My dream is to have my own successful business one day so I can use my power to help the people who need help. Right now, there are many people living in rural areas of China are still extremely poor and have few access to enough food supply, clean water and medical care.
Since China is a communism country and has been operated under the same system for long time, it has a lot of disadvantages and weakness. To be specific, the political corruption is the biggest problem. Thus, I may need the help from local non-profit organization and the Chinese Red Cross Foundation (CRCF). They are the more effective and safe resources I can get help from.
Usually, the CRCF receives generous donation from the public and use them to improve the areas. Currently, there are many programs to help build village-based medical services in the remote western part of the country. Many health insurance companies fund them and the donation was used in philanthropic rural hospitals, doctor training, and assist serious illness relieving projects and research programs in poverty areas in West China.
In addition, there are many non-profit organizations help children who are not be able to attend school because of poverty. For instance, Overseas China Education Foundation (OCEF), which is a non- profit charity organization registered in Texas and granted by IRS as a 501 (c) (3), is dedicated to help less-privileged children in rural areas of China to finish their education up to 9th grade. Since the donation is sent to each supported school directly from OCEF and delivered to students at an open conference attended and monitored by OCEF's volunteering coordinators in China, so I can trust this reliable organization and donate money or just simply buy some studying tools for those children.
Since local government and parents are too poor to support school-age children receiving basic education, OCEF provides an opportunity for people who are willing to help them. There are about millions of such children waiting for our help. Through the program, children will learn basic reading and writing skills. They are the future of the country and only education can push them out of poverty and ignorance.
Moreover, I am planning to personally be responsible for children in these rural areas. I can directly help and finance them to receive not only basic education but also higher education like university. If my personally financial situation is allowable, I would adopt kids who are orphans and bring them to Canada and let they receive better education and more family care.
As we learned in our OB class, I realized that the whole world is connected together through various ways. When we are having plenty of food and access to good health care, many people are still struggling for their very basic needs. When the world is developed very unevenly, many conflicts will appear and will threaten the safety of all the people on this planet. Although my power alone might not be enough to assist all the children, I am willing to try my best in my study and career, not only for myself, but also for them.
Showing posts with label WHAT WILL BE YOUR LEGACY?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WHAT WILL BE YOUR LEGACY?. Show all posts
Monday, August 27, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
Designing Your Company for the Environment
Designing for the Environment Quiz: How Conscious is your company?
New Concept Development
□ Our company tries to make products smaller and lighter
□ Our company tries to replace physical products (like paper mail) to non-physical products (like e-mail)
□ Our company tries to reduce use of material or infrastructure
□ Our company tries to share equipment within the work environment as much as possible (e.g. 1 photocopy machine per floor)
□ We try to use suppliers and pay for services as much as possible
□ Our company tries to provide as much services for our products as possible
Physical Optimization
□ Our company tries to integrate various functions in our products (e.g. printer/fax/scanner)
□ Our company tries to optimize our product functions
□ Our company tries to increase our products reliability and durability
□ Our company tries to make our products easy to maintain and repair
□ Our company tries to make our product simple to upgrade rather than requiring replacement
□ Our company tries to design our product so that the user does not have to replace the product (e.g. durable surface)
Optimize Material Use
□ Our company tries to use cleaner materials such as less hazardous chemicals/materials or biodegradable chemicals/materials
□ Our company tries to utilize renewable materials such as biodegradable plastics or alternative energy sources
□ Our company tries to utilize materials which lower energy requirements (e.g. using products which require less energy to manufacture)
□ Our company tries to recycle material and utilize as much recycled materials in our products
□ Our company tries to reduce the amount of materials used in our product as well as in distribution of our product
Optimize Production
□ Our company tries to find alternative production techniques which lower costs and are more environmentally friendly than older techniques
□ Our company tries to make our products in fewer steps therefore requiring less machines tools (our machines multi-task and do several different operations)
□ Our company tries to make our production line more energy efficient through more energy efficient machines, cleaner energy sources, and other systems
□ Our company tries to optimize production by producing less wastes
□ Our company tries to utilize less consumables (like solvents, water, tools, etc) or use cleaner alternatives to them
Optimize Distribution
□ Our company tries to reduce our product’s packaging or utilize cleaner or re-usable alternatives
□ Our company tries to optimize distribution by finding energy efficient methods to transport our products to our consumers
□ Our company tries to make transportation methods more energy efficient (e.g. regular maintenance, alternative fuels, etc)
Reduce Impact During Use
□ Our company tries to lower energy use (e.g. proper insulation, passive solar heating)
□ Our company tries to utilize cleaner energy sources (e.g. hydro, solar energy)
□ Our company tries to reduce consumables (e.g. water, oil, filters, paper)
Optimize End-of-Life Systems
□ Our company tries to implement or is implementing a system to re-use old products (take-back policy)
□ Our company designs our products so it may easily be disassembled facilitating maintenance, replacement, and recycling
□ Our company tries to remanufacture/refurbish/reuse some or all components from out products to make a new product
□ Our company tries to recycle materials
□ Our company tries to use safe incineration methods with possible energy recovery when there are no other alternatives
Scoring:
0 – 5: Your company has not put or has not found ways to successfully implement environmental strategies to your production line. More works needs to be done on where to implement such strategies.
6 – 11: Your company has started implementing some environmental strategies to your production line however can benefit from adding more. Focus should be on areas which there have been little effort or work done.
12 – 17: Your company has put some effort into implementing environmental strategies. Database which strategies have worked and why and try to mimic these successes in other areas with less work.
18 – 23: Your company has done a lot of effort into implementing environmentally conscious strategies to your business. Try to improve existing systems or focus on harder to solve areas.
23 + : Your company is a leader in implementing environmental strategies! Work can be done on finding more innovative ways to implement them in your business and leading the way into greater innovations!
3.0 New Concept Development
The first stage of the designing for the environment strategy wheel is new concept development. This is one of the most innovative sections of the strategy wheel which fosters creative ideas to expand regular usage of a product. Traditionally, the life-cycle of a product was: design, production, distribution, use, and end life. Once the product reaches end life the product is thrown away by the consumer. Ideally companies sought this strategy to encourage more purchases by the consumer. However, with environmental laws being more stringent and in some cases requiring companies to take in the used products, this option may become more expensive. Furthermore, some environmental concepts when applied to business can increase profits by having multi-revenue sections on the product’s life cycle. The three main concepts in this first stage therefore are:
1) Dematerialization
2) Increase Shared Use
3) Service Availability
3.1 Dematerialization
Dematerialization is a concept that can cover a wide range of techniques to reduce raw materials or make the product smaller. This can be either physically such as making a product smaller and lighter to more abstract concepts such as replacing a physical product with a non-physical product/service. For example, a company which relies heavily on paper materials for mailing or catalogues may offer an online catalogue.
The advantages of this concept can be very advantageous for companies. The most obvious impact is by reducing raw materials, energy, and labor we can increase revenue quite substantially. Furthermore, some changes may provide a more flexible, productive and multifunctional solution. For example, instead of costly traveling expenditures for more common business meetings a company may implement a far cheaper online/web conferencing program. In certain businesses allowing workers to work at home (through the use of online networks and other office programs) may reduce costs and in some cases even enhance employee satisfaction, something which has strongly been demonstrated to affect quality and service performance.
3.2 Increased Shared Use
This second concept may seem abstract but it is one of the most common environmental strategies being used by companies. In essence this concept applies joint ownership of a product without actually owning the product. A common example is a photocopier which everyone in a company utilizes. Another way of viewing this concept is through a suppliers’ perspective. In other words, a company supplies products or services in which a user pays per unit service of the product instead of actually owning the product.
The benefits for increasing shared are numerous. Like dematerialization, since fewer products are bought/used by the company materials, energy and transportation costs are reduced. Another aspect is that this may provide more efficient use of the product. For example, if a company utilizes a given service or product from a company instead of buying it, they may have a more specialized and efficient usage of the product. In the end, the lack of ownership of a given product may also be beneficial since a company won’t have to worry about recycling and disposal of a product. For example, if a company bought a photocopy machine and at some point in time the machine breaks down and is irreparable, the company will have to pay for disposal of the machine as well as purchasing a new one. However, if the company where to rent a photocopy machine and the same situation would occur, the disposal costs would fall upon the photocopy machine’s company.
3.3 Service Availability
This third concept is one of the newest ones currently being employed by companies world-wide. As the name states, a company provides a service to compliment their product and therefore increasing their profits (from the service provided) as well as adding value to the product. Services that can be offered are numerous such as maintenance, repairs, disposal, or more specialized services. In a traditional product life-cycle, revenue is earned only once which is after the distribution phase. By providing a service, revenues can be earned throughout the usage phase of the product.
The advantages by implementing this concept are quite obvious. By providing a service one can extend the life cycle of a product and at the same time generate additional revenue throughout the products life-cycle. Therefore instead of a static one time earning system a company can implement a multiple earnings system to their product, especially if one offers upgrades such as Norton’s Anti-virus yearly fee. There are other advantages as well such as increased interaction with one’s customer base. This can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty. Furthermore, by interacting more with the customer one will be able to analyze information for what the user and market needs. This can therefore allow one to implement new services of products which will generate further revenue.
Case Study: Nortel
In 1996 Nortel decided to stop buying component-cleaning chemicals which they used in their manufacturing operations. Instead it hired a supplier which would clean their products directly in their facilities. They therefore bought a service instead of purchasing a specific product. Since the supplier they utilized were experts in the process as well as the chemicals they used, the supplier managed to use less chemicals for the overall process. This lead to a significant drop in costs for Nortel, improved health and safety in their manufacturing facility and reduced their hazardous waste disposal requirements as well as costs. To build a strong relationship between both companies, Nortel agreed to share some of their savings with the supplier. Therefore, the supplier makes more profit despite selling more chemicals to Nortel. Their interest in satisfying Nortel’s need motivated them to provide superior service and reduce chemical usage.
New Concept Development Strategy Thinking:
1) What new concept development strategies has your company employed?
2) Which new concept development concept has been most successful in your company? Why?
3) What services for your products are provided by your company?
4) Does your services department complying with the needs of the client? If not why?
5) Is your service department aware of the customers/market needs? If so what actions are taken to satisfy those needs? If not what steps can be taken to be aware of these needs and implement them?
6) Which new development concept has not been or is least used in your company? Why and what can be done to implement/enhance it?
New Concept Development
□ Our company tries to make products smaller and lighter
□ Our company tries to replace physical products (like paper mail) to non-physical products (like e-mail)
□ Our company tries to reduce use of material or infrastructure
□ Our company tries to share equipment within the work environment as much as possible (e.g. 1 photocopy machine per floor)
□ We try to use suppliers and pay for services as much as possible
□ Our company tries to provide as much services for our products as possible
Physical Optimization
□ Our company tries to integrate various functions in our products (e.g. printer/fax/scanner)
□ Our company tries to optimize our product functions
□ Our company tries to increase our products reliability and durability
□ Our company tries to make our products easy to maintain and repair
□ Our company tries to make our product simple to upgrade rather than requiring replacement
□ Our company tries to design our product so that the user does not have to replace the product (e.g. durable surface)
Optimize Material Use
□ Our company tries to use cleaner materials such as less hazardous chemicals/materials or biodegradable chemicals/materials
□ Our company tries to utilize renewable materials such as biodegradable plastics or alternative energy sources
□ Our company tries to utilize materials which lower energy requirements (e.g. using products which require less energy to manufacture)
□ Our company tries to recycle material and utilize as much recycled materials in our products
□ Our company tries to reduce the amount of materials used in our product as well as in distribution of our product
Optimize Production
□ Our company tries to find alternative production techniques which lower costs and are more environmentally friendly than older techniques
□ Our company tries to make our products in fewer steps therefore requiring less machines tools (our machines multi-task and do several different operations)
□ Our company tries to make our production line more energy efficient through more energy efficient machines, cleaner energy sources, and other systems
□ Our company tries to optimize production by producing less wastes
□ Our company tries to utilize less consumables (like solvents, water, tools, etc) or use cleaner alternatives to them
Optimize Distribution
□ Our company tries to reduce our product’s packaging or utilize cleaner or re-usable alternatives
□ Our company tries to optimize distribution by finding energy efficient methods to transport our products to our consumers
□ Our company tries to make transportation methods more energy efficient (e.g. regular maintenance, alternative fuels, etc)
Reduce Impact During Use
□ Our company tries to lower energy use (e.g. proper insulation, passive solar heating)
□ Our company tries to utilize cleaner energy sources (e.g. hydro, solar energy)
□ Our company tries to reduce consumables (e.g. water, oil, filters, paper)
Optimize End-of-Life Systems
□ Our company tries to implement or is implementing a system to re-use old products (take-back policy)
□ Our company designs our products so it may easily be disassembled facilitating maintenance, replacement, and recycling
□ Our company tries to remanufacture/refurbish/reuse some or all components from out products to make a new product
□ Our company tries to recycle materials
□ Our company tries to use safe incineration methods with possible energy recovery when there are no other alternatives
Scoring:
0 – 5: Your company has not put or has not found ways to successfully implement environmental strategies to your production line. More works needs to be done on where to implement such strategies.
