mercredi, mars 04, 2015

SMART METERS, THE MESHED NETWORK

Global Smart Meters Roll-Out And Serfdom Of Humanity
Part 2
WHO HOLDS THE FISHING NET?
 Itron corporate partners in 2010 for industrial Internet, called Internet of Things 

By Mario Dufour

OBJECTIVES AND RATIONALE

Quebec's main power utility, Hydro-Quebec (H.Q.), presents itself as the mastermind behind its meshed WiFi system of so-called smart meters, for which the state-owned corporation would have contracted Accenture consulting firm for advice in the brilliant plot of theirs.

What is obvious after analysis is that Accenture leads the project, for which the firm gets paid handsomely by its subcontractor (H.Q.), making the regional deployment of its "automated meter reading--advanced metering infrastructure" in compatibility with computer technology of the consortium to which it belongs, the Cisco Smart-Grid Ecosystem. It is a sophisticated ploy illustrated by the phrase "have your cake and eat it too." A gem of self-financing and greed.
Consortium of Cisco Smart-Grid Ecosystem

The trick is repeated at each location where the company goes under the lead of the future visionary planners of the consortium. Accenture is active in 59 countries and as we have mentioned in the article Smart Meters And Wolves Sheep Pen, the goal is the creation of an industrial internet and the mesh of all communications of information on energy grids and services in all countries is an essential part of it.

In this light, it is essential to read between the lines when Hydro-Quebec justifies its adoption of this technology by "the possibility of technological evolution may be possible to offer new services to customers and to implement management measures network." A half-truth and looking at the chart above, we can understand the insured failure that faced all suppliers who were not part of the club and who participated in the tender. The dice were loaded.


WHO ARE THE FISHES?

In the December 7, 2012, H.Q. application R-3788-2012 for electricity service conditions, Quebec energy regulator, Regie de l'energie, has allowed changes that are similar to those applied across all North America and around the world where rampant Accenture and other radiofrequencies-based "smart grids" greedy promoters are at large.

For example, the opt-out option with fees and monthly punishment payment are always part of the deal. Changes in conditions of services also. As I might repeat myself, opt-out options constant changes in conditions of services are a new corporate trend with morality similar to pyramid schemes. These are serfdom tools for Facebook and other Google in their search for hegemony and profits.

In their cases, if we do not like it, we stop to use their junk and the problem is solved. But, we are dealing here with a state-owned energy-distribution company. The citizen is a shareholder of H.Q. and is also its captive customer. So, he has just been duped, since those conditions were not present in previous versions and he is left with only one choice; bend to the new conditions. Emigrate? But to where?

This monstrous industrial project consists of enclosing all populations of all countries in the meshes of their radiofrequency-based information-gathering net, that they have the guts to call ecosystem. Toxic.

So toxic, that the World Health Organization (WHO)/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has declared that radiofrequencies are possibly carcinogenic, despite the tremendous pressure from the industry. Which should already command the utmost caution. 

Yet, in application D-2012-127, R-3770-2011, 2012 10 05 we read "new generation meters that plans to install the Distributor have the advantage and ability to communicate with each other if they cannot communicate directly with a router due to topographic or other obstacles. This way, the meters form a dynamic mesh network that enables the relay of information at all times, regardless of topography. "

While logic would dictate a search to reduce exposure to radiofrequencies and the application of the precautionary principle, the net is thrown across the territory. 

When was the time to discuss health issues, the regulator Richard Lassonde at the administrative tribunal of Regie de l'energie dismissed as biased the testimony and report of David O. Carpenter, a public-health physician who is, by the way, Director of the Institute for Health and the Environment, a Collaborating Center of the World Health Organization and renown worldwide for his expertise on radiofrequencies health issues. Instead, he concluded on the baseless opinion of Ministry of Health and Social Services, the directors of public health and the Agencies of public health and social services, who all depend on H.Q. revenues, that their gadgets were safe enough. 


WHO RULES ANYWAY? WHO HOLDS THE NET HERE?

