to find a balance.

Most of the time, the larger minority group[s] gain more access to resources.  This is why my participating democracy platform helps to ensure the needs of all minority groups are identified and addressed — Thus Precision Policies.

((WN))  What percentage of residents in Melbourne and Victoria are aboriginals?

((Wayne Tseng))  Melbourne 0.5%, Victoria 1.6%.

((WN))  Aboriginal population in Melbourne and in Victoria is very low as compared to other states. Why? And would it make sense to make Melbourne capital of Aboriginals when there aren't enough of them in the city?

((Wayne Tseng))  The distribution of indigenous people depends on a lot of factors.  These again due to historical reasons that we can go on forever.  The are tens of indigenous tribes across the country.  Sadly some were hunted to extinction in the last century, particularly in Tasmania.

Mak[ing] a location a capital for the First Nations people will be symbolic rather than totally enshrine[d] in law.  Ideally it would be best in the City of Darwin.  But unless I was a mayor there, it may not happen.

So having [it] in Melbourne does allow some symbolic and provide a forum for the different tribes to gather and have open discussions.

The "capital" can rotate from city to city periodically if other cities allow.  But ultimately it will be up to the elders to approve.

((WN))  How [do] you envision Melbourne would look like by 2025 under your mayorship?

((Wayne Tseng))  Each mayor term is 4 years, that takes it to 2024 at the latest.  Realistically, Melbourne and Australia being a much smaller economy will take longer to recover from COVID-19.

So to be practical, we hope the city will attain the following by 2024-25:

((WN))  If elected, what would constitute a successful mayorship for you?

((Wayne Tseng))  I believe what constitute a successful mayorship are

Wayne Tseng also shared his insights on various things on how collaboration between the members of society,

((Wayne Tseng))  Just [to] summarise:

Since I was 10, I watched how the ant[s] collaborate.  I asked how we people can collaborate further.  In school, I appreciated competition bring creativity.  But I also believe collaboration ensures not only creativity, but accountability, responsibility, integrity and productivity.

When I was in university, my computer studies focused on collaborative computing.  My post graduate research was on software globalisation — again global collaboration.

My company eTranslate really aims to empower companies to go global while in Australia assist all ethnic minority groups collaborate and co-exist in harmony.

In politics, I seek to find a solution where we can reach consensus.  It does not have to be LEFT or RIGHT, black or white.  Democracy is one system that endures, but it is no longer acceptable to just say majority rules.  This led me to participating democracy or Democracy 2.0.

Once can say — So my life experience really led me towards participating democracy or Democracy 2.0.

((Wayne Tseng))  Democracy 2.0:

When I gave presentation, I always said if there is a Mars Colony now, what kind of political system or government would you prefer: Authoritarianism, Communism, Fascism, Monarchy or Democracy?

If Democracy, do you want to be squeeze[d] to either the LEFT or the RIGHT or only majority rules?  Or may be you want a collective government where the needs of everyone is addressed.  So that's participating democracy.  Now if that is the future, why don't we progress towards this TODAY.

I have developed an index to measure to what degree a country has adopted participating democracy.  I share this in the future topic.

((Wayne Tseng))  Society 1.0:

While developing the model for participating democracy, I saw many institutions have refined processes and some have matured to a point where it is like a car.  The [model], functions and overall attributes of a car is matured.

Imagine that we put all the attributes of an institution whether a health system, a hospital, a school or an education department in a bottle.  We can deploy this to other countries that have [not] yet got such a matured setup.

Now imagine we got a whole matured community or city setup in bottle, this can be deploy to new city setup in the dessert or new settled land.

Now imagine after exchanging and further developing these setup.  Eventually, like a car which is quite mature, we have a setup or definition of a city or SOCIETY that is almost universally accepted.  I call this SOCIETY 1.0.

Democracy 2.0 can lead to SOCIETY 1.0.  The ongoing debate of how to govern a society will lead to a universally agreed FORMAT/SETUP/DEFINITION of a SOCIETY.

During COVID-19, the ability of different medical centres to collaborate in the development and trialling of different vaccine candidates showed the need to standardise setup of clinics, hospital and even the health ministry.  Those that are compatible and matured progressed further.

It will take a moment to sink it.

((Wayne Tseng))  Collectivism 1.0:

Collaboration and Collectivism if well structured or modelled can be the next BIG step in human achievement.

We see collaboration between students.  Let say this has a productivity factor of 4 (where 1 is a person working on his own)

We see collaborat[ion] of different team[s] working together each focusing on a part of the problem.  This has the productivity factor of 16.

However if there is [a] well defined guide to community collaboration where the high number of participants can explore all different permutation[s] of a problem, the productivity factor can be 256.  Add in computation power.  We are talking about a factor of 65,536.  It will expand humanity achievements.

Back to my childhood observation — the numbers do count in creativity and productivity.

The holy grail is to find that magic collaboration model.


維基新聞採訪墨爾本市長候選人曾偉煌

澳大利亚墨尔本市市长选举定于本周举行，到30日投票閉幕。2020年墨尔本市长候选人曾伟煌（Wayne Tseng）在英文维基新闻采访中回答了有关其竞选活动的一些问题。

曾先生经营着一家名为eTranslate的公司。该公司可帮助软件开发人员向用户提供该软件。他在候选人的调查问卷中说，eTransalte促使他与三个级别的政府合作他以前属于是澳大利亚自由党（Australian Liberal Party），但此后离开，以独立候选人身份竞选市长。

曾先生告诉维基新闻他是华裔，跟随父母从越南移民到澳大利亚，在布里斯班毕业，在墨尔本获得博士学位，一直生活在这个城市。这位市长候选人还告诉维基新闻他创立了华人区总商会（Chinese Precinct Chamber of Commerce）， 该组织负责许多“社区纽带建设计划”。

曾先生讨论了他领导墨尔本从新冠状病毒（COVID-19）中恢复过来的计划，以及“民主2.0”，以确保关注到该市少数民族的担忧和需求。曾先生还强调多元文化的重要性，并谈到了使墨尔本成为土著居民的首都。他还解释了为什么他认为墨尔本有望在2030年成为世界城市。

曾先生的副市长候选人是杨礼辉（Gricol Yang），是位商业银行家，就职于澳新银行集团（ANZ Banking Group）。

目前，薩莉·卡普（Sally Capp）是维多利亚州首府墨尔本的市长，卡普于2018年年终被选为临时市长。此前，前市长羅伯特·道爾（Robert Doyle）因性侵犯被指控而辞职，自2008年以来，道爾担任了近十年墨尔本市长。

你能告訴我們一些關於你自己的事情嗎？

曾偉煌 我是擁有中國血統的澳洲公民，會說流利的廣東話、普通話和英文。我出生於越南，跟隨父母在上世紀90年代移民澳洲。我畢業於布里斯班計算機工程系並在墨爾本獲得博士學位。在創辦公司eTranslate之前我曾在墨爾本皇家理工大學講學。

我撰寫了兩本教學教科書：開放式學習的《項目管理導論》（Introduction to Project Management）和開放式學習的《匯編語言導論》（Introduction to Assembly Language）。

該公司雖然與美國的eTranslate公司同名（但不相關），專門從事語言專業知識和語言訊息技術。該公司有兩個分支機構：技術分支專注於幫助開發人員創建其軟件的語言變體的服務；語言／文化分支向為地方政府提供文化交流服務。澳洲有超過120多種語言和80多種文化的少數民族。

隨着公司的發展，我花更多時間在文化交流服務部門。我在那裏擔任首席顧問，領導一個為澳洲各級政府提供諮詢服務的團隊。

我還成立了非營利的華人區總商會（Chinese Precinct Chamber of Commerce），該會負責幫助許多澳洲華人和澳洲社區的首次紐帶建設項目。我熱衷於使澳洲人生活得到改善的社區活動。

2014年，我發明了用澳洲當地野生動物與中國十二生肖動物相匹配的澳洲十二生肖。目的是在促進中國和澳洲社區之間的更好交流。這個發明傳播開了。

我一直活躍於政治。我曾經是澳洲自由黨（Australian Liberal Party）的成員，參加了聯邦選舉。

在我從政期間，我看到了澳洲威斯敏斯特體系（Westminster system）的局限性。該體系是由英國政府設計，於1842年在其殖民地使用。假設殖民地沒有它自己的想法，僅遵循一套單一的社會價值觀，該體系只允許政府和反對派。這些往往被進步黨（The Progressive）、左派（工黨）（The LEFT（Labour Party））、右派（自由黨）（The RIGHT（Liberal Party））佔據。

但是，21世紀的澳洲在文化上更加多元化，有不同的想法和社會價值觀。澳洲人看不到自己適合在線的左派或右派意識形態，澳洲人民更適應目標政策或中心，當前體系不支持第三方中間黨派。

在澳洲，我認為引入直接投票是需要一個漸進的過程。需要制定法律以允許直接投票。但是在此之前，公眾和（現任的）政府需要看到直接民主的好處。

WN 是甚麼讓您決定競選墨爾本市的市長？您為甚麼認為自己應該擔任墨爾本市長？

曾偉煌 在2020年墨爾本地方政府選舉中，我被提名為墨爾本市市長候選人。我希望以選舉為平台，提高公眾對參與民主的意識。

我主張在墨爾本創建一個名為“參與”（Participate）的平台，使人們可以開始提出自己的問題/疑慮，提出建議，進行公開辯論，並將這些結論發送給當選議員進行審議和投票。我希望一旦人們知道好處，議會將制定法律允許直接投票。

我建立了一個名為eTranslate的公司，該公司在不同的國家設有辦事處。多年來，我獲得了很多的商業經驗和生活經驗，這對公共生活至關重要。

除了我的職業生涯，我一直從事社區工作。我熱衷於成為公職人員並以更大的能力為社區服務。

我一直活躍於政治。我曾經是澳洲自由黨（Australia Liberal Party）的成員，參加了聯邦選舉。

在我從政期間，我了解了主要政黨和澳洲政治體系的內部運作。最重要的是，自2000年以來，我就一直居住在墨爾本，作為一個商業經營者和居民，我對這座城市有深刻的了解。

WN 請你解釋一下墨爾本市長的權力是甚麼？

曾偉煌 與地方政府管理倫敦（London）中央商務區（Central Business District）和大倫敦地區的倫敦市不同，墨爾本市分為76個區域，墨爾本市議會（Melbourne City Council）僅管理墨爾本中央商務區和兩個周邊居民區，墨爾本濱海港區（Docklands）和南岸（Southbank） 。