6 – 11: Your company has started implementing some environmental strategies to your production line however can benefit from adding more. Focus should be on areas which there have been little effort or work done.
12 – 17: Your company has put some effort into implementing environmental strategies. Database which strategies have worked and why and try to mimic these successes in other areas with less work.
18 – 23: Your company has done a lot of effort into implementing environmentally conscious strategies to your business. Try to improve existing systems or focus on harder to solve areas.
23 + : Your company is a leader in implementing environmental strategies! Work can be done on finding more innovative ways to implement them in your business and leading the way into greater innovations!
3.0 New Concept Development
The first stage of the designing for the environment strategy wheel is new concept development. This is one of the most innovative sections of the strategy wheel which fosters creative ideas to expand regular usage of a product. Traditionally, the life-cycle of a product was: design, production, distribution, use, and end life. Once the product reaches end life the product is thrown away by the consumer. Ideally companies sought this strategy to encourage more purchases by the consumer. However, with environmental laws being more stringent and in some cases requiring companies to take in the used products, this option may become more expensive. Furthermore, some environmental concepts when applied to business can increase profits by having multi-revenue sections on the product’s life cycle. The three main concepts in this first stage therefore are:
1) Dematerialization
2) Increase Shared Use
3) Service Availability
3.1 Dematerialization
Dematerialization is a concept that can cover a wide range of techniques to reduce raw materials or make the product smaller. This can be either physically such as making a product smaller and lighter to more abstract concepts such as replacing a physical product with a non-physical product/service. For example, a company which relies heavily on paper materials for mailing or catalogues may offer an online catalogue.
The advantages of this concept can be very advantageous for companies. The most obvious impact is by reducing raw materials, energy, and labor we can increase revenue quite substantially. Furthermore, some changes may provide a more flexible, productive and multifunctional solution. For example, instead of costly traveling expenditures for more common business meetings a company may implement a far cheaper online/web conferencing program. In certain businesses allowing workers to work at home (through the use of online networks and other office programs) may reduce costs and in some cases even enhance employee satisfaction, something which has strongly been demonstrated to affect quality and service performance.
3.2 Increased Shared Use
This second concept may seem abstract but it is one of the most common environmental strategies being used by companies. In essence this concept applies joint ownership of a product without actually owning the product. A common example is a photocopier which everyone in a company utilizes. Another way of viewing this concept is through a suppliers’ perspective. In other words, a company supplies products or services in which a user pays per unit service of the product instead of actually owning the product.
The benefits for increasing shared are numerous. Like dematerialization, since fewer products are bought/used by the company materials, energy and transportation costs are reduced. Another aspect is that this may provide more efficient use of the product. For example, if a company utilizes a given service or product from a company instead of buying it, they may have a more specialized and efficient usage of the product. In the end, the lack of ownership of a given product may also be beneficial since a company won’t have to worry about recycling and disposal of a product. For example, if a company bought a photocopy machine and at some point in time the machine breaks down and is irreparable, the company will have to pay for disposal of the machine as well as purchasing a new one. However, if the company where to rent a photocopy machine and the same situation would occur, the disposal costs would fall upon the photocopy machine’s company.
3.3 Service Availability
This third concept is one of the newest ones currently being employed by companies world-wide. As the name states, a company provides a service to compliment their product and therefore increasing their profits (from the service provided) as well as adding value to the product. Services that can be offered are numerous such as maintenance, repairs, disposal, or more specialized services. In a traditional product life-cycle, revenue is earned only once which is after the distribution phase. By providing a service, revenues can be earned throughout the usage phase of the product.
The advantages by implementing this concept are quite obvious. By providing a service one can extend the life cycle of a product and at the same time generate additional revenue throughout the products life-cycle. Therefore instead of a static one time earning system a company can implement a multiple earnings system to their product, especially if one offers upgrades such as Norton’s Anti-virus yearly fee. There are other advantages as well such as increased interaction with one’s customer base. This can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty. Furthermore, by interacting more with the customer one will be able to analyze information for what the user and market needs. This can therefore allow one to implement new services of products which will generate further revenue.
Case Study: Nortel
In 1996 Nortel decided to stop buying component-cleaning chemicals which they used in their manufacturing operations. Instead it hired a supplier which would clean their products directly in their facilities. They therefore bought a service instead of purchasing a specific product. Since the supplier they utilized were experts in the process as well as the chemicals they used, the supplier managed to use less chemicals for the overall process. This lead to a significant drop in costs for Nortel, improved health and safety in their manufacturing facility and reduced their hazardous waste disposal requirements as well as costs. To build a strong relationship between both companies, Nortel agreed to share some of their savings with the supplier. Therefore, the supplier makes more profit despite selling more chemicals to Nortel. Their interest in satisfying Nortel’s need motivated them to provide superior service and reduce chemical usage.
New Concept Development Strategy Thinking:
1) What new concept development strategies has your company employed?
2) Which new concept development concept has been most successful in your company? Why?
3) What services for your products are provided by your company?
4) Does your services department complying with the needs of the client? If not why?
5) Is your service department aware of the customers/market needs? If so what actions are taken to satisfy those needs? If not what steps can be taken to be aware of these needs and implement them?
6) Which new development concept has not been or is least used in your company? Why and what can be done to implement/enhance it?
Monday, August 13, 2007
Education
The Spiral Dynamics concept is one which is used to show the different stages or tiers of human evolution. According to this model, we are now in the turquoise tier which is one based on inter-dependence, cross-culturalism and working towards a common good; “A sacrifice self-interest system which is still forming” . As a student and member of this world, the only inter-dependence I see is the need for the strong to keep the weak oppressed. This oppression can come in the forms of illiteracy, cheap labor, government oppression, etc. If we are to achieve the “goal” of our tier, we must take a new perspective on the world. In the past, there have been countless occasions where the weak have risen and over-thrown the monarchy; The Peasants Revolt of the 14th Century, the Slave Rebellion in the US, etc. We must not repeat history. People should no longer be given reasons to revolt but rather, be given reasons to work alongside one-another.
All problems, whether they be managerial, social, scientific or mathematic, do not just happen to occur. All problems are results of a miscalculation, an error in the line of production or a dysfunctional social system The social problems of the world are no exceptions. Wars do not happen because people feel like it, millions of orphaned children are not the result of a freak accident, hunger and famine are not a new and unexplainable phenomenon. These social crises are the result of actions, or more specifically lack of action of previous and the current generation. The time to act is now.
The most common social issues in Third World Nations are poverty, exploitation, illness and violence. The saddest thing about these issues is that they could easily have been avoided had they been acted upon earlier in history. All human beings come from the same place. We are all made the same. However, we have all been put on different places of the earth for a reason. During the Industrial Revolution, machinery and technology replaced man in the workforce. This resulted in the emergence of new methodologies, new human behavior and a new “calling” for mankind. This new behavior created large gaps in society and people were divided into intellects, artists and workers. Ever since this period in history, intelligence was deemed more important than creativity and hard labor.
The areas known today as Third World nations (Africa, the Middle East and Central America) are considered “lower” than the rest of the world for these exact reasons. The people of these areas do not have the knowledge that the rest of the world now has. They do not have the same advanced technologies, the same intellectual mind frame or the same standards of living. Does this mean that they deserve to be used by corporations for profit? That millions of children deserve to be orphaned by the age of four? Anyone who believes that this suffering is a result of their own ignorance is greatly mistaken. I believe that by turning a blind eye to these issues years ago, past generations are partially to blame for the devastation of today. It is therefore the obligation of today’s generation to go in and educate the people on how to ameliorate their situation and how to take control of their lives. The catch? We have to educate the people in a manner which is beneficial for their lifestyle and not for the lifestyle we believe they should have. “Economic assistance to developing countries must be in accord with the stages of development in the recipient countries” .
The idea that we need to educate people based on their culture is not one which is normally given much consideration. People tend to forget that we, as a civilization, did not end up where we are now overnight. It took hundreds of years for us to arrive where we are now. We cannot, therefore, realistically believe that by imposing our laws and knowledge on other cultures that they can achieve what we have in just a few short years. The type of education I speak of has many different levels and each level takes time. You cannot ask a child to write a book before it learns the alphabet. The same is applicable for society; you cannot ask a civilization to build a skyscraper before they can learn to be self-sufficient.
The strategy behind this concept is that by giving people the tools to ameliorate their current situation, they will eventually have the ability to create a more powerful society in the long run. All people will agree that the African culture and way of life is very different than our North American culture. Therefore, I do not see the sense in teaching the African people how to live a life similar to ours. It is a false belief that if we show Thurs World Nations our “industrialized” way of life, they will beg us to teach them the way. It is our duty to give these nations the tools to develop their own way in their own time. We wouldn’t let another culture impose their way of life onto us so why should we have the right to impose our way of life onto others?
I was recently having a conversation with a friend of mine who has just finished his five years of residency at a hospital. We were talking about our families, our education, our lives etc and then we came to the topic of childhood memories. He confessed he barely had any memories between the ages of 5 to 15. I, on the other hand, fondly remember all of my years at elementary. To this day, I still remember random facts my grade 3 teacher taught those many years ago. I remember being excited for school in the morning. I remember where I sat in class, whom I ate with in the cafeteria, and how much I adored my teachers. I strongly believe that I would not be where I am now had it not been for the education I received and the fondness I felt as a child for knowledge. I want this to be my legacy. Changing the life of a child, or of any person, is not something that can be given a value.
Creating long-term and positive changes in a society is a complex and difficult task, especially in places where the people have been oppressed for centuries. For many years, the “band aid” approach has been used in these types of areas. People are being given food but not taught how to properly grow crops and manage animals. They are being given medical supplies but not taught how to prevent illness. These actions are only beneficial in the short run. To fix an issue, one must go to the root of the problem. The root is a lack of education.
Educating women about safe-sex practices and giving them more options will decrease the amount of death caused by the HIV virus and diminish the amount of orphaned children. Educating the men will provide them with the knowledge they need to provide for their family and become self-sufficient. This simple knowledge can make a huge difference in the short and medium run. However, for long-term progress and development, we need to target the children. These children need to know that they have options and that there are people who are there for them and their families. They need to know that they are safe and that education will benefit them in the long-run.
Simple as it may seem, it is important to understand that attempts have been made in the past to give voice to the voiceless and empower the powerless. This type of empowerment will most likely not be accepted with open arms wherever offered. The manager of the exploited worker will most probably not be receptive to the idea that this worker is entitled to a proper pay and decent work hours. The regime oppressing its people will most likely not stand aside and watch while the people become knowledgeable, powerful and therefore dangerous to the government. Within the people themselves, there is always the issue of trust that must be delicately approached.
