I am delighted to learn that Ban Ki Moon will be honored by the Boston Global Forum for his contributions as a world leader for peace, security and development. It is richly deserved. The Harvard Kennedy School is proud of it many distinguished graduates, but none more so than UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. With best wishes.
At its second annual Global Cybersecurity Day conference, the Boston Global Forum will announce the recipient of this year’s “World Leader for Peace, Security, and Development” award:
Ban Ki Moon, United Nations Secretary General.
The Boston Global Forum is recognizing Ban for leading the UNESCO Global Education First Initiative whose aim is to put every child in school because education is a right, improve the quality of learning to include improving world literacy and foster global citizenship that cultivates respect for the world, each other and prepares children for the interconnected challenges of the 21st Century.
Says Ban, “when we put Education First, we can reduce poverty and hunger, end wasted potential – and look forward to stronger and better societies for all.”
Additionally in 2016, the Secretary-General worked to reduce conflict and suffering in Syria, Kashmir, along the India-Pakistan border, in Ghana and between Israel and the Palestinians. He also commended the Columbian government and The Columbian People’s Army (FARC-EP) coming to a modified peace agreement.
Ezra Vogel, of Boston Global Forum, and Harvard Professor Emeritus, credited Ban for his “absolutely sincere dedication to making the world a better place, with peace and cooperation between countries.”
Boston Global Forum Chairman Governor Michael Dukakis will make the announcement and speak in honor of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the start of the conference:
“Cyber Deterrence: Safe or Risky”
8:30 AM to 11 AM (EST), Monday, Dec. 12
Loeb House, Harvard University
17 Quincy Street, Cambridge Massachusetts
Last year three honorees accepted the Boston Global Forum award: Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Coverage invited: for press credentials contact: Dick Pirozzolo at [email protected] or +1 617 959 4613
Speaking at this Monday’s event are:
Chris Painter, Coordinator for Cyber Issues, United States Department of State
Scott Charney , Corporate Vice President for Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing Group
Dmitri Alperovitch, Cofounder and CTO of CrowdStrike Inc
Professor John Savage, Brown University
Sean Kanuck, Cyberspace visonary
Kim Taipale, Founder and executive director of the Stilwell Center
Professor Thomas Patterson, Harvard Kennedy School
Professor David Silsberweig, Harvard Medical School
Professor Nazli Choucri, MIT
The Boston Global Forum established “Global Cybersecurity Day” to shine a harsh light on the growing menace of cyber threats and to call for a worldwide effort to create a secure and clean Internet environment and to prevent the outbreak of cyberwar,“ explains Tuan Anh Nguyen, BGF cofounder. Nguyen is widely credited for bringing uncensored and open internet access to modern Vietnam.
Nguyen says, “Each year we invite leading scholars and cybersecurity experts to participate in international discussions aimed at identifying practical solutions to the growing peril of state-sponsored, terrorist and criminally motivated cyber threats. We also honor outstanding people who have made the greatest contributions to peace and security during the year.”
Governor Michael Dukakis, chairman and co-founder of Boston Global Forum, adds:
“We need to make cybersecurity an imperative—as individuals, as organizations, as governments, as the international community. To this end, the Boston Global Forum has developed the Ethics Code of Conduct for Cyber Peace and Security that prescribes how netizens, IT experts, institutions, governments, and others should act to advance the cause of cybersecurity.”
Ban Ki Moon is a South Korean career diplomat who became the eighth Secretary General of the United Nations, when he succeeded Kofi Annan in 2006. Official press photo is available at:
Established in 2012, The Boston Global Forum brings together, in an open and accessible public forum, an eclectic and engaging spectrum of highly regarded academic leaders, real-world experts, influential thoughts leaders, media experts and promising young leaders.
BGF’s immediate goal is to identify emerging threats to peace and stability around the globe, suggest realistic solutions, and identify possible actions that can be taken to avert armed conflict. The Forum’s ultimate goal is to lessen tensions, promote peace and security, and foster conditions that lead to greater social justice and broader economic prosperity wherever they are most needed.
To cover or for interviews contact Dick Pirozzolo + 1 617 959 4613, [email protected] or Tuan Nguyen + 1 617 286 6589, [email protected]
(November 10, 2016) Now in his fiftieth year at Brown University, Professor John Savage of the Department of Computer Science (Brown CS) continues not only to consult on cybersecurity at the international level but serve as ambassador and architect for countries that are joining the global effort to improve the safety of cyberspace.
Most recently, John has returned from a week-long trip to Vietnam, where he met with political leaders, technology and cybersecurity experts, academics, and students to address what Vietnam sees as a top priority: building the necessary cyber resilience to protect their scientific and technological development. His agenda was extremely varied, ranging from discussions of an innovation center being built in the coastal city of Nha Trang to a keynote address at the Conference on Solutions for Practice on Global Citizenship Education in Cyber Civil Defense in Vietnam, held at Dalat University.
John traveled to Vietnam as a representative of the Boston Global Forum, a non-governmental organization founded in December, 2012, by Governor Michael Dukakis; Mr. Tuan Nguyen, Member of the Harvard Business School Global Advisory Board; Professor Thomas Patterson of the Harvard Kennedy School, and Professor John Quelch of the Harvard Business School. Boston Global Forum is dedicated to solving global issues of peace, and security, especially in cybersecurity.