This global deployment and the identity of the prime contractor is partially revealed in the text of the decision of the authority regardingR-3770-2011, September 30, 2011, when Hydro-Quebec is opposed to the disclosure of the document entitled "Accenture's AMR-AMI initiatives markers in North America" (Chapter 2.2.1 in the text).

The distributor submits an affirmation of Mr. Vito Calabretta of Accenture Ltd (sic) expressing that "disclosure of the information contained in Exhibit HQD-1, Document 2 would likely be a serious detriment to the economic interests of Accenture, would cause economic loss by providing a significant advantage to its competitors and thus hurt substantially to its competitiveness. Disclosure to stakeholders of this document will also not be permitted, even under strict conditions of confidentiality."

In document R-3770-2011, October 5, 2012, Hydro-Quebec will cites Accenture as if Accenture's judgment had the value of a neutral arbitrator, independent and indisputable.

Here are some excerpts where Accenture evaluates HQ in the advancement of the project: "The Distributor recalls the following evaluation of the project carried out by the firm Accenture, mandated by the Distributor for the purpose of evaluating the Project:
- H.Q. followed good practice and the various returns of experience;
- The possibility of developing additional functionality has been taken into account (scalability)." Here a small red light should have illuminate. The Internet of Things. Not to mention that it seems like reading comments on the ballot of a primary school toddler. 

In response to stakeholders who question its technological choices, "This exercise has demonstrated that the firm Accenture has confirmed in his report that the technology upheld by the Distributor follows the trend currently observed in the market, which positions the mesh-type radio frequency technology to the forefront of IMA projects in North America."

This is indeed a major trend that is imposed by the Cisco Smart-Grid Ecosystem where Accenture belongs. It is not a coincidence of a pure and free market.

Elsewhere, "These findings are also supported by the firm Accenture."

About H.Q. efficiency in the massive deployment, "Accenture confirms that the Distributor is already following all recommendations and considers that the implementation of the massive deployment will be done as efficiently as possible."

On the scalability, "Distributor demanded its metering providers that their technology allows the implementation of additional features as confirmed by the firm Accenture."

About data security, HQ says "As for data security and integrity of systems that generate, communicate or store, Distributor recalls that it has made a fundamental issue and that his calls proposal have ensured that the technologies meet the highest levels of IT security." But security for whom?

Certainly not for the subscriber from whom they collect metadata without his knowledge.
About this security, it also reads: "The firm Lofty Perch confirmed the safety of data processed by the system and confirmed that the project meets the recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and Technology." This is not even Canadian. Have we become a US state without knowing it?

We are screwed the same as anyone everywhere else where members of the Cisco Smart-Grid Ecosystem arise.

One of the most fabulous example of trickery they use is the calculation of RF exposure, which is based on an average over time of 50 μW / "-"-m2. But that does not make sense, because the meters do not transmit continuously but by millisecond pulses every twenty seconds or so.

It's a bit like putting your hand on a burning plate a split second and calculating an average over a minute to determine the heat to which you have been exposed. When you make a smartmeter reading at one meter of distance, you get 60,000 μW / "-"-m2! An electromagnetic whiplash at least three times a minute and 24/7. 

Do not count on any adaptive theory to get you out of this hell; living things never adapted before to whip lashes, bullets nor electromagnetic weapons.

And now you know who holds that whip.


BUT, FROM WHERE DOES THIS DUPLICITY CULTURE COME FROM?

Accenture, whose headquarters are located in Ireland, a tax haven, is present at the New York Stock Exchange and is a member of the S & P 500 index. His best performance is in the field of "outsourcing", meaning moving jobs to countries where working conditions are terrible. The firm is very active in the Philippines and India.

Employees leave as soon as they can, when realizing they were duped in a white-collar bondage akin to slavery.

Its quest for profit knows no bounds; fraud, collusion, theft of trade secrets, breach of worker rights. Its incompetence is phenomenal. Its attacks on democracy are also well documented.