For long-run results, the process of education must be founded on trust and co-operation. The people of these nations must understand that those helping them are doing just that. They must see that they are not being exploited, used, pitied or manipulated. The only way for this to occur is by proving to the people that what you are teaching them, how to read and write, build houses and wells, manage a farm, etc, are for them and them alone. This knowledge will help them support and better care for their family.
I believe that the greatest respect must be shown towards the culture of the people you are working with. Due to globalization, many authentic cultures are being cast aside and forgotten. By doing so, we are limiting ourselves to a single and global mind frame. Diversity is what makes the world such an interesting place to see and experiencing. Many Third World Nations have such unique and rich cultures. Although we may not agree on certain beliefs, it is no ones’ place or right to eliminate such authenticity. We have very few things left in this world that we can call unique or authentic. Why destroy what is left of this authenticity for “the sake of progress”?
This vision is a very optimistic one. These are the things I would like to do and see done. However, I also know that you cannot save everyone and not everyone wants to be saved. There is an invisible line that creates a rather distorted type of balance in our world. I know that if every child born in every country was to live to the age of 80, our world would not be able to sustain us all. My goal is not to save every life on earth. My mission and my hope is to give people the opportunity to choose their destiny and take their lives in their own hands. All children need to know that there is someone out there who hopes them well and prays for their well-being; whether they know who they are or not.
People in today’s world are so preoccupied with their own lives that they do not stop to thank those who have shaped their lives. We only know what we are taught and what we see. Not many people realise that “Half the world — nearly three billion people — live on less than two dollars a day” . What about the fact that “Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.” . I strongly believe that this world, is not the world that our forefathers envisioned
I do not believe that the people of Africa or Central America wish to become to power house of the world. I truly believe that if we teach them what we consider to be rudimentary knowledge, they will eventually become self-sufficient and may become contributors to the economy. Isn’t that what we, business students, want? My goal is to simply let people live. Give them the tools they need, watch them struggle with their knowledge, help them when needed but let them live the life they deem to be suitable for them, their families, and their community. As of yet, I do not know exactly how I will go about to achieve my goals but I feel that like with many other things in my life, I will end up where I need to be at the end of the road. I do know, however, that in order to help others abroad, you need to locally educate people about global issues and what we face.
An article ran by BBC News focused on the terrible state of existing schools in Third World Nations: Robin Bevan from Essex said they [the educators] were often so shocked by what went on in classrooms here that they left, often mid-way through term, causing further disruption to pupils' education . The solution to education problems of these areas is not simply building a school and then packing up. This is another example of a “band-aid” solution: it may fix the problem for a short while but in the long run, it may cause more harm than good. Children need stability in their lives to succeed and educational stability is just as critical in their development.
UNICEF , the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , RTE and UNESCO all describe education as a basic human right. No person has the authority to take away the rights of a child, especially one which was born into nothing and is already expected to fail. “Everyone has the right to education... Education shall be directed to the full development of human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” (art.26 - Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
Footnotes did not post .. but there were links :)
All problems, whether they be managerial, social, scientific or mathematic, do not just happen to occur. All problems are results of a miscalculation, an error in the line of production or a dysfunctional social system The social problems of the world are no exceptions. Wars do not happen because people feel like it, millions of orphaned children are not the result of a freak accident, hunger and famine are not a new and unexplainable phenomenon. These social crises are the result of actions, or more specifically lack of action of previous and the current generation. The time to act is now.
The most common social issues in Third World Nations are poverty, exploitation, illness and violence. The saddest thing about these issues is that they could easily have been avoided had they been acted upon earlier in history. All human beings come from the same place. We are all made the same. However, we have all been put on different places of the earth for a reason. During the Industrial Revolution, machinery and technology replaced man in the workforce. This resulted in the emergence of new methodologies, new human behavior and a new “calling” for mankind. This new behavior created large gaps in society and people were divided into intellects, artists and workers. Ever since this period in history, intelligence was deemed more important than creativity and hard labor.
The areas known today as Third World nations (Africa, the Middle East and Central America) are considered “lower” than the rest of the world for these exact reasons. The people of these areas do not have the knowledge that the rest of the world now has. They do not have the same advanced technologies, the same intellectual mind frame or the same standards of living. Does this mean that they deserve to be used by corporations for profit? That millions of children deserve to be orphaned by the age of four? Anyone who believes that this suffering is a result of their own ignorance is greatly mistaken. I believe that by turning a blind eye to these issues years ago, past generations are partially to blame for the devastation of today. It is therefore the obligation of today’s generation to go in and educate the people on how to ameliorate their situation and how to take control of their lives. The catch? We have to educate the people in a manner which is beneficial for their lifestyle and not for the lifestyle we believe they should have. “Economic assistance to developing countries must be in accord with the stages of development in the recipient countries” .
The idea that we need to educate people based on their culture is not one which is normally given much consideration. People tend to forget that we, as a civilization, did not end up where we are now overnight. It took hundreds of years for us to arrive where we are now. We cannot, therefore, realistically believe that by imposing our laws and knowledge on other cultures that they can achieve what we have in just a few short years. The type of education I speak of has many different levels and each level takes time. You cannot ask a child to write a book before it learns the alphabet. The same is applicable for society; you cannot ask a civilization to build a skyscraper before they can learn to be self-sufficient.
The strategy behind this concept is that by giving people the tools to ameliorate their current situation, they will eventually have the ability to create a more powerful society in the long run. All people will agree that the African culture and way of life is very different than our North American culture. Therefore, I do not see the sense in teaching the African people how to live a life similar to ours. It is a false belief that if we show Thurs World Nations our “industrialized” way of life, they will beg us to teach them the way. It is our duty to give these nations the tools to develop their own way in their own time. We wouldn’t let another culture impose their way of life onto us so why should we have the right to impose our way of life onto others?
I was recently having a conversation with a friend of mine who has just finished his five years of residency at a hospital. We were talking about our families, our education, our lives etc and then we came to the topic of childhood memories. He confessed he barely had any memories between the ages of 5 to 15. I, on the other hand, fondly remember all of my years at elementary. To this day, I still remember random facts my grade 3 teacher taught those many years ago. I remember being excited for school in the morning. I remember where I sat in class, whom I ate with in the cafeteria, and how much I adored my teachers. I strongly believe that I would not be where I am now had it not been for the education I received and the fondness I felt as a child for knowledge. I want this to be my legacy. Changing the life of a child, or of any person, is not something that can be given a value.
Creating long-term and positive changes in a society is a complex and difficult task, especially in places where the people have been oppressed for centuries. For many years, the “band aid” approach has been used in these types of areas. People are being given food but not taught how to properly grow crops and manage animals. They are being given medical supplies but not taught how to prevent illness. These actions are only beneficial in the short run. To fix an issue, one must go to the root of the problem. The root is a lack of education.
Educating women about safe-sex practices and giving them more options will decrease the amount of death caused by the HIV virus and diminish the amount of orphaned children. Educating the men will provide them with the knowledge they need to provide for their family and become self-sufficient. This simple knowledge can make a huge difference in the short and medium run. However, for long-term progress and development, we need to target the children. These children need to know that they have options and that there are people who are there for them and their families. They need to know that they are safe and that education will benefit them in the long-run.
Simple as it may seem, it is important to understand that attempts have been made in the past to give voice to the voiceless and empower the powerless. This type of empowerment will most likely not be accepted with open arms wherever offered. The manager of the exploited worker will most probably not be receptive to the idea that this worker is entitled to a proper pay and decent work hours. The regime oppressing its people will most likely not stand aside and watch while the people become knowledgeable, powerful and therefore dangerous to the government. Within the people themselves, there is always the issue of trust that must be delicately approached.
For long-run results, the process of education must be founded on trust and co-operation. The people of these nations must understand that those helping them are doing just that. They must see that they are not being exploited, used, pitied or manipulated. The only way for this to occur is by proving to the people that what you are teaching them, how to read and write, build houses and wells, manage a farm, etc, are for them and them alone. This knowledge will help them support and better care for their family.
I believe that the greatest respect must be shown towards the culture of the people you are working with. Due to globalization, many authentic cultures are being cast aside and forgotten. By doing so, we are limiting ourselves to a single and global mind frame. Diversity is what makes the world such an interesting place to see and experiencing. Many Third World Nations have such unique and rich cultures. Although we may not agree on certain beliefs, it is no ones’ place or right to eliminate such authenticity. We have very few things left in this world that we can call unique or authentic. Why destroy what is left of this authenticity for “the sake of progress”?
This vision is a very optimistic one. These are the things I would like to do and see done. However, I also know that you cannot save everyone and not everyone wants to be saved. There is an invisible line that creates a rather distorted type of balance in our world. I know that if every child born in every country was to live to the age of 80, our world would not be able to sustain us all. My goal is not to save every life on earth. My mission and my hope is to give people the opportunity to choose their destiny and take their lives in their own hands. All children need to know that there is someone out there who hopes them well and prays for their well-being; whether they know who they are or not.
People in today’s world are so preoccupied with their own lives that they do not stop to thank those who have shaped their lives. We only know what we are taught and what we see. Not many people realise that “Half the world — nearly three billion people — live on less than two dollars a day” . What about the fact that “Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.” . I strongly believe that this world, is not the world that our forefathers envisioned
I do not believe that the people of Africa or Central America wish to become to power house of the world. I truly believe that if we teach them what we consider to be rudimentary knowledge, they will eventually become self-sufficient and may become contributors to the economy. Isn’t that what we, business students, want? My goal is to simply let people live. Give them the tools they need, watch them struggle with their knowledge, help them when needed but let them live the life they deem to be suitable for them, their families, and their community. As of yet, I do not know exactly how I will go about to achieve my goals but I feel that like with many other things in my life, I will end up where I need to be at the end of the road. I do know, however, that in order to help others abroad, you need to locally educate people about global issues and what we face.
An article ran by BBC News focused on the terrible state of existing schools in Third World Nations: Robin Bevan from Essex said they [the educators] were often so shocked by what went on in classrooms here that they left, often mid-way through term, causing further disruption to pupils' education . The solution to education problems of these areas is not simply building a school and then packing up. This is another example of a “band-aid” solution: it may fix the problem for a short while but in the long run, it may cause more harm than good. Children need stability in their lives to succeed and educational stability is just as critical in their development.
UNICEF , the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , RTE and UNESCO all describe education as a basic human right. No person has the authority to take away the rights of a child, especially one which was born into nothing and is already expected to fail. “Everyone has the right to education... Education shall be directed to the full development of human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” (art.26 - Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
Footnotes did not post .. but there were links :)
Saturday, August 11, 2007
World Link: Educating Nigeria into Development
Today, governments are too distracted fighting wars, gaining power, and earning profit to invest sufficient time and energy towards improving today’s world problems; it is the responsibility of the people to see that changes are made. Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of deeply committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”. The profit-driven agreement between multinational oil companies and the Nigerian government poses serious danger to the livelihood of the people of the Niger Delta and continues to threaten the stability of the region. However there is hope. With awareness beginning to spread to the international community, there is increasing pressure on multinational oil companies to adhere to environmental and social standards paralleling those of their mother countries. Individuals and small groups of citizens are sharing their innovative ideas and are working collectively for societal wellbeing. Some examples are starting non-profit organizations and developing action plans concentrating on little steps to eventually make it to the finish line.
The Niger Delta is one of the world’s largest wetlands. It is the site of most of Nigeria’s biodiversity, and is also the area where the main oil reserves are found. Since Nigeria’s independence in 1974, oil production for export has been the main economic activity, totaling 80 percent of the government’s budgetary revenue. However, the gross level of environmental degradation caused by oil production has been ignored for the past 30 years and has robbed Nigeria, one of the richest countries in terms of natural resources, of both life and livelihood. Oil companies claim that their operations adhere fully to the highest environmental and health standards, but evidence shows that oil production in the Niger Delta is a direct contributor to pipeline leaks, acid rain, and gas flaring. Polluted water has made farming and fishing impossible and has caused a scarcity of clean drinking water, making malnourishment and disease common among the local community. Respiratory problems, coughing up blood, skin rashes, tumors, gastrointestinal problems, and different forms of cancer, were commonly reported ailments in many communities.
