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Posted in America, Microsoft, Patents at 6:39 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: Colonisation in Ski Lanka using Microsoft and the American Chamber of Commerce, who make the poor country dependent on American rules and proprietary/non-free software from America
IN THE FOLLOWING promotional Cablegate cable (remember that these are US officials in foreign countries), Microsoft is described as using miserable people to spawn new ‘microdrones’, i.e. people whose main skill is serving the Microsoft monopoly, with supposed knowledge in “computers” (Windows). The same type of thing is done to turn teachers in Ski Lanka into 'microdrones' and last but not least, the abhorrent front group known as Chamber of Commerce helps Microsoft change Ski Lanka’s law to be more in alignment with the conqueror, the United States. This is consistent with what we have seen in other countries; the embassies and consulates use Microsoft to expand their empire and made foreign countries assimilated even when it is against their interests (e.g. being dependent on proprietary software from another country). Here is the promotional cable:
>
VZCZCXRO5985
RR RUEHBI RUEHLMC
DE RUEHLM #0852/01 1660321
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150321Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6272
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1098
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0208
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 7191
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 5298
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2204
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 7777
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 5437
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2130
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000852
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/EPPD NSMITH-NISSLEY AND SCA/INS
DOL/ILAB FOR TINA MCCARTER
MCC FOR S. GROFF, D. TETER, D. NASSIRY AND E. BURKE
TREASURY FOR LESLIE HULL
GENEVA PASS USTR
FOR EEB ASSISTANT SECRETARY SULLIVAN FROM AMBASSADOR BLAKE
E.O 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON, BEXP, ETRD, ELAB, KSEP, SENV, AMGT, CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA - NOMINATION OF MICROSOFT FOR CORPORATE
EXCELLENCE AWARD
REF: A) STATE 47222 B) COLOMBO 754
1. I am pleased to nominate Microsoft-Sri Lanka for the Secretary's
Award for Corporate Excellence in the multinational enterprise
category. While meeting all eligibility requirements for this
award, Microsoft-Sri Lanka has demonstrated outstanding corporate
citizenship by enabling reformed drug addicts to obtain better jobs
through information and communication technology (IT) training. It
has helped contribute to the advancement of Sri Lanka's scientific
and technology policies by conducting seminars for developing
IT-enhanced curricula and counseling students in their career paths.
Microsoft-Sri Lanka has contributed to rule of law by sponsoring an
intellectual property rights (IPR) training program for judicial
officials.
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP: EXPANDING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND
OBJECTIVES OF EX-DRUG ADDICTS
2. In 2005-06, Microsoft-Sri Lanka partnered with the Sri Lanka
Anti Narcotics Association (SLANA) to attempt to integrate ex-drug
users back into society, by providing them with IT skills to
facilitate employability. Microsoft donated $113,000 to help SLANA
set up three centers and directly train 400 people. This project is
designed to positively influence over 1,500 people over two years.
The plan has already begun working. A 25-year old former heroin
addict wrote that the program "made me realize that I could pursue
numerous avenues...I further understood what I could do with the
support of new technology." A 20-year old ex-drug user who
completed the program wrote, "I realized that there is a world
beyond drugs. [The program] exposed me to many things I could do in
life. It also created a special interest in computers."
CONTRIBUTING TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL
POLICIES: CURRICULUM REDESIGN AND IT TRAINING; PROMOTING IT CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES
3. Sri Lanka has identified IT as a potential growth sector, and
seeks to encourage its growth. In Sri Lanka, mainly upper-class
urban residents have access to the Internet, while rural communities
are left without IT training or access - tools that are essential
for economic advancement in today's world. In 2004-05,
Microsoft-Sri Lanka provided a grant of $110,000 to set up 12
telecenters island-wide, to enable rural youth to access IT and to
receive training. Microsoft estimates that the grant has trained
3,500 young people, and affected the lives of an additional 10,000
people.
4. In 2006, Microsoft-Sri Lanka urged and coordinated with other IT
companies, including IBM, HP, IDM, and Suntel, to contribute to the
development of four rural IT projects. This practice has evolved
into a Global Best Practice for Microsoft, which has adopted it in
over a dozen countries within the past year.
5. Microsoft-Sri Lanka also identified the need to reduce "fear of
technology" among Sri Lanka's teachers. The company, together with
the Ministry of Education, launched the National Teacher PC Drive,
aimed at enabling 50,000 teachers to own PCs. It provided several
subsidies for this initiative, including provision of free training
to any teacher who buys a PC, and free lesson plans. Approximately
6,900 teachers have received this training delivered by the company,
in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. This represents a
total classroom size of approximately 332,000 students.
6. Microsoft-Sri Lanka co-sponsored with USAID/Sri Lanka a job fair
in June 2007. The fair featured prominent Sri Lankan local and
internationally based businesses, seminars on applying for jobs and
where opportunities lie in the job market, and counseling services
on how to interview and which technical fields are most appropriate
for the skills of the students. One of the 900 student participants
commented that this job fair provided him with more knowledge and
practical experience about the job market than all of his years of
education combined.