To give you an insight in bulk:

PROCEEDINGS

WELLOGIX VS ACCENTURE
In May 2013, a US Appeals Court confirmed a judgment against Accenture (1) to pay $ 44.4 million to Wellogix Inc. for stealing their technology and maliciously misappropriating its trade secrets. Accenture was ordered to pay $ 26.2 million in compensation for damages 18.2 million for punitive damages.
(1) http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/11/11-20816-CV0.wpd.pdf

U.S. DOJ JOINS LAWSUIT AGAINST HP, SUN, ACCENTURE
Suit alleges that the three companies formed an alliance with vendors and have been giving each other kickbacks on government contracts since the late 1990s (1).
Accenture received more than $20 million in payments from alliance partners between 2000 and 2006, the DOJ alleged. In some cases, the alleged kickbacks came in the form of stock purchase agreements, the DOJ said in its filing.
(1) http://www.infoworld.com/t/business/us-doj-joins-lawsuit-against-hp-sun-accenture-664

$64 MILLION SETTLEMENT
The Department of Justice has announced that a $64 million settlement has been reached in a whistleblower lawsuit filed in Eastern District of Arkansas (1) against Accenture LLP which alleged the technology service company rigged bids, inflated prices, and paid kickbacks.
(1) http://www.breakinglawsuitnews.com/doj-accenture-reach-settlement/

CONNECTICUT SUES ACCENTURE FOR LOSING PRIVATE DATA
Accenture, a company for technology services and consultancy, was sued by the state of Connecticut for losing confidential information (1) related to hundreds of accounts in the state's banks and 58 Connecticut taxpayers.
(1) http://www.spamfighter.com/News-9161-Connecticut-Sues-Accenture-for-Losing-Private-Data.htm
MICROSOFT AND ACCENTURE JOINT VENTURE AVANADE SUED OVER ALLEGED ERP PROJECT FAILURE (1)
ScanSource says Avanade lied about its ability to do the job, resulting in a project disaster.
(1) http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/it-business/3418841/microsoft-and-accenture-joint-venture-avanade-sued-over-alleged-erp-project-failure/

BRITISH GAS SUES ACCENTURE (1)
British Gas is suing Accenture for -182m in costs connected to the failure of a new billing system put in place by the consultants in 2006.
Problems with the system led to a massive increase in complaints against the gas supplier. Centrica, British Gas's parent company, has already written off -200m due to problems with the system.
(1) http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/12/accenture_centrica_sue/



CONSULTING FIRM DISCRIMINATED BY USING A 10-YEAR-OLD CONVICTION RECORD
The first class action against Accenture Inc., holds the consulting firm discriminated by using a 10-year-old conviction record to automatically disqualify Roberto Arroyo from a full-time job even after he'd proven himself (1). The second alleges the U.S. Census Bureau's requirement that all applicants be run through the FBI database and provide proof of the dispositions of any arrests, was onerous and discriminatory.
(1) http://www.censusdiscriminationlawsuit.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42:criminal-background-checks-under-fire&catid=1:latest&Itemid=19

CONSULTING AND OUTSOURCING FIRM DISCRIMINATED AGAINST OLDER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WORKERS
Law360 (1), New York (April 26, 2010, 3:42 PM ET) -- Accenture LLP has been hit with a class action alleging the consulting and outsourcing firm discriminated against older information technology workers.
(1) http://www.law360.com/articles/164285/accenture-hit-with-age-bias-class-action

CASE NO. 30-2011-00496293-CU-OE-CXC (1)
On August 1, 2011, a former salaried, exempt employee of Accenture Inc. ("Accenture") filed a lawsuit seeking to represent a class of current and former "exempt" employees of Accenture who worked in California in any Analyst, and similarly situated positions, from August 1, 2007, to the present. The lawsuit alleges that Accenture failed to pay its information and technology ("IT") workers overtime, failed to provide meal periods, failed to provide rest periods, failed to timely pay wages to employees at the time of separation from Accenture, failed to provide accurate itemized statements, and implemented unfair business practices.
(1) http://www.garaylaw.com/Info-regarding-Accenture-case.shtml

THE COMPANY HAD A HAND IN THE NOTORIOUS PURGE OF SUSPECTED FELONS FROM FLORIDA VOTER LISTS
A circuit court judge ruled on June 2, 2005, (1) that the Elections Board's director did not have the authority to enter into the agreement with Accenture, but nevertheless upheld the contract on the grounds that the board retroactively ratified the contract on January 27, 2005 - more than a month after the contract was legally challenged.

