China’s rapidly growing economy which has mastered the recession better than of any large country, tends to garner big headlines. The country’s rise coincides with another development, which receives less attention: its legal institutions.
This week when President Obama visits China, he will find a nation with a legal system far more improved from a generation ago, particularly in the area of business law.
For the United States this issue is critical because the importance in giving assurances that businesses can be carried out effectively. For US, it provides a bilateral and multilateral negotiation framework.
Deng Xiaoping took power in the late 1970s; China lacked standardized legal enforcement mechanisms. Deng, whom opened the door for China’s economic rise, realized a strong legal framework was a must for long-term growth. However, researches believe that there were fewer than 3000 lawyers in the country in 1978, a result of China closing down virtually all universities during the Cultural Revolution.
Here, located in the West we make jokes about the problems of too many lawyers, but too few could be disastrous. Deng recognized that China was in need of legal training and therefore, established a legal infrastructure to support its economic goals. He immediately started to work with international experts. Since, 1979, China graduated hundreds of thousands of lawyers. Passing the bar exam is now a requirement for all new judges; that’s the Chinese Way of dealing with problems…
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Humans legacy...
The waste or detritus of us, human life, is collecting in a swirling current so huge that it defies precise measurement. Bottle caps, fish-nets, plastic products, brushes, inhabit the Pacific garbage patch, an area of dispersed trash which doubles every decade and is now twice the size of Texas is an issue, scientist can tell.
An area of currents and slack winds keep the trash swirling in a giant whirlpool. Plastic is the most common material floating around which will do so for years because of its lightweight, durable and is an omnipresent, disposable product in our societies. After years when it splits into pieces, millions, billions and trillions of particles will float around being a danger for fish that feed on plankton and furthermore ingest the tiny plastic particles. PCBs, DDT and other toxic chemicals will be transferred into the food humans consume therefore a threat we’re facing.
Just a reminder that there is nowhere that is not affected by humanity…
An area of currents and slack winds keep the trash swirling in a giant whirlpool. Plastic is the most common material floating around which will do so for years because of its lightweight, durable and is an omnipresent, disposable product in our societies. After years when it splits into pieces, millions, billions and trillions of particles will float around being a danger for fish that feed on plankton and furthermore ingest the tiny plastic particles. PCBs, DDT and other toxic chemicals will be transferred into the food humans consume therefore a threat we’re facing.
Just a reminder that there is nowhere that is not affected by humanity…
Can history catch up with us?
He was washed onto the shores of his island home at Ithaca, after 10 years’ absence in a foreign war and 10 years of hard travel in foreign lands, Odysseus, literature’s most famous veteran, stares around him…. “Now brilliant Odysseus awoke from sleep in his fatherland, and he did not know it, having been long away”. Additionally the goddess Athena has cast an obscuring mist over all the familiar landmarks, making “everything look otherwise than it was”. “Ah me” groans Odysseus, “what are the people whose land I have come to this time”?
This was 2800 years ago but yet, does history catch up with us?
Last Thursday, a U.S. military veteran psychiatrist who had been treating the mental scars of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan went on shooting rampage at an Army base in Texas.
Who is the veteran, and how does he stand in relation to his native land America?
This question remains relevant to those marching the event of this week for ‘Veterans Day’ in the United States and ‘Armistice Day’ in Europe. In practice, Nov. 11 is clouded with ambiguous symbolism and has become America’s most awkward holiday.
In “The Iliad”, Achilles must choose between kleos or nostos – glory or safe return home. By dying at Troy, Achilles has assured of undying fame as the greatest of all heroes. His choice reflects an uneasy awareness that it is far easier to honor the dead soldier than the soldier that returns.
So, how will America honor this veteran than eventually, drastically went shooting rampage at the Army Base in Texas?
This was 2800 years ago but yet, does history catch up with us?
Last Thursday, a U.S. military veteran psychiatrist who had been treating the mental scars of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan went on shooting rampage at an Army base in Texas.
Who is the veteran, and how does he stand in relation to his native land America?
This question remains relevant to those marching the event of this week for ‘Veterans Day’ in the United States and ‘Armistice Day’ in Europe. In practice, Nov. 11 is clouded with ambiguous symbolism and has become America’s most awkward holiday.
In “The Iliad”, Achilles must choose between kleos or nostos – glory or safe return home. By dying at Troy, Achilles has assured of undying fame as the greatest of all heroes. His choice reflects an uneasy awareness that it is far easier to honor the dead soldier than the soldier that returns.
So, how will America honor this veteran than eventually, drastically went shooting rampage at the Army Base in Texas?
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Greatest of the Greatest - Steve Jobs.....
Fortune recently gave the price 'The decennium's best CEO' to Steve Jobs.
