Natalie and her husband Duncan are enthusiastic members of our Malawi Support Group and Natalie recently helped organise a very successful jewellry presentation evening at Mike and Wendy Wilsons gallery. At each Malawi meeting we begin with a different "refection" prepared by a member. This is Natalies reflection which she has entited : you have 2 choices:
Jerry is the manager of a restaurant. He is always in a good mood.
When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would always reply,
"If I were any better, I would be twins!" Many of the waiters at his restaurant quit their jobs when he changed jobs, so they could follow him around from restaurant to restaurant
Why?, because Jerry was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was always there, telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him.
"I don't get it! No one can be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"
Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, I have two choices today. I can choose to be in a good mood or I can choose to be in a bad mood.
I always choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be victim or I can choose to learn from it. I always choose to learn from it.
Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I always choose the positive side of life."
"But it's not always that easy, I protested."
"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk every situation is a choice."
You choose how you react to situations.
You choose how people will affect your mood.
You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood.
It's your choice how you live your life."
Several years later, I heard that Jerry accidentally did something you are never supposed to do in the restaurant business. He left the back door of his restaurant open
And then ???
In the morning, he was robbed by three armed men.
They want?
#123*+!@$%&*~
While Jerry was trying to open the safe box, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him.
Luckily, Jerry was found quickly and rushed to the hospital.
After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident.
When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Want to see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.
"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, after they shot me, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or could choose to die. I chose to live." "Weren't you scared I asked?"
Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine.
But when they wheeled me into the Emergency Room and I saw the expression on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared.
In their eyes, I read 'He's a dead man.'
I knew I needed to take action."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything."
'Yes,' I replied.
The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply.
I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!'
Over their laughter, I told them,
'I am choosing to live. Please operate on me as if I am alive, not dead'.
"Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude."
I learned from him that every day you have the choice to either enjoy your life or to hate it. The only thing that is truly yours -- that no one can control or take from you- is your attitude, so if you can take care of that, everything else in life becomes much easier.
Sunday, July 31
Saturday, July 30
The Getting of Wisdom
The Getting of Wisdom
Professor Elkhonon Goldberg who is Clinical Professor of Neurology at New York University School of Medicine and director of the East West Science and Education Foundation is back in town and was recently interviewed on Radio National. I have included a link to the full radio interview.
It‘s interesting to realise the human brain requires regular workouts, so start sweating your brain, particularly into old age, thats if you want to enjoy your mental life to its fullest.
Other encouraging news is as we get older the left brain becomes more predominant in our everyday life and providing we have challenged our ourselves to some degree during our life it makes us wiser. The left brain is the repository of past experiences and understandings enabling it to identify new pattens because of the similarities to past experiences. The right brain is utilised for novel concepts and as the sum total of our past experience grows the need for right brain thinking diminishes. That's because having experienced many past similar patterns stored in our left brain it’s easier for us as we get older to relate to new patterns without having to start from scratch so we become wiser.
I think this is not understood in society and particularly in business. I see many young people struggling to come to grips with novel situations, or taking much longer to complete multi faceted tasks than mature workers. Its not that one person is brighter than another, just the sum result of experiences add up too a considerable advantage. Interestingly our society up until fairly recently did not appreciate this fact and a real stigma was attached to older workers.
It reminds me of the of the Dot com boom when seasoned campaigners queried the validity of the boom and correctly predicted it would burst with an almighty collapse.
It’s a fascinating interview, just click on the link.
Professor Elkhonon Goldberg who is Clinical Professor of Neurology at New York University School of Medicine and director of the East West Science and Education Foundation is back in town and was recently interviewed on Radio National. I have included a link to the full radio interview.
It‘s interesting to realise the human brain requires regular workouts, so start sweating your brain, particularly into old age, thats if you want to enjoy your mental life to its fullest.
Other encouraging news is as we get older the left brain becomes more predominant in our everyday life and providing we have challenged our ourselves to some degree during our life it makes us wiser. The left brain is the repository of past experiences and understandings enabling it to identify new pattens because of the similarities to past experiences. The right brain is utilised for novel concepts and as the sum total of our past experience grows the need for right brain thinking diminishes. That's because having experienced many past similar patterns stored in our left brain it’s easier for us as we get older to relate to new patterns without having to start from scratch so we become wiser.
I think this is not understood in society and particularly in business. I see many young people struggling to come to grips with novel situations, or taking much longer to complete multi faceted tasks than mature workers. Its not that one person is brighter than another, just the sum result of experiences add up too a considerable advantage. Interestingly our society up until fairly recently did not appreciate this fact and a real stigma was attached to older workers.
It reminds me of the of the Dot com boom when seasoned campaigners queried the validity of the boom and correctly predicted it would burst with an almighty collapse.
It’s a fascinating interview, just click on the link.
Tuesday, July 26
China Transparency
China has often been a source of frustration for Investors who find difficulty in accessing information. But things are changing rapidly with improved corporate transparency, according to guidelines issued recently by the China Securities Regulatory Committee.
I have attached an article on this aspect from the China Daily website - the end result of these new standards will be that reports on listed firms will disclose more timely and complete information about their operations and business development, business scale, financial soundness, profit, dividend distribution and important asset changes.
Its very encouraging news so click on the link to read the article.
I have attached an article on this aspect from the China Daily website - the end result of these new standards will be that reports on listed firms will disclose more timely and complete information about their operations and business development, business scale, financial soundness, profit, dividend distribution and important asset changes.
Its very encouraging news so click on the link to read the article.
Thursday, July 21
China –Chinese puzzle or emerging superpower?
China as a continent representing the 3rd largest land mass is unrivalled in population with just over of 1.3 billion residents. The world has watched in amazement the huge growth spurt of the past decade at almost 4 times that of the developed world. In the post Mao era there has been a dramatic improvement in its overall economic condition, from poverty that befell its citizen under that domination of terror to hope for the future. This growth has fuelled the recovery in the west and been the catalyst for improvements in commodity prices, an improved outlook for those traditional industries under invested during the dot com boom. But the boom in imports from China has caused severe dislocation in many industries particularly in the manufacturing heartland of the USA.
The present trade agreements currently don’t include provisions for dislocated workers to be trained or engaged in alternative industries and there needs to be a significant improvement in planning if all are to share equitably in the benefits of globilisation.Worse still is the situation where the work undertaken in China is undertaken in a sub standard environment of safety, with poor labour conditions representing misery and despair.
So the free trade agreements that promise much must have inbuilt buyer ethical standards for the respective countries. This also applies to suppliers setting up operation in China such as Google and Bank of America recently by way of example.
The question to ask is where all of this heading is and is it in the best interest of the world at large?
The responsibility of those negotiating and implementing the free trade agreements is to ensure its Charter provides ethical and human rights responsibilities to the respective countries. Providing these safeguards are included the benefits in free trade do represent a significant overall benefit. The alternative is trade blocks and tariffs, which lead to declines in growth and prosperity.
Hovering over all of this is the Taiwan question and whether any hostilities could bubble to the surface. This is now more likely to only surface after the Olympics but it remains an obstacle that endangers world peace.
So the world is watching with bated breath. The scorecard is a mixed bag.
China is opening up to the world and basic freedom of speech is improving. Human rights abuses continue. Employers don’t always take responsibility for the employees as we would be accustomed and reports confirm of situations where the average construction company worker in the cities is owed 2.5 months wages. Many simply give up and walk off with nothing. Large scale pockets of unemployment exist despite the booming conditions. There is no effective legal system or basic human rights. The remnant of Mao remains, and it appears a long road ahead, with some progress and an opening up of ever increasing access to other countries.
The first term of office for the Bush administration has seen a “go it alone" type approach to managing relations with Beijing. But it appears by to- days headline Bush is enlisting the aid of Australia as a key role player in engaging approaches to China on a multitude of things.
It seems the key to the future is to pressure China towards improved standards of human rights and in opening upon her economy to adhere to ethical standards on working conditions for its citizens.
There is no doubt China will eventually emerge as a super power. The task ahead is to help her regain a human rights perspective and to encourage the great culture that was nearly destroyed by Mao.
The present trade agreements currently don’t include provisions for dislocated workers to be trained or engaged in alternative industries and there needs to be a significant improvement in planning if all are to share equitably in the benefits of globilisation.Worse still is the situation where the work undertaken in China is undertaken in a sub standard environment of safety, with poor labour conditions representing misery and despair.
So the free trade agreements that promise much must have inbuilt buyer ethical standards for the respective countries. This also applies to suppliers setting up operation in China such as Google and Bank of America recently by way of example.
The question to ask is where all of this heading is and is it in the best interest of the world at large?
The responsibility of those negotiating and implementing the free trade agreements is to ensure its Charter provides ethical and human rights responsibilities to the respective countries. Providing these safeguards are included the benefits in free trade do represent a significant overall benefit. The alternative is trade blocks and tariffs, which lead to declines in growth and prosperity.
Hovering over all of this is the Taiwan question and whether any hostilities could bubble to the surface. This is now more likely to only surface after the Olympics but it remains an obstacle that endangers world peace.
So the world is watching with bated breath. The scorecard is a mixed bag.