儘管墨爾本市議會管理的區域很小，但墨爾本中央商務區（僅次於悉尼）是澳洲經濟的引擎。因此，儘管權力範圍有限，但政策範圍很廣。墨爾本市長的角色既是儀式性的角色，又是董事職位，就像公司董事長一樣，理事會的首席執行官（CEO）擁有所有執行權。但是市長和議員就像董事會和主席一樣。唯一的區別是，該主席為首席執行官設定了實施議程，主席根據選民的意願起草議程。

WN 跟我們說說關於您的寶盛（Zorin）團隊。跟我們談談關於您的拍檔楊禮輝（Griocol Yang）。

曾偉煌 根據維多利亞選舉管理局（Victoria Election Authority）的要求，所有爭奪市長和副市長席位的候選人都必須組成一個小組以方便識別。

因此，我選擇代表我曾偉煌（Wayne Tseng），市長候選人和楊禮輝（Gricol Yang），副市長候選人的寶盛作為競選團隊的名字。

我之所以選擇寶盛，因為我還有一家公司名為寶盛盈富（Zorin），專門研究機械人技術。寶盛（Zorin）這個字只會持續到選舉結果揭曉。

楊禮輝（Gricol Yang）獲得商業學位，在澳新銀行集團（ANZ Banking Group）擔任商業銀行家。

WN 您在2010年以自由黨代表的身份參加競選，為甚麼您退出自由黨？離開自由黨以來，您學到了甚麼？

曾偉煌 我退出了這個政黨，因此我可以以獨立的無黨派人士的身份參加議會選舉。我追求的是直接民主，這不是澳洲自由黨綱領的組成部分。

然而，在作為自由黨的一員期間，我學到了很多關於……

WN 跟我們談談您的公司eTranslate。

曾偉煌 我創立了eTranslate公司，該公司雖然與美國的eTranslate公司同名（但不相關），專門從事語言專業知識和語言訊息技術。該公司有兩個分支機構：技術分支專注於幫助開發人員創建其軟件的語言變體的服務；語言/文化分支向為地方政府提供文化交流服務。澳洲有超過120多種語言和80多種文化的少數民族。我們在澳洲和部分國家設有辦公室。

我們過去的一些成就包括：

我們還獲得了多項創新獎項。

WN 在“候選人調查問卷表和答案”中，您列出了運營eTranslate已經為您提供了擔任市議員的專業知識。為何這麼說？您能解釋一下嗎？

曾偉煌 隨着公司的發展，我花更多時間在文化交流服務部門。我在那裏擔任首席顧問，領導一個為澳洲各級政府提供諮詢服務的團隊。

一個政治家需要豐富的商業經驗和生活經驗，這樣他們才能做出解決實際商業問題和改善生活狀況的正確決策。

因此，我確實相信經過這麼多年的發展和商業運營，我可以為這座城市服務。

WN 您如何看待墨爾本市長當前的治理？

曾偉煌 現任市長薩莉·卡普（Sally Capp）在前任市長羅伯特·道爾（Robert Doyle）因性騷擾指控出局後進入了中期選舉。

我非常感謝Sally在她繼承的議會中為彌合政治分歧所做的努力，今年的疫情使她的工作比其他任何領導人都更加艱難，但她沒有做到的是與州政府（省級政府）抗衡，後者限制了該市採取果斷行動更好地保護城市的能力。

她與工黨結盟，因此她不能在工黨政府的統治下妥協太多。但地方政府需要與州政府分開，這樣才能行使權力來保護其選民。

WN WN：您能跟我們談談“精確政策”（Precision Policies）嗎？

曾偉煌 寶盛團隊承諾將所有墨爾本人帶到議會會議廳。我們將部署一個在線平台，讓墨爾本人參與該城市的運營。您可以在您所在地區發佈問題、提交解決方案、警告錯誤行為、評分議員行動並評論議會決定。這就叫做參與民主（Participating Democracy）。我們保證不僅為多數人制定政策，而且還要為少數人制定精確的政策。我們稱此為精密政策（Precision Policies）。

您會看到當前民主制中的多數統治。如果您是少數派，那麼您將不會很幸運。我們的參與民主平台可確保包括少數民族在內的每個人的需求都能得到滿足。政府應加倍努力，以確保制定出能夠準確滿足包括少數民族在內的所有人需求的政策。這就是精確策略（Precision Policies）。

WN 如果您當選市長，您將會做些甚麼呢？

曾偉煌 許多其他參加選舉的候選人只主張大筆支出和減免稅款。就像西班牙流感改變了20世紀一樣，新冠狀病毒（COVID-19）正在改變我們的時代，這座城市沒有為後疫情世界做好充分的準備。我們的議會程序和官僚機構仍是紙上談兵，我們的收入模型不靈活，無法實現快速復甦並利用新的機會。

我的策略是重新開放、重置、改革， 這將作為墨爾本復甦的一部分。從企業到居民，所有部門都有一個全面的復甦計劃。請參閱附件。

WN 在市長薩莉·卡普（Sally Capp）的領導下，墨爾本缺少甚麼，您打算如何改善？

曾偉煌 卡普的當前策略是花錢恢復經濟。儘管這是必要的，但需要進行根本的改革。
我的策略是重新開放、重置、改革， 這將作為墨爾本復甦的一部分。關鍵改革包括：

通過智能系統使墨爾本成為完全數碼化的城市。

墨爾本需要一個高效的平台來復甦並抓住新的機會。我們的一些流程和官僚機構仍是紙上談兵。所需的技術已經具備，並且經過驗證的數碼化模型也可以被輕鬆訪問。我們應該邁進全面數碼化和安裝智能系統的新時代。用簡單的術語來說，這些智能系統可以實現如下高效項目：

這個新平台將使墨爾本的“數字鐵路”得以復甦。

使墨爾本成為第一個改革市政費率計算的城市。

後疫情時期墨爾本將看到許多空置的商店、辦公樓和用來出租的公寓。除此之外，還有許多無法租用但具有極高價值的遺產名錄和CBD舊房子。當前基於物業價值的市政費率計算將使這些業主陷入困境。

我們的團隊主張，從根本上改變市政費率的計算方式，基於收益率和財產價值。閒置的高價值物業可以收到較低的稅率賬單。這樣既可以減輕負擔，又可以激勵物業吸引新的租客。對於由租客支付市政費的商業物業，降低市政費的法案將有助於吸引新租客，並減輕租客發展他們自己企業的負擔。

這同樣適用於列入遺產名錄的房地產和住宅租賃房地產。受益者名單很長。

使墨爾本成為活躍的Jobweaver。

在一些候選人的競選活動中，有人暗指工作……工作……工作；不幸的是，現實是我們知道包括零售在內的舊行業無法提供相同數量的工作機會。因此，新的就業機會將從何而來。地方政府應制定政策並採取措施吸引新產業。在聯邦政府為創造就業機會的企業提供財政援助的同時，地方政府應實施“工作織工”（Job Weaver）計劃以吸引新產業。

雖然一位候選人表示，他已經吸引了一個價值十億美元的項目到墨爾本，但這筆資金很少流向小型企業和當地勞動力。墨爾本受過良好教育的勞動力可以吸引機械人、人工智能系統（AI Systems）、智能金融服務和認證服務等行業。吸引這些新興產業的關鍵是開發電子參與（e-engagement）平台。

澳洲可能與美國、日本、印度和其他友好國家進入北約（NATO）式的新貿易協定。在澳洲有如此眾多的印度學生和專業人士，墨爾本可以抓住機會成為商業和金融中心來管理這些新的聯盟。再次強調，有效的電子參與（e-engagement）平台是抓住這些機會的關鍵。

WN 您在寶盛團隊的網站上寫道：“珍貴的墨爾本不能成為測試半成品政策的實驗室。”目前有哪些對墨爾本居民服務不足的政策？

曾偉煌 當前有許多無效的政策在起作用。這是兩個示例：

墨爾本市議會主張建造更多的住宅塔樓，並批准很多正在建設中的建築，但是沒有在這些地區提供居民的基本服務。這些地區幾乎不存在諸如醫生，牙醫，兒童保育，精神保健服務和婦女保健服務之類的基本服務。

這是我的主張：其他候選人沒有人考慮墨爾本的住宅區。在墨爾本每個街區都有一家藥店，但是晚上生病時該去哪裏就診？我們的團隊建議吸引基本服務（例如24小時全天候診所）為墨爾本居民提供服務，包括全科醫生，牙醫，育兒，放射科，心理健康，男性健康，女性健康和危機管理。我們在墨爾本有50,000多名外來學生，但是即使擁有醫療保險，他們也無權在聖文森特享受免費醫療。加里·摩根（Gary Morgan）正確地表示，年輕的家庭將定居在中央商務區，但是他們將來要把孩子送到哪裏去託管，早教，到哪裏去就讀幼兒園，中小學呢？學校將提高公寓的轉售價值，但正在審批中的新公寓項目幾乎沒有綠地和基本服務，這將造成失敗。

墨爾本市議會提倡重新恢復商店的營業，但沒有足夠的措施來確保場所安全。

這是我的主張：使墨爾本成為第一個組建城市級爆發檢測團隊的城市。

我們從疫情中學到的一個經驗是，疫情的爆發需要迅速控制。 這不會是最後一個疫情，墨爾本頻繁爆發消化系統傳染病。我們的團隊建議在澳洲建立第一個城市級快速響應、防疫教育、爆發檢測和遏制團隊（可以戲稱之為Bug Busters）。儘管我們可能不願提及，但中國城市一級的封鎖是遏制疫情擴散的關鍵。

此外，我們提倡在購物中心和人流密集的地方安裝健康檢查門。這些門不僅可以測量溫度，還可以定期更新功能以檢測其他症狀。就像安全檢查點一樣，它們將成為世界抗擊疫情的一部分。它們也可能成為安全檢查和毒品檢查的一部分。 （該技術已在國外使用）

