It is not often that I reflect back on my years spent growing up and living in what is now Zimbabwe (it was still called Rhodesia for all but the last year of my time there). It is a chapter of my life that came to an end many years ago but it saddens me to see what was a prosperous and vibrant country descend to utter penury, starvation and total mis-governance.
I was searching the web when I came across a staggering article on the Avert site (Averting HIV and AIDS) at http://www.avert.org/aids-zimbabwe.htm#top. Just the opening paragraph is breathtaking in what is left unsaid (let alone the rest of the article) – the devastated lives, the orphaned children, the economic catastrophe that is implicit in the cold statistics: -
“With around one in seven adults living with HIV and an estimated 565 adults and children becoming infected every day (roughly one person every three minutes), Zimbabwe is experiencing one of the harshest AIDS epidemics in the world.
In a country with such a tense political and social climate, it has been difficult to respond to the crisis. President Robert Mugabe and his government have been widely criticised by the international community, and Zimbabwe has become increasingly isolated, both politically and economically. The economy is suffering from a rapidly growing rate of inflation that was around 2,000% in November 2006, making goods twice as expensive as they were in May 2006. In January 2008, inflation was reported to have reached 100,000% [Andrew's comment now -2009 - in the trillion % area]. This economic decline is fuelling food shortages at a time when poverty is already rife, leading to a desperate situation where HIV and AIDS are in danger of being overlooked in the face of more immediate survival concerns.
In many cases, as one Zimbabwean doctor explained to reporters, the reality is that AIDS can now be counted amongst such concerns:
“Put simply, people are dying of AIDS before they can starve to death” -
The situation in Zimbabwe is now so bad that:
• Between 2002 and 2006, the population is estimated to have decreased by four million people.
• Infant mortality has doubled since 1990.
• Average life expectancy for women, who are particularly affected by Zimbabwe's AIDS epidemic, is 34 - the lowest anywhere in the world. Officials from the World Health Organisation have admitted that since this figure is based on data collected two years ago, the real number may be as low as 30.
• Zimbabwe has a higher number of orphans, in proportion to its population, than any other country in the world, according to UNICEF. Most of these cases are a result of parents dying from AIDS.”
We just do not realise how lucky we are to be in Australia, or any developed country for that matter. The problem is not visible to us so we ignore it. It is just the dedicated few who earn my undying praise who keep up the humanitarian work of helping those so desperately in need. This is so easy for me to say – I am here not there! This is why I do not revisit this area of my past. I think I feel guilty that I am not doing anything to help - I am too comfortable.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Me on my high-horse again!
I have written about it before but recent articles about the Madoff ‘ponzi scheme’ defrauding people worldwide of some US$50 billion (that is 50 with 9 zeros after it) and the yet to be quantified US Army in Iraq fraud – reputedly about US $125 billion (125 with 9 zeros) have got me on my high-horse again. What do the people involved with all this think when actually participating? Are they happy? Are they nervous? Or does greed blind them to any possible consequences?
As stated before, every action or deed performed by a human being, which are all initiated by thoughts, will have an effect on something, on someone, somewhere and at sometime – and it ALWAYS affects the person or persons involved.
It must be repeated, again and again, that we all know, in our heart of hearts what is right and what is wrong. We all have the facility to choose and to discriminate between different courses of action. We certainly know when we have done or said something “wrong”, otherwise why do we, when caught out, prevaricate and lie and deny our actions? Why do criminals, or those abusing their power or authority, generally perform their criminal acts at night, or when they are not likely to be seen; why do they often wear masks or some form of disguise? Why do criminals flee from the scene of their crime? Or when caught, deny any association with what has occurred? Why do those accused often try to fabricate an alibi? Why do alleged criminals generally try to hide their faces from public view and the television cameras? And when in court why do they plead “Not guilty”? Why is it that offenders do not want to admit the truth and accept responsibility for their actions? Why do oppressive governments (and some that are not so oppressive!!) attempt to suppress any media reports likely to expose their illegal or criminal activities? Why are ‘whistle blowers’ always treated harshly by those upon whom the whistle has been blown?