China is opening up to the world and basic freedom of speech is improving. Human rights abuses continue. Employers don’t always take responsibility for the employees as we would be accustomed and reports confirm of situations where the average construction company worker in the cities is owed 2.5 months wages. Many simply give up and walk off with nothing. Large scale pockets of unemployment exist despite the booming conditions. There is no effective legal system or basic human rights. The remnant of Mao remains, and it appears a long road ahead, with some progress and an opening up of ever increasing access to other countries.
The first term of office for the Bush administration has seen a “go it alone" type approach to managing relations with Beijing. But it appears by to- days headline Bush is enlisting the aid of Australia as a key role player in engaging approaches to China on a multitude of things.
It seems the key to the future is to pressure China towards improved standards of human rights and in opening upon her economy to adhere to ethical standards on working conditions for its citizens.
There is no doubt China will eventually emerge as a super power. The task ahead is to help her regain a human rights perspective and to encourage the great culture that was nearly destroyed by Mao.
Ecstasy in Violence -Mao's Life
In her recent interviews Jung Chang discussed the 10 years of painstaking research for her recently published book Mao, The unknown Story" which she co authored with her husband Jon Halliday.
Jung Chang wrote 'The Wild Swans': which sold over 10 million copies and is still banned in China.
During their research Jung and her husband were able to interview 150 close confidants of Mao including the immediate family, which allowed them to determine aspects not previously understood and hence the title 'The unknown story': A virtual treasure trove of additional material was discovered in the Russian archives demonstrated the importance of Russia to Mao.
What Jung has been able to capture is the essence of the man, another terrible dictator with a lust for power outrivalling Hitler or Stalin as the consummate ultimate psychopath. Jung found through the interviews with those close to him, a revelation of how Mao had described to them his overwhelming intense ecstasy arising from inflicting violence and brutality against the mass peasantry.Violence shaped every facet of his life as an attachment expressed in the form of a constant desire for brutal vengeance and dehumanisation.
China was a net importer of grain, a poor nation and Mao realised that food was the only saleable asset at his dispoasl to achieve funding for the military might necessary to become a world power. Mao turned to China's food production and diverted domestic requirements for sale to Russia knowing such a policy would cause mass starvation. In fact Mao had acknowledged that it may be necessary for up to half of the entire population of China to starve to death as a sacrifice for China to become a super power. There were opponents who objected to this policy, but as a brilliant strategist he managed to isolate them and finally had his revenge against them and the party who did not fully support him with the introduction of the 'Cultural Revolution'.
It has been estimated he was directly responsible for over 70 million deaths in China.
During the period of the 'Cultural Revolution' all cultural activity was banned as Mao knew culture is what makes us human and his attachment to power by dehumanisation remained with him all of his life.
He also was a great strategist in terms of enlisting interlectual support abroad, and diverted a massive 7 % of gross national product to those splinter groups of inteligencia who became supporters of his purpose. Consider that to day where foreign aid is much less than 1% of GDP for even the wealthiest of countries.
Jung wrote this account with no mention of Mao being evil as the facts speak for themselves. It was written out of an intense curiosity, not out of vengance in any way, even though both her parents suffered terribly. Her father died prematurely in a mental asylum and both were heavily beaten and publically humiliated.
Since Mao's death the outlook has improved immeasurably in China but the remnants remain. His photograph remains in Tienneman Square. China is still not free, and the history of Mao needs to be acknowledged as it was, so healing can occur and help mend the deep scars that remain. China needs to finally make that clean break with this legacy of Mao as a uniting father which is what Jung hopes her book will help to do.
Jung Chang wrote 'The Wild Swans': which sold over 10 million copies and is still banned in China.
During their research Jung and her husband were able to interview 150 close confidants of Mao including the immediate family, which allowed them to determine aspects not previously understood and hence the title 'The unknown story': A virtual treasure trove of additional material was discovered in the Russian archives demonstrated the importance of Russia to Mao.
What Jung has been able to capture is the essence of the man, another terrible dictator with a lust for power outrivalling Hitler or Stalin as the consummate ultimate psychopath. Jung found through the interviews with those close to him, a revelation of how Mao had described to them his overwhelming intense ecstasy arising from inflicting violence and brutality against the mass peasantry.Violence shaped every facet of his life as an attachment expressed in the form of a constant desire for brutal vengeance and dehumanisation.
China was a net importer of grain, a poor nation and Mao realised that food was the only saleable asset at his dispoasl to achieve funding for the military might necessary to become a world power. Mao turned to China's food production and diverted domestic requirements for sale to Russia knowing such a policy would cause mass starvation. In fact Mao had acknowledged that it may be necessary for up to half of the entire population of China to starve to death as a sacrifice for China to become a super power. There were opponents who objected to this policy, but as a brilliant strategist he managed to isolate them and finally had his revenge against them and the party who did not fully support him with the introduction of the 'Cultural Revolution'.
It has been estimated he was directly responsible for over 70 million deaths in China.
During the period of the 'Cultural Revolution' all cultural activity was banned as Mao knew culture is what makes us human and his attachment to power by dehumanisation remained with him all of his life.
He also was a great strategist in terms of enlisting interlectual support abroad, and diverted a massive 7 % of gross national product to those splinter groups of inteligencia who became supporters of his purpose. Consider that to day where foreign aid is much less than 1% of GDP for even the wealthiest of countries.
Jung wrote this account with no mention of Mao being evil as the facts speak for themselves. It was written out of an intense curiosity, not out of vengance in any way, even though both her parents suffered terribly. Her father died prematurely in a mental asylum and both were heavily beaten and publically humiliated.
Since Mao's death the outlook has improved immeasurably in China but the remnants remain. His photograph remains in Tienneman Square. China is still not free, and the history of Mao needs to be acknowledged as it was, so healing can occur and help mend the deep scars that remain. China needs to finally make that clean break with this legacy of Mao as a uniting father which is what Jung hopes her book will help to do.
Wednesday, July 20
Ethics in Business
Ethics in business has become more widely debated as collapses of staggering proportions prompt debate and a demand for improvement in overall corporate responsibility. The scale of losses and extravagances are of such mind-blowing proportions the general public are baying for blood.
The responses, particularly in North America have been to introduce prescriptive type controls, in the form of improved reporting and much heavier penalties. Recent convictions involving lengthy prison sentences for former executives of large failed groups have had an effect on the corporate culture, for the time being at least. In other westernised countries the solution has been more descriptive in laying down what might be called principles which provide a guiding light over corporate activity. Either way, whether descriptive or prescriptive the question really arises as to how you classify ethical behavior. By that I mean how do we attempt to understand the application of ethics in the modern dynamic world. It becomes somewhat of a moving feast as our understanding increases and we can no longer blissfully claim lack of awareness of the consequences for our actions. Some might say principles remain as such, but this is untrue as society reflects changed aspects of acceptable behavior in itself a reflective of our new- found knowledge or enlightenment.
Many would categorise aspects of business disclosure and activity as simply a question of integrity leaving ethics only for the more difficult dilemmas not easily answered as either right or wrong. Ethics itself is subjective and in the context of this article I will provide the link to community standards of acceptable behaviors. Of course what is acceptable can vary markedly within individuals and groups.
I will examine the different prescriptive and descriptive type ethical provisions within cells in society to ascertain the potential for change and recommended pathways foreword. Business does takes up a gigantic slice of the community pie, yet we have this fear it should be totally left alone. If we meddle the patient my die of terminal illness. I think much of this thinking is justified by the protestant work ethic that still permeates society today and in my opinion has been a poor servant to our overall wellbeing.
I will approach the matter of ethics from 5 key areas.
Individual Ethics
The ethical base for corporate governance principles.
Ethics in practice in State and Federal Laws, government and policies
Social justice
The Environment and our ultimate sustainable
Individual Ethics
Capitalism and competition have provided a continued improved standard of living as measured purely in economical terms. However the market itself which is an acknowledged mechanism for efficient trade is in no way concerned with the ethics of those transactions.
As a starting point, I think most would agree ethics is universalism through the law and in most cases to the spirit of the law.
The law is meant to be a reflection of the values of society, in legislation enacted by parliament who amend and present new bills on our behalf. In essence they come from the people, but in practice are more likely to be as a consequence of lobbying on behalf of the various pressure groups in society.
To day just understanding all of our legal responsibilities is somewhat of a daunting task, that is to be sufficiently familiar with the large number of laws that apply to trading. Hence under new trading provisions and more recently with the introduction of the Financial Reform Services Bill extensive retraining and accreditation have been necessary to license service providers.
Whether these extensive prescriptive type controls actually result in more ethical delivery of services remains to be seen.
Personal ethics can arise from ones philosophy or religion or a combination of both or any number of influences. In Australia many would simply refer to the need for a 'fair go' in what might loosely be described as ethics based upon the proposition of fairness. What I mean by a 'fair go' is an individual or group is entitled to sufficient respect so they are treated on an equal basis. A somewhat vague notion, not easily defined, but a characterization of our society in Australia. So it's ethics that symbolises a state of embracing a concept of an egalitarian society, where all can succeed and have equal opportunity, a far cry perhaps from reality, but nevertheless part of the folklore and ethos within Australia society. Many would lament such a concept is fast disappearing before our eyes.
The golden rule of do unto others is a familiar one but it does require a lot of imagination in to-days complex business world that presents many difficult ethical issues. An initiative being adopted by companies is to support employees on ethical issues by providing counselors from the St James Ethics Centre.