Another problem that the Nigerian people face is the illicit use of land by the oil companies. The construction of oil facilities destroys natural habitats of species causing a drastic loss of biodiversity. Oil production has resulted in many hardships for the local community including the loss of property with the Land Use Act enabling he government to transfer the ownership of land for “public interest”, a high inflation, and an increase in prostitution leaving many children fatherless. Women can no longer survive economically by performing their traditional roles so they turn to prostitution, raising health problems and lowering education and power among women.
The oil industry has expanded in Nigeria at the expense of other previously important production sectors, such as agriculture and manufacturing. This has created regional imbalances and an increasingly unequal distribution of wealth between different sectors of society, deepening the potential for conflict in this complex multi-ethnic nation. Ethnic minorities are often excluded from political participation and feel hostile towards those reaping the benefits and robbing them of their culture, identity, and basic human rights. Organized protest and activism by affected communities regularly meet with military repression, sometimes ending in the loss of life. In some cases military forces have been summoned and assisted by oil companies.
The problems that exist in Nigeria fuel off of one another: the corrupt government strips the people of any economic opportunity, which causes ethnic and hierarchal tension, fueling the health and education problems because women are forced to leave school for a life of prostitution. This causes an unorganized and angry society, in turn feeding the ineffectiveness of the government. Although closed cycles are generally impossible to resolve because there is no clear point of departure, I will concentrate my development project on education and its critical role for successful development in Nigeria.
Obtaining sustainable and relevant education is arguably the most important issue that needs to be addressed in Nigeria. Education spans all areas of development, as well as increases minority representation because civil society is able to actively participate in politics and influence government policies. When education goes up, many other developmental impediments lower drastically.
Alongside Amnesty International, a presently active NGO in Nigeria, I would like to develop an organization using the 4-D cycle of discovery, cream, design, and destiny that will enable the people of Nigeria to interact more with the international community, in the hopes of developing a network of global collective intelligence. World Link connects people from Nigeria with individuals in the developed world through letters, e-mail, and Web 2.0 with an aim for personal exchanges to learn and teach each other about the world community. This exchange provides double benefit; not only do the people in Nigeria become more aware of life possibilities and the world dynamics that influence their own lives, the people in the developed world are able to better understand the lives of those living in the developing world and will be more willing to put in the effort and time to talk to the exploitative multinational oil companies to change their policies. World Link’s vision contains short, medium, and long term goals that will ultimately result in the emergence of Nigeria as an affluent African country, characterized by active citizenship, economic prosperity, and social acceptance. These goals include:
Short Term:
· To link Nigerians with individuals in developed countries through letters and email
· To provide a cross-cultural base where Nigerian people of different ethnic groups are able to come together in a peaceful environment
· To begin to educate Nigerians about the importance of active citizenship and public health (i.e. AIDS, prostitution, family size, nutrition)
· To raise awareness in the international community about the exploitative practices of multinational oil companies, and increasing public pressure for them to change their policies
· Press for legislation to require all oil companies to fully disclose their operations and intentions to all stakeholders, as well as to independent observers
Medium Term:
· Having civil society and minority groups in Nigeria represented in politics
· Stop the practices of AGOA (The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act) that directly exploits African countries, and increase support for the HOPE for Africa Act, which will require U.S.-based corporations to operate by U.S. standards, and contains enforcement mechanisms
· To enable Human rights monitors and agents of the press to be granted free passage throughout Nigeria, as well as access to those records needed to document reported killings and other human rights abuses.
Long Term:
· To see a transparent, democratic government containing representation from all ethnic groups
· Acceptance of cultural diversity by the Nigerian people
· To optimize human capital to be able to start their own businesses, create employment, and alleviate national debt and poverty.
· Create a strong network to the international community to begin working together to develop other countries in Africa.
· Expanding World Link to connect the developed world with other developing countries.
World Link approaches the project with an optimistic outlook; however there are a number of critical success factors that need to be addressed before any of our goals can be met. First, the Nigerian government must commit themselves to the integrity of the Niger Delta and a higher living standard for the Nigerian people. The Nigerian government should guarantee that oil operations in the Niger Delta are carried out in a way that does not threaten the lives of local residents, nor does it harm the rights of local communities. They must invest more in human capital in order for the people to develop the economy, create employment, and lower debt. In addition, multinational oil companies must operate with transparency and enable independent monitoring of their activities. The oil companies must open their records to their stakeholders, as well as to local, national and international NGOs, and independent monitors. Records that must be made available include those related to their investments in Nigeria, environmental performance, and agreements with local communities. Quantum acting and planetary citizenship is becoming increasingly important for corporate survival, so acting in a responsible way that will benefit society as a whole and increase the effectiveness of the company. Finally, civil conflict must be resolved in order for society to move forward at a peaceful and steady rate. Ethnic conflicts are likely to improve with a higher level of education and a better understanding of different cultures.
World Link is a project primarily focused on connecting the developed world with the developing world to allow for a better understanding of different cultures. With a partnership with Amnesty International, World Link wants to educate the international community to raise awareness about the problematic issues present in Nigeria today—providing a personal link to the lives of the Nigerian people. Human rights is a strong focus of World Link. Raising the level of education will enable civil society to participate in the political process, ensuring that the Nigerian government is fair, accountable and monitoring the rights of the people and communities. In the future, World Link hopes to spread its contribution throughout the developing world and uniting the global community into one network of collective intelligence.
Becky - What will be your legacy?
We all have a heart, a brain, and more, but not all of us has a dream.
I have a dream. It incorporates diversity, identity, and equality. My dream is cross-cultural competence.
I also have a vision. I can see one table full of people from different cultures with diverse backgrounds. I see them eating in the cafeteria. I see them working in an office. I see them having a board meeting. There are cooperation, competition, and collaboration of talents and intelligence. There may be frown sometimes, but the second they discharge, they all have a huge smile on their face. That’s my dream community.
Moreover, I have always had a strong sense about the “differences” in Eastern and Western cultures. Having had the opportunities to experience both cultures, I clearly feel and emphasize that there’s no good or bad. They are simply different. How can we compare two things that are different? First of all, it’s called contrast rather than compare by simple definitions we all have learned. Second of all, why are we comparing or contrasting two cultures?
In a very broad categorization, there are Eastern and Western cultures. However, within each of them, every region, every country, every town, from the large to the very small, from a population down to an individual, they all present their own culture. I can say that I have my own culture consisting of my values, my beliefs, my language, and simply my own frequency. Indeed, we have been living in a multi-cultural environment since the minute we were born.
How many of us have seen the sight of children holding hands together? It looks like this: an Indian little girl is holding hands with a Canadian little boy whom is holding hands with a Chinese little girl whom is holding hands with an African little boy… It does not matter where they came from, where they are, what’s their gender, or what’s their cultural backgrounds. It’s merely about friendship and happiness. Children are not blocked by the barrier of physical differences seen through their eyes. Perhaps some would say that it is because of their “naivety.” However, I perceive this “naivety” as the true pure human feelings of equality. It is unprotected, unaltered, and untainted. My dream is having a child’s naivety.
Sadly, a lot of us are losing the ability to appreciate and to embrace the differences. Why in the grown-ups’ world, cross-cultural competence will become an issue, a global issue? In fact, having made this comment demonstrates how significant “differences” are when we look at anything. Yet most of the times we did not even think of trying to pick-out or analyze the differences. They just occur in our minds. Why?
What is an easy way to tackle the global issue cross-cultural competence? My answer is making friends. Thinking about my best friends and imagine them having different skin colours or religious beliefs, would our relationships change just because some physical factors changed? My answer is NO. By making friends, by sharing our common grounds and differences, and by communicating, I learned to accept and appreciate the uniqueness of all cultures. It takes only understanding to break the walls of unfamiliarity and differences. Just by having a smile when walking down the street, it bridges different cultures.
I see diversity. I feel diversity. I am a part of diversity. This is the concept I have in mind. A simple thought can be the driver for action. A good place to start any change is from inside the people. Indeed, that’s how the history is created.
I have been a member of China Care, a non-profit organization established to provide cultural education to young adopted Chinese children in Western world. All parents value the importance of understanding ones own origin. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to introduce and to play some of the games that I played in my childhood with these adopted Chinese children. What I get out of the three-hour activity time with these children is pure satisfaction, simple happiness, and genuine laughs and smiles. I am not only helping the children, but also helping myself at maintaining the ties with my culture after living in Canada for over five years. To these children, cultures might be a fusion, but at least they appreciate the best of both worlds. This experience is about sharing, bridging, learning, teaching, appreciating, embracing, and loving.
I am more than willing to continue my position with this organization even after I graduate. The satisfaction is beyond what words can express. I sincerely believe that this type of education is more rewarding, both externally and internally, than perhaps teaching MBA students about theoretical approach to cross-cultural competence. To me, what’s more significant is the self-value that I gain when I am giving. It is not about fame, money, nor other material rewards. I treasure self-development. As cross-cultural competence is a state of achievement for individuals, businesses, societies, and the globe to aim for.
Knowledge does not only come from academic institutions; in fact, we learn more when it is first-hand experience. In many cases such as engaging in team project, travelling, volunteering abroad, making friends are all a start toward understanding cultural diversity. The key to learning is an open mind; the key to acceptance is an open heart; the key to competence is an open soul.
Creative Analogy
I see the rubik as a simplified picture of cross-cultural competence. The cube is like our globe, for the only unreal fact that our globe is not square. Each colour represents a diverse culture. The “game” even reflects the history of culture migration for that the cube starts out as a colour-coordinated cube that illustrates how in the ancient time, there was almost no cultural integration. People of the same culture lived together from birth to death. The globe reflects simplicity at the time. As time goes on, whether due to natural or man-made factors, people started to move to different places with a dream of a better life. As the colour-coordinated pattern is disturbed more and more, we come to a conclusion such that it is almost impossible to “return” to the original state! For in the real world, cultural diversity is a state of no return. The tipping point has already been passed. Now the globe reflects complexity. There are countless combinations concerning the concentration and the geographic position of each culture. In the end we have a colour-mingled rubik, a cross-cultural world that is long-lasting.
I have a dream. It incorporates diversity, identity, and equality. My dream is cross-cultural competence.
I also have a vision. I can see one table full of people from different cultures with diverse backgrounds. I see them eating in the cafeteria. I see them working in an office. I see them having a board meeting. There are cooperation, competition, and collaboration of talents and intelligence. There may be frown sometimes, but the second they discharge, they all have a huge smile on their face. That’s my dream community.
Moreover, I have always had a strong sense about the “differences” in Eastern and Western cultures. Having had the opportunities to experience both cultures, I clearly feel and emphasize that there’s no good or bad. They are simply different. How can we compare two things that are different? First of all, it’s called contrast rather than compare by simple definitions we all have learned. Second of all, why are we comparing or contrasting two cultures?
In a very broad categorization, there are Eastern and Western cultures. However, within each of them, every region, every country, every town, from the large to the very small, from a population down to an individual, they all present their own culture. I can say that I have my own culture consisting of my values, my beliefs, my language, and simply my own frequency. Indeed, we have been living in a multi-cultural environment since the minute we were born.
How many of us have seen the sight of children holding hands together? It looks like this: an Indian little girl is holding hands with a Canadian little boy whom is holding hands with a Chinese little girl whom is holding hands with an African little boy… It does not matter where they came from, where they are, what’s their gender, or what’s their cultural backgrounds. It’s merely about friendship and happiness. Children are not blocked by the barrier of physical differences seen through their eyes. Perhaps some would say that it is because of their “naivety.” However, I perceive this “naivety” as the true pure human feelings of equality. It is unprotected, unaltered, and untainted. My dream is having a child’s naivety.