再想一想，強制性的個人防護裝備和社交距離是城市恢復安全開放的關鍵。

WN 在您的網站上，您寫了“寶盛團隊承諾將所有墨爾本市民帶入市政廳”。您打算如何做？這將如何影響墨爾本市民？您要通過甚麼方法來實現這一目標？

曾偉煌 將所有墨爾本人帶入市政廳這是一個比喻。我的意思是，所有墨爾本人都有機會將他們的問題和建議提交到數字民主平台中，他們可以參加虛擬辯論和審判，這些調查結果將提交給議會會議廳進行正式辯論。現在，即使法律不允許直接投票，該平台也可以通過在線民意調查讓人們投票。當選議員可以看到人民的願望，並據此投票。因此，我們“把墨爾本人帶到議會廳”。

對於許多如此壓抑和沮喪的墨爾本人來說，他們需要一些時間來發表自己的意見。同時，許多墨爾本人由於缺乏解決方案以及州政府的失誤而對現任市長感到厭倦和無法忍受，他們會尋找替代方案。

我相信，這是我們為集體治理開闢道路的時候了，而不是推舉一個不會變得更明智的領導人或一個只想提供聳人聽聞的想法以贏得權力的領導人。直接民主製或參與民主制（取決於誰來構想這個概念）將使墨爾本市民共同努力，找出解決方案，試用方案，舉行論壇，看看真正有效的方法，然後告訴其領導人認真考慮這些基礎的解決方案。

除了給他們提供尋求答案的新途徑外，它不會影響墨爾本市民。它將使民選官員注意到人們有更多要求，希望參與執政過程。也要求更大的透明度。

現在，我們有新興的民主參與技術。

MiVote是一項使用區塊鏈實現安全投票的傑出技術。由於人們需要直接民主的模式，所以科學技術正在趕上人們的需求。

在數字革命中，這是技術第一次趕上人們。在這種情況下，正是數字民主平台試圖追趕人民的靈感，其他不那麼複雜的工具包括帶有模板UpVote的WordPress產生了。

WN 您如何看待私隱權？墨爾本市民會不得不犧牲一部分私隱來適應您對城市的計劃嗎？

曾偉煌  澳洲有非常嚴格的私隱保護法。通過參與民主平台，市民除了以下三點之外不會透露他們的更多細節：

WN 您將如何確保您打算為居民參與城市運行而部署的數碼平台不會被濫用？您將以甚麼方式確保只有墨爾本市民才能使用它？平台會使用用戶私隱保護軟件嗎？

Wayne Tseng這種參與民主製本身如何運作的模式也將受到質疑。當然，我將解釋初始模型。

初始模型不允許匿名帖子或投票。每個做出貢獻的人都必須核實自己是已登記的選民，而不是選舉機構中的選民。投票本身基於區塊鏈，這是我們現在擁有的最安全的區塊鏈。

該軟件將遵守澳洲私隱法。

WN 您打算如何幫助那些經濟上弱勢的墨爾本市民？

曾偉煌 無家可歸者和生活在貧困線以下的人們是墨爾本社區的一部分。根據我的政綱，市政府將租用空置房屋，為無家可歸者提供臨時住所，或減少經濟上較弱勢者的租金。

WN 統計數據顯示，在疫情大流行期間，澳洲各個城市（包括墨爾本）報告的犯罪數量有所增加。您如何計劃應對疫情大流行？您將採取甚麼政策來降低墨爾本的犯罪率？

曾偉煌 在我的政綱上，我倡導設置夜間安全區，額外的閉路電視和巡邏。我們將與警察局（由州政府運營）合作，以確保風險較高的地區得到監視。

WN 您為甚麼認為“墨爾本有望在2030年之前成為國際城市”？確保實現這些目標需要做些甚麼？目前有哪些障礙會阻止這個目標？您將如何消除這些障礙？

曾偉煌 澳洲是一個島嶼大陸。它擁有世界上最大的鐵、鋰、鈾和稀土儲量。它擁有農業上最可靠的土地。它具有您可以在地球上找到的每一種地理特徵。有足夠的土地來支持20億人口。

像悉尼一樣，墨爾本是商業，行政和文化中心。然而，它沒有成為澳洲最大城市的經濟負擔。

墨爾本可以抓住機會，成為新機遇的行政中心。從新的機遇中發現財富和城市發展。

但是阻止這座城市的是其陳舊的官僚機構。這就是為甚麼我主張對理事會流程進行完全數碼化轉型並安裝新的智能系統的原因。我還主張開發一種電子參與系統，該系統可以使來自海外的新產業迅速與墨爾本市互動。

WN 請告訴我們您政綱中“指導性治理”的內容，它將如何發揮作用？您的選舉廣告談論民主2.0。現行的民主制度目前正在失敗的地方是甚麼？您打算如何解決？

曾偉煌 在「民主1.0」中，多數人說了算。如果你是少數派，你的需求可能不會得到解決。

墨爾本的問題遠不止於市長候選人提出的那些問題。復興需要包括每個人，而不僅僅是那些需求在候選人的政策平台上的人。

墨爾本人不會再接受如果你的需求不在他們的議程上，那就倒霉了，4年後再試試。4年內可以發生很多事情。新冠疫情的一個教訓是，要直面問題，快速解決，並提出有根據的解決方案。我們可以從第四階段看到，有錯誤，《太陽先驅報》（Herald Sun）報導的50個錯誤。

我們明白政治家是人，他們知道的東西是有限的，尤其是職業政治家。Melbournians（墨爾本市的本地人或居民）作為一個集體可以提供這麼多。以我的廣泛政策為例。事實上，這個清單要長得多。這些都是人們在基層提交的真實問題，包括人們在我的小型數字民主平台上提出的建議。

例如，當莎莉主張擴大到南岸大道和大型活動時，南岸的居民已經對聲音水平不滿意，完全拒絕了。他們主張議會應該在晚上10點以後在居民區實施安靜區。這是我的綱領。

Melbournians可以提交他們對任何失敗的觀察。一個選舉問題是自注室（我知道是州政府放的）。雖然每個候選人都承認在維多利亞女皇市場（QVM）附近和居民樓附近有一個是不好的，但沒有一個候選人提到有毒販子在150米外徘徊，提供貨物，在自助注射室周圍創造了一個毒品交易的中心。住在阿貝克特街（A'beckett）EQ大廈的中國學生即使不是選民，也在我的平台上報告了這一點。

你看公民參與也可以阻止不良政策的發生，這就是引導式治理。

Melbournians可以提供候選人看不到的議題／建議。作為一個集體，他們有更大的預見性。在我的政策文件中，討論的議題包括

如果我當選，我會循序漸進地引入一個參與和直接投票的平台。

我的計劃是擴大「參與墨爾本」（Participate Melbourne）的範圍，使墨爾本人能夠

WN 為甚麼你打算把墨爾本作為澳洲的首都？

曾偉煌 墨爾本在1927年之前一直是澳洲的首都。然後，首都被遷到坎培拉。

澳洲的土著人確實有權利，但他們的身份和權利不是被壓制就是不被鼓勵。但他們的身份和權利不是被壓制就是不被鼓勵。

我想利用墨爾本的公共空間，成為第一民族（土著）可以舉辦論壇的地方。我希望在市政廳展示他們不同部落的地圖。

我還希望有一天我們能舉辦土著人節日。

WN 你們計劃建立一個城市級別的疾病檢測猛擊單位，並安裝溫濕度和健康檢查門。這需要多少時間來完成整個墨爾本的工作？你們計劃投入多少資源和資金來支持城市的疾病預防工作？

曾偉煌 我不知道委員會的紀錄，所以我沒有所有的工具來計算。但因為墨爾本市議會的區域很小，我可以計算出預算，我可能會預算到和市裏現在控制疫情的花費一樣。

WN 你的宣言還提到了審查「動物管理計劃」（Animal management plan），你能告訴我們更多關於它的訊息嗎？

曾偉煌 在墨爾本市，寵物是不被支持和不被需要的。目前的動物管理計劃主張，如果丟失的寵物在一定天數內不被認領，就會被殺死。

很多從郊區搬到城市的人經常把寵物丟在街上。這是很可悲的。

我認為我們應該有同情心。我一定要檢討一下寵物計劃，叫它「生物大小護理計劃」。

WN 您打算如何保護本土藝術和支持城市的多元文化？

曾偉煌 礦業公司經常爆破神聖的原住民遺址，破壞珍貴的原住民藝術品，他們的一些藝術作品實際上被傾倒在運輸集裝箱中。墨爾本有那麼多的公共畫廊和博物館，他們可以受委託保存、儲存和展出原住民藝術作品。

WN 鑑於業主通過與Airbnb配對而獲利，而Airbnb會抬高房屋租金，你對Airbnb和類似的短租房及其對負擔能力的長期影響持甚麼立場？（Airbnb是讓大眾出租住宿民宿的網站，提供短期出租房屋或房間的服務）

曾偉煌 Airbnb和類似的短租是城市公寓房東的重要收入來源。然而，它們也是居民的干擾源。居民應該得到安寧和享受。

所以Airbnb需要受到監管。我的計劃是進行公眾諮詢，讓所有的利益相關者都能在數字民主平台上發表意見，並舉行虛擬論壇。

初步的一些主要考慮包括：

WN 你在墨爾本的計劃中受到的最強烈的批評是甚麼？ 這些批評是如何改變你的觀點的？

曾偉煌 我對墨爾本市的政策是通過我的數字參與民主平台與墨爾本人民交談後集體提出的，所以它們是民粹主義政策，實際上很少有人批評它們。

但是，有一個重大的挑戰。目前中國和澳洲之間的緊張關係助長了公眾對為甚麼這麼多中國候選人的猜測，他們擔心外國滲透，雖然我享受相當不錯的報導，但許多其他中國及亞洲候選人正在被戲弄或騷擾。總的來說，這對所有華裔和亞裔候選人來說，並不是一個好的公眾形象。任何不認識我的選民，可能會因為我有一張中國面孔而不投票給我。