St James Ethics Centre can be found by clicking on the icon at the beginning of the article Centre assists organizations, be they private or public, for profit or not-for-profit, to identify and address the ethical dimension of what they do. By following the links in the table of contents you learn more about the Consulting services offered by St James Ethics Centre: I think it is particularly helpful for large multinational companies to have on line counselors from the St James Ethics Center to assist employees wherever they are stationed.
The ethical base for corporate governance principles
There is no doubt that the corporate landscape has undertaken a metamorphose of recent times.
The adherence to a regularity environment and the attainment of superior returns was previously seen as conflicting objectives. What's happened to a large degree into the current business mix is the introduction of integrity. What you typically see in Annual Reports is an undertaking to produce desired results within the frame work of behaviors that encapsulate integrity. Additionally companies are keen to espouse the ASX Corporate Governance Council principles. Theses initiatives are designed to provide transparency and fairness to the investing community. By transparency I mean the free flow of information between contracting parties, so that an element of fairness prevails. It does not mean that companies cannot still sign confidentiality agreements, an important element to business, but rather those involved in the agreements are tansparent in their dealings with one another and that market sensitive information is made available as soon as it is known and the agreements secured.
The principles prescribe certain desirable characteristics such as a majority of independent directors, well constituted committees to oversee auditing, risk management, communication, share trading, remuneration, safety and disclosure matters. Environmental issues often figure very prominently.
A key feature is to align a large slice of remuneration incentives to the longer terms increases in shareholder funds.
Ethics in practice in State and Federal Laws,government and policies
Our society is governed by various laws operating at 3 levels of Government, Federal, State and local. Common Law based on individual cases provides an additional input. We don't have a Bill of Rights and I don't propose to debate this issue but suffice to say I think its introduction would lead to a fairer society.
Our legal system however is quite comprehensive as one can consider just a few of the more recent laws as part of the financial reform bills recently enacted. Hence there is a community expectation one would be familiar with provision that relate to aspects on: Code of Conduct and whistelblowing, Sexual Harassment, Restrictive Trade Practices, Customer Relations and Privacy Law, Fair Trading and Occupational Health & Safety.
This is a highly prescriptive approach through legislation. Having studied all of theses provisions I maintain the same outcomes could be achieved by more guiding principles and less detail as much of what is proposed comes down to basic fairness and common sense.
We have experienced a period of sound economic growth in Australia yet there is a growing awareness in the community that many are not receiving a 'fair go'. More importantly politics seems increasingly to lean towards placing the appropriate spin politically on important issues and the general standard or debate is lacking. Against this environment one needs to ask the question. Where to for Australia?
A recent initiative has been the formulation of a wellbeing manifesto.
Please refer to the permanent link I have provided on my website. Click on wellbeingmanifesto to view their website.
Many Australians feel that the political system has let them down, and that governments are not responding to their real concerns. We seem to have lost sight of a vision for a better society and to have entrusted our future to wherever the market takes us.This website presents a new manifesto, one that takes as its starting point the belief that governments in Australia should be devoted to improving our individual and social wellbeing.We now know a great deal about the factors that enhance our wellbeing. Increasingly the negatives seem to outweigh the positives, despite our affluence.The manifesting is a blueprint for true progress in Australia. After reading it, why not join the other 3409 people and give it your public endorsement?
I was pleased to add my endorsement.
Social justice and Community groups
This is indeed a "weighty" topic to cover in a few brief sentences. It goes to the heart of our society and it's hard to know where to begin. But I will begin with democracy, as a democratic system of government embracing a private enterprise system. It seems to the best model for Social Justice.
I dont propose to launch into an economic debate on the benefits of an open market system within a democratic environment as this would involve a considerable discourse. However I think its fair to say those countries that lead the way out of poverty and hunger have largely done so from a base of an open style economy. A good example is China and whilst I dont want to debate there human rights case against it I think any fair commentary would embrace the move to open markets that has assisted the country out of poverty over the last say 15 years. So that is I am keen on the private enterprise system within a democracy. We know complexity arises effortlessly from non complex beginning and many primitive societies have collapsed in the past from a centralised or attempted controlled stance.
The experiment of having everything owned by the State has been a dismal failure as its simply too complicated for states to make the multitude of decisions necessary for the efficient distribution of goods and services and there is not enough incentive for these models to work in practice. At least history reveals that is the case so far.
The structure needs to be flexible enough to provide incentives, but an important feature is that it can also include safeguards to protect those "who fall between the cracks". For these there needs to be a "hand up". We also know that largely uncontrolled environments allow small groups or even individuals to gain vast wealth at the "expense of the majority". This is the current position in Russia where there are more "billionaires" per capita than anywhere else, but the country overall is struggling.
There is a need for "equitable" safeguards" to provide an "equitable distribution" of the sum of our production and services in the economy, without which we most certainly can count on these undesirable outcomes.
I like the ideas expressed in the manifesto of wellbeing as this new term needs to be built into our democratic system to be measured,just like Gross National Product as Social capital already exits but it needs to come to the forefront and be measured and debated, ensuring it's showing an improving trend, just like unemployment.
The Environment and our ultimate sustainable
I recently attended a lecture in the city given by the visiting scientist Jarred Diamond who spoke about the themes of his recent publications indicating the reasons for past collapses of civilizations. The lecture was organisms by 'Readings' and he was interviewed by Larissa Behrendt who is Professor of Law and Indigenous Studies and Director of the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology, Sydney and Director of Ngiya, the National Institute of Indigenous Law, Policy and Practice and Indigenous Studies.
Larisa is an interesting person in her own right and you can catch her interview with George Negus by clicking on http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s1147118.htm
Larissa asked him a number of thought provoking questions about the implications for Australia and civilization as a whole.
He gave an example from his book entitled 'Collapse' about the disintegration of the community at Easter Island. Cannibalism was the last answer to the dying civilisation. It was an illustration of the why communities collapse. To day we know the lessons and the implications of our actions so there is a hope we can learn from these experiences.
Nevertheless there are no assurances that these same consequences as to what happened to many recent and ancient civilizations that have collapsed will not ultimately occur to planet earth, unless we change our ways as we remain in the twilight zone.
The questions turned to Australia. He considered this country to be one of the most fragile, driest, infertile continents on earth does not have the advantage of a rich volcanic soil as most of the nutrients were leeched from its soil by the sea over its prior 4 billion year's of inhabitance. The aborigine's inhabitation the land for the past 46,000 years but also found it inhospitable and at times also decimated the landscape through burning and overuse.
He spoke of the changes as he observed since last visiting 40 years prior. Then the country seemed more British than the British themselves and there was no notion of land care or responsibility as now exists land then was considered yours to do with whatever you like.
He has a cautious optimism for Australia, but I don't want to go into too much detail here. One need to make the point that there are ethical issues as to how we look after our land and treat the environmentalism will effect the next generation, and the economy as whole.
It also prompted me to reflect on the sustainable of enterprise as a whole. Scant attention is made to the ultimate sustainable of enterprises in Annual Reports but this must surely be one of the most important aspects of interest to any long term investor.
Conclusions.
There are 4 key areas I would recommend going forward.
Independent external ethical counselors for all enterprises. St James Ethics centre can be found by clicking on the icon at the beginning of the article or on the link to ascertain the range of services that can be provided.
Adopt the wellbeing manifesto. Click on the links section of my website to view the wellbeingmanifesto website.
sustainable aspects included in Annual Reports of organizations.
Consider the introduction of a Bill of Rights whilst modifying the existing legal system.
The responses, particularly in North America have been to introduce prescriptive type controls, in the form of improved reporting and much heavier penalties. Recent convictions involving lengthy prison sentences for former executives of large failed groups have had an effect on the corporate culture, for the time being at least. In other westernised countries the solution has been more descriptive in laying down what might be called principles which provide a guiding light over corporate activity. Either way, whether descriptive or prescriptive the question really arises as to how you classify ethical behavior. By that I mean how do we attempt to understand the application of ethics in the modern dynamic world. It becomes somewhat of a moving feast as our understanding increases and we can no longer blissfully claim lack of awareness of the consequences for our actions. Some might say principles remain as such, but this is untrue as society reflects changed aspects of acceptable behavior in itself a reflective of our new- found knowledge or enlightenment.
Many would categorise aspects of business disclosure and activity as simply a question of integrity leaving ethics only for the more difficult dilemmas not easily answered as either right or wrong. Ethics itself is subjective and in the context of this article I will provide the link to community standards of acceptable behaviors. Of course what is acceptable can vary markedly within individuals and groups.
I will examine the different prescriptive and descriptive type ethical provisions within cells in society to ascertain the potential for change and recommended pathways foreword. Business does takes up a gigantic slice of the community pie, yet we have this fear it should be totally left alone. If we meddle the patient my die of terminal illness. I think much of this thinking is justified by the protestant work ethic that still permeates society today and in my opinion has been a poor servant to our overall wellbeing.
I will approach the matter of ethics from 5 key areas.
Individual Ethics
The ethical base for corporate governance principles.
Ethics in practice in State and Federal Laws, government and policies
Social justice
The Environment and our ultimate sustainable
Individual Ethics
Capitalism and competition have provided a continued improved standard of living as measured purely in economical terms. However the market itself which is an acknowledged mechanism for efficient trade is in no way concerned with the ethics of those transactions.
As a starting point, I think most would agree ethics is universalism through the law and in most cases to the spirit of the law.
