A few weeks back Gordon Brown (UK Prime Minister) was asked if company directors and the ‘City’, the latter in terms of continued bonus awards, should pay themselves large dividends and salaries, especially if their companies are not performing to their potential. He suggested that they, ‘the execs’ certainly need to make the call.
I noticed on Tesco’s web site, the following, in terms of their statement on Corporate Responsibility: ‘Our core values ‘no-one tries harder for customers’ and ‘treat people how we like to be treated’ characterise our approach to Corporate Responsibility. We believe we can achieve most when we work together on practical things that make a difference. ‘Every little helps’ can become a great deal when everyone pulls in the same direction.’… Sir Terry Leahy

Quite nice that the statement appears customer centric and I agree that we should all ‘pull together’. Further examination of some of Tesco’s policies reveals that Tesco do have some initiatives for the environment and selective charities.

It would be great if more multi-national organizations could come together to unite their efforts, especially as there is still so much poverty and injustice in the world.
I wonder sometimes if our reaction and attitude to poverty or human right abuses is based on being conditioned to ignore it. Or, simply being passive to news feeds.

Imagine if you have missed a meal because you are busy. It does not take long for your stomach to signal your brain to take action! The rumbling starts and then your performance begins to run down. For many in the world going without food, shoes, shelter or a family, poverty  is an everyday situation. Yet, in another part of the world many countries live in luxury. There has to be something wrong in this world if we have designed a system of such unfairness.

Wonderful programmes such as, ‘The unreported world’ reveal the extent of exploitation by rich countries. A recent programme showed how China is investing heavily in Africa. It showed how African workers are currently being exploited in terms of working conditions and greedy middle agents, simply to gain access to vital resources that are destined for consumer products that the west are hungry for.

Most recently, the peace marches in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) by Buddhist monks was shut down by the country’s military rulers. The world watched silently as the monks were beaten and imprisoned. Myanmar’s supportive countries (e.g: economic traders such as China) fumbled over any influence that they could administer. Ironic, as China is keen to attract visitors to the Olympics in ’08. The United Nations tried to gain resolutions. The US watched. The rest of the world were shut-out. Technology, for example, cell phones and the Internet were blocked from reporting any news. Right now it appears that the Military got away with their abuses, yet again.

Another case of some of the world sitting back watching, ignoring and administering justice where they feel it should be applied.

How long will we sit back and let politicians choose the battles they wish to fight? Should we not all stand together and demand an urgent need for a world initiative to bring about harmonization of living standards and human rights?!

Popularity: 65% [?]

60 years ago a nation was torn apart and I wonder if there will ever be a point in time if they could reconcile? Probably not, as the way it happened or was allowed to happen is unforgettably tragic.

The legacy of those fateful days continues to haunt many. The tales of displacement slaughter and resettlement transformed the lives of millions. The negativity created has caused ripples and political ramifications that generations will never forget.

It may be relatively easy for us to question why it happened. Many of us were not there at the time. Did the climate and those in power at the time ever anticipate the extent and reach of their decisions? Were these individuals so cold or just too innocent? Was there an ultimatum laid down by the British that has never been documented? Or, were the British so cunning that their ‘divide and rule’ policy had an air of vindictiveness so vile that they had a fit of jealously, running on the lines of, ‘If we can’t have India then no one can’!? Having enjoyed the riches of India for over 200 years they may have adopted this attitude.

When I hear my father recall the events of him reaching Amirtsar railway station in a humanitarian effort to save those who came in on the trains from the newly emerging country of Pakistan, the view of communal violence is unbelievable. These two nations were formed through the blood of the innocent.

60 years on although much is said about India’s emergence as a world economic power, there are still so many challenges. The survival of the fitness still rules as 80 percent of the population are still living in an extreme poor way.

Only this Sunday I read about exploitation of workers from India recruited by agents and then forced to work in inhumane conditions in Mauritius for tiny wages and 72 hours a week. This was not what freedom was supposed to be about. Although colonialism has gone it has been replaced by multi-national greed and local disrespect.

India may be surfacing as an outsource power house with graduates and science parks to match – fast becoming the back-office centre for the world, yet its communist neighbour China, still appears to a preferred powerhouse for manufacturing and investment by the West.

Both will probably continue to ‘pitch it out’. However, will the division of the rich verses the poor in both countries continue to be stretched apart?

60 years on India at least is growing but is it growing in a fair and honest way that will bring all of its people up to a sense of harmonised international standards?

Popularity: 77% [?]

was basic and at first sold only 15 lines. The Body Shopp’s full range now has over 300 products. The Biography channel (An excellent source of information) outlined how she has helped fair trade and support communities, again by linking the human spirit to everyday purchases.

I guess the message is that although commercial retail organisation have commenced the red programme, after years of governments talking, we cannot seem to get to the root of the issue - some concessions are needed to harmonise world economies. Models can help yet the true will for change must come from all of us urging those that have the power to make change happen for the benefits of all in this world.

Popularity: 43% [?]