1
Problems:
Alleviating global warming and attaining global peace are
most urgent and complex problems of our time. Although both cannot be solved over-night, we must have
appropriate mechanism to understand their causes and prepare our youngsters to
cope with them.
2
Peace Gaming Project:
2.1
Globally Collaborative Environmental Peace Gaming (GCEPG)
Project:
The GCEPG (which was
initiated by GLOSAS/USA in early 1970s [Utsumi, 2003])
(Figure 1) is a computerized gaming/simulation with a globally distributed
computer simulation system (Figure 2) to help decision makers construct a
globally distributed decision-support system for positive sum/win-win
alternatives to conflict and war.
The idea involves interconnecting experts in many countries via the
global Internet to collaborate in the discovering of new solutions for world
crises, such as the deteriorating ecology of our globe, and to explore new
alternatives for a world order capable of addressing the problems and
opportunities of an interdependent globe.
Gaming/simulation is the best tool we have for understanding the world's
problems and the solutions we propose for them. The understanding gained with scientific and rational
analysis and critical thinking would be the basis of world peace, and hence
ought to provide the basic principle of global education for peace.
Figure 1
Figure 2
With global GRID computer networking technology (which
concept Dr. Utsumi initiated [McLeod, 2000], an
application of the Òtrimtab principleÓ – see the end note for its
definition) and Beowulf mini-super computers of cluster computing technology,
we plan to develop a socio-economic-environmental simulation system and a
climate simulation system in parallel fashion, both of which are to be
interconnected through broadband Internet in global scale (Figure 3).
Figure
3
2.2
Global Socio-Economic-Energy-Environment Development (GSEEED)
Project:
The GSEEED Project is a
variation of and the initiation of the GCEPG. The quantitative policy analysis of globally collaborative
GSEEED Project will focus on the sustainable development in Japan, the US,
China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and many other relevant countries.
The initial focus on energy security will be on the global
interrelations and interdependencies among those countries with the deployment
of gas pipeline from Tomsk, Siberia to China, and the construction of
hydroelectric dam in the Republic of Altai, Siberia where there are five UNESCO
World Heritage sites which draw increasing number of tourists (400,000) into
small town of Gorno-Altaisk with only 9,000 residents. This gas pipeline will certainly affect
socio-economic developments of Siberia, China, and hence the ones of Japan, the
US, Europe and others. Japan will
also increasingly depend on the energy (oil and gas) supply from Russia and
uranium from Kazakhstan.
This GSEEED Project will then demonstrate integrated and
synergistic approach among grassroots, government, university, stakeholder,
etc. Use of graphic info
modeling/mapping and potential "peace gaming" (*) on key issues and
solutions will assist each group's ability for standardized data gathering and
situational analyses, projecting out possible outcomes for more informed
decision making and activities. It
brings together most sophisticated university-based mathematical modeling
techniques and experts and regular people who can then more easily see--at a
glance--how issues and outcomes can impact and interact each other.
(*) which term Dr. Utsumi coined almost three decades ago. War gaming is to win the war once when
it happened, and peace gaming is to avoid the occurrence of war (Figure
4). Avoiding war is much cheaper
than waging war. Our Òpeace
gamingÓ might be said to be equivalent to the scale of PentagonÕs Òwar games.
Figure 4
This project will train local experts for leadership
development, in relation to strategic use of technologies and cooperation among
stakeholders for more effective advocacy, informed policy, public understanding
and participation and concrete community development.
This project will have two-tier system:
a.
One for training young would-be decision makers in crisis
management, conflict resolution, and negotiation techniques basing on "facts
and figures" and
b.
The other for helping decision makers construct a globally
distributed decision-support system for positive sum/win-win alternatives to
conflict and war.
3
Development History:
3.1
Global Telecom:
Over the past three
decades, the GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the
U.S.A. (GLOSAS/USA) played a major
pioneering role in extending U.S. data communication networks to other
countries and deregulating Japanese telecommunication policies for the use of
e-mail (thanks to help from the Late Commerce Secretary Malcolm Baldridge)
(Figure 5) [Chapter 1 of UtsumiÕs
Proposed Book]. This triggered the de-monopolization
and privatization of Japanese telecommunications industries. This movement has later been emulated
in many other countries, as having more than one billion email users around the
world nowadays. It might have been
the application
of the Òtrimtab principle.Ó
Figure 5
For over a dozen years since 1986, we conducted once or
twice a year a series of innovative distance teaching trials with "Global
Lecture Hall (GLH)" tm videoconferencing using
hybrid delivery technologies, which often spanned the globe [Chapter 2 of UtsumiÕs Proposed Book] and [Utsumi, 2003]
(another application of the Òtrimtab principleÓ).
Thanks to such efforts and
for initiating global e-learning movement since early 1980s, Dr. Utsumi
received the prestigious Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education
in the fall of 1994 from Lord Perry, the founder of the U.K. Open University. The two-year senior recipient of the
same award was Sir Arthur C. Clarke, the inventor of satellites.
3.2
Peace Gaming Demonstration:
A demonstration of global-scale peace-gaming was held at
the conference on "Crisis Management and Conflict Resolution" by the
World Future Society (WFS) in New York City, in July of 1986. It was one
of the largest and perhaps most successful demonstrations of global
gaming/simulation organized so far. The event was on a crisis scenario
involving the U.S.-Japan trade and economy issues. Professor Onishi in
Tokyo supplied his FUGI model, which is the world largest econometric model [Onishi, 2007].
