The Russian Olympiad and what it all means

Statute 3.1.4 of the International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO) states

The Olympiad has to be organized only in town (settlement, city) with working astronomical research centres: observatories, astronomical institutes or universities with a considerable astronomical department. Other places for the Olympiad are not appropriate. At least once every three years the Olympiad has to be organized by an astronomical research centre of the historical territory of the Astronomy Olympiads (Russian Federation, Crimea or Moscow land).

In that sense, the IAO is essentially a competition that is under the control of Russia. The IAO is one of the many academical Olympiads held yearly for high school students to have a healthy competition against each other. The IAO is similar to the rest of the Olympiads, other than the field involved, except for the fact that it requires that the competition is to be held in the historical territory of the Olympiads at least once every three years. The IAO has been in existence since 1996.

Another Astronomy Olympiad in existence today is the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA). This Olympiad does not impose a condition of returning the organizing power to any body or country. It is only set up in recent years, with the inaugural event in 2007.

I wish to develop along the idea of the "monopoly" of the Russians on the IAO using James English's chapter as a lens to see why this Olympiad is set up and the possible benefits it can bring to the federation. I will bring other Olympiads into the discussion and give some attention to the IOAA using Danesi's article as another lens to show how we interpret the establishment of the IOAA as a form of rebellion against the Russian IAO.

Coherent movement --- by anonymous

From what I know, the roots of Anonymous trace all the way back to Japan --- 2chan (2channel).

2chan is a Japanese internet forum where people can post anonymously, with the motive of sharing instead of claiming. American Christopher Poole wanted an English equivalent and out came 4chan.

Like-minded people from all around the world have been gathering at 4chan to contribute anonymously for what they claim to be the greater good. Many interesting internet memes, like the Lolcats, originated from within 4chan. Authors and creators have not left their names or affiliations on the memes; the memes existed merely to entertain. The myriad of talents and interest around the world (in the context of anonymous contributors) work much like the concept behind torrents --- an idea pops up (a torrent seed), and input flows in from anyone who has something to share (whoever has the file the seed requests will send the file concurrently with similar others to the requester). In this way concepts, ideas, and memes build on itself in a coherent manner. It is as though small ripples on the surface of the pond come on from all directions to give a high peak at where they meet in constructive interference.

A similar concept has been adopted by many. Well known examples include sites like Wikipedia (and its spoofs --- Uncyclopedia, Conservapedia, Bulbapedia, etc). Contributors seem not too bothered about who is contributing to the content (as long as the original discoverers or inventors are honoured). Mistakes introduced by contributors are rectified by others in the field. All in all, the contents in Wikipedia converge to a coherent database of knowledge in the recorded history of mankind. Mathematically inclined people may associate this with the Law of Large Numbers. To add on as a bonus, WikiLeaks is another (more or less) underground collective. Its purpose, in contrast to the good nature of Wikipedia, is to expose dirty secrets --- much in line with the dark alley Anonymous.

So what about this group, Anonymous? I see whole concept of a culture to involve a coherent movement of a body. Inasmuch as how the widespread appreciation of Baroque music defined the Baroque artistic culture in the 1600s, the coordinated protests and hacks associated with Anonymous (and similar others like Occupy Wall Street), can define the current working style of our youths. It is a new era where people do not merely abide by whatever laws imposed on them. It is a new era where people can find like-minded peers, and contribute constructively to execute coherently for a greater purpose. It is a new era where new laws are imposed by those above, and objected by an audible synchronized choir from below.

This is not the mass culture that MacDonald talked about. This is not entertainment related, or at least not directly.

Danesi talked about youths 'overthrowing' the old with their rebellious and revolutionary ways. I find his article lines up with the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) protest movements very well. These protests are not just normal protests. These are protests against laws to be imposed onto the use of internet (and to add on, the internet is pretty much a world on its own). Anonymous-led underground protests of various forms showed us a subculture hidden at a corner of the virtual web. These people are Anonymous. They are Legion. They do not forgive. They do not forget. Expect them. The combined voices of people have managed to influence huge corporations like Google, and Wikipedia to join in the online protest against the SOPA.

Perhaps there is only a very thin line separating coherent protest groups like Anonymous from coherent terrorist organizations like the Al Qaeda --- after all, Anonymous executed DDoS attacks on various websites, including those of governmental origins.

With the widespread use of internet, and the ease of reaching out to others with the use of it, like-minded people have managed to get together to share, to plan, and to execute their plans for their common goal. I see it as a new form of underground culture. A new culture not in the familiar terms of entertainment; a new culture not in the context of traditions or art; but a new form of culture that defines the needs of many around us, who will remain anonymous till the end.