People as individuals, or in positions of authority, business or in government will justify their questionable actions (or sometimes their in-action) in any way possible, rather than a straight forward acceptance of their responsibility. People will blame their, alleged, abuse as a child; or poverty; or diminished responsibility brought about by the effects of alcohol, or drugs; or peer pressure, anything, rather than accept responsibility. If the person is in business or government the media is often blamed for misrepresentation; or misquoting; or accused of quoting out of context.
They forget that they have to live with themselves. Knowing what they know about their own fraudulent or criminal activities there will be a deep seated nervousness regarding people they meet (I wonder if he is an FBI agent? Why is the phone ringing now - I wonder who it is? Etc, etc.) No amount of money can clean your conscience.
“The Moving Finger writes; and having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”
From the E Fitzgerald translation - Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam [C1100 AD]
It is natural to tell the truth. It is a relief to tell the truth. There are many well recorded instances of criminals on the run, sometimes for years, who when finally caught, express relief. Similarly when we admit our actions to ourselves, or family, or friends, or business associates and we ‘come clean’ regarding something we have done; something we are not very proud about, we feel relief. Non-acceptance of personal responsibility is stressful.
As stated before, every action or deed performed by a human being, which are all initiated by thoughts, will have an effect on something, on someone, somewhere and at sometime – and it ALWAYS affects the person or persons involved.
It must be repeated, again and again, that we all know, in our heart of hearts what is right and what is wrong. We all have the facility to choose and to discriminate between different courses of action. We certainly know when we have done or said something “wrong”, otherwise why do we, when caught out, prevaricate and lie and deny our actions? Why do criminals, or those abusing their power or authority, generally perform their criminal acts at night, or when they are not likely to be seen; why do they often wear masks or some form of disguise? Why do criminals flee from the scene of their crime? Or when caught, deny any association with what has occurred? Why do those accused often try to fabricate an alibi? Why do alleged criminals generally try to hide their faces from public view and the television cameras? And when in court why do they plead “Not guilty”? Why is it that offenders do not want to admit the truth and accept responsibility for their actions? Why do oppressive governments (and some that are not so oppressive!!) attempt to suppress any media reports likely to expose their illegal or criminal activities? Why are ‘whistle blowers’ always treated harshly by those upon whom the whistle has been blown?
People as individuals, or in positions of authority, business or in government will justify their questionable actions (or sometimes their in-action) in any way possible, rather than a straight forward acceptance of their responsibility. People will blame their, alleged, abuse as a child; or poverty; or diminished responsibility brought about by the effects of alcohol, or drugs; or peer pressure, anything, rather than accept responsibility. If the person is in business or government the media is often blamed for misrepresentation; or misquoting; or accused of quoting out of context.
They forget that they have to live with themselves. Knowing what they know about their own fraudulent or criminal activities there will be a deep seated nervousness regarding people they meet (I wonder if he is an FBI agent? Why is the phone ringing now - I wonder who it is? Etc, etc.) No amount of money can clean your conscience.
“The Moving Finger writes; and having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”
From the E Fitzgerald translation - Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam [C1100 AD]
It is natural to tell the truth. It is a relief to tell the truth. There are many well recorded instances of criminals on the run, sometimes for years, who when finally caught, express relief. Similarly when we admit our actions to ourselves, or family, or friends, or business associates and we ‘come clean’ regarding something we have done; something we are not very proud about, we feel relief. Non-acceptance of personal responsibility is stressful.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
I do not like Plans and Budgets
Much is to be learned from the passing of the years. Some may call it wisdom, I call it self-knowledge.
Every day brings a new beginning. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities. Yet the day has still to dawn which will encourage me to put pen to paper and devise a plan for my future.
I have never had a plan and I disagree with budgets. How is that for a controversial statement!!
To me a ‘plan’ for life is but a wish list. Budgets are not really worth the time devising them nor paper they are printed on. For starters we can never foretell the future (read Wall Street catastrophe)!