The selection of Accenture to develop Wisconsin 's voter-registration list is particularly controversial. The company had a hand in the notorious purge of suspected felons from Florida voter lists before the 2004 elections. More on Accenture's role in the Florida felon purge.
(1) http://www.wisdc.org/wdcaccenture.php



INCOMPETENCE

ACCENTURE -- EPITOME OF INCOMPETENCE (1)

Here is an index of a long list of articles about Accenture's incompetence :

Accenture can't design or build voter-registration databases


INTEGRITY

A 13-page report of the Polaris Institute in June 2003 (1) draws a portrait, to dressed your hair up on the head, of Andersen Consulting in 2001 which became Accenture. 1998 Activities for 2003.
(1)https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/polarisinstitute/pages/29/attachments/original/1410802006/Accenture.pdf?1410802006

Some excerpts from Section 4. Social Profile:

Ontario Welfare - The Canadian Province of Ontario's contract for social services delivery, essentially privatized welfare during the duration of the contract (which was to be for 4 years, but has gone over that limit by more than a year). As of March 2002, Accenture has been paid $246 million (CND) to do this "overhaul of the Ontario welfare service", even though the original estimate was $50 - $70 million and the project was eventually capped at $180 million. At one point, Accenture billed taxpayers $26,000 in unreceipted out of pocket expenses and Accenture management was paid up to $575/hour. In 1999, a year after the Auditor General of Ontario put out a scathing report on the contract, hourly rates paid to Accenture management actually rose (3%), rather than being cut. After this, the government was forced to finally renegotiate a cut to Accenture's billing rates. The Ontario government cut welfare payments to $355.71 per child in poverty and fired massive numbers of social service workers, making this contract essentially a transfer from those in need to those in Accenture.

New Brunswick, Canada - Welfare system - cancelled a $60 million contract with Accenture when project cost estimates ballooned to $144 million. Despite the cancellation being based on Accenture's failure to uphold the contract terms, the province had to pay Accenture $2.9 million in a severance package to cancel this.

Shell Oil - Accenture has been a Shell Oil consultant in Nigeria, where Shell has been known as a particularly serious environmental and human-rights violator.

Invested for years in Indonesia. Investment dollars such as these were part of the billions in investment from multi-national corporations, which helped keep Suharto's dictatorship alive. This investment helped to keep the Suharto regime in power, a regime which has brought genocide to the people of East Timor.

Quotes:

Jerri New, President of the Office and Professional Employees Union Local 378 (which represents employees of BC Hydro and Accenture), making comments in February 2003 after the BC Hydro/Accenture deal was announced: "This Privatization is now final, but this is the first chance British Columbians have had to see any of the details. There has been no chance for public review of this huge change, as it's all been done in secret until now."

Ontario Auditor General in the 2002 annual report: "In many respects, I consider the Ministry's involvement with Accenture to have been a very expensive lesson in how not to implement a new IT-based service-delivery system.
Said Liberal MLA Gerry Phillips to [then] Community and Social Services minister Janet Ecker: "If you wanted to have almost an SCTV skit on how not to engage a consultant, it would be this, Andersen Consulting made you look like a fool" ["Deal Likened to SCTV Skit" Computing Canada, November 23, 1998]

Quoted from the State Auditor of Accenture's Nebraska contract for social services provision: "The most wasteful I have ever heard of. It's like pouring money down a deep dark hole."
(1) https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/polarisinstitute/pages/29/attachments/original/1410802006/Accenture.pdf?1410802006


OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE ALERT SOUNDS OF POTENTIAL FRAUD (1)

On 6 June 2013, the Office of Inspector General of the United States Postal Service did sound the alarm of potential fraud, writing in a memo "This presents potential fraud alert management Risks-associated with Accenture Federal Services Contracting Practices (Project Number 12YG038CA001) That Were compiled from prior US Postal Service Office of Inspector General audits and investigations. "
(1) https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/document-library-files/2013/sm-ma-13-005.pdf

THE CASE OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE IN THE UK
(A PLAUSIBLE SCENARIO IN ANY INSTITUTION NEAR YOU)


We could go on for days and months to expose the dishonesty of this company by digging activities country by country, project by project and area by area. I will conclude with a case typical of the unhealthy and immoral philosophy of Accenture, the medical records management system that the National Health Service in the UK has tried to implement since 2002 (1).

The project was launched under the responsibility of Accenture. A contract of about $ 4 billion. The company has thrown in the towel at the extent of its fiasco in 2006 (2), putting the blame on its subcontractor.

They reneged on their contract because they were making losses, about $ 140 million in profits (3). Obviously, their payments were contingent on success (is this the case with H.Q.?).

Then, the project continued with another consulting firm, along with a new subcontractor, who took the precaution to include a contract termination compensation of nearly $ 4 billion. The system does not work and will cost more than $ 20 billion at the end of its "useful" life in 2017 (1).

Since 2011, thanks to the monumental collapse of the project they had started and abandoned, having taken the time to be forgotten, Accenture has returned to the charge with a new subcontractor, TPP (4) and a biased house survey claiming that the British were ready to change doctors to have access to an electronic medical record (5). The firm began to canvass Ru's hospital foundations, one at a time, and is now putting markers in an attempt to close the installation of its system in 2017 on the corpse of its previous catastrophe. When things will collapse, TPP will receive the blame.

It would have been easier in 2002 for the National Health Service to access linkedin.com, as does the firm, hire a senior IT consultant (and not a fresh graduates to pilot the boat, like Accenture did) and offer a well paid job to develop a strong electronic patient records from open-source existing solutions (6).

(1) http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/22/nhs_national_programme_for_it_10_billion_pounds/
(2) http://www.zdnet.com/accenture-pulling-out-of-nhs-it-project-3039283696/
(3) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4856094.stm
(4) http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240163486/NHS-Trust-uses-Accenture-for-system-integration
(5)http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240208924/English-patients-want-electronic-access-to-their-records
(6)http://www.chcf.org/publications/2008/01/opensource-ehr-systems-for-ambulatory-care-a-market-assessment

Now, you realize the huge financial risks that would mean leaving any institution near you continue with these scams implemented by such corporate offender. In the case of Hydro-Quebec, Accenture uses Cisco Ecosystem partner in crime Capgemini as subcontractor. A company also specialized in "outsourcing", probably chosen for its propensity to discredit itself, providing a perfect scapegoat to be blamed when the house of cards will come to crumble.

There is hope. At the time of this writing, three high administrative figures at H.Q. just jumped out of the boat in a mysterious synchronism. The President and CEO, Thierry Vandal, quits two years before its terms. Simultaneously, the Executive Vice President, Marie-Josee Nadeau, and the general manager of the smart-meter program, Georges Abiad, also jumped out of the luxury ship in "search of new challenges". Due to the law of probability, it is no coincidence. 

Some might say that it is quantum-mechanic probabilities at its best but, stuff that smells shows that it is entropy-law related.

Result of Police investigations? Whistlebowers?

Don't bet. There is nothing to win. Except, if you have useful information and you contact authorities that are not meshed in the network; you might get your prosperity back.

In Quebec : L'Unite permanente anticorruption (UPAC), 1 844 541-UPAC (8722), online reporting; https://www.upac.gouv.qc.ca/index.php?id=formulaire_signalement