The law is meant to be a reflection of the values of society, in legislation enacted by parliament who amend and present new bills on our behalf. In essence they come from the people, but in practice are more likely to be as a consequence of lobbying on behalf of the various pressure groups in society.
To day just understanding all of our legal responsibilities is somewhat of a daunting task, that is to be sufficiently familiar with the large number of laws that apply to trading. Hence under new trading provisions and more recently with the introduction of the Financial Reform Services Bill extensive retraining and accreditation have been necessary to license service providers.
Whether these extensive prescriptive type controls actually result in more ethical delivery of services remains to be seen.
Personal ethics can arise from ones philosophy or religion or a combination of both or any number of influences. In Australia many would simply refer to the need for a 'fair go' in what might loosely be described as ethics based upon the proposition of fairness. What I mean by a 'fair go' is an individual or group is entitled to sufficient respect so they are treated on an equal basis. A somewhat vague notion, not easily defined, but a characterization of our society in Australia. So it's ethics that symbolises a state of embracing a concept of an egalitarian society, where all can succeed and have equal opportunity, a far cry perhaps from reality, but nevertheless part of the folklore and ethos within Australia society. Many would lament such a concept is fast disappearing before our eyes.
The golden rule of do unto others is a familiar one but it does require a lot of imagination in to-days complex business world that presents many difficult ethical issues. An initiative being adopted by companies is to support employees on ethical issues by providing counselors from the St James Ethics Centre.
St James Ethics Centre can be found by clicking on the icon at the beginning of the article Centre assists organizations, be they private or public, for profit or not-for-profit, to identify and address the ethical dimension of what they do. By following the links in the table of contents you learn more about the Consulting services offered by St James Ethics Centre: I think it is particularly helpful for large multinational companies to have on line counselors from the St James Ethics Center to assist employees wherever they are stationed.
The ethical base for corporate governance principles
There is no doubt that the corporate landscape has undertaken a metamorphose of recent times.
The adherence to a regularity environment and the attainment of superior returns was previously seen as conflicting objectives. What's happened to a large degree into the current business mix is the introduction of integrity. What you typically see in Annual Reports is an undertaking to produce desired results within the frame work of behaviors that encapsulate integrity. Additionally companies are keen to espouse the ASX Corporate Governance Council principles. Theses initiatives are designed to provide transparency and fairness to the investing community. By transparency I mean the free flow of information between contracting parties, so that an element of fairness prevails. It does not mean that companies cannot still sign confidentiality agreements, an important element to business, but rather those involved in the agreements are tansparent in their dealings with one another and that market sensitive information is made available as soon as it is known and the agreements secured.
The principles prescribe certain desirable characteristics such as a majority of independent directors, well constituted committees to oversee auditing, risk management, communication, share trading, remuneration, safety and disclosure matters. Environmental issues often figure very prominently.
A key feature is to align a large slice of remuneration incentives to the longer terms increases in shareholder funds.
Ethics in practice in State and Federal Laws,government and policies
Our society is governed by various laws operating at 3 levels of Government, Federal, State and local. Common Law based on individual cases provides an additional input. We don't have a Bill of Rights and I don't propose to debate this issue but suffice to say I think its introduction would lead to a fairer society.
Our legal system however is quite comprehensive as one can consider just a few of the more recent laws as part of the financial reform bills recently enacted. Hence there is a community expectation one would be familiar with provision that relate to aspects on: Code of Conduct and whistelblowing, Sexual Harassment, Restrictive Trade Practices, Customer Relations and Privacy Law, Fair Trading and Occupational Health & Safety.
This is a highly prescriptive approach through legislation. Having studied all of theses provisions I maintain the same outcomes could be achieved by more guiding principles and less detail as much of what is proposed comes down to basic fairness and common sense.
We have experienced a period of sound economic growth in Australia yet there is a growing awareness in the community that many are not receiving a 'fair go'. More importantly politics seems increasingly to lean towards placing the appropriate spin politically on important issues and the general standard or debate is lacking. Against this environment one needs to ask the question. Where to for Australia?
A recent initiative has been the formulation of a wellbeing manifesto.
Please refer to the permanent link I have provided on my website. Click on wellbeingmanifesto to view their website.
Many Australians feel that the political system has let them down, and that governments are not responding to their real concerns. We seem to have lost sight of a vision for a better society and to have entrusted our future to wherever the market takes us.This website presents a new manifesto, one that takes as its starting point the belief that governments in Australia should be devoted to improving our individual and social wellbeing.We now know a great deal about the factors that enhance our wellbeing. Increasingly the negatives seem to outweigh the positives, despite our affluence.The manifesting is a blueprint for true progress in Australia. After reading it, why not join the other 3409 people and give it your public endorsement?
I was pleased to add my endorsement.
Social justice and Community groups
This is indeed a "weighty" topic to cover in a few brief sentences. It goes to the heart of our society and it's hard to know where to begin. But I will begin with democracy, as a democratic system of government embracing a private enterprise system. It seems to the best model for Social Justice.
I dont propose to launch into an economic debate on the benefits of an open market system within a democratic environment as this would involve a considerable discourse. However I think its fair to say those countries that lead the way out of poverty and hunger have largely done so from a base of an open style economy. A good example is China and whilst I dont want to debate there human rights case against it I think any fair commentary would embrace the move to open markets that has assisted the country out of poverty over the last say 15 years. So that is I am keen on the private enterprise system within a democracy. We know complexity arises effortlessly from non complex beginning and many primitive societies have collapsed in the past from a centralised or attempted controlled stance.
The experiment of having everything owned by the State has been a dismal failure as its simply too complicated for states to make the multitude of decisions necessary for the efficient distribution of goods and services and there is not enough incentive for these models to work in practice. At least history reveals that is the case so far.
The structure needs to be flexible enough to provide incentives, but an important feature is that it can also include safeguards to protect those "who fall between the cracks". For these there needs to be a "hand up". We also know that largely uncontrolled environments allow small groups or even individuals to gain vast wealth at the "expense of the majority". This is the current position in Russia where there are more "billionaires" per capita than anywhere else, but the country overall is struggling.
There is a need for "equitable" safeguards" to provide an "equitable distribution" of the sum of our production and services in the economy, without which we most certainly can count on these undesirable outcomes.
I like the ideas expressed in the manifesto of wellbeing as this new term needs to be built into our democratic system to be measured,just like Gross National Product as Social capital already exits but it needs to come to the forefront and be measured and debated, ensuring it's showing an improving trend, just like unemployment.
The Environment and our ultimate sustainable
I recently attended a lecture in the city given by the visiting scientist Jarred Diamond who spoke about the themes of his recent publications indicating the reasons for past collapses of civilizations. The lecture was organisms by 'Readings' and he was interviewed by Larissa Behrendt who is Professor of Law and Indigenous Studies and Director of the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology, Sydney and Director of Ngiya, the National Institute of Indigenous Law, Policy and Practice and Indigenous Studies.
Larisa is an interesting person in her own right and you can catch her interview with George Negus by clicking on http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s1147118.htm
Larissa asked him a number of thought provoking questions about the implications for Australia and civilization as a whole.
He gave an example from his book entitled 'Collapse' about the disintegration of the community at Easter Island. Cannibalism was the last answer to the dying civilisation. It was an illustration of the why communities collapse. To day we know the lessons and the implications of our actions so there is a hope we can learn from these experiences.
Nevertheless there are no assurances that these same consequences as to what happened to many recent and ancient civilizations that have collapsed will not ultimately occur to planet earth, unless we change our ways as we remain in the twilight zone.
The questions turned to Australia. He considered this country to be one of the most fragile, driest, infertile continents on earth does not have the advantage of a rich volcanic soil as most of the nutrients were leeched from its soil by the sea over its prior 4 billion year's of inhabitance. The aborigine's inhabitation the land for the past 46,000 years but also found it inhospitable and at times also decimated the landscape through burning and overuse.
He spoke of the changes as he observed since last visiting 40 years prior. Then the country seemed more British than the British themselves and there was no notion of land care or responsibility as now exists land then was considered yours to do with whatever you like.
He has a cautious optimism for Australia, but I don't want to go into too much detail here. One need to make the point that there are ethical issues as to how we look after our land and treat the environmentalism will effect the next generation, and the economy as whole.
It also prompted me to reflect on the sustainable of enterprise as a whole. Scant attention is made to the ultimate sustainable of enterprises in Annual Reports but this must surely be one of the most important aspects of interest to any long term investor.
Conclusions.
There are 4 key areas I would recommend going forward.
Independent external ethical counselors for all enterprises. St James Ethics centre can be found by clicking on the icon at the beginning of the article or on the link to ascertain the range of services that can be provided.
Adopt the wellbeing manifesto. Click on the links section of my website to view the wellbeingmanifesto website.
sustainable aspects included in Annual Reports of organizations.
Consider the introduction of a Bill of Rights whilst modifying the existing legal system.
Immortal Quantum Faith
I am indebted to Laura at Dance of The Mind and John at Johns Justice for their valuable comments prior to my posting.
My motivation for this post is a passion to link scientific understanding with that of faith in god and our resurrection as previously our faith would be considered best left in the realm of the supernatural.
