Wow! I won first prize and a bottle of champagne at last night's Comedy and Curry party at Ealing Lawn Tennis Club in a conpetition to name a slogan for either a party or leader in the coming election. My entry was "Vote Clegg for a well hung Parliament!"
The Party is welcome to use this slogan in promotional materials as my modest contribution to the cause!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Best laid plans
Darmstadt is a small, well ordered German city about 30 minutes south of Frankfurt. It has a university population of about 30,000 students and I have been lecturing on a postgraduate housing course there for a week (12-16 April). The students are from all parts of the world; Asia, Africa, eastern Europe and both north and south America. They all did extremely well in a two day planning and design exercise and the week ended with me having to mark them and, interestingly, them assessing me. The fact that my contribution to the course was well received had nothing to do with the fact that, having treated them throughout as professionals, I had invited them to mark themselves. Being accomplished professionals, they naturally awarded themselves high grades!
My flight home was due to leave Frankfurt at 6pm on the Friday afternoon, but by Thursday morning, news of a massive volcanic eruption in Iceland had closed all UK airspace, threatening my return home. The websites all confirmed this on Friday morning and with German airspace also closed for the foreseeable future, the flight was duly cancelled.
Frustration was put into perspective when my host (I was staying with a South African staff member at the university and her parents) had to take her father into hospital and was later informed that he was seriously ill and the prognosis was not good. At least I could hope for a positive outcome in the near future, whereas for my hosts, things looked much less benign.
When classes ended on the Friday, the students kindly invited me to join them for a beer in the park and, having given up on travel, I met up and we had a pleasant evening ending at a new pizza restaurant where I returned the compliment by buying a bottle of wine to share. It’s encouraging to see students from all parts of the world getting on well and learning about each other’s interests, cultures and ambitions.
Saturday morning was spent checking websites, exchanging emails and nursing my dying mobile phone battery. About noon, I set off for Frankfurt airport hoping to find out about options. A very helpful woman in the information desk told me there might be a bus leaving the same evening for London Heathrow and even phoned the company to enable me to confirm a seat!
Waiting for the bus and typing this at the departures terminal, I am struck by how people respond to the unexpected. There was an atmosphere of calm throughout the airport. Nobody was in a rush – there was nothing to rush for. Groups were chatting and laughing, while others ate or took photos of the empty airport (where were all the planes?) and the departures board (all cancelled!). The airport authorities have apparently provided beds and food for those stranded in the transfer section. Kids were entertained with balloons and a TV crew were wandering around looking for stories. They filmed me and came across to ask on camera what I was waiting for. When I said to go to London, they expressed sympathy and asked how I was coping. When I said all was well and I was leaving by bus the same evening, they immediately lost interest. Clearly, good news was not what they were after, yet what impressed me was how well everyone reacted. Maybe it was nature’s way of bringing us all down to earth (sorry!) or, as John Lennon said, life is what happens when we’re busy making plans.
My flight home was due to leave Frankfurt at 6pm on the Friday afternoon, but by Thursday morning, news of a massive volcanic eruption in Iceland had closed all UK airspace, threatening my return home. The websites all confirmed this on Friday morning and with German airspace also closed for the foreseeable future, the flight was duly cancelled.
Frustration was put into perspective when my host (I was staying with a South African staff member at the university and her parents) had to take her father into hospital and was later informed that he was seriously ill and the prognosis was not good. At least I could hope for a positive outcome in the near future, whereas for my hosts, things looked much less benign.
When classes ended on the Friday, the students kindly invited me to join them for a beer in the park and, having given up on travel, I met up and we had a pleasant evening ending at a new pizza restaurant where I returned the compliment by buying a bottle of wine to share. It’s encouraging to see students from all parts of the world getting on well and learning about each other’s interests, cultures and ambitions.
Saturday morning was spent checking websites, exchanging emails and nursing my dying mobile phone battery. About noon, I set off for Frankfurt airport hoping to find out about options. A very helpful woman in the information desk told me there might be a bus leaving the same evening for London Heathrow and even phoned the company to enable me to confirm a seat!
Waiting for the bus and typing this at the departures terminal, I am struck by how people respond to the unexpected. There was an atmosphere of calm throughout the airport. Nobody was in a rush – there was nothing to rush for. Groups were chatting and laughing, while others ate or took photos of the empty airport (where were all the planes?) and the departures board (all cancelled!). The airport authorities have apparently provided beds and food for those stranded in the transfer section. Kids were entertained with balloons and a TV crew were wandering around looking for stories. They filmed me and came across to ask on camera what I was waiting for. When I said to go to London, they expressed sympathy and asked how I was coping. When I said all was well and I was leaving by bus the same evening, they immediately lost interest. Clearly, good news was not what they were after, yet what impressed me was how well everyone reacted. Maybe it was nature’s way of bringing us all down to earth (sorry!) or, as John Lennon said, life is what happens when we’re busy making plans.