The real problem with plans and budgets is that most people become too attached to them. The ‘plan’ and/or the ‘budget’ becomes their life – they must follow the plan and must adhere to the budget. Plans and budgets divert the mind from living NOW and concentrate attention on the past (the basis for most budgets) and the future (plans). The past is history and the future has not yet arrived. Yet NOW is the only time we can actually live, when things happen, when we can experience life.
What we do now has no effect on the past but will have an influence on the future. This is why I hammer away at ethics – do the right (ethical) thing now and the future will look after itself. Stuff up what you are doing now and you will spend many future days trying to hide or correct your error(s) which provides fertile ground for corruption and unethical conduct.
I personally know of civil servants and business people who having made a significant error, or conducted themselves in an unethical manner, who have sneaked in to the office after hours, taken the offending file or files and destroyed them. This, to destroy the ‘evidence’ and to try and save their backsides. These people will carry the burden of their actions for the rest of their lives.
See what I mean? Plans and budgets can become devouring monsters, consuming time, energy and man power for what end? Just do the best you can now, today, and tomorrow will work out just fine.
To please your bank manager or your local financial analyst by all means put something together but don’t put your life on it – as I say the future cannot be foretold. We are not soothsayers.
Every day brings a new beginning. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities. Yet the day has still to dawn which will encourage me to put pen to paper and devise a plan for my future.
I have never had a plan and I disagree with budgets. How is that for a controversial statement!!
To me a ‘plan’ for life is but a wish list. Budgets are not really worth the time devising them nor paper they are printed on. For starters we can never foretell the future (read Wall Street catastrophe)!
The real problem with plans and budgets is that most people become too attached to them. The ‘plan’ and/or the ‘budget’ becomes their life – they must follow the plan and must adhere to the budget. Plans and budgets divert the mind from living NOW and concentrate attention on the past (the basis for most budgets) and the future (plans). The past is history and the future has not yet arrived. Yet NOW is the only time we can actually live, when things happen, when we can experience life.
What we do now has no effect on the past but will have an influence on the future. This is why I hammer away at ethics – do the right (ethical) thing now and the future will look after itself. Stuff up what you are doing now and you will spend many future days trying to hide or correct your error(s) which provides fertile ground for corruption and unethical conduct.
I personally know of civil servants and business people who having made a significant error, or conducted themselves in an unethical manner, who have sneaked in to the office after hours, taken the offending file or files and destroyed them. This, to destroy the ‘evidence’ and to try and save their backsides. These people will carry the burden of their actions for the rest of their lives.
See what I mean? Plans and budgets can become devouring monsters, consuming time, energy and man power for what end? Just do the best you can now, today, and tomorrow will work out just fine.
To please your bank manager or your local financial analyst by all means put something together but don’t put your life on it – as I say the future cannot be foretold. We are not soothsayers.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Total Knee Replacement news
Good news! For those of my many readers who avidly follow the progress of my left knee (replaced on 3rd November 2008) you will be pleased to know that I am doing really well. I saw the surgeon this morning and he is very happy. My movement range (before the operation) was 12 degrees to 110 degrees. It is now 2 degrees to 115 degrees – which after only 3 months is excellent progress.
So there we are – all up to date. The next exciting episode will be in three months time. I trust you will have the fortitude to wait that long without any news. Try not to let the wait get you down.
So there we are – all up to date. The next exciting episode will be in three months time. I trust you will have the fortitude to wait that long without any news. Try not to let the wait get you down.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
WA Police must not charge elderly man
What is the world coming to? In Perth a 77 year man subject to a violent home was assaulted and has ended up with a broken arm and concussion.
He locked himself and his wife in their bedroom in defence. He is licensed to have a 12 gauge shot gun which he used after the assailants kicked in the door of the bedroom. One of the assailants was shot in the stomach and is now in hospital – I understand the injuries are not life threatening.
Now it appears that the police may charge the elderly man with “using disproportionate force” in defending himself and his wife! What was he supposed to do? Ask what force the intruders intend to use so that he can match it?? Get real.
I hope the police come to their senses and drop any charges.
He locked himself and his wife in their bedroom in defence. He is licensed to have a 12 gauge shot gun which he used after the assailants kicked in the door of the bedroom. One of the assailants was shot in the stomach and is now in hospital – I understand the injuries are not life threatening.