I feel that the dichotomy between science and religious thinking is coming to an end.In the process science itself uses language that has appeal to religion, terms such as 'singularities' and 'event horizons' that help shape its old founded ideas within a new refershing blaze of enlilightened understanding. For previosly is seemed ideas of resurrection, particularly of Christ's own bodily form after death seemed an illusion, but physics now provides a reconciliation, a linking of faith and science. This does not mean science replaces faith, or we are not in need of a “God”. For even the most basic question of: “Why did the Bang Bang occur at all” cannot be answered by Science. Science can only provide theories proven by mathematics and accurate observation. But they remain theories. Rather, what I see for future generations is for a far richer understanding of the resurrection as we understand better what might naturally occur.
It is almost universally accepted that our beginning from the "Big Bang" was an expansion of a pre -existing form, in a form so dense we can refer to it as singularity, from which came energy and matter.
Like all theories it needs to be tested by observation, for this theory is verifiable by use of the powerful telescopes and measurement tools for radiation. We can journey back in time to the early beginnings of the universe and measure the radiation by tuning receivers to different microwaves, to measure the distribution of power, tracing back our beginning to the “Big Bang”. We can use “Particle Accelerators” to ascertain the effect of “bombardment” of particles and what would have existed in the soup of early creation from the “Big Bang”.
So it seems a reasonable theory, to say that there is nothing new except the form of what already is. The energy from the “Big Bang” allowed that existing form (of what already is) to expand. That form that pre existed, but is now in an expanded form, eg of matter, in relationships, particles with particle, positive and negatives, and so on but all related and connected, wherever they be. This form (in the form of the universe) may go on expanding to infinity (or possibly contract) but the fact remains that it pre -existed at the beginning of time, in a form so dense we call it a singularity. You can therefore say all that is to know, is already known, but because it is now known in expanded form, a relationship exists between the components of this expanded pre existing form.
But the vastness of what is known means we will never be able to understand all that is known. Even in a black hole, (a collapsed star, so dense that light cannot escape and time ceases to exist) all knowledge (laws of physics) is not lost, as was previously thought, but re-escapes back into the universe via the event horizon. The “event horizon”, occurs, as a temporary state, just before matter is sucked into the star, by gravity, from which it cannot escape to form part of the singularity. So matter energy and knowledge all exist, and have always existed, with possibly the largest portion represented as knowledge.
Therefore, it also seems a reasonable theory, that all of the “conscious thoughts” occurring, will exist, in infinity. These conscious thoughts are cumulative understandings of what is known.
For if we were able to capture the sum of the history of the universe since its beginning theoretically this would allow us to predict the future. But how could you possibly do this since we are trapped within the system, within our time space dimension that precludes a complete understanding of all that is known, an understanding of reality. Its ultimate reality, (not for us in our current state) is that outcomes, that is creation, continue through transformed past and present conscious thoughts.
In our current state, we are trapped, within it; we can’t go outside it, to view it, except perhaps if we were able to discover a” worm hole” to climb through. But no doubt any intrepid space explorer would surely be zapped by the extreme radiation present. Worm Holes are tunnels through space, considered possible in modern physics, because of the nature of the universe, imagined as a lose bag of creation, flexible enough to fold back, and create crevices, worm holes, where theoretically we could go backwards in time. We would then be able to view our 'Reality’ by looking in. That is from a point outside our current state and before the time that were in, before we set out.
So life after death, that is our resurrection and perhaps a resurrection for all finite things is made possible by the relationships created in the birth and subsequent expansion of the universe. Our resurrection is the interchange from one state to another. This is quite possible from a scientific point of view, requiring a replication by the previous “conscious thoughts” but in another space time dimension. Our faith is, as is truth for us, to encounter the true reality of a transformed form of being. That is faith, not science, but what would seem possible now from what we know of science, from one state to another.
This “reality”, revealed in our resurrection, includes all conscious thought, since the beginning, but through our resurrection, it will eliminate, through this transformed form of being all of the suffering that occurred in our previous state. So we will be in a position to use the history of these conscious thoughts by downloading, into another subsequent creation. Hence creation continues, but in our present state, we cannot see this creation, as we are outside its reality
Just after I originally wrote this an article a similiar one appeared in the "Tablet" written by Keith Ward, Regius professor of divinity, University of Oxford, entitled “The quantum Leap”,
“Lee Smolin thinks that future intelligence beings might be able to download themselves through wormholes in space time into other parrel universes, so that a sort of immortality would be possible”
Ward further comments later in his brilliantly written article "The unique things about Jesus’ transformation would be that his transfigured body appeared in solid physical form, for short and intermittent periods, for some time after his death.”
He later comments further:
The amazing fact is that much modern physics enables us to see this, and not as something contrary to reason that contradicts all that science knows about the world. It is an intelligible possibility for a universe that could be one of many universes –in effect the “multiverse" -in which matter is an expression of a deeper veiled reality. There personal lives (scientifically regarded as information –processing systems) can be embodied in different forms.
It looks as if is there is a god. The resurrection is virtually inevitable
The prospect that science and faiths can move forward, in harmony, is an exciting one. We are “close” to reconciling what in the past was seen as irreconcilable conflicting differences.
I would be interested to hear from anyone with a similar interest in the “Quantum Soul”.
My motivation for this post is a passion to link scientific understanding with that of faith in god and our resurrection as previously our faith would be considered best left in the realm of the supernatural.
I feel that the dichotomy between science and religious thinking is coming to an end.In the process science itself uses language that has appeal to religion, terms such as 'singularities' and 'event horizons' that help shape its old founded ideas within a new refershing blaze of enlilightened understanding. For previosly is seemed ideas of resurrection, particularly of Christ's own bodily form after death seemed an illusion, but physics now provides a reconciliation, a linking of faith and science. This does not mean science replaces faith, or we are not in need of a “God”. For even the most basic question of: “Why did the Bang Bang occur at all” cannot be answered by Science. Science can only provide theories proven by mathematics and accurate observation. But they remain theories. Rather, what I see for future generations is for a far richer understanding of the resurrection as we understand better what might naturally occur.
It is almost universally accepted that our beginning from the "Big Bang" was an expansion of a pre -existing form, in a form so dense we can refer to it as singularity, from which came energy and matter.
Like all theories it needs to be tested by observation, for this theory is verifiable by use of the powerful telescopes and measurement tools for radiation. We can journey back in time to the early beginnings of the universe and measure the radiation by tuning receivers to different microwaves, to measure the distribution of power, tracing back our beginning to the “Big Bang”. We can use “Particle Accelerators” to ascertain the effect of “bombardment” of particles and what would have existed in the soup of early creation from the “Big Bang”.
So it seems a reasonable theory, to say that there is nothing new except the form of what already is. The energy from the “Big Bang” allowed that existing form (of what already is) to expand. That form that pre existed, but is now in an expanded form, eg of matter, in relationships, particles with particle, positive and negatives, and so on but all related and connected, wherever they be. This form (in the form of the universe) may go on expanding to infinity (or possibly contract) but the fact remains that it pre -existed at the beginning of time, in a form so dense we call it a singularity. You can therefore say all that is to know, is already known, but because it is now known in expanded form, a relationship exists between the components of this expanded pre existing form.
But the vastness of what is known means we will never be able to understand all that is known. Even in a black hole, (a collapsed star, so dense that light cannot escape and time ceases to exist) all knowledge (laws of physics) is not lost, as was previously thought, but re-escapes back into the universe via the event horizon. The “event horizon”, occurs, as a temporary state, just before matter is sucked into the star, by gravity, from which it cannot escape to form part of the singularity. So matter energy and knowledge all exist, and have always existed, with possibly the largest portion represented as knowledge.
Therefore, it also seems a reasonable theory, that all of the “conscious thoughts” occurring, will exist, in infinity. These conscious thoughts are cumulative understandings of what is known.
For if we were able to capture the sum of the history of the universe since its beginning theoretically this would allow us to predict the future. But how could you possibly do this since we are trapped within the system, within our time space dimension that precludes a complete understanding of all that is known, an understanding of reality. Its ultimate reality, (not for us in our current state) is that outcomes, that is creation, continue through transformed past and present conscious thoughts.
In our current state, we are trapped, within it; we can’t go outside it, to view it, except perhaps if we were able to discover a” worm hole” to climb through. But no doubt any intrepid space explorer would surely be zapped by the extreme radiation present. Worm Holes are tunnels through space, considered possible in modern physics, because of the nature of the universe, imagined as a lose bag of creation, flexible enough to fold back, and create crevices, worm holes, where theoretically we could go backwards in time. We would then be able to view our 'Reality’ by looking in. That is from a point outside our current state and before the time that were in, before we set out.
So life after death, that is our resurrection and perhaps a resurrection for all finite things is made possible by the relationships created in the birth and subsequent expansion of the universe. Our resurrection is the interchange from one state to another. This is quite possible from a scientific point of view, requiring a replication by the previous “conscious thoughts” but in another space time dimension. Our faith is, as is truth for us, to encounter the true reality of a transformed form of being. That is faith, not science, but what would seem possible now from what we know of science, from one state to another.
This “reality”, revealed in our resurrection, includes all conscious thought, since the beginning, but through our resurrection, it will eliminate, through this transformed form of being all of the suffering that occurred in our previous state. So we will be in a position to use the history of these conscious thoughts by downloading, into another subsequent creation. Hence creation continues, but in our present state, we cannot see this creation, as we are outside its reality
Just after I originally wrote this an article a similiar one appeared in the "Tablet" written by Keith Ward, Regius professor of divinity, University of Oxford, entitled “The quantum Leap”,
“Lee Smolin thinks that future intelligence beings might be able to download themselves through wormholes in space time into other parrel universes, so that a sort of immortality would be possible”
Ward further comments later in his brilliantly written article "The unique things about Jesus’ transformation would be that his transfigured body appeared in solid physical form, for short and intermittent periods, for some time after his death.”