I am an Apple fan and indeed a fan of Steve Jobs, today 54 years old.
His leadership combined with an increased product sortiment like Ipod, thin PC's, and the great Iphone has made Apple a world leader in music players, a major player in the computer businesses; and yet a scary outperfomer in the cellphone sector, a brand Nokia fears the most!
Apple with its 34.000 employees has made the impossible; to create products and innovations that consuments constantly looking for, therefore success with an capital S!
This says everything...
Apple was worth $5 billion in 2000, but today its worth $170 billion...admirable...
I am an Apple fan and indeed a fan of Steve Jobs, today 54 years old.
His leadership combined with an increased product sortiment like Ipod, thin PC's, and the great Iphone has made Apple a world leader in music players, a major player in the computer businesses; and yet a scary outperfomer in the cellphone sector, a brand Nokia fears the most!
Apple with its 34.000 employees has made the impossible; to create products and innovations that consuments constantly looking for, therefore success with an capital S!
This says everything...
Apple was worth $5 billion in 2000, but today its worth $170 billion...admirable...
Sunday, November 8, 2009
the paradox...
Denial, bargaining, anger, and despair – I am not sure what I’m going through but for sure all the stages prescribed by the experts…
So why?
Well….
India doesn’t face the same problem, as China in that sense that you actually have the possibility to express your opposition without being jailed. Still though one could see how suffocating the demands of family and friend ties could be, with several distant cousins often asking and begging for favors and family members always coming unannounced.
You actually do not understand how Swedish you are until you actually visit, feel and see a different country like India. I realize how free I am and how much I cherish that freedom and understand our liberty in a more positive sense, in the idea that opportunity and the subsidiary values helps us realize opportunities – all those values that we take for granted. Like self-improvement, self-reliance, risk-taking, drive, discipline, temperance, hard work, thrift and personal responsibility; all those values are embedded in basic optimism about life and in free will. These values to some extent, has the power for men and women to pursue their own interests, which will prosper society.
Furthermore, the legitimacy of government, free market, equal opportunities and non-discrimination makes us stronger and less vulnerable to evil, which other less democratic countries lack.
In this context I know that India is of course the largest democracy but far from a well-working one. Corruption is broad which constrain India’s economic growth and accountability and that is just one among several other issues India is facing.
I think it is vital to value good manners. When I meet somebody who looks me in the eyes, speaks loud and clear and who says ‘thank you’ or ‘excuse me’ makes me feel happy, satisfied and more hopeful. I have no power to legislate good manners but I will be an advocate and encourage good manners whenever I am addressing a group of youngsters.
Some of these issues mentioned above are some that I confront down in India. People not saying ‘thank you’ nor ‘please’ or people eating and speaking with their mouth full. These are manners I am grown up with; and do realise are quite important. I am searching for a more civilized culture I believe…
India is a great experience and country, but, still I am from Sweden and it will indeed be nice for a break during Christmas for 2 weeks.
So why?
Well….
India doesn’t face the same problem, as China in that sense that you actually have the possibility to express your opposition without being jailed. Still though one could see how suffocating the demands of family and friend ties could be, with several distant cousins often asking and begging for favors and family members always coming unannounced.
You actually do not understand how Swedish you are until you actually visit, feel and see a different country like India. I realize how free I am and how much I cherish that freedom and understand our liberty in a more positive sense, in the idea that opportunity and the subsidiary values helps us realize opportunities – all those values that we take for granted. Like self-improvement, self-reliance, risk-taking, drive, discipline, temperance, hard work, thrift and personal responsibility; all those values are embedded in basic optimism about life and in free will. These values to some extent, has the power for men and women to pursue their own interests, which will prosper society.
Furthermore, the legitimacy of government, free market, equal opportunities and non-discrimination makes us stronger and less vulnerable to evil, which other less democratic countries lack.
In this context I know that India is of course the largest democracy but far from a well-working one. Corruption is broad which constrain India’s economic growth and accountability and that is just one among several other issues India is facing.
I think it is vital to value good manners. When I meet somebody who looks me in the eyes, speaks loud and clear and who says ‘thank you’ or ‘excuse me’ makes me feel happy, satisfied and more hopeful. I have no power to legislate good manners but I will be an advocate and encourage good manners whenever I am addressing a group of youngsters.
Some of these issues mentioned above are some that I confront down in India. People not saying ‘thank you’ nor ‘please’ or people eating and speaking with their mouth full. These are manners I am grown up with; and do realise are quite important. I am searching for a more civilized culture I believe…
India is a great experience and country, but, still I am from Sweden and it will indeed be nice for a break during Christmas for 2 weeks.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Schools see the light..