(November 25, 2016) At its most recent Boston Global Forum symposium at Harvard University, political, military and academic leaders from the United States, Vietnam and Japan called for the establishment of a “Global Citizenship Education in Cyber Civil Defense” program to help stem the rising tide of internet hacking, cybercrime and other internet misdeeds.
While malware, DDoS and ransomware get all the press attention, government and other experts at the session overwhelmingly agreed that the majority of successful email hacks and cyber theft, does not result from sophisticated coding. Rather the hackers depend on missteps by individual internet users. Folks seem unable to resist clicking on seemingly friendly links and providing passwords, or personal and banking information.
The Global Citizen Education in Cyber Civil Defense is expected to ward off these intrusions through greater awareness, knowledge of such cyber perils, and personal involvement.
(November 20, 2016) On September 23, 2016, at a conference was organized by the Boston Global Forum and UNESCO-UCLA Chair in Global Learning and Global Citizenship Education , at Harvard University Faculty Club, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan officially presented Global Citizenship Education Network.
Here is the presentation that Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan presented on September 23, 2016
Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan, Vietnam were 2015 honorees. 2016 Awards will be presented at Harvard University December 12
In December of 2015, the Boston Global Forum (BGF) launched a new award titled “World Leaders for Peace, Security, and Development,” to honor three world leaders.
Recognized last year were Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, Angela Merkel Chancellor of German who received the title of “World Leaders for Peace, Security, and Development” and further affirmation from leaders around the world. These World Leaders were honored for having dedicated much of their lives to fostering peace among countries of their respective regions.
This year, the Boston Global Forum will continue to search for 2016 world leaders along with launching another award to promote Global Cybersecurity Day titled “Business Leader in Cybersecurity, Practitioner in Cybersecurity 2016.” This award will honor individuals who have made remarkable contributions toward peace in cyberspace as well as the real world.
The Boston Global Forum will collaborate with Global Citizenship Education Network (through the UNESCO Chair in Global Learning and Global Citizenship Education, UCLA) to manage the 2016 awards program. The Global Citizenship Education program was established in February of this year to work toward a more peaceful world, making the Global Citizenship Education Network an ideal organization to be in running the BGF 2016 awards program.
Members of the Selection Committee for “World Leaders for Peace, Security and Development, Business Leader in Cybersecurity, Practitioner in Cybersecurity 2016” are:
Michael Dukakis, Chairman of Boston Global Forum
Thomas Patterson, Harvard Kennedy School
John Quelch, Harvard Business School
John Savage, Brown University
Thomas Fiedler, Dean of College of Communication, Boston University
Nazli Choucri., MIT
Carlos Torres, UCLA
Nguyen Anh Tuan, Global Citizenship Education Network
Derek Reveron, Naval War College
JD Bindenagel, Bonn University
The 2016 Award process will proceed in two phases:
1st phase (November 11, 2016 to November 22, 2016): Nominations Gathering
Selection Committee will receive nominations for both awards from Global Citizenship Educators, Michael Dukakis Leadership Fellows and other scholars.
2nd phase (November 23, 2016): After receiving the nominations, the Selection Committee will begin discussion and examination the candidates to determine the winner.
Awards will be presented on Global Cybersecurity Day December 12, 2016 at Loeb House, Harvard University.
Boston Global Forum (BGF) sincerely expresses the warmest congratulation for Dr. Carlos Alberto Torres, UNESCO UCLA Chair in Global Learning and Global Citizenship Education, member of BGF’s Board of Thinkers and Director of UCLA Paulo Freire Institute.
On October 25, 2016, the Universidade Lusofona de Humanidades e tecnologias awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa to Dr. Carlos Alberto Torres and Dr. António Manuel Seixas Teachers Sampaio da Novoa. The ceremony took place in the Auditorium Agostinho da Silva
Derek Reveron – Faculty Affiliate, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of National Security, Naval War College. Reveron teaches Cyberspace and International Security at Harvard Extension School. In this Q&A, he helps illuminate the complex topic of his course and career.
In an era when we live so many aspects of our lives online—from sharing details on social networks to managing our finances—our privacy and identity have become increasingly vulnerable. But such vulnerabilities reside within the confines of our private, civilian lives.
What’s at stake when nations turn to cyberspace to display aggression, compromise intelligence, or threaten adversaries?
The high-profile hacks of recent years—Sony, the Democratic National Committee—and the recent “distributed denial of service” attack have brought cyber security to the fore in national and international security circles. In the following interview, Professor Reveron explains the concept of national security, intelligence, and war in the age of cyberspace. His responses reflect his personal opinions, not those of the Belfer Center or the Naval War College.
Traditionally, national and international security have resided in physical domains: land, sea, and air. But the virtual world today has altered that landscape significantly. What are some security challenges that arise in the “borderless” realm of cyberspace?
Fundamentally, cyberspace is a civilian space, and it’s a human construct. One of the key differences between, say, land borders and cyberspace is that cyberspace is always changing. It’s potentially infinite because more networks, more devices, and more users are constantly being added. All that is contracting the world where someone in Cambridge, Massachusetts can directly engage with government officials in Canberra, Australia.
There’s another difference. We are historically, legally, and culturally comfortable with national governments protecting airspace, and land borders and sea boundaries.
Cyber challenges the traditional national security divide: federal government is responsible for international challenges, and state and local governments are responsible for domestic ones. The Department of Defense is responsible for .mil. The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for .gov. But we all live in .com. And there’s no equivalent to city or state police to protect us there.
