Eight Countries In Y2K Readiness: The Well-Prepared And Less-Prepared (S.F. Gate)

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Yes... No. Yes... No. Makes ya dizzy.

Diane

Eight countries in Y2K readiness

Saturday, December 11, 1999

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/1999/12/11/international1557EST0588.DTL

[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]

(12-11) 12:57 PST A look at the Y2K status of countries considered well-prepared and less-prepared:

BETTER-PREPARED

BRITAIN

A leader in Y2K vigilance and proselytizing, the British are in the bug-swatting vanguard. Action 2000, the government agency created to deal with Y2K, monitored compliance work on everything from electricity, water and gas utilities to police and fire departments, banks and grocery stores.

Y2K work on infrastructure alone cost more than $32 billion in both public and private funds. No figures are available for other Y2K-related investments.

Action 2000, in assuring grocers' compliance, certifies that they will be able to provide adequate supplies during the critical hours and days. It says oil, gas and coal supplies will be adequate and transportation is also Y2K-ready. Ninety-nine percent of Britain's biggest 500 companies and 93 percent of companies with more than 250 employees are rated ``on course/complete'' in preparations. Some smaller companies are of concern.

AUSTRALIA

The government minister spearheading Y2K efforts, Richard Alston, anticipates ``little or no Y2K disruption to key services, including electricity, telecommunications, banking and transport.''

A government Year 2000 office was set up in 1997 to coordinate public compliancy efforts and to advise the population and private sector. Industry watchdogs have given the country's telephone and emergency services the all-clear. Nevertheless, two commercial ports will close over New Year's because of fears that ships that want to dock won't meet Australia's tough standards.

Federal and state governments have spent about $1.3 billion tackling the Y2K problem. The private sector had spent $4.7 billion by the end of June, three quarters of the expected total bill. In all, that's about $320 per person, meaning Y2K fixes will end up costing Australia about the same per capita as the United States' estimated $365.

ISRAEL

Although Israel is Y2K-ready overall, Palestinian areas are far less prepared. After updating the electric company's computers, technicians have changed the internal dates and moved power stations into the next millennium. Some are already working in July and August 2000.

However, municipal systems might break down, especially in smaller localities where computers are outdated. A task force warned that water and sewage systems could crash and city computers might erase records, including parking tickets.

The Bank of Israel is supplying additional cash to bank branches, in case Israelis decide to raid their ATMs for extra money. Banks will be closed for three days over the year-end changeover.

No problems are predicted at Israel's international airport, but it will be virtually shut down. Despite assurances, people aren't buying tickets for flights on New Year's Eve. Israel's national airline, El Al, does not fly on the Jewish Sabbath, so its planes will be grounded over the millennium weekend.

SOUTH AFRICA

International analysts give South Africa good marks, particularly in banking, electricity, water, telecommunications, health services, transportation and emergency services.

The U.S. State Department even said the country is prepared for any refugee crisis that might arise due to Y2K problems in neighboring countries.

Nevertheless, all business will close Dec. 31 to Jan. 3. The central bank plans to print an extra $5 billion in currency available to meet increased cash demands.

All seven major South African ports will be closed to shipping for 12 hours during the rollover. South African Airways will fly all normal schedules.

Health is the one sector that has lagged in readiness, and leave has been canceled for all senior staff at state health care facilities through January.

WORSE PREPARED:

NIGERIA

Cash-strapped Nigeria faces nearly impossible hurdles to reach compliance in time. One of the few west African countries with significant computerization, Nigeria all but ignored Y2K until civilian president Olusegun Obasanjo took office in May.

For a last-minute crusade, the government was only able to provide $1 million out of $200 million requested by the Y2K coordinating center. Officials tasked with battling the bug say critical sectors have not been fully addressed.

Official figures claim 88 percent compliance in telecommunications, 75 percent in transportation and 50 percent in government agencies. The military is only about 30 percent ready.

The state-owned power and telephone companies -- both famed throughout the region for their atrocious service -- say they are ready but Nigerians are skeptical.

The oil industry is in good shape because it is managed by multinational companies with enormous resources. But the `downstream' oil sector, including refineries and power-generating plants, could face significant problems.