Sadly, a lot of us are losing the ability to appreciate and to embrace the differences. Why in the grown-ups’ world, cross-cultural competence will become an issue, a global issue? In fact, having made this comment demonstrates how significant “differences” are when we look at anything. Yet most of the times we did not even think of trying to pick-out or analyze the differences. They just occur in our minds. Why?
What is an easy way to tackle the global issue cross-cultural competence? My answer is making friends. Thinking about my best friends and imagine them having different skin colours or religious beliefs, would our relationships change just because some physical factors changed? My answer is NO. By making friends, by sharing our common grounds and differences, and by communicating, I learned to accept and appreciate the uniqueness of all cultures. It takes only understanding to break the walls of unfamiliarity and differences. Just by having a smile when walking down the street, it bridges different cultures.
I see diversity. I feel diversity. I am a part of diversity. This is the concept I have in mind. A simple thought can be the driver for action. A good place to start any change is from inside the people. Indeed, that’s how the history is created.
I have been a member of China Care, a non-profit organization established to provide cultural education to young adopted Chinese children in Western world. All parents value the importance of understanding ones own origin. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to introduce and to play some of the games that I played in my childhood with these adopted Chinese children. What I get out of the three-hour activity time with these children is pure satisfaction, simple happiness, and genuine laughs and smiles. I am not only helping the children, but also helping myself at maintaining the ties with my culture after living in Canada for over five years. To these children, cultures might be a fusion, but at least they appreciate the best of both worlds. This experience is about sharing, bridging, learning, teaching, appreciating, embracing, and loving.
I am more than willing to continue my position with this organization even after I graduate. The satisfaction is beyond what words can express. I sincerely believe that this type of education is more rewarding, both externally and internally, than perhaps teaching MBA students about theoretical approach to cross-cultural competence. To me, what’s more significant is the self-value that I gain when I am giving. It is not about fame, money, nor other material rewards. I treasure self-development. As cross-cultural competence is a state of achievement for individuals, businesses, societies, and the globe to aim for.
Knowledge does not only come from academic institutions; in fact, we learn more when it is first-hand experience. In many cases such as engaging in team project, travelling, volunteering abroad, making friends are all a start toward understanding cultural diversity. The key to learning is an open mind; the key to acceptance is an open heart; the key to competence is an open soul.
Creative Analogy
I see the rubik as a simplified picture of cross-cultural competence. The cube is like our globe, for the only unreal fact that our globe is not square. Each colour represents a diverse culture. The “game” even reflects the history of culture migration for that the cube starts out as a colour-coordinated cube that illustrates how in the ancient time, there was almost no cultural integration. People of the same culture lived together from birth to death. The globe reflects simplicity at the time. As time goes on, whether due to natural or man-made factors, people started to move to different places with a dream of a better life. As the colour-coordinated pattern is disturbed more and more, we come to a conclusion such that it is almost impossible to “return” to the original state! For in the real world, cultural diversity is a state of no return. The tipping point has already been passed. Now the globe reflects complexity. There are countless combinations concerning the concentration and the geographic position of each culture. In the end we have a colour-mingled rubik, a cross-cultural world that is long-lasting.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Juraj S. - What Will Be your Legacy?
Organizational behavior has stressed the importance of preparation for us future leaders of the 21st Century. However, the course has also emphasized the changes in human behavior from micro to macro and has used complex, conceptual models to explain human nature in its evolutionary form. The focus on change in human nature and the examination of core values are the basis for theories such as Spiral Dynamics and panarchy.
The quality of life in many third-world countries is well below par and because society places such tremendous importance on economic growth, it forgets that economic and technological developments are not measurements of quality of life. The basic indicators
to evaluate the aforementioned correctly are mortality rates, life expectancy and adult literacy. These statistics are concrete and verifiable, but when discussing human rights or the degree of satisfaction of the population, there are no sound methods of measurement. This is the focal point behind new paradigms emerging and replacing old ones in response to global complex problems such as hunger, poverty and violence. Dealing with these challenges requires 21st Century leaders who can deal with the chaos and change through the application of 21st Century concepts or through the development of personal creative roles explained by Prof. Karakas as being a social artist, a spiritual visionary and a cultural innovator. The following project will highlight global issues with respect to the importance of a great leader.
Over a billion people are missing essential needs like water. Furthermore, the richest six per cent of the world’s population consume a third of the world’s energy. To put this into perspective, one American consumes as much as fifty Haitians. It is not farfetched to argue that if third world countries could consume as much as the rest of the world, the planet would be on the brink of survival. It is for this reason one must consume responsibly and do his or her share to make the world more equitable. Equitable trade is an alternative form of commerce benefiting human resources in third-world countries as well as the environment, plunged by over consumption. Better working conditions and greater monetary compensation are some couple of the main benefits of equitable trade. It is a means of “hitting the brakes” on human and environmental exploitation for the countries South of the equator. This type of trade allows families to setup and organize their own community projects in the field of health, education and environmental protection. Equitable trade is a solution to the neoliberalist push for globalization whose primary goal is the increase of profits at the expense of the most basic human rights.
The new emerging paradigms developed in response to shared values of global consciousness such as cooperation, compassion, arts, honesty and universal ethics have taken shape in many micro and macro global awareness projects. Equitable trade is a large scale project in effect that has proven results that look even more promising for the future. This wide scale project is an example of the projection one individual or a group of individuals can accomplish through with the right mentality and dedication.
The theory of Spiral Dynamics is renowned worldwide for its progressive forces of core value systems referred to as “Memes”. Each Meme represents a different theme of existence including cultures and mental attitudes. Don Beck believes that different cultures and societies in the world can achieve completely different levels of Meme, but he asserts that it is preferable to be at the higher 2nd Tier Memes.
The focus of my project is urbanization defined as an increasing concentration of a population in a city, which induces the progressive discretion of the rural character of a region. This local project is based on the idea and success behind
To reinstate culture and humanize the city, a little project took place in one of the poorest areas of
Having visited the overpopulated city of
could enjoy gym and sports programs, general recreation and after school programs as well as
social events. These education and social facilities could increase the quality of life in the
community and if successful in its conception, could spawn more community centers moving the
project from micro to macro in a city in dire need of guidance. I believe that getting the young
people engaged in their community would be their method of repayment. I do not believe this to
be too much to ask in return and would be rewarding enough for me. In one sentence, my legacy
will be to take a local Indonesian community and have them achieve a higher level Meme.
A Dream
Today, out of the 194 [recognized] countries in the world, only 31 are considered to be “advanced economies” according to the International Monetary Fund. Out of the almost 7 billion people in the world, 60% live in poverty. In the 50 “least developed” countries, more than 50% of the population lives on less than 1$ US a day. And the number of people in misery is growing.
As one part of the world is developing at a faster pace than every before, the “other half of the world” is facing continuous degradation, gnawing poverty and is falling further and further behind. Some say that this is simply the natural selection in action – survival of the fittest, – but what it actually shows is the incessant exploitation of the weaker countries by the developed world, further facilitated by globalization. The desperation of the poor is being translated into lower wages and dependency on the global companies who have little regard for the well-being, and least of all development of the hosting country. It seems like the North is content with letting the rest of the world remain where they are, growing and building up on the misery of millions, using them as disposable resources and throwing them out once their profitability goes down. Globalization is constantly being blamed for the deprivation of the poor, and not without a reason – it made it easier for companies to use the resources available in other countries, including the cheap labour in the Southern Hemisphere. However, it can also provide the solution for the eradication of poverty – much in the way it caused it.
I think that the most difficult thing to see in the world is the unnecessary waste of human life and potential that could instead be used to better the world as we know it. Every person can make a difference, and although I strongly believe that in today’s world anyone can do anything they want, if they want it enough, it is without a doubt extremely difficult to do with limited resources that so many possess. Those who do have the opportunities and the capabilities to realise their dreams often forget about those who do not, but what if they did remember? What if those who can would help those who cannot? What if…?
How beautiful would the world be? How much easier would life in general be for everyone? Perhaps, we could completely eradicate poverty, prevent diseases, cease pollution, solve world conflicts, increase the standard of living for everyone, work less, spend more time with family, laugh, enjoy life… Maybe we could even change the mentality of the humankind –instead of the fragmented and egotistical social groups make a more holistic society that works together for the common good. The truth is, just as the problems seem to be endless right now, the possibilities to end them are truly limitless.
One of the ways to improve the living conditions of the millions that suffer is to stimulate the local economy in order to strengthen the social system – entrepreneurship is a powerful tool that can help a developing nation achieve its potential. The people of a struggling country can take back the power and dignity through labour that not simply provides for the one day’s nourishment, but also helps develop a sustainable and productive community. In order to do that, the people need capital and knowledge – both hard to come by in their situations. In fact, most are so busy trying (and rarely succeeding) to provide for basic needs like shelter and food, that they cannot even fathom exerting any more effort in order to start a business or even invest in the betterment of their surroundings. And so, the main goal of any plan to help those who, at the present time, cannot help themselves, is to provide them with sufficient resources to be able to start up something that would allow them to live better and, in turn, to help others. I believe that getting different groups to work together for the common good can provide unlimited beneficial results that would exponentially grow over time. Somehow, in the wildly chaotic world that we have today, people who have opportunities have forgotten about the rest of the world – or, perhaps, they do not want to remember. The underdeveloped world becomes the dirty street no one wants to drive down, and when they do, they lock the door, roll up the windows and blast the music so the misery outside of the car does not find a way into the carefully organized and meticulously clean interior. Most would rather ignore than do something about the despair of the adults and children who seem to have completely lost control over their own lives, perpetuating the cycle of sorrow and agony. But I have faith in the humankind and the endless possibilities of the human mind. I believe everything can be mended, secured, and patched up. I believe we, together, can eradicate poverty and breed sustainability.
I strongly believe that incorporating the right resources could potentially solve all of the major problems we have today in the world. In the end, all of them are so interconnected – underdevelopment and poverty, hunger and disease, lack of education and standard of living – that solving one problem would provide at least a part of a solution for another.
Muhammad Yunnus and his organization Grameen Bank have been providing microcredits to poor and low-income people since1970’s. A microcredit is a small loan that can be repaid over a very long period of time to make the payment amounts very small and regular – easier to repay. These microcredits are not given simply as welfare – the basis for them is to encourage enterprise or simply improve the standard of living. Since its establishment, Grameen Bank has had an impressive record with almost 99% repayment rate and significant contribution to its founder’s country, Bangladesh. Grameen Bank is not the only one. The Dutch Microcredits for Mothers is an example of a NGO with specific vision: it focuses on providing microcredits to women in Asia, helping them start their own businesses and survive on their own. The Kenya Red Cross Society has been actively participating in training farmers in areas of severe droughts to be more productive in their use of the land in order to not only survive natural disasters, but also to sustain a level of acceptable living.
Even though the Grameen Bank and other NGOs that focus on microcredits are providing a remedy for the present problems, they receive criticism for the way they undertake their actions. Sudhirendar Sharma, a development analyst from Bangladesh, has been critical of the Grameen Bank’s program because it “perpetuates poverty” by luring its borrowers into a debt-trap. The former Prime Minister of Bangladesh also accused Grameen Bank of being corrupt. In truth, although the basic principles of the Grameen Bank model have the potential to be sustainable in the future, they are missing several crucial ideas that could ensure the program’s success.
It is not enough to merely provide funds to those in need – especially when the beneficiaries may lack the knowledge of how to efficiently use the money they are given. An alternative of angel investors – those who invest capital and knowledge in developing enterprises, but at the same time become active partners – is not always the best option because it takes away from personal responsibility of the people. One of the most important aspects of developing an economy has to be giving its people the confidence and the proud ownership of their own lives – instead of confining them to someone else’s knowledge and experience, we must set them free.
First off, the model of Grameen Bank can be a viable one – it is the other conditions around it that would make a difference between success and failure. The microcredits are to be granted on case-by-case basis, without unnecessary paperwork to fill out. After all, some of the people that need the investment cannot necessarily express in a particular form the objective of their “enterprise”. Most critics of the model insist that because the money for the investment is initially granted by charities, the entire program resembles welfare. This is where the first change comes in.