COLOMBO 00000852 002 OF 002
CONTRIBUTING TO RULE OF LAW: JUDICIAL TRAINING IN INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY LAWS
7. Microsoft-Sri Lanka partnered with the local American Chamber of
Commerce in a multi-pronged intellectual property rights campaign.
In addition to its non-publicized financial contributions to a
public-awareness component of the campaign, Microsoft staff
conducted training on Sri Lanka's Intellectual Property Act and the
importance of IPR enforcement for judiciary staff who rule on
intellectual property rights cases. One American Chamber of
Commerce member reported a significant increase in the size of fines
imposed on IPR violators following the training. Due to the success
of this program, Microsoft executives have expressed interest in
supporting continuing training programs within the court system.
Additionally, the Embassy requested funding (Ref B) to support
continuation of this program.
BLAKE
When they write “IT TRAINING” and “IT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES” they actually refer to helping Microsoft. █
Update: The same US-backed, self-congratulatory ‘honour’ can be seen emerging in Brazil as well. it’s very promotional and they also use kids for their marketing. One cable (advertisement) goes like this:
>
VZCZCXRO8659
PP RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #1131/01 1691742
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181742Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9268
INFO RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0161
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 4605
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 6823
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 001131
SIPDIS
EB/CBA FOR SMITH-NISSLEY
RM FOR PINEDA
WHA/EPSC FOR SALAZAR
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON, BEXP, ELAB, ETRD, BR
SUBJECT: AMEMBASSY BRASILIA NOMINATES FORD AND MICROSOFT BRAZIL FOR
THE SECRETARY'S 2007 CORPORATE EXCELLENCE AWARD (MULTINATIONAL
ENTERPRISE CATEGORY)
1. (U) Based upon their leadership and commitment to corporate
social responsibility (CSR), Ambassador Sobel nominates the U.S.
multinational companies Ford and Microsoft Brazil, as
representatives of the 50 U.S. multinational companies that support
the U.S. Embassy Brazil CSR Initiative, for the Secretary's 2007
Corporate Excellence Award.
2. (U) Begin Text of Award Nomination
In October 2006, the U.S. Ambassador, together with Microsoft, Ford,
and a select group of American companies founded a U.S. Mission
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, aimed at
leveraging the assets of U.S. companies doing business in Brazil.
This initiative, which has expanded and now brings together 50 U.S.
companies, has focused on encouraging CSR partnerships and joint
investments while increasing the visibility and recognition of U.S.
development efforts overseas. It has shown that partnerships have
the power to increase both the effectiveness and efficiency of
public and private sector development assistance.
This whole effort began when the U.S. Mission in Brazil sponsored a
CSR roundtable, in conjunction with 31 U.S. companies in Brazil and
the Sao Paulo American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham). That
represented the first step towards the development of an innovative
Public/Private-based model for corporate social responsibility.
However, none of this would have been possible without the
commitment of the movement's principal private sector leaders: both
Microsoft and Ford Brazil. These two companies chair initiative's
two main committees: visibility (Ford) and partnership (Microsoft).
Accordingly, the Ambassador nominates the U.S. multinational
companies Ford and Microsoft Brazil, representing the group of the
50 U.S. multinational companies that currently support this
initiative. Their exemplary efforts in guiding this group have been
key to making this campaign a best practice to be replicated
worldwide.
-------------------------- -----------------------------
Corporate Citizenship and Exemplary Employment Practices
-------------------------- ------------------------------
The group of 50 companies sponsors a wealth of social responsibility
projects, in such diverse fields as education, the environment, and
health. Combined annual investments are estimated at $250 million
(cash) and another $250 million in in-kind contributions.
Additionally, 48 of these companies support a volunteer network of
over 100,000 individuals. Their 200+ projects benefit all of the 26
Brazilian states and the country's Federal District.
Specifically, the group has:
-- Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the AmCham to promote
employment of "Youth Ambassadors" - a U.S. Embassy-funded program
targeting young leaders from low income families/schools across the
country that has produced outstanding results. Over fifteen
companies are now in the process of hiring several Youth
Ambassadors.
-- Collaborated in the establishment of the U.S.-Brazil Higher
Education Program, yet another example of the power of partnerships.
This program, jointly funded by Ford, Microsoft, and the USG, aims
at revitalizing vocational education. This effort has been welcomed
by the Government of Brazil's Ministry of Education and is already
serving as a model of how industries and governments can cooperate
to meet social and economic needs in a sustainable way.
-- Sponsored a highly-regarded speech/media event, featuring noted
economist Jeffrey Sachs, for companies participating in the
initiative. We have invited Microsoft CEO Bill Gates as the next
speaker.