He later comments further:
The amazing fact is that much modern physics enables us to see this, and not as something contrary to reason that contradicts all that science knows about the world. It is an intelligible possibility for a universe that could be one of many universes –in effect the “multiverse" -in which matter is an expression of a deeper veiled reality. There personal lives (scientifically regarded as information –processing systems) can be embodied in different forms.
It looks as if is there is a god. The resurrection is virtually inevitable
The prospect that science and faiths can move forward, in harmony, is an exciting one. We are “close” to reconciling what in the past was seen as irreconcilable conflicting differences.
I would be interested to hear from anyone with a similar interest in the “Quantum Soul”.
Reflections on the book "A New Kind of Science," by Stephen Wolfram
Click on the Icon to visit his website
Stephen Wolfram was born in London and educated at Oxford where he received his Ph.D. in theoretical physics, aged 20 and subsequently made lasting contributions in the field of particle physics and cosmology. In the 1980’s he made a series of classic discoveries that ultimately yielded many new insights into physics, mathematics, computer science, biology and the operation of our universe. In 1986 he founded his own research company and began the creation of Mathematica, which has developed into the world’s leading software system for technical and symbolic programs. Hence he has been in the enviable position to use the income from his business to fully fund the pure research into those areas close to his heart. He has not let the wonderful opportunity of self-funding his own research slip through his fingertips and his dedication is readily evident in a “New Kind of Science”.
Consequently his writing represents 10 years work and research to be enjoyed by virtue of its easy style by both scientists and non-scientists alike. In fact the early crucial experiment and discoveries are easily checked on any modern computer Only later when these experiments are allowed to develop out into billions of cellular automation does he need the use of the greater computer processing power now available to him. Graphics further enhances the presentation and the reader’s easy ready grasp of the profound conclusions verifiable often by simple observation.
You cannot help but be swept along on this fast flow of fresh infectious writings, which quickly joins your mind and souls (if you will) with him on his journey of discovery. At times the path can become a bit of a challenge into this new land of understanding away from the safety of our present inbuilt intuition and way of thinking. A minor discomfort though to be quickly shrugged off with the realization of the exciting prospect of a glimpse for the first time of some new truths (or the substantiation of others) emerging from his discoveries.
In some respects the experiments provide evidence at odds to some degree with some of our traditional Darwinism, Mathematics and thinking in general about the world in which we live.
They also provide a much more solid foundation for future thought encompassing philosophy and substantiation in a different way of our religion for those who feel compelled by the spirit to follow down these new pathways.
Its structure
The Foundations of as New Kind of Science
The Crucial Experiment ( I will briefly reach this point on this posting )
The world of simple Programs
Systems based upon numbers
Two dimensions and Beyond
Starting from Randomness
Mechanisms in Programs and Nature
Implications for Everyday Systems
Fundamental Physics
Process of Perception and Analysis
The Notion of Computation
The Principle of Computational Equivalence.
The Crucial Experiment.
All of Wolframs experiments began by observing the behavioral output of simple programs on a computer. We are all familiar with the operation or at least the result of software that produces our pay, invoicing records or keeps information for us in vast quantities on modern computers. Wolfram in his experiments wrote very simple programs and observed the outputs.He uses black and white squares but you could use any items –blue and white shaped beads if they took your fancy as it only the output behavior that is the subject of the experiment. Each one of the items he calls a cell. He calls the output cellular automata. Why would he do this in the firstplace? His research found this aspect of computer programming had not been done to any degree anywhere. The early results were so entirely different to what he had anticipated he became very excited over his initial discovery and so began this labor of love encapsulated within the pages of this book. These computer programs can be described more accurately, as rules. The programs tell the computer to carry out some instructions for a specified interval. There is no intention to achieve a result other than to see what happens. He begins with basic programming rules and builds up to a very mildly complex instruction on page 27.
E.g. the so-called rule 30.Start with a single black square.(Cell) and repeat the rule line by line e.g. first, look at each cell and its right hand neighbor. If both of these were white on the previous step, then take the new color of the cell to be whatever the previous color of its left-hand neighbor was, otherwise, make the new color the opposite of that.
Your intuition would tell you there should be some sort of repetitive pattern to appear over the given cellular data output would it not? After all the same rule is being applied over and over again.
The effect of this program 500 steps later is shown on page 29 and after 1500 steps on page 30 (or after 2 million cells).
At this stage there are no signs of overall regularity and in the pattern obtained seem perfectly random according to standard mathematical and statistical tests.
It becomes almost impossible to predict –even approximately –what the cellular automation will do. The only answer is keep running the program and see what happens. We can observe the outcomes of a particular rule as it continues on pages 32-38 up to 3200 steps, which tells us we need only very simple rules to produce highly complex behavior. So what! You say! Well does this not go against some of our most basic intuition about the way things normally work? We would expect the initial simple instructions to produce a pattern. We have been all brought up on a diet that often expects complex things to be built up slowly from complex beginnings. Why is this so? Well our intuition tells us around us we are surrounded by complex systems crucial to our existence.
Wolfram’s experiments show very complex systems can be built up from very basic underlying instructions or beginnings. During the course of the book he shows the implications to many field of current knowledge and I will list just a few in abbreviated summary form from the section “The Foundations For A New Kind of Science “
Mathematics.
Essential enlargement is necessary to now include simple rules that create these complex systems.
Physics
Existing methods tend to revolve around ideas of continuous numbers and calculus-or sometimes probability. Wolfram involves just simple discrete elements with definite rules. In many ways the greater simplicity of the structure make it possible to identify new phenomena.
Biology
Wolfram's discoveries show simple programs can reproduce many features of biological organisms and seem to capture some of the essential mechanisms through which genetic programs manage to generate the actual biological forms we see.
Social Sciences
There is now a much better chance of capturing fundamental mechanisms for phenomena in the social sciences by using this kind of science based upon simple programs.
Computer Science
A dramatic broadening of the domain to which computational ideas can be applied.
Philosophy
Much has been written over the course of history about the ultimate limits to knowledge, free will, the human condition and the inevitability of mathematics but with the discoveries in this book we can look at these mysteries with a new intuition.
Art
Use of the simple programs to explore generalizations of the forms we see in nature.
Chaos Theory
Almost redundant, for all it shows is that if there is enough complexity in the details of the initial conditions, then this complexity will eventually appear in the large –scale behavior of the system. What wolfram s shows is that even if the initial conditions are very simple there are many systems that still produce highly complex behavior.
Conclusion
The experiments forms the beginning of Wolframs journey into this new way of thinking and offers explanations for the underlying complexity around us ending with his Principle of Computational Equivalence some 800 pages later and represenative of 10years passionate work.
Whilst it implies that many some of the wonders of the universe may be captured in simple rules it also goes on to show there can no way we can ascertain all of the consequences of these rules, except in effect just to watch and see how they unfold.
Perhaps this is yet another way of looking at the wonder of gods creation in everything. These discoveries may well help ultimately provide a much better framework to understand more about free will and determinism whilst changing markedly the more fundamental views of how beauty and complexity abound in nature.
I highly commend the book for review.
Visit his website by clicking on the icon link
Stephen Wolfram was born in London and educated at Oxford where he received his Ph.D. in theoretical physics, aged 20 and subsequently made lasting contributions in the field of particle physics and cosmology. In the 1980’s he made a series of classic discoveries that ultimately yielded many new insights into physics, mathematics, computer science, biology and the operation of our universe. In 1986 he founded his own research company and began the creation of Mathematica, which has developed into the world’s leading software system for technical and symbolic programs. Hence he has been in the enviable position to use the income from his business to fully fund the pure research into those areas close to his heart. He has not let the wonderful opportunity of self-funding his own research slip through his fingertips and his dedication is readily evident in a “New Kind of Science”.
Consequently his writing represents 10 years work and research to be enjoyed by virtue of its easy style by both scientists and non-scientists alike. In fact the early crucial experiment and discoveries are easily checked on any modern computer Only later when these experiments are allowed to develop out into billions of cellular automation does he need the use of the greater computer processing power now available to him. Graphics further enhances the presentation and the reader’s easy ready grasp of the profound conclusions verifiable often by simple observation.
You cannot help but be swept along on this fast flow of fresh infectious writings, which quickly joins your mind and souls (if you will) with him on his journey of discovery. At times the path can become a bit of a challenge into this new land of understanding away from the safety of our present inbuilt intuition and way of thinking. A minor discomfort though to be quickly shrugged off with the realization of the exciting prospect of a glimpse for the first time of some new truths (or the substantiation of others) emerging from his discoveries.
In some respects the experiments provide evidence at odds to some degree with some of our traditional Darwinism, Mathematics and thinking in general about the world in which we live.
They also provide a much more solid foundation for future thought encompassing philosophy and substantiation in a different way of our religion for those who feel compelled by the spirit to follow down these new pathways.
Its structure
The Foundations of as New Kind of Science
The Crucial Experiment ( I will briefly reach this point on this posting )
The world of simple Programs
Systems based upon numbers
Two dimensions and Beyond
Starting from Randomness
Mechanisms in Programs and Nature
Implications for Everyday Systems
Fundamental Physics
Process of Perception and Analysis
The Notion of Computation
The Principle of Computational Equivalence.