Now it appears that the police may charge the elderly man with “using disproportionate force” in defending himself and his wife! What was he supposed to do? Ask what force the intruders intend to use so that he can match it?? Get real.
I hope the police come to their senses and drop any charges.
Paradigm shift needed
We need a paradigm shift in the way we do things, in the way we operate businesses and in the way we think. What we did before has got us all into the mess we are currently experiencing and trying to restore the world back to the way it was just will not work. There is a definition of insanity which goes something like this – “Keeping on doing the same thing again and again but expecting a different result each time.” This is the lesson that governments and business leaders must learn and learn quickly.
At any one time a person is a free individual; free to grow and develop as a human being and free to engage “in the pursuit of happiness” (US Constitution). Yet at the same time that same person may be considered as a cog in the industrial ‘machine’ to be discarded, down-sized, retrenched and generally treated like a piece on an economic game board to be moved around as is seen fit by ‘management’. All this leads to most industrial and commercial enterprises providing goods and services made and devised by people who do not really enjoy the work they are doing. This opens avenues for corruption and unethical conduct, both very prevalent today.
The emphasis in most organisations is not on the quality of the goods and services they provide but on money and the level of returns to the shareholders. Thus both the product and service provided are inferior and diminished no matter how many systems and controls are put in place. This is a sad commentary on our society but it need not be so.
Reflect for a moment on what any commercial, industrial or financial firm or organisation was actually formed to do. What did the original entrepreneur set out to do with his new company? It should have been and somewhere in the back of his (or her) mind most probably was, to provide a service. As an example, I have decided that I need a ‘widget’. I cannot make a ‘widget’ so I approach someone who either can make one or is already making them. That manufacture is providing a service to me for which I am prepared to pay.
The primary and only concern of any business should be to provide a service, the best and most excellent service they can, to help others on our common journey through life. If they do this I guarantee people will queue to buy or avail themselves of the ‘service’ provided and most will be prepared pay premium prices for that excellence (I know that I would).
Everyone has had the unfortunate experience of bad or sloppy service, be it at a bank, a restaurant, a doctor’s surgery or where ever – the list is endless – but we know what it is like and how we react. The standard reaction would be along the lines, “Stuff them. I am not going there again!”
The paradigm shift that industry leaders and managers must get their heads around is that service must come first, not as something codified in a manual, but something from the heart; not because of the money they can make but because of the help they can offer fellow wayfarers on the Road of Life.
This must be a genuine willingness to HELP people in life and this has to come from the top. It will never grow from the bottom up. If an excellent service is provided the money will flow.
This needs a huge shift and a lot of soul searching but what is the alternative? More of the same?
At any one time a person is a free individual; free to grow and develop as a human being and free to engage “in the pursuit of happiness” (US Constitution). Yet at the same time that same person may be considered as a cog in the industrial ‘machine’ to be discarded, down-sized, retrenched and generally treated like a piece on an economic game board to be moved around as is seen fit by ‘management’. All this leads to most industrial and commercial enterprises providing goods and services made and devised by people who do not really enjoy the work they are doing. This opens avenues for corruption and unethical conduct, both very prevalent today.
The emphasis in most organisations is not on the quality of the goods and services they provide but on money and the level of returns to the shareholders. Thus both the product and service provided are inferior and diminished no matter how many systems and controls are put in place. This is a sad commentary on our society but it need not be so.
Reflect for a moment on what any commercial, industrial or financial firm or organisation was actually formed to do. What did the original entrepreneur set out to do with his new company? It should have been and somewhere in the back of his (or her) mind most probably was, to provide a service. As an example, I have decided that I need a ‘widget’. I cannot make a ‘widget’ so I approach someone who either can make one or is already making them. That manufacture is providing a service to me for which I am prepared to pay.
The primary and only concern of any business should be to provide a service, the best and most excellent service they can, to help others on our common journey through life. If they do this I guarantee people will queue to buy or avail themselves of the ‘service’ provided and most will be prepared pay premium prices for that excellence (I know that I would).