Noted U.S. economists were panelists of this event and
electronically interconnected with Japanese counterparts for three days of
computer-assisted negotiations. Several hypothetical policies were
examined. One question was the effect of raising military expenditures in
Japan to the American level while lowering those of the U.S. to the Japanese
level. Simulation predicted that the balance of trade would thus be even
by the year 2000, with necessity of cooperation, rather than competition, by
both countries in the future. This clearly indicated the cost and dilemma
of American's nuclear umbrella protecting Japan's economic prosperity, thus
threatening American's economic prosperity.
3.3
Creating Global University System (GUS):
GLOSAS/USA then initiated the project of creating Global
University System (GUS) [Utsumi, et al, 2003]. The
GUS is a worldwide initiative to create advanced telecom infrastructure for
accessing educational resources around the world (Figure 6). The aim is to achieve "education
and healthcare for all," anywhere, anytime and at any pace.
Figure 6
GUS aims to build
a higher level of humanity with mutual understanding across national and
cultural boundaries for global peace [Varis, et al,
2003]. The mission of GUS is
to help higher educational and healthcare institutions in remote/rural areas of
developing countries to deploy broadband Internet in order for them to close
the digital divide. These
institutions also act as the knowledge center of their community for the
eradication of poverty and isolation through the use of advanced Information
and Communications Technologies (ICTs).
Learners may take courses from different member universities around the
world, obtaining their degree from the GUS, thus freeing them from being
confined to one academic culture of a single university or country. The GUS program is a comprehensive and
holistic approach to building smart communities in developing countries for
e-learning and e-healthcare/telemedicine.
Each GUS of various countries will maintain the sub-models
of their countries autonomously – along with construction and maintenance
of its databases, modification of their sub-models, and supply of game players
in cooperation with their overseas counterparts through the global Internet.
3.4
Globally Collaborative Innovation Network (GCIN):
As an extension of our GCEPG/GSEEED projects, learners will also form a global
knowledge forum for the exchange of ideas, information, knowledge and joint
research and development, which will foster creativity of youngsters
around the world. Researchers in
developing countries can co-work with colleagues in advanced countries to
perform joint collaborative research with use of virtual laboratories for
experiential/constructive learning and creation of knowledge through the global
GRID technology, thus forming GCIN [Utsumi, 2006]. Such interactions among youngsters
around the world through global broadband Internet would certainly promote
mutual understanding and hence global peace.
4
Officers of GUS:
The officers
of the GUS are: P. Tapio Varis, Ph.D., Acting President, (University of
Tampere, former rector of the United Nations University of Peace in Costa
Rica); Marco Antonio Dias, T.C.D., Vice President for Administration, (former
director of Higher Education of UNESCO); Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., Founder and
Vice President for Technology and Coordination, (Chairman of GLOSAS/USA). The trustee members are: Dr. Pekka
Tarjanne, (former Director-General of the ITU) and Dr. Federico Mayor,
(President of the Foundation for Culture of Peace and a former Director-General
of the UNESCO).
5
Financing GUS and GCEPG/GSEEED Projects:
Our projects
will combine (1) the Japanese government's Official Development Assistance
(ODA) funds and (2) Japanese electronic equipment with (a) the Internet
technology and (b) content development of North America and Europe, to help
underserved people in rural and remote areas of developing countries by closing
the digital divide.
Endnote:
Buckminster Fuller
referred to the function of a trimtab in nautical and aeronautical design to
demonstrate how small amounts of energy and resources precisely applied at the
right time and place can produce maximum advantageous change.
A large ship moving
through the ocean has great momentum.
Turning the rudder changes the direction of the ship but with great
effort. Turning the trimtab
— a tiny rudder on the trailing edge of the main rudder — causes an
initial momentum allowing the main rudder to turn with less effort in pulling
the whole ship around.
In design science, the
trimtab metaphor is used to describe an artifact, or system, specifically
designed and placed in the environment at such a time, in such a place, where
its effects would be maximized, thereby effecting the most advantageous change
with the least resources, time and energy. Doing more with less.
References:
McLeod, J., "Power (?)
Grid!," Simulation in the
Service of Society, Simulation, September 2000 <http://preview.tinyurl.com/22bl7v>
Onishi, A, (2007), "Alternative
path of the global economy against CO2 emissions: Policy simulations of FUGI
global modeling system"
<http://preview.tinyurl.com/3x75bc>
and Appendix B <http://preview.tinyurl.com/36ox9s>
Draft of Proposed Book
"Electronic Global University System and
Services"
http://preview.tinyurl.com/27ykrf
Takeshi Utsumi,
P. Tapio Varis, and W. R. Klemm, (2003)
"Creating Global
University System"
Takeshi Utsumi,
GLOSAS/USA (2003)
"Globally Collaborative
Environmental Peace Gaming"
Takeshi
Utsumi, GLOSAS/USA (2006)
"Globally
Collaborative Innovation Network with Global University SystemÓ
Paper for Learning Technology, IEEE Computer Society, Vol. 8, Issue 3, July, 2006
http://preview.tinyurl.com/fuwg6
Tapio
Varis - Takeshi Utsumi - William Klemm (Eds.), (2003)
Global Peace Through The
Global University System
University of Tampere, Finland
2003
ISBN 951-44-5695-5
The entire contents of this
book can be retrieved at;