International Schools and universities are becoming increasingly valued in a globalised world, equipping students with the mobility to pursue university studies almost anywhere in the world.
Recent research shows that, despite quite costly tuition fees the number of enrollment students are increasing eventhough we suffer under a global economic crisis.
Data from ISC Research which analyzes developments in the international school market, show that several enrollment rose in several major Asian countries. In China, enrollments rose to 104.717 students in May from 91.807 a year earlier and just 7.268 nine years ago.
In India it rose to 45873 in May from 32.276 a year earlier and 5.600 in 2000.
One reason may be the effects of the economic downturn that create the awareness and importance to aquire an university degree but also the large number of people whom lost there jobs and try to seek security in an degree.
The shrinking budget families are feeling and facing and the job cuts that are widespread has indeed changed people's perceptions. One thing for sure is that the financial crisis has made an impact on our behaviour, perspective and importance of financial security.
Recent research shows that, despite quite costly tuition fees the number of enrollment students are increasing eventhough we suffer under a global economic crisis.
Data from ISC Research which analyzes developments in the international school market, show that several enrollment rose in several major Asian countries. In China, enrollments rose to 104.717 students in May from 91.807 a year earlier and just 7.268 nine years ago.
In India it rose to 45873 in May from 32.276 a year earlier and 5.600 in 2000.
One reason may be the effects of the economic downturn that create the awareness and importance to aquire an university degree but also the large number of people whom lost there jobs and try to seek security in an degree.
The shrinking budget families are feeling and facing and the job cuts that are widespread has indeed changed people's perceptions. One thing for sure is that the financial crisis has made an impact on our behaviour, perspective and importance of financial security.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Australians outraged - imagine the power of iconic food products
What happens when a company take an iconic food product, change its ingredients and release it under a strange new name.....well cries of outrage and a storm of media coverage: A marketing failure or just a publicity coup?
Kraft Food Australia produces Vegamite - a salty, gooey yeast paste beloved by millions of Australians - are still waiting for the new name of Vegamite that been questioned after a recent experiment with the country's most recognised food product...
In July this year Kraft Food started to sell jars of caramel-brown Vegamite mixed with cream cheese in the supermarkets with colored labels inviting consumers to 'Name Me'.
Weeks later filled with secrecy when the company sold 3 million jars to just a population that consists of 22 million people, Kraft Food purchased the most expensive advertising slot on the nationally televised Australian-rules football final Sept. 26 to announce its winner: Megamite iSnack 2.0.
The reaction was FIERCE!
Vegamite preachers took to the internet to hail and voice there concern about the name. Twitter, Facebook groups and Flickr posts was emerging as melting butter in a warm sunny-filled Australia. One online community individual suggested that the 27-year old designer who had submitted the winning name be tarred with Vegamite and forced to run naked through the streets of Sydney 'as retribution for his cultural crime'. Others wanted the naked lunatic to run around with signposts indicating and saying 'uStupid1.0' and un-Australian.
After four days, Kraft announced it would change the name and have another vote through a telephone poll that generated more conventional names - including Snackmate, Vegamild, Vegamate and Cheesybite, which the last mentioned won.
The controversy quickly died away for a beloved product that are used by children for sandwiches and even adults for a remedy against hangover with its rich vital source of Vitamin B, yeah right!
Kraft Food Australia produces Vegamite - a salty, gooey yeast paste beloved by millions of Australians - are still waiting for the new name of Vegamite that been questioned after a recent experiment with the country's most recognised food product...
In July this year Kraft Food started to sell jars of caramel-brown Vegamite mixed with cream cheese in the supermarkets with colored labels inviting consumers to 'Name Me'.
Weeks later filled with secrecy when the company sold 3 million jars to just a population that consists of 22 million people, Kraft Food purchased the most expensive advertising slot on the nationally televised Australian-rules football final Sept. 26 to announce its winner: Megamite iSnack 2.0.
The reaction was FIERCE!
Vegamite preachers took to the internet to hail and voice there concern about the name. Twitter, Facebook groups and Flickr posts was emerging as melting butter in a warm sunny-filled Australia. One online community individual suggested that the 27-year old designer who had submitted the winning name be tarred with Vegamite and forced to run naked through the streets of Sydney 'as retribution for his cultural crime'. Others wanted the naked lunatic to run around with signposts indicating and saying 'uStupid1.0' and un-Australian.
After four days, Kraft announced it would change the name and have another vote through a telephone poll that generated more conventional names - including Snackmate, Vegamild, Vegamate and Cheesybite, which the last mentioned won.
The controversy quickly died away for a beloved product that are used by children for sandwiches and even adults for a remedy against hangover with its rich vital source of Vitamin B, yeah right!
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