EGYPT

Government officials claim all areas under government control are ready, including electricity, water, energy, gas, telecommunications and aviation. There is cause for concern only in the health sector, where some equipment in intensive care units is not yet compliant.

Hospitals are using contingency planning -- instead of programing the computers per year, they do so per week.

The private sector is less prepared and some hospitals and hotels could experience air-conditioning or elevator trouble, experts say. In the financial sector, Egypt is more cash-based than electronic, so experts say it may not be as severely affected by the Y2K problem as Western countries.

U.S. Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer says he expects few Y2K-related disruptions, though the embassy is sending home staff with serious medical conditions.

VENEZUELA

Officials in Venezuela, one of the largest foreign suppliers of oil to the United States, say the country is well-prepared. But many Y2K experts say the government is deluding itself.

GartnerGroup consultant Jim Cassell calls Venezuela ``the poster boy of non-preparedness in Latin America.'' He says electricity grids, telephones, customs services, air traffic control, ports and even the oil industry may suffer disruptions.

Venezuelan authorities insist that despite a late start they've caught up and oil deliveries will continue uninterrupted. Experts agree that the state oil monopoly, the financial sector, multinational companies and other key sectors are well prepared.

But in this notoriously disorganized government, public utilities such as electricity and thousands of small- and medium-sized businesses are likely to have troubles. Those problems could spill over into other sectors.

RUSSIA

Experts expect widespread failures in Russia's vital public services. Most ominous trouble spots include Gazprom, the world's largest natural gas producer, and the electricity grid, which are intertwined so a failure in one could affect the other.

Other possible weak points include an already failure-prone phone system and air traffic control, where computers were said by a top aviation official to be only 50 percent ready in early December.

Officials insist nearly all sectors -- government, banking, nuclear energy and missiles -- are ready or will be in time. They also say Russia isn't nearly as technology dependent as much of the rest of the industrialized world. The abacus is still widely used to add up grocery bills and paper ledgers for wage payments and there are no paychecks.

The United States and Australia predict prolonged energy disruptions, with Washington offering a free trip home to U.S. Embassy employees over New Year's. Australia will pull out all but three of its 16 embassy staff and has issued a general warning to Australians to avoid Russia.



-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 11, 1999

Answers

Congratulations Diane,

It won't be long until you also realize it's over. We fought the battle, and humanity won.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE END OF THE WORLD.

-- (Ladylogic@aol.com), December 11, 1999.


Diane,

Thanks for the information...I needed that for balance to the "End to End" testing thread further down...I think I really need a Feng Shui makeover...in the financial sphere I have too much clutter. I don't know if there is a corner that relates to "calm Consciousness" or what, but I sure need some calming down.

Are there any good books you would recommend...? Thanks in advance...I really don't want to get dependent on Xanax.

One stressed out Kevin!



-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ It's ALL going away in January.com), December 11, 1999.


LadyNotlogical@aol.com,

I recognize you appear rather new here, but... I've always been a middle-grounder at an avearge Y2K global "5."

But since you wouldn't "know" that, I'll let your quaint little jab pass.

;-D

Diane

(BTW... My "10" is global thermo-nuclear war).

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 11, 1999.


K. Stevens,

Start with a calm center... all else radiates outward. (Bit late to read up on the Knowledge & Contemplation ba-gua).

Just... connect... and balance yourself.

@}'-->---

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 11, 1999.


Diane,

Thanks very much...I haven't practiced 'centering' for several years. I am starting tonight. About 10 years ago, I had a life situation where centering and deep breathing were essential to recovering my balance to deal with it. Thanks again.



-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ It's ALL going away in January.com), December 11, 1999.



Diane, Taskforce 2000 & other UK Y2K independant experts have severely doubted Action 2000's latest assessment that Britain is ready.The main thrust of the reasoning being that most of the progress has been self reported with little independant verification.

Not a No or Yes but a Maybe. !!

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), December 12, 1999.


Chris,

Most progress has been self reported. As the the truth of it... well... we'll find out.

Bottom line... be prepared with basics. It's *some* of what one can count on in an uncertain world situation.

(Good luck!)

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 12, 1999.


Diane,do you practice bagua-zhang?(great rooting development)or are you talking about the eight trigrams(I-ching)?

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), December 12, 1999.

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