Monday, March 8, 2010
This is what a good a TV Channel is Four
Tonight (08 March 9pm) Britain's Channel Four TV presented yet another programme to demonstrate it knows what role TV can contribute to realising Lord Reith's objectives for the BBC to inform, educate and entertain. In the latest episode of Secret Millionnaires, Paul Ragan, a rich businessman, travelled to Derby to meet a number of carers, including Sophie, a young girl who looks after her mother suffering from Huntingdon's Disease and a woman who raises money through charity car washes for special moments for young children suffering from terminal illnesses.
In giving away thousands of pounds to Sophie and the other deserving cases, it showed that Paul benefitted as much from the experience as they had. He felt a better person and realised that one can have a rich life without necessarily being rich. Heart warming television at its best. This should be compulsory viewing in Goldman Sachs and other financial institutions which clearly need to know more about the real value of money. Meanwhile you can probably catch it on Channel 4 catch-up. Do.
In giving away thousands of pounds to Sophie and the other deserving cases, it showed that Paul benefitted as much from the experience as they had. He felt a better person and realised that one can have a rich life without necessarily being rich. Heart warming television at its best. This should be compulsory viewing in Goldman Sachs and other financial institutions which clearly need to know more about the real value of money. Meanwhile you can probably catch it on Channel 4 catch-up. Do.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The jobs transfer market
The USA economy lost 500,000 jobs in one just one month (December 2008) and the present unemployment level nationally is set at 10%, with far higher levels in some areas. At the same time, 750 million new jobs are expected to be created in South Asia over the coming decade. More will be generated in China and other parts of Asia and even Africa. This is likely to continue the drain of jobs from the USA and northern Europe where labour and other costs are high. This suggests that the USA and Europe are likely to experience structural unemployment at a high level during coming decades.
Ironically, it can be argued that Americans (and increasingly Europeans)are jobless because of the triumph of US born market capitalism. This has ensured that investment follows the same path as water – downhill, where there is least resistance and easiest returns. That means that US investors, and particularly consumers, have helped create jobs in countries where workers' pay and living conditions are far lower than those demanded in the USA and where profits (for a small elite in the US and elsewhere) can be maximised.
If this proves correct, and social and economic inequality in the West continues at its present extremely high level (bankers bonuses, sink estates, etc) it raises a very interesting question. What actions will be needed to prevent massive social unrest in the US and Europe? Surely some form of redistributive tax system is a real possibility given that the number of voters needing help will far outweigh those with assets to protect. Could Marx's prophecy of the triumph of socialism prove to be correct after all?
Just a thought!
Ironically, it can be argued that Americans (and increasingly Europeans)are jobless because of the triumph of US born market capitalism. This has ensured that investment follows the same path as water – downhill, where there is least resistance and easiest returns. That means that US investors, and particularly consumers, have helped create jobs in countries where workers' pay and living conditions are far lower than those demanded in the USA and where profits (for a small elite in the US and elsewhere) can be maximised.
If this proves correct, and social and economic inequality in the West continues at its present extremely high level (bankers bonuses, sink estates, etc) it raises a very interesting question. What actions will be needed to prevent massive social unrest in the US and Europe? Surely some form of redistributive tax system is a real possibility given that the number of voters needing help will far outweigh those with assets to protect. Could Marx's prophecy of the triumph of socialism prove to be correct after all?
Just a thought!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Cynical of Ealing
Following an article by Will Hutton in the Observer newspaper of 03 January, arguing that the economic news was not as bad as some have predicted, the paper was big hearted enough to publish this letter from me the following Sunday, 10 January:
Is Will Hutton applying for a post as Gordon Brown's spin doctor? His claim that the UK economy is not a basket case after all (03.01.10) will no doubt be highly appreciated by New Labour, but is highly selective in the evidence cited. For example, to say that "growth in Britain from the dark days of the 1991 recession to the end of a disastrous 2009 has still averaged a solid 2.1% - higher than any of the big economies in Europe and Japan" could as much indicate how bad the 1991 recession was in the UK as how we have performed since. Similarly, to say that UK industries which have survived the recession are highly competitive is at least partly due to the lower value of sterling. The fact is that levels of public and private debt have increased dramatically under a government which paraded its claims of fiscal prudence and the cost will take many years to repay, probably under another government.