Everyone has had the unfortunate experience of bad or sloppy service, be it at a bank, a restaurant, a doctor’s surgery or where ever – the list is endless – but we know what it is like and how we react. The standard reaction would be along the lines, “Stuff them. I am not going there again!”
The paradigm shift that industry leaders and managers must get their heads around is that service must come first, not as something codified in a manual, but something from the heart; not because of the money they can make but because of the help they can offer fellow wayfarers on the Road of Life.
This must be a genuine willingness to HELP people in life and this has to come from the top. It will never grow from the bottom up. If an excellent service is provided the money will flow.
This needs a huge shift and a lot of soul searching but what is the alternative? More of the same?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Disloyalty fee - banks are bastards
Some years ago I had a run in with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia about the “service” they allegedly provided. At the time all Australian banks were closing branches asserting that ATMs would provided an equivalent service to branches – and in any case it was what the public wanted.
I wrote to the Commonwealth Bank’s then CEO, David Murray questioning his motives and asked him whether he knew what the word ‘service’ actually meant. I suggested that an ATM provided a ‘facility’ for withdrawing cash but that only a human being could provide a ‘service’ to another human being.
David Murray’s secretary replied (after some prompting – telephone calls and more letters from me) with a rather ‘shirty’ letter which I still treasure.
Now the reasons put forward at the time for the closure of branches was that they were expensive to operate and many customers waiting in queues were there just to withdraw cash – something an ATM was designed to do at a lower cost. This was and is a perfectly valid point. Further advantages put forward by the banks were that ATMs operated 24 hours a day, that the costs were lower and that there was interbank co-operation for withdrawals from other bank ATMs, for a small fee. All sounds quite reasonable. The hidden agenda with the proliferation of ATMs was that customers were a nuisance and that banks should be allowed to get on with their ‘real business’ - protecting their share holders.
It may be of interest to recall that one bank (I think it was the ANZ) dreamed up a scheme to provide a ‘virtual’ teller for those customers who needed to talk to someone. There was to be a TV screen built into the ATM with the image of a teller. This ‘teller’ would answer questions and placate irate customers. This idea was justly ridiculed and died ‘in utero’ as it were. One wonders if they had heard of an actual branch with an actual teller!
Obviously banks have now come to the conclusion that having some branches, while necessary, are costly to run and that ATMs are now also expensive pieces of equipment to run and programme, particularly when it comes to sorting out ATM interbank transactions (and to replace after they get blown up – see Sydney).
But what about loyalty and service – why should I be penalised with a ‘disloyalty fee’ for using another bank’s ATM? Loyalty cuts both ways. I have been a loyal customer of the Commonwealth Bank for about 26 years. I have also had a Bankwest account (remember the old R & I Bank?) off and on for about the same period of time. Now if Bankwest do not have a convenient ATM – remember I am a loyal customer – and I use another bank’s ‘facility’ whose fault is that? Mine? Recall that the banks, Bankwest and the Commonwealth included, actually encouraged the use of ATMs – in fact forced us to use them and get used to their convenience, by closing branches. Now they want to slug for that self same convenience factor.
Banks really are bastards.
Today I actually phoned Bankwest and asked their ‘help desk’ operator what would happen if (now that Commonwealth Bank have bought Bankwest and I have accounts with both banks) I used a Commonwealth bank ATM because there was no convenient Bankwest ATM. Would I have to pay the ‘disloyalty fee? The girl said no, there would be no penalty fee. I then phoned the Commonwealth bank asking them the reverse of the same question. The girl did not know – could I please wait and she would find out? A few minutes later the answer came. At the moment I would get hit with a ‘disloyalty fee’ – this would be the case until the computer programmes were modified to account for the changes. She could not tell me when the computers would be reprogrammed. Confusion obviously reigns and this is a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.