It is crucial to remember that the entire purpose of the advancement of developing countries is for the amelioration of the entire world, and not only local economies. While the first step is to focus on the countries and territories of particular desolation, it is but the first step in the greater mosaic of the world. And so, it is very important, from the very beginning, to involve all possible levels of community, economy, business and government.
A portion of the revenue for a corporation is simply interest incurred on idle money in banks and investment. To multi-million dollar companies, the interest revenue is not of the utmost importance, and is rather a convenience. But to those who borrow microcredits of 30$-300$, it is a virtually infinite amount of money. What if but a portion of that went to people who actually need the money?
The money that would come for the program would be only a portion of the interest incurred by the global corporations such as Exxon Mobil or General Motors for capital holding in any given bank. (It is very ironic that the banks who are often blamed for the corruption of the society’s moral fabric can also be the first ones to start providing solutions.) It is crucial to get the entire world community involved because the purpose is not merely to eradicate poverty, but to make sure it would not happen again to anyone. Cooperation is the key. It is true that the more money someone has, the more unwilling he or she is to part with it – and so it is important to get the governments and banks themselves to stand behind the decision to make the world a better place.
And so, first action would be to set up a revolving fund that would accumulate the small percentage of the interest incurred by the global corporations doing business in so many countries of the world – consider it a kind of “tax” for reaping the benefits of globalization. It must not have any political, economical or religious affiliations because it has to be open for any person in the world without discrimination or pressure.
One the fund is set up, probably the most ambitious step has to be undertaken. The world has to be united.
Do not misunderstand, dear reader, for the unification of the world as we know it is probably light years ahead – there are too many conflicts and unresolved misunderstandings, and after all – no one wants the nations to lose their unique appeal and attraction. However, it is very important for humanitarian organizations and all NGOs to start sharing all of their resources and knowledge. The truth of the matter is, as helpful as they are, the government and non-government organizations are often as fragmented as the countries they are trying to help, though not as aggressive. The information flow is never complete, and as such the efficiency is not at its potential. The second stage in the fight against disparity in the world is to unite the resources used by different organizations in order to be able to better distribute appropriate help. This “unification” or a sort would provide necessary training for the people who want to make a difference because limitless resources would be available at their fingertips. At the moment, it is painfully difficult to find organized resources about the developing countries – most sources are more focused at the economies that are actually succeeding, and there is little information about the plight of those who, at the moment, seem to be unable to make a difference in their own lives. The unity of organizations aimed at creating the world balance would make them more outreaching, more embracing and make the world interconnected with the people who see their purpose as creating a better world for future generations.
Thirdly, it will be up to the people to take social responsibility and share the knowledge of the world. Professionals in all areas – economics, medicine, education, technology – should be encouraged to take some time and share what they know with the developing world. That is not merely volunteer action, but instead a sharing learning opportunity that would prove to be fulfilling to everyone involved. For, as mentioned before, the capital itself is not always enough to stimulate the enterprise properly. The people should also be given an opportunity to learn how to do their business more efficiently. For example, if agriculture experts would take some time to help a village in drought-stricken region of Kenya, it would be possible to transform the lives of the people and give them tools to develop their own economy. If the way they have been doing farming is not sufficient for feeding their families and mere survival, perhaps adjusting what they do will reap better results. All of this is possible through cooperation – which is key in solving today’s problems.
Finally, it is important for the people who receive help to become socially conscious themselves. One must never forget the hardships and always be willing to continue the cycle of renewal. The microcredits, once repaid, should be re-invested in the community. The initial receivers of microcredits should be encouraged to empower other business in their local economy. After all, who else is better to show the better use of microcredits and other resources than those who were the original beneficiaries? And thus, the circle of help would be completed only to start over and over again.
As you see, the contribution of the North is minimal in the standards of our developed society, while it is the almost magical to the developing South. The money is not given to organizations to distribute the supplies they may deem necessary to the people they may or may not know much about, but instead given to the people themselves with the option of learning how to better use it. This program would give the personal power to the people, not to the governments or ruling classes, which is the central idea in developing local economies. Since the receivers of microcredits would be re-investing them in their localized economies, it would promote sustainability while developing areas of the globe that are currently considered to be draining. In the future, education would extend from the necessary training to the full-scope programs. It is true that a program such as this would be difficult to implement at the beginning, but once the system is set up, it would work on its own to better the world situation – much like ignoring the problems at the moment is perpetuating the tragedy.
The most difficult step is the first one, and so it is making the large corporations that are too busy trying to grow bigger and bigger stop for a moment and take a look around the world – look at the shocking poverty and continuous suffering of more than 3 billion people that are being exploited to make more profit. There are CEOs that are becoming more conscious about the world around them, but most of the other ones are too busy. Well, it is time to make them realize. It is time to teach them and everyone else who is content with switching the channel when upsetting news about the Third World come on. After all, “Third World” is such an artificial concept. There is only one, and we live in it.
And so, everything is possible – with the help of dedicated visionaries, the number of which is growing in the world. It is taking a while, for so many people are too busy with their own individual lives to look up and see the big picture. But, as sure as the sun comes up, change is on the horizon. It will come. For now, it is merely a question of how long it will take until we wake up and see the problems for what they really are – simply obstacles beyond which lies a brighter tomorrow, when no one suffers unnecessarily, and no one is left out of the society as an “externality”. The memory of the difficult times will remain, though, and for a good reason – to remind those who succeeded about those who did not, and to show that sometimes it is only a matter of an idea about changing the world that can transform a fragmented civilization into a paradise.
Humane
Preface
Since the beginning of mankind, humans have formed societies, built cities and developed skills in every possible field to increase our living comfort. We have machines doing our work and computers thinking for us. Yet, we live in a world where children die of hunger while others are pinned to their beds by obesity; where the spread between rich and poor spreads with increasing speed; where ecology is being destroyed by our overconsumption. To all this I say: We can do better. We can find a solution to all these problems which, in fact, we have created by our ever-increasingly demanding lifestyle. We are all the reason for this and since it is our collective energy which has brought us into this mess, this is how we will get out of it: together.
I have traveled extensively throughout my life and I believe that traveling is the greatest possible source of knowledge. Why? Because of cultural diversity. Every culture has its own perspective, its tradition, its priorities and its values. Adding all these elements together represents a culture’s knowledge. By bringing together every culture, we will possess a greater quantity of knowledge, the result of collectivism. I believe that with this tool we will be able to resolve global problems and truly make the world a better place.
We have already come a far way from slavery, to today’s position which we can describe as a step away from tolerance. What I suggest for us now is to take that step and even go beyond tolerance, towards agreement. I am not talking about eliminating cultural differences or losing our cultural identity. Quite the opposite, since I believe it is our differences which, brought together, will make us stronger. I am simply suggesting working together, regardless of cultural differences, on making our world a better place. Through discussion, we can share our respective knowledge and learn from one another. United, I believe we can achieve more.
Table of content
Chapter 1: Global Problems of the 21st Century
- Social: health and poverty
- Environment: depletion of natural resources and global warming
- Psychological: anxiety and depression
- Global terror
Chapter 2: Tribes
- Division into countries, into cultures
- Different values, life style and behaviours
- Our position: a step away from tolerance[1]
Chapter 3: Humanity
- Are we so different?
- We are all humans. Our bodies work the same, we are formed of cells.
- We have the same basic needs: food, water and shelter.
- We share emotions: happiness, sadness, anxiety, fear, etc.
- We share humanistic values[2]: peace, love and respect
Chapter 4: Agreement
- Beyond tolerance, towards acceptance[3]
- Each culture has its own knowledge
- Sharing all knowledge
- Realizing the potential of all working together
Chapter 5: Collective Solutions[4]
- Build culturally diverse groups and share knowledge
- Resolve issues we all care about
Synopsis
In the 21st century, global problems make the headlines on a daily basis. However, we are separated into countries, each individually, trying to make a difference. What makes us so different? Do we not share the same origins, aim for the same goals?
Humane answers those questions and proposes a strategy to solve global problems and make Earth a better place.
Let us be Humane.
Explanation
· The cover page illustration represents how we are all similar. Emoticons represent emotions and every human being has them. Emoticons are also non culturally-biased because they are yellow; they do not represent a culture in particular, everyone uses them. Regardless of one’s cultural background one will use J to say one is happy, this is universal. Finally, emoticons are used when communicating through the internet. In such situation, one is not influenced by the appearance of the other and therefore cannot be culturally prejudiced about the other, except from what is being said. On the internet, two ethnic children could become friends when in real-life they never would have spoken to one another. This is the goal of Humane; increment a feeling of belonging to the human race stronger than to ones’ culture in order to achieve unbiased intercultural communication.
· The illustration on the last page is simply to remind us the basic teaching we were all given as children: accepting differences in others.
· The title, Humane, refers to what we have in common: our humanity. This calls us to work together towards our goal. Let us be humane and treat each other fairly and with respect. Being humane reminds us we are all equal, that we all belong to the human kind.
· On December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[5] is institutionalized. The document bases itself on the fact that all human beings are equal regardless of culture, class, sex and physical appearance. We all have equal rights. However, this is still just in theory. Even today, people are discriminated upon based on their sex or race. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights still remains a strong statement since it signifies our consciousness of the fact that all should be treated fairly. This is why today’s position can be described as a step away from tolerance. We are conscious of what should be done, and we are now in the process of modifying our behaviours, reviewing our way of thinking to transform our thoughts into actions. Tolerance refers to acknowledging the others’ presence and being undisturbed by it. One does not benefit in any way from the others’ presence, but one is not aggravated by it either.
· Although values are given to us by culture, some values are common to all human beings; they can be called humanistic values. These include love, peace and respect. It is as if they came with our life form. These values form another common trait which unites us as specie, which differentiates us from other living forms. Since we all aspire to make the world a better and safer environment, to be loved and respected, humans cannot be so different after all.
· In order for us to be able to exchange with one another we must go beyond tolerance and achieve acceptance. This second concept consists of integrating the other in ones’ life. One benefits from the others’ presence by exchanging regularly with one another. Accepting the other is realizing the potential knowledge one can get from interaction with the other. This is a mental process which everyone has to undergo on ones’ own. It is only once acceptance has been reached that dialogue and exchange can be initiated.
· Collective solutions are the result of group thinking. The knowledge from different cultures can be combined in large groups composed of one delegate from each country. The group will exchange and discuss all global problems, one at a time. By learning from one another and combining the various forms of knowledge, the members of the group will look at each problem from different perspectives which should enable them to elaborate possible action plans in order to make human lives more fulfilling.
[1] see page 7 for explanation of this topic
[2] see page 7 for explanation of this topic
[3] See page 7 for explanation of this topic
[4] See page 8 for explanation of this topic
[5] http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
Since the beginning of mankind, humans have formed societies, built cities and developed skills in every possible field to increase our living comfort. We have machines doing our work and computers thinking for us. Yet, we live in a world where children die of hunger while others are pinned to their beds by obesity; where the spread between rich and poor spreads with increasing speed; where ecology is being destroyed by our overconsumption. To all this I say: We can do better. We can find a solution to all these problems which, in fact, we have created by our ever-increasingly demanding lifestyle. We are all the reason for this and since it is our collective energy which has brought us into this mess, this is how we will get out of it: together.
I have traveled extensively throughout my life and I believe that traveling is the greatest possible source of knowledge. Why? Because of cultural diversity. Every culture has its own perspective, its tradition, its priorities and its values. Adding all these elements together represents a culture’s knowledge. By bringing together every culture, we will possess a greater quantity of knowledge, the result of collectivism. I believe that with this tool we will be able to resolve global problems and truly make the world a better place.