WN 如果在今年的選舉中，除了自己之外，你還要投給現任候選人，你會投給哪三位候選人？為甚麼？

Wayne Tseng

WN 人們可能不投票給寶盛（Zorin）團隊的原因有哪些？

曾偉煌 原因：

WN 萬一你沒有贏得選舉，你下一步的行動計劃是甚麼？

曾偉煌 我的目標是利用我所建立的朋友和網絡，進一步推動澳洲的參與式民主。

在擔任候選人期間，我利用一切可以利用的宣傳手段來宣傳這一概念。我已經給以下社會各界寫信。

我將正式成立一個名為「澳洲寶盛」（Zorin Australia）的政黨，通過民主平台吸引全澳的成員。

我們也將逐步建立一個全國性的民主平台，讓偉大的澳洲人民繼續在這個平台上發佈他們的問題、解決方案、願景、希望，為政府的執政提供建議。

平台上的各種擁護者可以在下次選舉時成為代表人民的優秀候選人。

WN 你怎麼看世界霸主（World dominance）？

曾偉煌 我不相信世界主導權。參與式民主或民主2.0的全部意義在於賦予人民決定的權力。

人民在自己的社區中合作。不同的社區在一個城市裏合作。城市在一個州/省裏合作，省在一個國家裏合作。省在一個國家合作。國家作為一個有凝聚力的實體的一部分共同協作。

當然，這是一個烏托邦，不會很快發生。但我們希望處於不同準備階段的國家都能採用這種模式。人類一步步進步。

想像一下，我們有一個新的火星殖民地。我們會希望那裏的政府是甚麼樣的。我們很可能會想要類似於參與式的民主，每個人的需求都被解決，每個人集體決定。所以如果這是未來的事情，我們為甚麼不能在今天開始慢慢採用這種模式。

WN 目前墨爾本的人口結構是怎樣的？

曾偉煌 根據2016年的人口普查：

0-14歲的兒童占人口的3.8%，65歲及以上的人占人口的5.1%。在墨爾本（州郊）15歲及以上的人口中，23.7%的人已婚，5.8%的人離婚或分居。

2016年，0.5%的人口，即24,062人被確認為澳洲土著人（澳洲土著人和托雷斯海峽島民）。墨爾本的移民人口在世界大都市中排名第十。在2016年的人口普查中，大墨爾本有63.3%的居民在澳洲出生。

WN 你打算如何使墨爾本成為文化藝術品和知識的儲藏室？

曾偉煌 我始終認為，知識是人類最大的成就。然而，它們不斷地被歷代政權摧毀，因為他們認為某些部分不符合他們的意識形態。這種情況在世界各地都有發生。

但我不想成為種族主義者。我是中國人，所以我可以評論中國。一千年來，每個帝國王朝都旨在摧毀那些與他們的政權不相容的知識和文化。

最大的破壞是秦始皇統一中國時的破壞。即使到今天，中國文化大革命也進一步摧毀了傳統中國的東西。

我們在阿富汗、敘利亞，甚至在澳洲都看到了這種情況。

澳洲社會有很大一部分人熱愛真理、知識和公平。

澳洲目前政治上非常穩定。國家地理穩定，沒有地震和火山。濕度低，天氣穩定。

綜上所述，這是一個適合存放在所在國有風險的文物和知識的國家。對澳洲的好處是，全世界都會來看，帶來旅遊。

只有在徵得傳統主人的同意後，才會在這裏保存文物。

WN 你是否知道維基媒體的GLAM（Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museum，畫廊、圖書館、檔案館和博物館）外展項目？你是否期待為互惠互利的外展項目提供便利？你將如何促進這個項目？

曾偉煌 我現在才知道。我明白甚麼是GLAM。我覺得它可以作為一個很好的文化、藝術品的保存，而維基百科是為了保存知識。我以後會研究一下。

WN 在你看來，甚麼更重要？少數民族在議會中的代表權還是少數民族公民得到一個平台來表達他們的需求和不滿？為甚麼這麼說？你有甚麼計劃來實現這一目標？

曾偉煌 這就是澳洲的民主。市政府在每次選舉後都會更換。某些政府可能是親少數派的，有些可能不是。有些政府可能有很好的少數派代表，有些可能沒有。

因此，重要的是要有一個平台，讓少數族裔有能力發佈他們的需求和討論他們的偏好。法律規定，如果知道了問題，就需要由政府來解決。

因此，理想的情況是，我們在政府中既有良好的少數族裔代表，又有支持他們的平台。但前者無法保證。

WN 您為甚麼要創辦eTranslate？它向三級政府提供甚麼類型的建議？

曾偉煌 eTranslate有兩個部門，一個是技術部門，其重點是使技術能夠支持多文化用戶的需要和多語言內容。

另一個是多文化交流服務。這就像公共關係服務一樣，但重點是種族群體。因此，我們的團隊為政府提供這種多元文化公關服務。我們為政府客戶提供語言資源、文化專業知識和民族媒體渠道，讓他們與少數民族選民互動。

所以我們與各級政府合作。

WN 少數民族在墨爾本面臨的問題有哪些？

曾偉煌 由於生育率低，澳洲不得不不斷增加移民以增加人口。因此，澳洲有各種各樣的少數族裔群體，事實上有80多個。與其他經濟合作與發展組織（OECD）國家相比，澳洲對少數民族的待遇不錯。但是，當你有這麼多的群體爭奪政府的優先權時，很難找到一個平衡點。

大多數情況下，較大的少數群體獲得了更多的資源。這就是為甚麼我的參與式民主平台有助於確保所有少數群體的需求得到識別和解決，因此精準政策。

WN 墨爾本和維多利亞州的居民中有多少比例是土著人？

曾偉煌 墨爾本0.5%，維多利亞1.6%。

WN 與其他州相比，墨爾本和維多利亞州的土著人口非常少。為甚麼呢？如果墨爾本市的土著居民人數不足，將墨爾本作為土著居民的首都是否合理？

曾偉煌 土著人民的分佈取決於很多因素。這些又是由於歷史原因造成的，我們可以永遠說下去。全國有幾十個土著部落。可悲的是，有些人在上個世紀被獵殺至滅絕，特別是在塔斯馬尼亞。

將一個地點作為第一民族的首都將是象徵性的，而不是完全載入法律。理想情況下，最好是在達爾文市。但除非我是那裏的市長，否則可能不會發生。

所以在墨爾本有它確實允許一些象徵性的，並為不同的部落提供一個聚集和公開討論的論壇。

如果其他城市允許，「首都」可以定期從一個城市輪換到另一個城市。但最終還是要由長老們來批准。

WN 您設想在您的領導下，到2025年墨爾本會是甚麼樣子？

曾偉煌 每個市長的任期是4年，最遲要到2024年。現實中，墨爾本和澳洲作為一個更小的經濟體，需要更長的時間才能從COVID-19中恢復過來。

因此，從實際出發，我們希望墨爾本市能在2024-25年達到以下目標：

WN 如果當選，對你來說，甚麼才是一個成功的市長（職位）？

曾偉煌 我認為構成一個成功的市長職位的是

曾偉煌還分享了他對社會成員之間如何合作的各種見解。

曾偉煌 我只想總結一下。

從10歲開始，我就看螞蟻如何合作。我問我們人類如何進一步合作。在學校裏，我很欣賞競爭帶來的創造力，但我也相信合作不僅能帶來創造力，還能帶來責任感、責任感和誠信。但我也相信，合作不僅能保證創造力，還能保證責任感、責任心、誠信和生產力。

當我在大學時，我的計算機研究集中在協作計算上。我的研究生研究是關於軟件全球化，同樣是全球協作。

我的公司e思達的真正目的是使公司能夠走向世界，同時在澳洲協助所有少數族裔羣體進行合作並和諧共存。

在政治方面，我試圖找到一個我們可以達成共識的解決方案。它不一定是左派或右派，黑或白。民主是一個經久不衰的制度，但只說多數人的規則已經不能接受。這讓我想到了參與式民主或民主2.0。

曾經可以這樣說，我的人生經歷真的讓我走向了參與式民主或民主2.0。

曾偉煌 民主2.0：

我在做演講的時候，總是說如果現在有一個火星殖民地，你會喜歡甚麼樣的政治制度或政府。獨裁主義、共產主義、法西斯主義、君主制還是民主制？

如果是民主制，你是希望被擠到左派還是右派，或者只有多數人統治？或者可能你想要一個集體的政府，每個人的需求都能得到解決。所以這就是參與式民主。現在，如果那是未來，我們為甚麼不在今天朝着這個方向發展呢？

我制定了一個指數來衡量一個國家採用參與式民主的程度。我在未來的專題中分享。

曾偉煌 社會主義1.0：

在發展參與式民主模式的同時，我看到許多機構都有完善的流程，有些機構已經成熟到像一輛汽車的程度。汽車的模型、功能和整體屬性都已經成熟了。

想像一下，我們把一個機構的所有屬性，無論是衞生系統、醫院、學校還是教育部門，都放在一個瓶子裏。我們可以把這個部署到其他還沒有這樣成熟設置的國家。

現在想像一下，我們在瓶子裏裝了一個成熟的社區或城市，這可以部署到沙漠中的新城市或新的定居地。

現在想像一下，經過交換和進一步發展這些設置。最終，就像一輛已經相當成熟的汽車一樣，我們有了一個幾乎被普遍接受的城市或社會的設置或定義。我稱之為社會主義1.0。

民主2.0可導致社會主義1.0。正在進行的關於如何治理社會的辯論將導致普遍商定的社會形態、設置或定義。

在疫情期間，不同的醫療中心合作開發和試驗不同的候選疫苗的能力表明，有必要將診所、醫院甚至衞生部的設置標準化。那些兼容的、成熟的，就會有進一步的進展。

要沉澱一下。

曾偉煌 集體主義1.0：

合作和集體主義如果結構合理或模式化，可以成為人類成就的下一個BIG步驟。

我們看到學生之間的合作。比方說，這有一個4的生產力系數（其中，1是指自己工作的人）

我們看到不同團隊的合作，每個團隊都專注於問題的一部分。這具有16的生產率系數。

然而如果有一個定義明確的社區協作指南，高數量的參與者可以探索一個問題的所有不同排列組合，那麼生產力系數可以達到256。再加上計算能力。我們談論的是65,536的系數。這將擴大人類的成就。

回到我小時候的觀察，在創造力和生產力中，數字確實很重要。

聖杯就是找到那個神奇的合作模式。


Wikinews interviews Corrado Giustozzi, security consultant and author

Corrado Giustozzi, who has written many books, in addition to being an Information security consultant for many Italian law enforcement agencies, was recently interviewed for Wikinews in Italian, as part of Wiki@Home. A translation of an abridged version of the interview can be found below.