The Crucial Experiment.
All of Wolframs experiments began by observing the behavioral output of simple programs on a computer. We are all familiar with the operation or at least the result of software that produces our pay, invoicing records or keeps information for us in vast quantities on modern computers. Wolfram in his experiments wrote very simple programs and observed the outputs.He uses black and white squares but you could use any items –blue and white shaped beads if they took your fancy as it only the output behavior that is the subject of the experiment. Each one of the items he calls a cell. He calls the output cellular automata. Why would he do this in the firstplace? His research found this aspect of computer programming had not been done to any degree anywhere. The early results were so entirely different to what he had anticipated he became very excited over his initial discovery and so began this labor of love encapsulated within the pages of this book. These computer programs can be described more accurately, as rules. The programs tell the computer to carry out some instructions for a specified interval. There is no intention to achieve a result other than to see what happens. He begins with basic programming rules and builds up to a very mildly complex instruction on page 27.
E.g. the so-called rule 30.Start with a single black square.(Cell) and repeat the rule line by line e.g. first, look at each cell and its right hand neighbor. If both of these were white on the previous step, then take the new color of the cell to be whatever the previous color of its left-hand neighbor was, otherwise, make the new color the opposite of that.
Your intuition would tell you there should be some sort of repetitive pattern to appear over the given cellular data output would it not? After all the same rule is being applied over and over again.
The effect of this program 500 steps later is shown on page 29 and after 1500 steps on page 30 (or after 2 million cells).
At this stage there are no signs of overall regularity and in the pattern obtained seem perfectly random according to standard mathematical and statistical tests.
It becomes almost impossible to predict –even approximately –what the cellular automation will do. The only answer is keep running the program and see what happens. We can observe the outcomes of a particular rule as it continues on pages 32-38 up to 3200 steps, which tells us we need only very simple rules to produce highly complex behavior. So what! You say! Well does this not go against some of our most basic intuition about the way things normally work? We would expect the initial simple instructions to produce a pattern. We have been all brought up on a diet that often expects complex things to be built up slowly from complex beginnings. Why is this so? Well our intuition tells us around us we are surrounded by complex systems crucial to our existence.
Wolfram’s experiments show very complex systems can be built up from very basic underlying instructions or beginnings. During the course of the book he shows the implications to many field of current knowledge and I will list just a few in abbreviated summary form from the section “The Foundations For A New Kind of Science “
Mathematics.
Essential enlargement is necessary to now include simple rules that create these complex systems.
Physics
Existing methods tend to revolve around ideas of continuous numbers and calculus-or sometimes probability. Wolfram involves just simple discrete elements with definite rules. In many ways the greater simplicity of the structure make it possible to identify new phenomena.
Biology
Wolfram's discoveries show simple programs can reproduce many features of biological organisms and seem to capture some of the essential mechanisms through which genetic programs manage to generate the actual biological forms we see.
Social Sciences
There is now a much better chance of capturing fundamental mechanisms for phenomena in the social sciences by using this kind of science based upon simple programs.
Computer Science
A dramatic broadening of the domain to which computational ideas can be applied.
Philosophy
Much has been written over the course of history about the ultimate limits to knowledge, free will, the human condition and the inevitability of mathematics but with the discoveries in this book we can look at these mysteries with a new intuition.
Art
Use of the simple programs to explore generalizations of the forms we see in nature.
Chaos Theory
Almost redundant, for all it shows is that if there is enough complexity in the details of the initial conditions, then this complexity will eventually appear in the large –scale behavior of the system. What wolfram s shows is that even if the initial conditions are very simple there are many systems that still produce highly complex behavior.
Conclusion
The experiments forms the beginning of Wolframs journey into this new way of thinking and offers explanations for the underlying complexity around us ending with his Principle of Computational Equivalence some 800 pages later and represenative of 10years passionate work.
Whilst it implies that many some of the wonders of the universe may be captured in simple rules it also goes on to show there can no way we can ascertain all of the consequences of these rules, except in effect just to watch and see how they unfold.
Perhaps this is yet another way of looking at the wonder of gods creation in everything. These discoveries may well help ultimately provide a much better framework to understand more about free will and determinism whilst changing markedly the more fundamental views of how beauty and complexity abound in nature.
I highly commend the book for review.
Visit his website by clicking on the icon link
Tuesday, July 19
Albert Schweitzer-His Life & Thought
click on the icon link to visit his website.
In researching this piece of writing I was drawn to a quotation of Sir Winston Churchill:“We shape our strategies and then they shape us”.
The quotation formed a useful analogy of the thoughts and subsequent life of Albert Schweitzer as I was able to see the link between his early thoughts and how they continued to shape his changing service to humanity. It was whilst serving in Africa as a Doctor that he gained his “insight” on the “Reverence For Life” principles.
I will begin with a brief outline of his life and thoughts followed by selected quotations that provide valuable insight into his life philosophy. I will then indicate the effect of his thinking and work on both religious and secular communities. Finally my invitation to you is to consider his legacy to us and whether you agree we rename his "Reverence For Life” principle the “Grand Unifying Theory for Humanity”.
A Brief Outline of His Life and Thought.
Albert Schweitzer was born in Alsace in Germany (later to be annexed to France) as the son of a Lutheran Pastor in what was predominantly a Catholic place at the time.
He showed extraordinary skill on the organ as a youngster and was taught by some of the Europe’s finest professionals. He was an acclaimed concert artist and speaker that provided his ongoing funding for his beloved African Hospital.
In between compulsory military service his early life was dominated by studies in music and academic research culminating in 1900 with Drs of Philosophy and Theology and an appointment as Professor of Theology. In 1903 he became Principal of the theological seminary of St Thomas in Srassburg. At that time in his life he recalls the delight in teaching the simple truths of the Bible to his students in the hope it would provide a safe refuge against life’s stormy weather.
Students in later life did thank him, stating their faith would not have survived the “cruel sea of doubt” of life experience had it not been so firmly secured.
His quest for truth was reflected in his published material at times contrary to conventional wisdom as he did not accept the Gospels were a collection only of Jesu’s sayings interwoven loosely with his life story. He contended the expectation of the Messiahic Jewish belief that the “End of the World” was imminent influenced profoundly Jesus’s earlier sayings.
In 1905 he read an article in a Paris Missionary Society that describing the desperate need for medical doctors in Africa in the region then known as the Congo. It was to shape the rest of his life as he decided to become a jungle Doctor much to the chagrin of friends and the academia at the time who put a fist in his heart so to speak arguing he could do more from his existing privileged position in society than to undertake such a rigorous long course of study. In 1913 as a qualified Doctor he departed for Lambarene with his wife (whom he had married the previous year) and who was of incalculable support in the Hospital and as a research assistance over the next 40 years.
His base remained at Lambarene for the reminder of his life except for internment during World War 1.
However it was the outbreak of hostilities in 1914 that triggered within him a change of heart as he abandoned his nearly completed work for publication on St Paul to return to the Philosophy of Civilisation. His writings in this book contain his famous Insight” on the "Reverence for Life” principle.
It is difficult to describe what is meant in a few sentences but his theory acknowledges the reality of our own conscious will to live and all that is around us. Reverence for Life is the end result of a fusing ethical principles within our conscious will to live and hence world and life affirmation. It is the spiritual act in which one ceases to live unreflectively but adopts a reverence for all life in order to raise it true value. Its aim is to create values, and to realise progress of different kinds, which shall serve the material, spiritual and ethical development of mankind.
He had in effect won through to the “peace that passeth all understanding” and henceforth his own life was shaped by the underlying principles of his theory.
His achievements were recognised in 1952 when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and later he formed collaborations with the leaders at that time in history including Bertrand Russell and John F Kennedy.
In 1958 he made calls on radio Oslo for the abandonment of nuclear tests and the production of atomic bombs.
He passed away in 1965 but his spirit continues to day in enduring ethical thought and work.
Selected Quotations
On Life
Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect people to roll stones out of his way, but must accept his lot calmly if they roll a few more upon it.
The most valuable knowledge we can have is how to deal with disappointments
Religion & Philosophy
Any religion or philosophy which is not based upon a respect for life is not a true religion or philosophy
It is good to maintain life and further life, it is bad to destroy life. And this ethic, profound, universal has the significance of a religion. It is religion.
When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. We debate but make no progress. Why? Because as people we do not trust one another.
Because I have confidence in the power of truth and of the spirit, I believe in the future of mankind.
Nature and the Environment
Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world any more. There is always something to make you wonder in the shape of a tree, the trembling of a leaf.
The deeper we look into nature the more profoundly we know that it is sacred and we are united to this life.
The effect of his writings on religious and secular communities.
Religious Communities
His quest for truth and the spirit of “liberty” as he put it at times led him to conclusions on biblical interpretation at variance to accepted orthodoxy.Indeed they cost him some considerable hardship with the Parisian Missionary Society for his strict instructions as a Jungle Doctor was to refrain from any form of religious discourse with the locals for fear he might introduce them to some doctrinal errors.
However at the insistence of the missionaries at Lambarene the Parisian Missionary Society relented on their embargo as the realisation slowly sunk in that his views in no way contradicted the simple gospel of salvation understandable to the local inhabitants.