We have already come a far way from slavery, to today’s position which we can describe as a step away from tolerance. What I suggest for us now is to take that step and even go beyond tolerance, towards agreement. I am not talking about eliminating cultural differences or losing our cultural identity. Quite the opposite, since I believe it is our differences which, brought together, will make us stronger. I am simply suggesting working together, regardless of cultural differences, on making our world a better place. Through discussion, we can share our respective knowledge and learn from one another. United, I believe we can achieve more.
Table of content
Chapter 1: Global Problems of the 21st Century
- Social: health and poverty
- Environment: depletion of natural resources and global warming
- Psychological: anxiety and depression
- Global terror
Chapter 2: Tribes
- Division into countries, into cultures
- Different values, life style and behaviours
- Our position: a step away from tolerance[1]
Chapter 3: Humanity
- Are we so different?
- We are all humans. Our bodies work the same, we are formed of cells.
- We have the same basic needs: food, water and shelter.
- We share emotions: happiness, sadness, anxiety, fear, etc.
- We share humanistic values[2]: peace, love and respect
Chapter 4: Agreement
- Beyond tolerance, towards acceptance[3]
- Each culture has its own knowledge
- Sharing all knowledge
- Realizing the potential of all working together
Chapter 5: Collective Solutions[4]
- Build culturally diverse groups and share knowledge
- Resolve issues we all care about
Synopsis
In the 21st century, global problems make the headlines on a daily basis. However, we are separated into countries, each individually, trying to make a difference. What makes us so different? Do we not share the same origins, aim for the same goals?
Humane answers those questions and proposes a strategy to solve global problems and make Earth a better place.
Let us be Humane.
Explanation
· The cover page illustration represents how we are all similar. Emoticons represent emotions and every human being has them. Emoticons are also non culturally-biased because they are yellow; they do not represent a culture in particular, everyone uses them. Regardless of one’s cultural background one will use J to say one is happy, this is universal. Finally, emoticons are used when communicating through the internet. In such situation, one is not influenced by the appearance of the other and therefore cannot be culturally prejudiced about the other, except from what is being said. On the internet, two ethnic children could become friends when in real-life they never would have spoken to one another. This is the goal of Humane; increment a feeling of belonging to the human race stronger than to ones’ culture in order to achieve unbiased intercultural communication.
· The illustration on the last page is simply to remind us the basic teaching we were all given as children: accepting differences in others.
· The title, Humane, refers to what we have in common: our humanity. This calls us to work together towards our goal. Let us be humane and treat each other fairly and with respect. Being humane reminds us we are all equal, that we all belong to the human kind.
· On December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[5] is institutionalized. The document bases itself on the fact that all human beings are equal regardless of culture, class, sex and physical appearance. We all have equal rights. However, this is still just in theory. Even today, people are discriminated upon based on their sex or race. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights still remains a strong statement since it signifies our consciousness of the fact that all should be treated fairly. This is why today’s position can be described as a step away from tolerance. We are conscious of what should be done, and we are now in the process of modifying our behaviours, reviewing our way of thinking to transform our thoughts into actions. Tolerance refers to acknowledging the others’ presence and being undisturbed by it. One does not benefit in any way from the others’ presence, but one is not aggravated by it either.
· Although values are given to us by culture, some values are common to all human beings; they can be called humanistic values. These include love, peace and respect. It is as if they came with our life form. These values form another common trait which unites us as specie, which differentiates us from other living forms. Since we all aspire to make the world a better and safer environment, to be loved and respected, humans cannot be so different after all.
· In order for us to be able to exchange with one another we must go beyond tolerance and achieve acceptance. This second concept consists of integrating the other in ones’ life. One benefits from the others’ presence by exchanging regularly with one another. Accepting the other is realizing the potential knowledge one can get from interaction with the other. This is a mental process which everyone has to undergo on ones’ own. It is only once acceptance has been reached that dialogue and exchange can be initiated.
· Collective solutions are the result of group thinking. The knowledge from different cultures can be combined in large groups composed of one delegate from each country. The group will exchange and discuss all global problems, one at a time. By learning from one another and combining the various forms of knowledge, the members of the group will look at each problem from different perspectives which should enable them to elaborate possible action plans in order to make human lives more fulfilling.
[1] see page 7 for explanation of this topic
[2] see page 7 for explanation of this topic
[3] See page 7 for explanation of this topic
[4] See page 8 for explanation of this topic
[5] http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
Reality TV - an original way to help global warming
Global warming is among one of the top global problems. The effects of global warming are affecting man and ecosystems around the world. There are more heat waves, droughts, extreme weather conditions such as thunderstorms, tornados and hurricanes. Lives are being taken away and cities are destroyed. It also has an impact on economy since one percent of global GDP is required to be invested for the mitigation of climate change. The rising atmospheric temperatures will be reducing crop yields in the near future. It also facilitates the spread of tropical diseases, such as dengue fever and malaria. Because of glacier retreat organisms that live in the cold water habitat surrounding the glacier would be affected as well. The list of damages climate change goes on and on.
The greenhouse effect is a natural process where gases in the earth’s atmosphere trap the heat from the sun and keep the earth at an inhabitable temperature. These greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. The problem is that over the last 250 years, carbon dioxide has risen by 31%. Data from the World Resources Institute shows that humans have added 2.3 trillion tones of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere in the last 200 years. And where does this mass amount of excess gas come from? It comes from burning fossil fuels such as coal, fuel oil and natural gas and biomass burning. The world’s 7 leading countries: United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom plus Russia are responsible for release of 48.7% of carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere.
Governments and scientists agree that we need to keep the global temperature rise below 2 degree Celsius. Report of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts global temperature rises by the end of the century between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius, if we do not change the current situation that is going to extends into the future or maybe making it even worst. My mission for my project is to help mitigate global warming and get people involved in it. My vision for my project is to bring a unique approach to help global warming.
Governments have come together and created the Kyoto Protocol to help reduce climate change. The Kyoto Protocol is an amendment to the international treaty on global warming, limiting greenhouse gas emissions to the countries who signed. The objective of the protocol, using the exact words written on the treaty, is “Stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” The protocol was opened for signature in March 1998. It was entered into force on February 16, 2005. 169 countries and other governmental entities have ratified the agreement. Countries that have not ratified and deserve to be mentioned are United States and Australia.
Non-governmental organizations such as Greenpeace participate in the act to reduce global warming as well. The organization has projects around the world happening right at this moment. These projects include: Yellow River Source Expedition, revealing the consequences of global warming on one of China’s most important rivers; Project thin ice 2005, documenting climate change in the Arctic; Greenpeace Energy Revolution- European Tour, driving the switch to renewable and energy efficiency, the only sustainable energy system that will enable us to stop climate change; and many more. Guided by principles of non-violence, activists of Greenpeace advocate about global warming throughout different places in the world.
Politicians and actors like Al Gore and Leonardo Dicaprio also take part in saving the environment. Gore’s “The Inconvenient Truth” and Dicaprio’s “The 11th Hour” both aim to educate the public about the situation of climate change.
After learning about this problem in great depth, as I was trying to come up with an idea for my project, a concept came to my mind: make a reality show! There is a reality show about building houses for people. There is a reality show about helping kids lose weights. There could be a reality show about helping saving the environment. The contestants would compete against each other and whoever wins gets hired at one of the most prestigious company. We limit contestants to those who are of business manager/owner profession. Each of the contestants are given 5000$, and they are required to use it to do a fundraiser of a designated type to raise money. However, promoting and organizing their own event would be done in their own ways. While doing the fundraiser, the contestants have to keep in mind that they are required to increase the public’s awareness on global warming and promote environmental friendly ways of living. The money they raise would be donated to the organizations such as Greenpeace that help environmental protection. Donald Trump is renown in the business world. But after his reality show “The Apprentice”, he is renown even among the ordinary folks. The power of media is immense and TV ratings for reality show are very high. Using this method, we can effectively spread the message of environmental protection.
I will first write a proposal and pitch my idea to the major networks. Once one of the networks has accepted it, I will contact the prestigious company and I will pitch my idea for the reality television show to the people in charge and persuade them that offering a job position will allow them to take part in helping reduce global warming. Together with the network, we will then schedule interviews with people who are interested in participating in reality television shows. Among those being interviewed, we will choose 3 of the most dynamic and diverse people. The network will provide the money that the contestant will use for the competition. When the show airs on television, the profit will go to the network. Once the contestants are chosen we will start filming. The contestants will be explained the rules by a host. The show will be 3 episodes long. There will be one event per episode and each event per contestant. There will be a concert, an auction, and also a golf tournament. The entire process will be filmed including how the contestant organizes his event. And a sufficient number of volunteers will be there to help our competitors with all these.
Organizing a concert is a challenging for any organizer; it will be a good chance to evaluate the contestant’s ability to see if he is fit for the job position. Once the contestant is assigned his task, he or she will have one month to organize the concert. He or she will need to convince a popular singer to agree to sing at the concert in order to attract a large audience to buy the tickets. The popular singer will also attract a big group of TV viewers. He or she will also need to book a place for the concert to take place and promote the concert to the public using various methods. One of which could be setting up booths on the street to sell tickets and distribute flyers that promote environmental friendly way of living. Tips to help mitigate global warming include switching to renewable energy, buying energy efficient appliances, replacing the lights with compact fluorescent lamps, avoiding stand-by for electronic appliances and turning off lights, using washers and dryers economically, trying to use bicycle more often and using public transportation and reducing air travel. At the same time, the competitor will spread the message that the money made selling the concert ticket will be sponsoring non-profit organizations that help reduce global warming.
Auction is another event I have chosen for one of the contestants to do. The contestant assigned to this task also has one month to prepare for his event. He will promote the idea of reducing global warming and encourage collectors to donate their collections as a gesture to save the earth. Explaining the grave conditions the earth is in currently will help a great deal. He will then send invitations to celebrities, politicians, and corporate owners. This will undoubtedly increase TV ratings. And they will definitely increase the price for the auctioning items for which they are sold.
Charity golf tournament is the last event I have selected. The contestant will also invite celebrities to participate in the golf tournaments. He or she will book the golf course in advance. Caterers will be hired to prepare lunch. The entrance fee that participants pay will be the money that he raises.
Once the show is done filming, we will air it on television one episode per week. We will announce the winner of the contest in the last episode. We will also create a website based on the TV show which contains information about climate change, suggestions for how to improve the situation and summary of each week’s episode. It will have a forum for the TV audience to interact with each other. It will even allow people to make a donation. And I believe executing this plan would contribute to society by helping reduce global warming and make a difference in this world.
The greenhouse effect is a natural process where gases in the earth’s atmosphere trap the heat from the sun and keep the earth at an inhabitable temperature. These greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. The problem is that over the last 250 years, carbon dioxide has risen by 31%. Data from the World Resources Institute shows that humans have added 2.3 trillion tones of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere in the last 200 years. And where does this mass amount of excess gas come from? It comes from burning fossil fuels such as coal, fuel oil and natural gas and biomass burning. The world’s 7 leading countries: United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom plus Russia are responsible for release of 48.7% of carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere.
Governments and scientists agree that we need to keep the global temperature rise below 2 degree Celsius. Report of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts global temperature rises by the end of the century between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius, if we do not change the current situation that is going to extends into the future or maybe making it even worst. My mission for my project is to help mitigate global warming and get people involved in it. My vision for my project is to bring a unique approach to help global warming.
Governments have come together and created the Kyoto Protocol to help reduce climate change. The Kyoto Protocol is an amendment to the international treaty on global warming, limiting greenhouse gas emissions to the countries who signed. The objective of the protocol, using the exact words written on the treaty, is “Stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” The protocol was opened for signature in March 1998. It was entered into force on February 16, 2005. 169 countries and other governmental entities have ratified the agreement. Countries that have not ratified and deserve to be mentioned are United States and Australia.
Non-governmental organizations such as Greenpeace participate in the act to reduce global warming as well. The organization has projects around the world happening right at this moment. These projects include: Yellow River Source Expedition, revealing the consequences of global warming on one of China’s most important rivers; Project thin ice 2005, documenting climate change in the Arctic; Greenpeace Energy Revolution- European Tour, driving the switch to renewable and energy efficiency, the only sustainable energy system that will enable us to stop climate change; and many more. Guided by principles of non-violence, activists of Greenpeace advocate about global warming throughout different places in the world.