((Wikinews)) : Hello and thanks for agreeing to take part in an interview. It seems clear from your web site that you mainly deal with information security in your occupation but you also deal with multiple themes. You have covered, science, logical and mathematical puzzles, science fiction, photography, publishing and even you have been in a film. Do you go where your heart leads you?

((WN)) : What do you think will happen in information security in the coming months and years? There is certainly a strong acceleration in the level of awareness about these issues. But confusion seems to reign supreme. Security has become a important issue here in Italy, where popular belief is that minimal security will result in greater privacy. What do you think?

((WN)) : What do you think it will be the next challenges in security?

((WN)) : In Italy, cybercrime appears to have made progress. Do you think awareness of this issue has increased?

((WN)) : You have published  about a thousand articles in your twenty-five years of activity as a scientific journalist. Several years ago, you wrote books. You recently returned to writing after a long break. What made you return?

((WN)) : You are also responsible for the development and public relations of Mensa Italia, can you explain why many people consider it to be a serious organization for the upper class of society?

((WN)) :  Do you know much about Wikipedia?

((WN)) : Have you ever edited Wikipedia?

((WN)) : What do you think about open source software? Do you use it?


Corrado Giustozzi, il Nightgaunt: sicurezza, privacy ed intelligiochi

Corrado Giustozzi è un esperto di sicurezza informatica, privacy, crittografia e criminalità informatica noto anche con il nickname Nightgaunt. È anche divulgatore scientifico, scrittore, professore a contratto di "Laboratorio di criminologia e criminalistica (criminalità informatica)" nel corso di laurea in Scienze dell'Investigazione dell'Università degli Studi dell'Aquila. Infine è anche ludologo nei settori dei giochi d’intelligenza, di parole, enigmistici, logici e matematici, di ruolo, di simulazione, al computer.

L'incontro ha avuto luogo il 9 febbraio 2008 presso l'ufficio di Corrado in un grazioso palazzo ottocentesco della Roma  risorgimentale. Scattare e farsi scattare le foto è stata la cosa più difficile! L'intervista invece è filata liscia e si è conclusa con una passeggiata tra le strade della Capitale mentre il sole cominciava a tramontare...

W@H: Ciao Corrado e grazie per averci concesso questa intervista. Come appare chiaro dalle tue note biografiche (e dalle tue pagine web http://www.nightgaunt.org/) pur essendo la sicurezza delle informazioni la tua occupazione principale ti occupi però di molteplici temi; ne butto là qualcuno: divulgazione scientifica, giochi logici e matematici, fantascienza, fotografia, editoria ed addirittura sei stato doppiatore in un film. C’è un filo rosso che lega queste tue esperienze e sperimentazioni? O vai là dove ti conduce il cuore?

W@H: Parliamo di sicurezza ma prima di analizzare la situazione presente vorrei chiederti qualcosa sul futuro (prossimo). Come vedi la sicurezza delle informazioni nei prossimi mesi ed anni? C’è sicuramente, a livello globale, una fortissima accelerazione su questi temi e la consapevolezza comune che si tratti di un elemento imprescindibile è ormai assodata. Eppure la confusione pare regnare sovrana. Fuori dai nostri confini la sicurezza è ormai un tema strategico qui in Italia sembra tutto ridursi alle misure minime di sicurezza della privacy. Che ne pensi?

W@H: Quali pensi che saranno le prossime sfide in ambito security? Wi-Fi,  RFID, cellulari che sono veri e propri PC, spionaggio industriale e vera e propria cyberwarfare… Che ne pensi? Di cosa dovrebbe realmente preoccuparsi un CIO italiano?

W@H: In Italia il contrasto del cybercrime sembra aver fatto dei passi in avanti. A che punto siamo? C'è la giusta attenzione al fenomeno da parte delle istituzioni?

W@H: E per quanto riguarda la guerra elettronica o cyberwar di cui periodicamente di riempiono i giornali? Il nostro paese è attrezzato per le nuove sfide?

W@H: In questa foto sei in compagnia con Ron Rivest uno dei padri della sicurezza delle informazioni ed autore (con altri) del crittosistema RSA. Dove lo hai conosciuto?

W@H: Hai diverse certificazioni professionali in ambito ICT Security: CISM, Lead Auditor BS7799, ISO27001. Che differenze ci sono tra di loro?

W@H: Quale certificazione consiglieresti a chi volesse intraprendere questo tipo di carriera?

W@H: Ti definisci un Security Evangelist. Cosa intendi? Occorre ancora convincere i clienti della necessità (o opportunità) di adottare idonee misure di sicurezza? Oppure la denominazione si rivolge al grande pubblico? Cosa dobbiamo insegnare ai nostri figli? Come prepararli ad essere i cittadini (consapevoli) del futuro?

W@H: Parliamo ancora di divulgazione scientifica. Come facilitare l’awareness nel grande pubblico? La tua esperienza di giornalista scientifico ti è stata di aiuto a riguardo? E come evitare il rischio del pressappochismo? Il web offre migliaia di risorse dedicate alla sicurezza. Ci possiamo fidare di tutti? Qual è il ruolo che le istituzioni possono giocare a riguardo?

W@H: Hai pubblicato circa mille articoli nei tuoi venticinque anni (ed oltre) di attività come giornalista scientifico. Hai scritto diversi anni fa due libri dedicati alla sicurezza informatica "Segreti, spie, codici cifrati" (Apogeo, 1999) e "Sicurezza e privacy in azienda" (Apogeo, 2001). Poi per un periodo hai smesso di scrivere e recentemente sei tornato alla macchina da scrivere (per modo di dire). Cos’era successo? E cosa ti ha fatto cambiare idea?

W@H: Il 15 ottobre 2007 è stato pubblicato il tuo nuovo libro: "La sindrome di Fort Apache" . Di cosa tratta?

W@H: A chi si rivolge il libro?

W@H: Quali sono le caratteristiche di questo modello "unificato"?

W@H: Perché "sindrome di Fort Apache"? Siamo destinati alla sconfitta? O dalla sconfitta nascerà qualcosa di nuovo?

W@H: Stai scrivendo qualche altro libro?

W@H: Torniamo alla sicurezza anzi all’intelligence. Collabori con le forze dell’ordine per le indagini telematiche ed anche con agenzie private. Al di là dei polveroni che occupano le prime pagine dei giornali in questo periodo qual è il tuo pensiero sulla intelligence informativa? Per le aziende ed i cittadini è un rischio o una opportunità? La privacy è minacciata? Dobbiamo tutti imparare a comportarci con più prudenza?

W@H: in che consiste la tua attività come professore a contratto di "Laboratorio di criminologia e criminalistica (criminalità informatica)" presso il corso di Laurea in Scienze dell'investigazione dell'Università dell'Aquila? Qualcosa a che fare con i vari CSI, RIS di Parma, eccetera?

W@H: Sei anche il responsabile dello sviluppo e delle relazioni esterne del Mensa Italia; ci spieghi cos’è questa famosa associazione di “cervelloni”?

W@H: In che consiste il tuo ruolo come responsabile delle relazioni esterne di Mensa Italia?

W@H: Nel tuo passato ci sono MCmicrocomputer e Byte Italia: due pietre miliari della storia delle riviste informatiche in Italia. Cosa rimane di quelle esperienze?

W@H: Ed i tuoi Intelligiochi? Torneranno?

W@H: Come nasce il Nightgaunt?

W@H: Consigli per qualche sana lettura? Come passi il week end?

W@H: Conosci Wikipedia? La usi?

W@H: Tornando a Wikipedia, oltre che consultarla, hai mai provato a modificare, correggere o scrivere qualcosa?

W@H: Su Wikipedia hai mai trovato scritte grosse cavolate?

W@H: Oltre a Wikipedia esistono molti altri progetti legati a Wikimedia con finalità leggermente diverse. Ad esempio Wikinotizie... La conosci?

W@H: Inoltre c'è Wikimedia Commons, che contiene due milioni di file multimediali, più che altro fotografie...

W@H: Cosa ne pensi del futuro di Wikipedia?

W@H: Che ne pensi dell'open source? Lo utilizzi?

W@H: Alcuni sostengono che il software open source sia "intrinsecamente" più sicuro di quello il cui codice è proprietario o comunque soggetto a restrizioni. Qual è la tua idea?

W@H: Parliamo delle licenze libere e del diritto d'autore. I diritti sulle tue opere scadranno a 70 anni dalla tua morte. Ritieni che sia giusta, adesso come adesso, una normativa del genere oppure pensi che la si possa rivedere?

W@H: Hai mai pubblicato qualcosa con licenza libera? Pensi di farlo?

W@H: Ciao Corrado e grazie.


Wikinews interviews Craig Farquharson, Liberal Democrat candidate for 2020 Groom by-election

Tomorrow, voters in the Australian electoral district of Groom are scheduled to go to the polls in a by-election following the resignation of Liberal National MP John McVeigh for family reasons. Groom is located in the state of Queensland, and is centred around the city of Toowoomba. At the last federal election, the Liberal National Party, Queensland's dominant conservative party, won this seat by over 70% of the two-party-preferred vote, and since the seat's creation in 1984, it has been held by conservative political parties.

Some political analysts considered this a foregone conclusion, with analyst Kevin Bonham having declared it on his blog as "Australia's most boring by-election", however Bonham noted the size of the swing may have been indicative of the dominant centre left Labor Party's general performance in Queensland. There was a 4.2% swing against the Labor Party in the state of Queensland at the previous federal election.

Wikinews spoke to one of the four candidates running in the by-election, Craig Farquharson, who is running for the Liberal Democrats.  Liberal Democrats describes itself as standing for "individual liberty, free markets and small government". The party has two elected officials, who sit in the Victorian Legislative Council. Farquharson is a former military contractor and owns the King Vapealot vape store in Toowoomba.

: Why are you running to be Groom's local MP?

((WN)) : The Liberal Democrats are a party of small government and cutting "red tape" – what's one particular law you think needs revising?

But one of the big issues for Groom is actually "green tape" rather than "red tape". It is essential for jobs in the region for Acland Mine to receive environmental approvals to extend the mine. This is both a Federal and a State issue.

((WN)) : You own a vape store in Toowoomba. Do you think that there's reforms that need to be made in regards to e-cigarette laws and drug laws as a whole?

((WN)) : Why did you decide to join the Liberal Democrats?

((WN)) : The Liberal Democrats have not ever been successful in winning a seat in the House of Representatives and have never run in the seat of Groom. What is your goal as a candidate this election?