Is Will Hutton applying for a post as Gordon Brown's spin doctor? His claim that the UK economy is not a basket case after all (03.01.10) will no doubt be highly appreciated by New Labour, but is highly selective in the evidence cited. For example, to say that "growth in Britain from the dark days of the 1991 recession to the end of a disastrous 2009 has still averaged a solid 2.1% - higher than any of the big economies in Europe and Japan" could as much indicate how bad the 1991 recession was in the UK as how we have performed since. Similarly, to say that UK industries which have survived the recession are highly competitive is at least partly due to the lower value of sterling. The fact is that levels of public and private debt have increased dramatically under a government which paraded its claims of fiscal prudence and the cost will take many years to repay, probably under another government.
Friday, January 1, 2010
House and fuel price fears!
Bad News! According to press reports, petrol prices are set for a major increase. Really bad news - experts also predict that the housing market is set for a further decline in 2010! Bad news? Really?!
Why are higher fuel prices and lower housing prices both considered bad news?
In fact, both these predictions are good news. After all, oil is a finite resource which will run out in the near future, so increasing the price will encourage everyone to use it more sparingly and help justify investment in alternative, sustainable, energy sources. Increasing the price is seen as a good thing where excessive consumption of other commodities, such as alcohol, is seen to need government intervention, so why not also in petrol?
At the same time, housing seems to be the only commodity for which reduced prices are seen as bad news. Yet lower prices are great news for improving accessibility for the young or poor (or young and poor!). Lower prices also discourage speculation and make it more attractive to
invest in alternative forms of tenure which can provide a more stable and diverse housing market. Another benefit is that it reduces the temptation to get on the housing ladder for reasons of financial gain rather than to have a decent place to live. After all, in the last two decades, house prices rose so fast that returns were greater than going out to work, hardly a good incentive for increasing a work ethic.
So, let's start 2010 by welcoming the prospects of higher fuel prices and lower housing prices!
Why are higher fuel prices and lower housing prices both considered bad news?
In fact, both these predictions are good news. After all, oil is a finite resource which will run out in the near future, so increasing the price will encourage everyone to use it more sparingly and help justify investment in alternative, sustainable, energy sources. Increasing the price is seen as a good thing where excessive consumption of other commodities, such as alcohol, is seen to need government intervention, so why not also in petrol?
At the same time, housing seems to be the only commodity for which reduced prices are seen as bad news. Yet lower prices are great news for improving accessibility for the young or poor (or young and poor!). Lower prices also discourage speculation and make it more attractive to
invest in alternative forms of tenure which can provide a more stable and diverse housing market. Another benefit is that it reduces the temptation to get on the housing ladder for reasons of financial gain rather than to have a decent place to live. After all, in the last two decades, house prices rose so fast that returns were greater than going out to work, hardly a good incentive for increasing a work ethic.
So, let's start 2010 by welcoming the prospects of higher fuel prices and lower housing prices!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Climate Change nil, Global Governance nil (half-time score)
So the Copenhagen meeting failed to deliver due to poor teamwork by those on the attack against reactionary, but stubborn, defence.
For many, the star players are in the civil society groups who campaigned tirelessly and whose stamina will need to remain at a high level as the fight continues. The poor performers were the politicans unable to accept national responsibility for getting the pitch into such a mess in the first place.
However, by setting the standard of play at a level consistent with the needs for success - in fact the very survival of the game and the players, there is all to play for in the second half. A good manager now will be urging all concerned to make sure that players and spectators around the world are made fully aware of the statistics involved, so there can be no fudging of the issues or debate about the basis on which the game has to be played. Once the data is absolutely clearcut (a requirement here for the scientists of the game to sort out), then pressure needs to be maintained to get the underperforming players in the political part of the team to deliver. We are at the halfway point in terms of time to get a result and their is everything to play for. In fact we cannot afford to lose.
We need urgently to build the global governance team to beat the climate change challenge so they can then start to address an even bigger challenge - to beat the threat posed by global resource depletion and the need to reduce global poverty and improve the quality of life without economic growth! Now that will really will be a game to watch!
For many, the star players are in the civil society groups who campaigned tirelessly and whose stamina will need to remain at a high level as the fight continues. The poor performers were the politicans unable to accept national responsibility for getting the pitch into such a mess in the first place.
However, by setting the standard of play at a level consistent with the needs for success - in fact the very survival of the game and the players, there is all to play for in the second half. A good manager now will be urging all concerned to make sure that players and spectators around the world are made fully aware of the statistics involved, so there can be no fudging of the issues or debate about the basis on which the game has to be played. Once the data is absolutely clearcut (a requirement here for the scientists of the game to sort out), then pressure needs to be maintained to get the underperforming players in the political part of the team to deliver. We are at the halfway point in terms of time to get a result and their is everything to play for. In fact we cannot afford to lose.
We need urgently to build the global governance team to beat the climate change challenge so they can then start to address an even bigger challenge - to beat the threat posed by global resource depletion and the need to reduce global poverty and improve the quality of life without economic growth! Now that will really will be a game to watch!
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