Several other activities are currently being designed under the CSR
Initiative and will be launched soon. These include:
-- the design of a CSR Challenge Fund, which will combine USG and
private sector resources for programs in youth employability,
entrepreneurship, and the environment;
-- the development of a CSR Best Practices Catalogue;
-- a survey of member companies on their individual CSR activities
and willingness to partner with the Mission and others (this series
of surveys resulted in a matrix of CSR activities by member
companies);
-- a volunteer day during which Consulate Sao Paulo personnel can
participate in community activities (planned for July 2007); and
BRASILIA 00001131 002 OF 002
-- a CSR Workshop, which would bring together the 50 member
companies with speakers from local/international institutions such
as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Kellogg Foundation.
------------------------- -------------------------------
Contribution to the Overall Growth and Development of the Local
Economy.
-------------------------- ------------------------------
Member companies are highly committed to the development of the
Brazilian economy.
-- the group of 50 directly employs an estimated 1 million
workers;
-- they lead several value chains in Brazil across the entire
economy;
-- the combined annual income of this group is estimated at US$100
billion;
-- their presence in Brazil is on average 50 years. Companies like
Ford have been responsible for the development of an entire
industry;
-- newcomers such as Microsoft have taken the lead in key areas
such as education.
Many of these companies have established policies to promote
minority suppliers, and the group is working towards
institutionalizing the following new activities:
-- the implementation of a minority suppliers development program.
This work will be launched in August during the visit of the head of
the American Minority Suppliers Development project.
-- there are several ongoing initiatives related to responsible
sourcing, including a partnership between the U.S. Embassy and
Wal-Mart to source fair-trade coffee from Brazilian small farmers.
-- In addition, work is proceeding on the design of an innovative
minority suppliers development program focusing on cooperatives of
people living with HIV.
--------------------------- -------------------------
Development of Competitive and Innovative Activities
--------------------------- -------------------------
Other group activities aimed at fostering competitiveness and
innovation include:
-- the development of a report to measure the combined social and
economic impact of the CSR projects supported by the U.S. corporate
sector in Brazil;
-- planning for a joint volunteer day to take place in August 2007;
-- the design of a public outreach web site within the U.S. Embassy
Brasilia portal; and
-- various CSR-related meetings and planning sessions to take
place in CY 2007.
End Text of Award Nomination
Sobel
Here is another bit of promotion of the company from around the same time in Hanoi. Watch how US diplomats serve as Microsoft de facto PR agents:
>
VZCZCXRO8620
RR RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #1451 2251734
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131734Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6089
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 3526
UNCLAS HANOI 001451
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS AND EEB/EPPD NSMITH-NISSLEY
USDOC FOR 4431/MAC/AP/OPB/VLC/HPPHO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT, BEXP, ECON, ELAB, ETRD, KSEP, SENV
SUBJECT: DUE DILIGENCE: MICROSOFT 2007 AWARD FOR CORPORATE
EXCELLENCE
REF: STATE 109403
1. (SBU) Could there possibly be any downside or embarrassment
caused by the selection of your post's nominee?
Embassy Vietnam is not aware of any information that might prove
embarrassing to Post, to the U.S. Department of State, or to the USG
with regard to the nomination of Microsoft for this award.
2. (SBU) Do you have any information concerning job creation in the
United States resulting from the operations of the company you
nominated?
Microsoft had 20,561 employees in 1996. In 2007, the company
employs over 76,000 employees worldwide with 46,700 employees in the
United States. Microsoft is a leading software developer whose
bread and butter is its intellectual property. By expanding its
activities in Vietnam, it is promoting the export of U.S.-origin
product, which creates jobs, directly and indirectly, in the United
States. Just recently, Microsoft concluded an agreement with the
Government of Vietnam (GVN) under which government offices will buy
legitimate software from Microsoft for hundreds of thousands of
computers. While this means a direct increase in sales for the
company, Microsoft's success has wider implications for all U.S. IPR
interests because it shows the GVN can improve the situation for IPR
when there is political will.
3. (SBU) What is your assessment of the company's trade and
investment activities with regard to helping stimulate economic
growth in the U.S. and increasing American exports
(what is the U.S. content of its products)?
In 2006, Microsoft earned $12.6 billion on global revenues of $44.28
billion. Microsoft is the world's leading software developer with
products such as Microsoft Office, Windows XP, and Windows Vista.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft has played a major role in establishing
the global dominance of the U.S. software and information technology
sectors.
4. (SBU) What is the state of labor conditions in the company's
facilities and are workers unionized?
Labor conditions are generally excellent for Microsoft Asia Pacific
employees. Microsoft Vietnam employees are nonunion. The company
has low employee turnover, pays high wages (typically $1000-$1500
per month for a mid-level manager), and has employee benefits that
include health insurance, education reimbursement, and work/life
balance considerations.
5. (SBU) Are you aware of any litigation pending in local courts
involving the company?
Post is not aware of any Microsoft-related litigation pending in
local courts.
6. (SBU) Please confirm that the Chief of Mission and others
involved in the nominating process do not hold shares of stock or
have other financial interests in the company.
Neither the Chief of Mission nor others involved in the nominating
process hold shares of Microsoft stock or have other financial
interests in the company.
MARINE
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