Politicians and actors like Al Gore and Leonardo Dicaprio also take part in saving the environment. Gore’s “The Inconvenient Truth” and Dicaprio’s “The 11th Hour” both aim to educate the public about the situation of climate change.
After learning about this problem in great depth, as I was trying to come up with an idea for my project, a concept came to my mind: make a reality show! There is a reality show about building houses for people. There is a reality show about helping kids lose weights. There could be a reality show about helping saving the environment. The contestants would compete against each other and whoever wins gets hired at one of the most prestigious company. We limit contestants to those who are of business manager/owner profession. Each of the contestants are given 5000$, and they are required to use it to do a fundraiser of a designated type to raise money. However, promoting and organizing their own event would be done in their own ways. While doing the fundraiser, the contestants have to keep in mind that they are required to increase the public’s awareness on global warming and promote environmental friendly ways of living. The money they raise would be donated to the organizations such as Greenpeace that help environmental protection. Donald Trump is renown in the business world. But after his reality show “The Apprentice”, he is renown even among the ordinary folks. The power of media is immense and TV ratings for reality show are very high. Using this method, we can effectively spread the message of environmental protection.
I will first write a proposal and pitch my idea to the major networks. Once one of the networks has accepted it, I will contact the prestigious company and I will pitch my idea for the reality television show to the people in charge and persuade them that offering a job position will allow them to take part in helping reduce global warming. Together with the network, we will then schedule interviews with people who are interested in participating in reality television shows. Among those being interviewed, we will choose 3 of the most dynamic and diverse people. The network will provide the money that the contestant will use for the competition. When the show airs on television, the profit will go to the network. Once the contestants are chosen we will start filming. The contestants will be explained the rules by a host. The show will be 3 episodes long. There will be one event per episode and each event per contestant. There will be a concert, an auction, and also a golf tournament. The entire process will be filmed including how the contestant organizes his event. And a sufficient number of volunteers will be there to help our competitors with all these.
Organizing a concert is a challenging for any organizer; it will be a good chance to evaluate the contestant’s ability to see if he is fit for the job position. Once the contestant is assigned his task, he or she will have one month to organize the concert. He or she will need to convince a popular singer to agree to sing at the concert in order to attract a large audience to buy the tickets. The popular singer will also attract a big group of TV viewers. He or she will also need to book a place for the concert to take place and promote the concert to the public using various methods. One of which could be setting up booths on the street to sell tickets and distribute flyers that promote environmental friendly way of living. Tips to help mitigate global warming include switching to renewable energy, buying energy efficient appliances, replacing the lights with compact fluorescent lamps, avoiding stand-by for electronic appliances and turning off lights, using washers and dryers economically, trying to use bicycle more often and using public transportation and reducing air travel. At the same time, the competitor will spread the message that the money made selling the concert ticket will be sponsoring non-profit organizations that help reduce global warming.
Auction is another event I have chosen for one of the contestants to do. The contestant assigned to this task also has one month to prepare for his event. He will promote the idea of reducing global warming and encourage collectors to donate their collections as a gesture to save the earth. Explaining the grave conditions the earth is in currently will help a great deal. He will then send invitations to celebrities, politicians, and corporate owners. This will undoubtedly increase TV ratings. And they will definitely increase the price for the auctioning items for which they are sold.
Charity golf tournament is the last event I have selected. The contestant will also invite celebrities to participate in the golf tournaments. He or she will book the golf course in advance. Caterers will be hired to prepare lunch. The entrance fee that participants pay will be the money that he raises.
Once the show is done filming, we will air it on television one episode per week. We will announce the winner of the contest in the last episode. We will also create a website based on the TV show which contains information about climate change, suggestions for how to improve the situation and summary of each week’s episode. It will have a forum for the TV audience to interact with each other. It will even allow people to make a donation. And I believe executing this plan would contribute to society by helping reduce global warming and make a difference in this world.
Mini-Project 4: What Will Be Your Legacy?
Mini-Project 4: What Will Be Your Legacy?
Legacy is a word that is sometimes taken to mean something more grandiose than the dictionary meaning which is “something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past”. Many young people go through life wanting to create a long lasting legacy that is up there with the captains of industry, trailblazers of science and courageous freedom fighters. I am in the belief that these people will ultimately fail. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Mahatma Ghandi, Helen Keller, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and so one and so forth were all people who created great paths of legacy but they did not predict that they would ahead of time nor did they plan on it. No, they were simply people who had goals to achieve and the will, creativity and most importantly the passion to carry it through. Without passion, there is is no legacy to create in the first place thus, I believe this question is premature. The question should be, what am I passionate about and what will I do with it in the future?
I believe that the only inevitability in the future is uncertain and that trying to predict my own legacy is as accurate a game as picking next week's lotto numbers but that doesn't mean it is futile to see what it may be, speculation after all is the driving force of the market system. The first step to trying to figure out what one's legacy in the future will be is to answer what is their passion in the present. I am passionate about many things, I am passionate about investing in markets and real estate, Canada, city life, the outdoors and interacting with other people. Among those things, I could create any number of legacies whether they be small or grand. As an investor for instance I may be doing something as small as providing my children with enough money to attend post-secondary educational institutes or I could become an investment guru like Warren Buffet, Carl Icahn. As a passionate Canadian, I could end up teaching Canadian history (a little passion of mine) or be the Prime Minister (unlikely). I may even create a legacy that I am not even conscious of. When I was younger for example, I helped put together a TV show on community cable around the subject of violence and racism among the youth in Toronto (that's my little passion about city life). That TV show could have reached any number of people who will be inspired go on and create their own great legacies and I in turn would have indirectly contributed to that process. But in order to create one grand legacy, I would have to be interested n one grand passion project. And truth be told, I still see myself as a young person who is not overly interested in one issue more that much greater than any other.
When it comes to creating my own legacy, I cannot be sure what is it because I have a wide range of things I am passionate about which change and evolve as I get older. When I was younger for instance, I was very interested in computers, I even worked in the industry for two years before I simply lost interest. These things happen, life happens and people mature and change. What ultimately determines my legacy will be up to the future and I have no desire to try and predict the future. That being said, if it was up to me my legacy will not be big and grandiose. I don't want a a large funeral with 20,000 people in attendance and broadcasted on live TV with my lifetime achievements. Instead, I only wish to be remembered for the person that I am among the people that I am close to. Instead of being remembered for my actions or what I was interested in, I'm perfectly content with being remembered just for being an honest person with a wicked sense of humour. Some might read this and think that I may be apathetic and cynical, but nothing could be further from the truth. I have been proactive in helping out my community, reducing my environmental footprint and securing my financial footprint, buying ethical products and using open source software. What really doesn't dwell on my mind is what my legacy will be. It is said that you cannot change the past or know the future but only focus in the present and that is the philosophy that I subscribe to. What happens after I am gone is ultimately up to other people to decide which to me really just makes it a post-mortem popularity contest. What I care about isn't my legacy at all but what I can do in the present to contribute to society at large.
So far, this article has been pretty vague about what I ultimately want to see society achieve, that is because I am pretty unsure of it myself. I simply don't see myself as someone who is fit to judge all of Canadian society, much the entire world and fix it as I see fit. My parents are both refugees of the Vietnam War, they probably know better than anyone what happens when ignorant but well meaning people attempt to impose their solutions onto the greater society. This is something I am careful to keep in mind of thus, rather than type out instructions for everyone to follow, I have specific actions that I do that I believe help out the society at large.
My general beliefs:
I don't believe that recycling is a legitimate replacement for garbage, I believe that minimizing consumption is a replacement for wasting resources. First, because much of our recycling ends up in landfills anyway because it is not cleaned or separated properly or even worse, companies don't care and second, recycling itself causes consumption of energy and resources to do so.
I volunteer at various non-profit organizations when I have the time. I grew up in a fairly poor neighbourhoods throughout my life and have seen what happens when kids don't have hope. That's why I often visit my high school and middle school and give talks to kids about their post-secondary education options. Heck, I even helped put on a TV show about it once.
I'm a believer in public transit and take it whenever I can.
I believe that patents are a tax on ideas. Once an idea is patented, it costs someone else money to use that idea to improve on something else, this is why I am a huge proponent of Open Source Software. Instead of Windows or Macs, I use Linux, instead of MS Office, I use Open Office, I use Firefox instead of Internet Explorer or Safari etc..
Those are some of my strongest beliefs but I understand that they are not feasible for everyone to follow and that doesn't bother me as long as we all have a vested interest in improving society we live in, we'll all benefit from the outcomes, no matter what issue it is.
Fine-art
As globalization seeks to envelope the world in single global culture, concern over the loss of national and personal identity is mounting. Artists who choose to represent their rational identity, whether by choice or by economic necessity, often struggle against the prevailing prejudice that work dealing with identity politics delivers issues and content often to the detriment of form and aesthetics. Objects or words arise from our own learned culture, associations and personal objections. The real power is not contained within the object, but within our perception of it.
The language and forms of the ‘Fine Arts,’ from the ancient to the post^2 modernists, have attempted to express their own particular concerns, ideas, philosophies and culture. Each form of type of art may be distinctly different and yet still contain this common ground. The individuality of artwork may come from the combination of many elements of techniques. It is through artist perceptions and exploration of inner selves that the cultures while viewed through the lenses of an ever-changing surrounding, which is at the root of fine art.
The entire information gather is utilized as we continually exercise our most primary needs. We subconsciously and sometimes consciously, set about to determine how things function and most importantly for us, where and how we fit within our environment. The environmental elements are to be appreciated and incorporated into the work and should not be framed out or simply denied. Life is a collage of senses, mind and ‘soul’; any attempts to try to constrain or limit a way of seeing or feeling through a formal approach will be limited from the outset.
The language, media and approaches used in the production of art, have and must remain open. As the language of culture, art moves not independently but with the times. Through it, artists attempt to synthesize and preserve (movement and memories). It has the potential to take the seemingly insufficient to the level of the profound and beautiful. It can push our tolerance and understanding, as it probes at and within the culture.
Art taps potential to create more from our individual environments than simply functional and utilitarian space. While still addressing a space‘s particular nature and function, there is an opportunity to express and examine what spaces do, shouldn’t or how they affect us. Environments have natures and characters, which are not neutral and do not go unnoticed. However we may attempt to deny it, art is never perceived separate from its surroundings.
Everything from garbage to money, my goal is to amplify our awareness of ourselves in our environments, and our human behaviour. My question of value, appreciation and beauty are often explored through contrast and context. Within each artistic language or style, lies a complex coding of association and references. Languages have and are confirmed by both strengths and limitations. This show is reflective on study of visual reactions to an environment.
Artist
statement:
Artwork incorporates elements of both oil-painting and some sculpture aspects. I have explored how forms contribute to the aesthetic impact of my work and how this transforms and relates to painted imagery upon the surfaces. In order to make fluid and non-linear geometric shapes, I needed to physically create a basic frame. The wooden materials were used to make a basic frame, which were then covered with pre-gassed and painted canvas. I considered making frames of desire shape as sculptural aspects.While I build the form; I consider the location of imagery that going to be painted. Therefore, I am considering the initial relationship between figures and form, and how they relate with one another. It is the interest of time, space, and environment and how the individual moves within this, which led me to document people in everyday situations and their surroundings. The process becomes a documentation of the human condition and behaviour in the western post^2 society. In some of the series of the work, I bring human figures out of the ordinary content and contrast them with other elements, others just observations of particular neighbourhoods and time. The contrasts of content are important for this exhibition. Original intentions are to dynamically and intimately engage the viewer within each piece so that it is
viewed from various vantage points, with a constantly changing experience from one angle to another. The viewer could experience and able to understand the artist narrative concerns that shown in visual elements.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