((WN)) : How have COVID-19 restrictions impacted your ability to campaign?

((WN)) : What's one key issue in Groom that you think needs acting on?


維基新聞專訪澳洲2020年地方選舉補選候選人克雷格·法誇森

明天（28日），澳洲格魯姆選區的選民將在自由國民黨議員約翰·麥克維（John McVeigh）因家庭原因辭職後進行補選投票。格魯姆選區位於昆士蘭州，以圖文巴市為中心。在上屆聯邦選舉中，昆士蘭州主要的保守黨自由國民黨以超過70%的兩黨選票贏得該席位，自1984年該席位設立以來，一直由保守派政黨把持。

一些政治分析家認為這是一個必然的結果，分析家凱文·邦漢（Kevin Bonham）曾在他的博客上宣稱這是「澳洲最無聊的補選」，然而他指出，搖擺幅度的大小可能已經說明了佔主導地位的中左工黨在昆士蘭的總體表現。在上一次的聯邦選舉中，昆士蘭州對工黨的搖擺幅度為4.2%。

英文維基新聞採訪了參加補選的四名候選人之一，包括自由民主黨的克雷格·法誇森（Craig Farquharson）。自由民主黨自稱站在「個人自由、自由市場和小政府」的立場上。該黨有兩名民選官員，他們是維多利亞州立法委員會的成員。法誇森是一名前軍事承包商，在圖文巴市擁有名為「King Vapealot」的煙具店。

：您為甚麼要競選格魯姆的地方議員？

WN：自由民主黨是一個小政府和削減「繁文縟節」（Red tape）的政黨，你認為有甚麼特別的法律需要修改？

但對於Groom來說，其中一個大問題其實是「綠色官僚」（Green tape）而不是「繁文縟節」（Red tape）。阿克蘭德礦場要想擴建礦場，獲得環保審批對該地區的就業至關重要。這既是聯邦的問題，也是州的問題。

WN：你在圖文巴市擁有一家煙具店，你認為電子煙法和毒品法需要進行改革嗎？

WN：你為甚麼決定加入自由民主黨？

WN：自由民主黨從來沒有在眾議院成功贏得過席位，也從來沒有在格魯姆的席位上競選過。作為候選人，你今次選舉的目標是甚麼？

WN：新冠疫情對您的拉票活動有甚麼影響？

WN：您認為格魯姆有哪些關鍵問題需要採取行動？


Wikinews interviews Gary Fung from isoHunt

As reported on Wikinews, isoHunt, a torrent and IRC search site frequented by a massive number of Internet users everyday, has recently been one of the targets of the Motion Picture Association of America's anti-piracy campaign. Originally starting out as an IRC indexing site in January of 2003, isoHunt added torrent search later that year in July and has been steadily growing since. By December, isoHunt had 16,248 torrents available. Today that amount is around 250,000.

isoHunt has survived while many similar sites around it crumbled, yet was operating long before the others had even been thought of. In April of 2005, isoHunt also gained Torrentbox after its administrator gave it to Gary Fung of isoHunt.

Wikinews interviewed Mr. Fung, the 22 year-old Canadian administrator of the sites.

Why did you start your site?
For fun, and to learn web programming (PHP and Mysql). Also a web search engine for P2P networks has not been done, and would be useful.

I read on your site at the time, news of the MPAA's actions hit the news, that you had not been notified, how did you find out? How did you react?
I found out first from Mike at Slyck.com, who have received letters of the press release, along with other news outlets like CNET. Within a few hours, all the news sites posted about it.

Do you feel it is appropriate for the MPAA to publicly announce that they have commenced action against your sites and others before you even receive notification?
Yes, although not surprising. Factually speaking, industry associations like the MPAA often use the threat of pending lawsuits to intimidate to-be defendants, and it serves their purpose of spreading FUD to the public at large.

Have you ever received a takedown notice from any company in accordance with the DMCA?
At least once a day, often many times a day. I've lost count of how many takedown requests we've received now, it would be at least in the hundreds, if not a thousand. We have a thorough copyright policy outlining our stance, compliance and procedures: http://isohunt.com/dmca-copyright.php. Some of them come back and actually thank us with satisfaction for our prompt processing. For others, such as indie content producers for TV shows and movies, we actually talk to them about using BitTorrent to aid their distribution. And such partnerships are in the works.

How do you go about dealing with them?
We verify their authenticity, whether identified works are within their copyright, and disable them if found to be aiding in possible copyright infringement.

Do you think the service you provide is any different to that of major search engines such as Google and Yahoo?
No. We are all search engines, only designed for different markets. "Torrents" for example are metadata pointers that describe and link to resources on BitTorrent swarms. Google and isoHunt for example are different only in forms of links and types of data they index. Both serve the purpose of organizing information on open networks on the internet (WWW and P2P), making them useful and searchable.

According to the isoHunt website, Gary received official notification of the MPAA's lawsuit on February 28, 2006. Gary admits that he was impressed by the amount of research which was put into the suit. He said: "I have to say I am impressed by the depth of their legal research, evidently their lawyers have been watching us for at least a year, since we exchanged letters last year. However, their core accusation is false. We do NOT operate this search engine and other P2P services for the express object of infringing MPAA's copyrights, there are many other torrents of content we index that are not owned by the MPAA, copyrighted or non-copyrighted. We would comply with DMCA takedown requests, given sufficient identification. Which they did not."


Intervju med Gary Fung på isoHunt

IsoHunt började som en IRC-indexeringssajt i januari 2003 och i juli samma år lade man till en sökfunktion för torrenter. Sedan dess har isoHunt vuxit stadigt; innan året var över hade man över 16 000 användare och idag omkring 250 000. Många andra liknande projekt har gått under trots att de grundades långt efter isoHunt. I april 2005 tog isoHunts grundare Gary Fung till exempel över Torrentbox.

Wikinews fick en intervju med Gary Fung, den 22-årige, kanadensiske programmeraren och administratören bakom isoHunt:

En kul grej och för att lära mig webbprogrammering (PHP och Mysql). Dessutom fanns ingen sökmotor för P2P-nätverk vilket behövdes.

Jag fick först reda på det genom Mike på Styck.com som fått ett pressmeddelande och genom nyhetskanaler som CNET. Inom några timmar var nyheten uppe överallt.

Jo, men knappast överraskande; det är välkänt att industriföreträdare som MPAA ofta använder hot om åtal för att skrämma den andra parten och det tjänar deras syfte att sprida osäkerhet och tvivel (så kallad FUD) bland allmänheten.

Minst en gång om dagen, ofta flera gånger om dagen; jag har redan tappat räkningen på hur många sådana krav vi har fått vid det här laget, åtminstone några hundra om inte tusen. Vi har en mycket bra copyrightpolicy där våra ståndpunkter, tjänster och tillvägagångssätt tydligt beskrivs. Några av dem som klagar hör till och med av sig och tackar för vårt snabba handlande. Vad gäller till exempel oberoende mediaproducenter brukar vi berätta för dem om hur man kan använda Bittorrent i sin distribution och samarbetsprojekt är på gång.

Vi undersöker om deras upphovsrättsanspråk är riktiga och blockerar innehåll som bidrar till upphovsrättsbrott.

Nej, vi är sökmotorer allihopa men designade för olika marknader. Så kallade "torrenter" är metadata-pekare som beskriver och länkar innehållet i Bittorrent-svärmar. Till exempel  är det enda som skiljer Google från isoHunt typen av länkar och vilken information som indexeras. I båda fallen är syftet att organisera informationen på ett öppet nätverk (WWW och P2P) för att göra informationen användbar och sökbar.

Enligt isoHunts webbplats underrättade MPAA Gary Fung om sitt åtal officiellt den 28 februari. Gary medger att han blev imponerad av omfattningen på den utredning som ligger bakom åtalet:

Jag måste säga att jag blir imponerad av omfattningen på deras juridiska utredning. Uppenbarligen har deras advokater observerat oss i över ett år sedan vår brevväxling förra året. Men deras anklagelser är hursomhelst felaktiga. Vårt uttryckliga syfte med sökmotorn och andra P2P-tjänster är inte att kränka MPAA:s upphovsrätt: mycket av innehållet i de torrenter vi indexerar ägs inte av MPAA oavsett om det är upphovsrättsskyddat material eller inte. Om de begär att vi ska ta bort innehåll i enlighet med DMCA gör vi det, bara de ger oss information om vilket material det rör sig om, vilket de inte gör.

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Wikinews interviews Sandra Jephcott, Sustainable Australia candidate for 2020 Groom by-election

Voters in the Australian electoral district of Groom are scheduled to go to the polls in a by-election this week following the resignation of Liberal National MP John McVeigh for family reasons.

Groom is located in the state of Queensland, and is centred around the city of Toowoomba. At the last federal election, the Liberal National Party, Queensland's dominant conservative party, won this seat by over 70% of the two-party-preferred vote, and since the seat's creation in 1984, it has been held by conservative political parties.

Some political analysts considered this a foregone conclusion, with analyst Kevin Bonham having declared it on his blog as "Australia's most boring by-election", however Bonham noted the size of the swing may have been indicative of the dominant centre left Labor Party's general performance in Queensland. There was a 4.2% swing against the Labor Party in the state of Queensland at the previous federal election.

Wikinews spoke to one of the four candidates running in the by-election, Sandra Jephcott, who is running for the Sustainable Australia party. Sustainable Australia describes itself as a "independent community movement from the political centre". According to the party's website, Jephcott is a veterinarian and farmer, who has completed a veterinary degree from the University of Queensland, as well as a Master of Business Affairs at Bond University and a Master of Science at James Cook University. With Wikinews, Jephcott discussed climate change, COVID-19, water security, and foreign ownership.

: Why are you running to be Groom's local MP?

((WN)) : You've said that you want to act on climate change — what would your plan be?

((WN)) : What do you think needs to be done in Toowoomba to properly protect the environment and water?

((WN)) : What are your thoughts on the COVID-19 response plan federally from the Morrison government?

((WN)) : Why did you decide to join Sustainable Australia?

((WN)) : Why do you think that foreign ownership of farms, housing and land is an important issue to combat?

((WN)) : How have COVID-19 restrictions impacted your ability to campaign?

((WN)) : What's one key issue in Groom that you think needs acting on?