The Commonwealth Bank has just announced a $2 billion profit for the half year to December 2008. This is a 16% fall in profits caused by soaring bad debts to the banking sector. See the paradox? The banks make a mistake by making loans which turn out to be dodgy and we pay with reduced access to credit and that which is granted is at a high cost. Also if I happen to be overdrawn in my savings account by $1.85 I get slugged with a $45 ‘honour fee’. Now if I happen to use another bank’s ATM, because mine has not provided one where I need one I get hit with a ‘disloyalty fee’ - if it is the Commonwealth Bank. Where is the bank’s loyalty? The bank(s) must remember that a ‘service’, in the first instance, is provided to help the customer, then to possibly make some money – not the other way around. Otherwise it is not a service, it is just a grab for money.
As I said Banks are bastards.
I wrote to the Commonwealth Bank’s then CEO, David Murray questioning his motives and asked him whether he knew what the word ‘service’ actually meant. I suggested that an ATM provided a ‘facility’ for withdrawing cash but that only a human being could provide a ‘service’ to another human being.
David Murray’s secretary replied (after some prompting – telephone calls and more letters from me) with a rather ‘shirty’ letter which I still treasure.
Now the reasons put forward at the time for the closure of branches was that they were expensive to operate and many customers waiting in queues were there just to withdraw cash – something an ATM was designed to do at a lower cost. This was and is a perfectly valid point. Further advantages put forward by the banks were that ATMs operated 24 hours a day, that the costs were lower and that there was interbank co-operation for withdrawals from other bank ATMs, for a small fee. All sounds quite reasonable. The hidden agenda with the proliferation of ATMs was that customers were a nuisance and that banks should be allowed to get on with their ‘real business’ - protecting their share holders.
It may be of interest to recall that one bank (I think it was the ANZ) dreamed up a scheme to provide a ‘virtual’ teller for those customers who needed to talk to someone. There was to be a TV screen built into the ATM with the image of a teller. This ‘teller’ would answer questions and placate irate customers. This idea was justly ridiculed and died ‘in utero’ as it were. One wonders if they had heard of an actual branch with an actual teller!
Obviously banks have now come to the conclusion that having some branches, while necessary, are costly to run and that ATMs are now also expensive pieces of equipment to run and programme, particularly when it comes to sorting out ATM interbank transactions (and to replace after they get blown up – see Sydney).
But what about loyalty and service – why should I be penalised with a ‘disloyalty fee’ for using another bank’s ATM? Loyalty cuts both ways. I have been a loyal customer of the Commonwealth Bank for about 26 years. I have also had a Bankwest account (remember the old R & I Bank?) off and on for about the same period of time. Now if Bankwest do not have a convenient ATM – remember I am a loyal customer – and I use another bank’s ‘facility’ whose fault is that? Mine? Recall that the banks, Bankwest and the Commonwealth included, actually encouraged the use of ATMs – in fact forced us to use them and get used to their convenience, by closing branches. Now they want to slug for that self same convenience factor.
Banks really are bastards.
Today I actually phoned Bankwest and asked their ‘help desk’ operator what would happen if (now that Commonwealth Bank have bought Bankwest and I have accounts with both banks) I used a Commonwealth bank ATM because there was no convenient Bankwest ATM. Would I have to pay the ‘disloyalty fee? The girl said no, there would be no penalty fee. I then phoned the Commonwealth bank asking them the reverse of the same question. The girl did not know – could I please wait and she would find out? A few minutes later the answer came. At the moment I would get hit with a ‘disloyalty fee’ – this would be the case until the computer programmes were modified to account for the changes. She could not tell me when the computers would be reprogrammed. Confusion obviously reigns and this is a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.
The Commonwealth Bank has just announced a $2 billion profit for the half year to December 2008. This is a 16% fall in profits caused by soaring bad debts to the banking sector. See the paradox? The banks make a mistake by making loans which turn out to be dodgy and we pay with reduced access to credit and that which is granted is at a high cost. Also if I happen to be overdrawn in my savings account by $1.85 I get slugged with a $45 ‘honour fee’. Now if I happen to use another bank’s ATM, because mine has not provided one where I need one I get hit with a ‘disloyalty fee’ - if it is the Commonwealth Bank. Where is the bank’s loyalty? The bank(s) must remember that a ‘service’, in the first instance, is provided to help the customer, then to possibly make some money – not the other way around. Otherwise it is not a service, it is just a grab for money.
As I said Banks are bastards.
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