維基新聞專訪澳洲2020年地方選舉補選候選人桑德拉·傑弗科特

在自由國民黨議員約翰·麥克維（John McVeigh）因家庭原因辭職後，澳洲昆士蘭州的下議院選區格魯姆（Groom）的選民將於本週進行補選投票。

格魯姆（Groom）位於昆士蘭州，以圖文巴市為中心。在上屆聯邦選舉中，昆士蘭州主要的保守黨自由國民黨以超過70%的兩黨選票贏得該議席，自1984年該議席設立以來，一直由保守派政黨把持。

一些政治分析家認為這是一個必然的結果，分析家凱文·邦漢（Kevin Bonham）曾在他的博客上宣稱這是「澳洲最無聊的補選」，然而他指出，搖擺幅度的大小可能已經說明了佔主導地位的中左工黨在昆士蘭的總體表現。在上一次的聯邦選舉中，昆士蘭州對工黨的搖擺幅度為4.2%。

英文維基新聞採訪了參加補選的四名候選人之一，桑德拉·杰弗科特（Sandra Jephcott），她為澳洲可持續發展黨（Sustainable Australia Party）參選。可持續澳洲黨自稱是一個「獨立於政治中心的社區運動」。據該黨網站介紹，桑德拉是一名獸醫和農民，她完成了昆士蘭大學的獸醫學位，以及邦德大學的商業事務碩士和詹姆斯庫克大學的科學碩士。與維基新聞一起，桑德拉討論了氣候變化、新冠病毒、水安全和外國所有權等問題。

：您為甚麼要競選格魯姆的地方議員？

我相信，格魯姆補選為選民提供了一個機會，向兩個主要政黨傳達一個訊息，即我們不滿意一切如常的政治，包括猖獗的過度發展和對環境有負面影響的系統性政治腐敗。

WN：您說過要對氣候變化採取行動，您的計劃是甚麼？

WN：您認為圖文巴市需要做些甚麼來妥善保護環境和水？

在水方面，我們需要更好地管理圖文巴市的水安全，包括通過減少浪費，擴大水箱的使用，以及重新審視循環水的選擇。對氣候變化採取強有力的行動，對圖文巴市供水的長期生存能力也至關重要。

WN：您對莫里森政府提出應對新冠疫情的聯邦應對計劃有何看法？

WN：您為甚麼決定加入澳洲可持續發展組織？

WN：為甚麼您認為外資擁有農場、住房和土地是一個重要的打擊問題？

WN：新冠疫情對您的拉票活動有甚麼影響？

WN：您認為格魯姆有哪些關鍵問題需要採取行動？


Wikinews Shorts: February 13, 2007

A Bombardier Challenger corporate jet crashed during take off from Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport. No passengers on board and all three crew members survived. The aircraft was en route to Berlin.

Initial media reports said that an Airbus A310 belonging to the German low cost carrier Germanwings has crashed.

Sources

A fifteen year old local girl was stabbed in Liverpool Lime Street railway station.

British Transport Police have arrested two other 15 years old girls, who are reported to be helping police with their inquiries on Monday evening. A knife was also recovered from the scene.

The injured girl was taken by ambulance to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, where she is said to be in a stable condition.

British Transport Police have requested anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.

Sources

A gunmen shot dead three people at the old Philadelphia Navy Yard, according to police reports. Another person is critically injured in the incident. The gunman, identified as Vincent Julius Dortch of Newark also shot himself when police officers entered the scene.

Sources

Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson has a reward of US$25 million for finding a way to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, in an effort to combat Climate change.

Sources


Absturz einer Challenger beim Start vom Moskauer Flughafen Wnukowo

Moskau (Russland), 17.02.2007 – Auf dem Moskauer Flughafen Wnukowo stürzte am 13. Februar bei dichtem Schneetreiben ein Privatflugzeug vom Typ „Challenger 600“ (laut aero.de vom Typ „Challenger 850“) beim Start in Richtung Berlin zurück auf die Startbahn, kam von ihr ab und überschlug sich. Der Grund war wahrscheinlich ein Problem mit dem rechten Triebwerk, die russische Nachrichtenagentur Interfax nennt unter Berufung auf die Untersuchungskommission ein Problem mit dem Bugrad als Unfallursache, die russische Staatsanwaltschaft hält aber auch einen Pilotenfehler für möglich.

Die drei Besatzungsmitglieder überlebten das Unglück verletzt und wurden in ein Moskauer Krankenhaus eingeliefert, zwei von ihnen sind in der Zwischenzeit ins Koma gefallen. Es befanden sich keine Passagiere an Bord der Geschäftsmaschine.

Zuvor war gemeldet worden, es habe sich bei dem Flugzeug um einen „Airbus A310“ der deutschen Fluggesellschaft Germanwings gehandelt. Der Flughafen wurde nach dem Zwischenfall eine Zeit lang geschlossen.


Wikinews Shorts: February 14, 2012

The Iranian government has blocked the Internet outside of the country ahead of protests, and the blockage has affected the ability of Iranians to log on to their Facebook, Twitter, and email accounts, until just the latter was restored. Google said around 30 million Iranians had lost access to their Google gmail accounts.

Foreign sites were primarily affected prior to demonstrations scheduled for today. National sites have been called "Halal" Internet, which means it has the blessing of the government. National email brands were not affected in the block which has occurred over the weekend but many Iranians critical of the government do not trust them.

Sources

With the stroke of her pen, Governor Christine Gregoire yesterday made Washington the seventh state to legalize marriages for homosexual couples in the United States. While the governor is a Catholic, the law she signed does not force churches, like those of her faith who are against gay marriage, to hold ceremonies for same-sex couples.

Gregoire said her views evolved over the years and like onlookers at the signing ceremony, she celebrated the signing. Former U.S. Senator and Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum was in the state campaigning on the same day Gregoire signed the law and was scheduled to meet with those who want to overturn the law.

Sources

It cost one Australian man US$400 per bum cheek today for mooning Queen Elizabeth II and her husband last October. 22-year-old Liam Lloyd Warriner said after his fine that he would like to also show President Barack Obama his back side.

While Warriner was being cheeky with the press, his own lawyer called the stunt "low level stuff". Warriner characterized his victims as "any self-important, self-propagating elitist," but in contrast he was said to have held the Australian flag between his buttocks as a form of salute. Prosecutors had hoped for a larger fine.

Sources


Évènements du 14 février 2012

1879 - Les troupes chiliennes envahissent le port bolivien de Antofagasta.

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Wikinews Shorts: February 19, 2012

Four youngsters have died after an overnight fire in Rochester, New York. Firefighters believe the bodies belong to teenagers at the oldest. Four people were rescued from the multilevel wooden building.

The fire department was called to a small fire amongst rubbish near the home. After putting it out, they began a routine check on the area and discovered a second fire at the back of the building "that appeared to have occurred while we were here," said the local fire chief. Firefighters entered the building but the fire spread with unusual speed. An investigation is underway.

Sources

A Canadian man who beat a native to death has had his murder conviction reduced to manslaughter on appeal. Bradley Frances Gray attacked brothers-in-law George Many Shots and Percy Panther Bone in 2008, killing the former. He claimed the men were fighting each other but witness testimony disputed that.

A panel of three justices ruled the trial judge failed to adequately inform the jury of the possibility of a manslaughter verdict, although one noted the attack was severe enough a murder verdict may have been appropriate. Many Shots's family called the result racist and expressed intent to move away from the area. Gray will be resentenced later, and faces a possible life sentence.

Sources


Évènements du 19 février 2012

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Wikinews Shorts: July 9, 2007

On July 9, 2007, Sony Computer Entertainment America announced the release of an 80GB hard drive version of its PlayStation 3 video game console, priced at US$599.

Sony also announced a price drop to US$499 for its current 60GB model. Jack Tretton, Sony Entertainment America chief executive, said, "Our initial expectation is that sales should double at a minimum."

Sources

Nigerian gunmen have released three-year-old Margaret Hill, after holding her captive for four days. The toddler has since been reunited with her parents. She is reportedly in good health but covered with mosquito bites and also hungry, having not eaten recently.

The kidnappers had threatened to kill the toddler unless a ransom was paid or Mr. Hill came to take her place. The family claims no ransom was paid for her freedom. She was kidnapped from her car on July 5, on her way to school. Her driver was stabbed trying to protect Margaret.

Sources


Noticias breves 9 de julio 2007


Brèves : 9 juillet 2007


Wikinews Shorts: September 6, 2010

President Alvaro Colom says torrential downpours causing flooding and landslides have undone the country's reconstruction from Tropical Storm Agatha in May. Up to eighteen people are reported killed in rain-related incidents across the country as weather systems in both the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific batter the region, and forecasters expect another 48 hours of precipitation. At least ten people were killed, 20 rescued, when a landslide buried a bus as it traveled on the Inter-American highway in the worst single-incident.

Five people are dead, 39 injured after a suicide bombing in the Dagestan Republic of the North Caucasus. The information is still unfolding, and earlier reports had three killed, 26 injured. The attack occurred at 00:30 local time (20:30 UTC) when a Zhiguli car packed with explosives drove into the gates of a military base near Buynaksk. AFP reports a second explosion nearby on a nearby highway, but with no injuries.

The Arizona Cardinals US football team has released Heisman trophy-winner Matt Leinart after being unable to find a favorable trade. Leinart had been unable to break out of the back-up quarterback role with the team after early injuries kept him on the sideline for a couple years, and expressed his frustration publicly on Monday. The Cardinals, forced to trim their team roster to 53 players, cut Leinart leaving him without a team.

After driving away from police, a thirteen-year-old driver struck a pole, plowed through a couple of fences, and bumped a parked car into the house before coming to a rest at the front door. Police spokesperson Ros Wetherall reported officers attempted to stop the Holden Commodore around 1 a.m. local time (5 p.m. UTC), but had to search for the vehicle which they found crashed into the home on Grovelands Drive, Camillo. The driver and one other youth in the car were uninjured. The young man will appear in court on charges of reckless driving, failing to stop and not having a driver's licence.


Brèves : 6 septembre 2010


Windows Vista faces possible trademark challenges

Microsoft, the world's largest software company, announced the name of its forthcoming version of the Windows operating system from its headquarters in Redmond, Washington Friday. But in choosing the name "Vista," Microsoft may find itself in a legal fight.

Microsoft has made a name for itself in legal circles as a company that fiercely defends its trademarks and other intellectual property. With the choice of "Vista," the tables may turn as it may face allegations of swiping another company's trademark.

It appears the Vista name has already been taken by another high-tech company, coincidentally also based in Redmond. A few miles from the sprawling Microsoft campus is Vista Incorporated, which has operated a small business internet interchange since it was founded by Wall Data founder, John Wall in 2000. He was surprised by his larger neighbor's move.

"We are going to consider our options and talk to Microsoft," Wall said in an interview with the Seattle Times.  Wall reportedly has not yet filed suit against Microsoft to stop it from using the "Vista" name. An investor in SCO, he does have other legal options aside from law suits. Instead, he may offer to sell the rights to the "Vista" name.

However, John Wall's company is not the only business with claims on the name "Vista." Many other tech companies use "Vista" as product names. Additionally, a wide-range of non-computer businesses have the name reserved, including branded products for sewing machines, elevators and the dairy industry.


Microsoft podría enfrentar demandas por nombre del nuevo Windows

Microsoft, la compañía de software más grande del mundo, anunció el nombre de su próxima versión del sistema operativo Windows el viernes pasado desde su sede central en Redmond, Washington. Pero al escoger el nombre de "Vista", la compañía de Bill Gates puede verse involucrada en una batalla legal.

Microsoft es reconocida en los círculos legales por ser una compañía que defiende duramente sus propias marcas y su propiedad intelectual. Con la elección de "Vista" para su nuevo producto, las cosas pueden cambiar, dado que es posible que enfrente demandas por utilizar una marca perteneciente a otra compañía.

Al parecer, el nombre Vista ya ha sido utilizado por otra compañía relacionada al campo de la tecnología que, coincidencialmente, también tiene su sede en Redmond. A varios kilómetros de distancia del campus de Microsoft se encuentra Vista Incorporated, la cual ha operado como una pequeña compañía de intercambio de negocios por internet desde que fue fundada por el creador de Wall Data, John Wall en el año 2000, quien se mostró sorprendido por la decisión de su vecino mayor.

"Vamos a considerar nuestras opciones y a dialogar con Microsoft", declaró Wall en una entrevista al Seattle Times. Wall todavía no ha interpuesto ninguna demanda contra Microsoft para evitar que utilice el nombre en cuestión. Como inversor integrante del SCO Group, tiene otras opciones legales además de la demanda. En vez de llegar a esta instancia, puede optar por realizar una oferta y vender los derechos del nombre "Vista" para que este sea utilizado por Microsoft.

Además, la compañía de John Wall no es la única que reclama el nombre "Vista". Muchas otras compañías relacionadas a la tecnología utilizan la denominación de "Vista" como nombre de producto. Como si fuera poco, un gran número de empresas y comercios no relacionados al mercado informático también tienen reservado dicho nombre para varios de sus productos registrados, incluyendo máquinas de coser, ascensores y productos alimenticios.


Woman awarded 18.6 million dollars in lawsuit against Equifax

A jury awarded Julie Miller of Marion County, Oregon $18.6 million last Friday in a federal lawsuit against Equifax. The lawsuit claimed she spent two years trying to get Equifax Information Services to fix major mistakes on her credit report which cost her the opportunities to get new credit.

Miller said she had contacted Equifax several times to dispute the incorrect information in her credit report such as incorrect SSN, date of birth, and account information. She was not aware of these problems until December 2009 when a bank denied her credit. She said other credit bureaus corrected errors when she contacted them, but Equifax didn't.

Portland attorney Justin Baxter, involved in Miller's case, said, "There was damage to her reputation, a breach of her privacy and the lost opportunity to seek credit. [...] She has a brother who is disabled and who can't get credit on his own, and she wasn't able to help him."   To ABC News he said, "She did what you're supposed to do. She didn't go running straight to the courthouse. [...] We found that when complaints would come in, they'd run them through a scanner and then send them overseas."

Equifax declined to comment on this lawsuit to ABC News or Associated Press.


Equifax možná zaplatí 18,6 miliónu dolarů jediné ženě za chybné zhodnocení úvěrového rizika

Celkem 18,6 miliónů dolarů přiřkl soud v nepravomocném rozhodnutí jako náhradu Julii Millerové z Oregonu ve Spojených státech amerických za to, že společnost Equifax navzdory její snaze o nápravu dva roky poskytovala v rámci zprávy o jejím úvěrovém riziku chybné zásadní informace, čímž ji připravila o možnosti získat nové úvěry.

Podle svého svědectví Millerová na problém narazila poprvé v prosinci 2009, kdy jí banka odmítla poskytnout úvěr. Několikrát se obrátila na Equifax, aby opravil ve své zprávě položky jako datum narození, informace o účtech, nebo číslo sociálního zabezpečení. Equifax je přesto neopravil, na rozdíl od ostatních registrů dlužníků, na které se kvůli témuž také obrátila. Portlandský právník Justin Baxter, který se na případu podílel, k němu uvedl: „Byla poškozena její pověst, narušeno její soukromí a ztraceny příležitosti, jak získat nové úvěry.[…] Má nemohoucího bratra, který si sám úvěry vzít nemůže, a nemohla mu pomáhat.“

Společnost Equifax byla požádána novináři ABC News i Associated Press o komentář, ale odmítla se k záležitosti vyjádřit.

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy Woman awarded 18.6 million dollars in lawsuit against Equifax na anglických Wikizprávách.


Γυναίκα πήρε 18,6 εκατομμύρια δολλάρια από μύνηση εναντίον της Equifax

Μία επιτροπή παρέδωσε στην Τζούλι Μίλερ από την Κομητεία Μάριον στο Όρεγκον 18,6 εκατομμύρια δολάρια την προηγούμενη Παρασκευή σε μία ομοσπονδιακή μήνυση εναντίον της Equifax. Η μήνυση υποστήριξε ότι πέρασε δύο χρόνια προσπαθώντας να πάρει υπηρεσίες πληροφοριών Equifax για να διορθώσει σημαντικά λάθη στην πιστωτική αναφορά της τα οποία της κόστισαν τις ευκαιρίες να πάρει νέα πίστωση.

Η Μίλερ είπε ότι είχε έρθει σε επαφή με την Equifax αρκετές φορές για να αμφισβητήσει τις εσφαλμένες πληροφορίες στην έκθεση της πιστωτικής της όπως τον λανθασμένο Αριθμό Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης, την ημερομηνία γέννησης και πληροφορίες λογαριασμού. Δεν είχε προσέξει αυτά τα προβλήματα μέχρι τον Δεκέμβριο του 2009 όταν μία τράπεζα δεν δέχθηκε την πιστωτική της. Είπε ότι άλλα πιστωτικά γραφεία διόρθωσαν τα λάθη όταν ήρθε σε επαφή μαζί τους αλλά η Equifax όχι.

Ο εισαγγελέας του Πόρτλαντ Τζάστιν Μπάξτερ, που εμπλέκεται στην υπόθεση Μίλερ είπε: «Υπήρξε ζημιά στην φήμη της, παραβίαση της ιδιωτικής της ζωής και χαμένη ευκαιρία να πάρει πίστωση. [...] Έχει έναν αδερφό ο οποίος είναι άτομο με ειδικές ανάγκες και δεν μπορεί να πάρει πίστωση μόνος του, και δεν ήταν σε θέση να τον βοηθήσει». Στο ABC News είπε: «Έκανε ό,τι έπρεπε να κάνει. Δεν έτρεξε απευθείας στο δικαστήριο. [..] Βρήκαμε ότι όταν οι κατηγορίες θα έρχονταν, θα τις έτρεχαν μέσω ενός σαρωτή και θα τις έστελναν στο εξωτερικό.».

Η Equifax αρνήθηκε να σχολιάσει σχετικά με την μήνυση στο ABC News ή στο Associated Press.

4 Αυγούστου 2013


Woman shot, killed during standoff with police in Longview, Texas

Police authorities in Longview, Texas were embroiled in a standoff with an armed suspect for several hours yesterday. Late in the day, police —according to police reports— fired on and killed Candace Jackson, 38, as she exited the house and fired upon officers nearby.

The incident happened in a residential area near the 2000 block of Eden Drive. Early in the standoff, a police spokesperson told reporters the individual had possession of several weapons. Eye witnesses report the suspect being taken away from the scene via ambulance.

SWAT officers were dispatched to the scene, and many neighborhood residents were evacuated with the help of an armored police vehicle, manned by a sniper. Some residents who lived nearby gathered at a local convenience store until authorities would allow them to return. News video from the scene showed numerous police vehicles including the armored vehicle.

Some school buses carrying children who live in the area of the standoff were rerouted back to school, and parents were notified to pick up their children at the campuses. One man told reporters that his wife and child hid in a closet when they heard gunshots in the vicinity of their home.


אישה נורתה על ידי המשטרה בטקסס

שוטרים מלונגביאו, טקסס היו מעורבים בחמישי בערב בתקרית ירי עם אדם חמוש למספר שעות. "מאוחר יותר נמסר כי נורתה קנדיס ג'קסון, בת 38, כאשר יצאה מביתה והחלה לירות לעבר השוטרים.

הירי התרחש בשכונת מגורים סמוך לעדן דרייב בטקסס. אחד השוטרים סיפר לעיתונאים, מוקדם יותר ביום חמישי, שקנדס ג'קסון נשאה מספר רובים. השכנים ראו את החשודה מובלת מביתה באמבולנס

המשטרה הורתה לילדי בית ספר מקומי להשאר בבניין בעקבות יריות שנשמעו. איש אחד סיפר שאישתו ובנו התחבאו בארון כאשר הם שמעו את היריות.


Kvinne skutt og drept i Texas

Målform: Bokmål - Dato: 11. mai. 2013 - Oppdater siden - Rediger artikkelen - Flere nyheter

Lokalt politi i Longview, Texas, var torsdag kveld involvert i en skyting med en væpnet kvinne i flere timer. Politiet skjøt Candace Jackson (38), i det hun forlot huset og skjøt mot politiet.

Skytingen skjedde i et boligfelt i nærheten av Eden Drive. Tidligere på torsdagen fortalte en politimann at Candance Jackson hadde flere pistoler. Naboer så den mistenkte bli ført bort fra huset sitt i en ambulanse.