His attitude to African culture was not to try and change their way of life to ours but to serve their physical and spiritual needs. His approach was the forerunner to to-days generally accepted missionary objectives seeking to include cultural aspects and tradition within worship and Christian life practices.
His life as a devout Christian had a profound effect on the Christian community at large as although the shadow of sacrifice hung over his life he was able to “find his life.”Whosoever loses his life for my sake shall find it”.
When he left for Africa he was prepared to make 3 sacrifices.
To lose his financial independence and become reliant for the rest of his life on donations from friends.
Discontinue his career as Concert artist.
Renounce academic teaching and lecturing activities.
However just as Abraham was spared his sacrifice Schweitzer to his great joy found himself in the same position.
The Paris Bach Society donated a piano with organ pedals specially adapted to the tropics. He was able to return (between long intervals in Africa) to Europe as an esteemed professional as his performances continued to grow in popularity.
He was only totally reliant on the financial help of others for a short period as his publications and acclaimed recitals soon made him financially independent.
He was also highly acclaimed and sought after as a Lecturer in Europe and in the leading universities in the USA.
Society.
His reverence for life principle in my opinion had the greatest impact on the general community that conSchweitzer -day under the Albert Shweitzer Foundation supporting ethically based aid and educational projects.
His work is of appeal to any group that has a common interest in the general wellbeing of peoples around the world.
However in the earlier post 2nd World War period his thoughts were of great appeal to a society ravaged by war and mindful of the need to establish a new “world order” to prevent a recurrence of past atrocities.
Invitations flowed to him to give lectures abroad from world-renowned academic, ecclesiastical and musical bodies. His view were eagerly sought after and at times he must have felt some satisfaction as it is recorded “He dashed off a letter to John F Kennedy congratulating him on his recent peace initiatives”.
Legacy
His enduring legacy of thought contained within his writings on “Reverence for Life” provides a “Bridge over troubled waters” for to-days contemporary society.
As humanity struggles in a sea of bewildering change I am suggesting his principle will provide a safe passage through to what might otherwise seem intractable differences.
I would like you to consider his principle very briefly as applying to 3 key areas.: The envriroment, Ethics & Religion and Economic Development in the 3rd world.
The environment.
The ethical consideration as to ultimate sustainablity can have no better focus than that alinged to the "Reverence for Life" principle. It blends in with concerns over “Mother Earth” and her ultimate sustainability in the face of depletion, waste and pollution attributable to mankind.
The missing link is the principle that establishes our conscious “will to live” that affirms our relationship with the world but requires us to create values that in turn generate outcomes sustainable to all life.
Ethics and Religion
Human Society can decay under the weight of a religion that renounces any ethical direction. I believe this is true to day.
By way of example this is true of thought that teaches the only sensible line of conduct for a man is to withdraw entirely unto himself and to concern himself solely with the deepening of his inner life. He has nothing to do with what may become of human society and of mankind. I see a leaning towards this view in fundalmentalism sweeping the world within the Christian religion whose collective thoughts turn inward and away from any value system that might otherwise connect us to the world around us.
Schweitzer contends that the essence of religion is the "Sermon on the Mount” as a charter for liberal Christianity.
Development in the 3rd world.
Although we are witnesses to the continued demonstrations against “globalisation” in the world to day in fact the poorer nations are not as concerned and seek out foreign investment as a passport for future good health.
Indeed if we ignore the aspects of sub standard conditions and unbridled depletion of resources such investments does provide benefits. What then is the answer to the current dire position of such countries?
Governance in these countries is devoid of a strong ethical base and current corruption and continued conflicts (civil wars) reduce available resources in an ever-dwindling share to the majority of the unfortunate inhabitants.
Wherein lays our hope?
European company heads have formed ethical values within their charters restricting operations to sustainable developments and providing minimum labour conditions (independent of country requirements) worldwide. Sadly North American companies have resisted so far.
Aid Agencies are targeting funding to allow communities to develop their own business thus eliminating what amounts to slavery for many. Education programs must include aspects on the desirability of ethically based societies.
The ethical basis contained within the "reverence for Life " principle is then the essence of the way forwards as the global village becomes more and more interwoven. This is essential if globalisation is to become civilised and deliver benefits in a uniform manner to all mankind.
Conclusion
I hope I have demonstrated to you the solution to the above problems is an application of the reverence for life” principle that binds us in a responsible way to all humanity and the world around us.
In fact it is unquestionably a Grand Unifying Theory for Humanity” .
Whether you agree or not to rename his principle the “Grand Unifying Theory for Humanity” I hope my research stimulates much thought.
Visit his website by clicking on the icon link next to the heading.
In researching this piece of writing I was drawn to a quotation of Sir Winston Churchill:“We shape our strategies and then they shape us”.
The quotation formed a useful analogy of the thoughts and subsequent life of Albert Schweitzer as I was able to see the link between his early thoughts and how they continued to shape his changing service to humanity. It was whilst serving in Africa as a Doctor that he gained his “insight” on the “Reverence For Life” principles.
I will begin with a brief outline of his life and thoughts followed by selected quotations that provide valuable insight into his life philosophy. I will then indicate the effect of his thinking and work on both religious and secular communities. Finally my invitation to you is to consider his legacy to us and whether you agree we rename his "Reverence For Life” principle the “Grand Unifying Theory for Humanity”.
A Brief Outline of His Life and Thought.
Albert Schweitzer was born in Alsace in Germany (later to be annexed to France) as the son of a Lutheran Pastor in what was predominantly a Catholic place at the time.
He showed extraordinary skill on the organ as a youngster and was taught by some of the Europe’s finest professionals. He was an acclaimed concert artist and speaker that provided his ongoing funding for his beloved African Hospital.
In between compulsory military service his early life was dominated by studies in music and academic research culminating in 1900 with Drs of Philosophy and Theology and an appointment as Professor of Theology. In 1903 he became Principal of the theological seminary of St Thomas in Srassburg. At that time in his life he recalls the delight in teaching the simple truths of the Bible to his students in the hope it would provide a safe refuge against life’s stormy weather.
Students in later life did thank him, stating their faith would not have survived the “cruel sea of doubt” of life experience had it not been so firmly secured.
His quest for truth was reflected in his published material at times contrary to conventional wisdom as he did not accept the Gospels were a collection only of Jesu’s sayings interwoven loosely with his life story. He contended the expectation of the Messiahic Jewish belief that the “End of the World” was imminent influenced profoundly Jesus’s earlier sayings.
In 1905 he read an article in a Paris Missionary Society that describing the desperate need for medical doctors in Africa in the region then known as the Congo. It was to shape the rest of his life as he decided to become a jungle Doctor much to the chagrin of friends and the academia at the time who put a fist in his heart so to speak arguing he could do more from his existing privileged position in society than to undertake such a rigorous long course of study. In 1913 as a qualified Doctor he departed for Lambarene with his wife (whom he had married the previous year) and who was of incalculable support in the Hospital and as a research assistance over the next 40 years.
His base remained at Lambarene for the reminder of his life except for internment during World War 1.
However it was the outbreak of hostilities in 1914 that triggered within him a change of heart as he abandoned his nearly completed work for publication on St Paul to return to the Philosophy of Civilisation. His writings in this book contain his famous Insight” on the "Reverence for Life” principle.
It is difficult to describe what is meant in a few sentences but his theory acknowledges the reality of our own conscious will to live and all that is around us. Reverence for Life is the end result of a fusing ethical principles within our conscious will to live and hence world and life affirmation. It is the spiritual act in which one ceases to live unreflectively but adopts a reverence for all life in order to raise it true value. Its aim is to create values, and to realise progress of different kinds, which shall serve the material, spiritual and ethical development of mankind.
He had in effect won through to the “peace that passeth all understanding” and henceforth his own life was shaped by the underlying principles of his theory.
His achievements were recognised in 1952 when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and later he formed collaborations with the leaders at that time in history including Bertrand Russell and John F Kennedy.
In 1958 he made calls on radio Oslo for the abandonment of nuclear tests and the production of atomic bombs.
He passed away in 1965 but his spirit continues to day in enduring ethical thought and work.
Selected Quotations
On Life
Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect people to roll stones out of his way, but must accept his lot calmly if they roll a few more upon it.
The most valuable knowledge we can have is how to deal with disappointments
Religion & Philosophy
Any religion or philosophy which is not based upon a respect for life is not a true religion or philosophy
It is good to maintain life and further life, it is bad to destroy life. And this ethic, profound, universal has the significance of a religion. It is religion.
When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. We debate but make no progress. Why? Because as people we do not trust one another.
Because I have confidence in the power of truth and of the spirit, I believe in the future of mankind.
Nature and the Environment
Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world any more. There is always something to make you wonder in the shape of a tree, the trembling of a leaf.
The deeper we look into nature the more profoundly we know that it is sacred and we are united to this life.
The effect of his writings on religious and secular communities.
Religious Communities
His quest for truth and the spirit of “liberty” as he put it at times led him to conclusions on biblical interpretation at variance to accepted orthodoxy.Indeed they cost him some considerable hardship with the Parisian Missionary Society for his strict instructions as a Jungle Doctor was to refrain from any form of religious discourse with the locals for fear he might introduce them to some doctrinal errors.
However at the insistence of the missionaries at Lambarene the Parisian Missionary Society relented on their embargo as the realisation slowly sunk in that his views in no way contradicted the simple gospel of salvation understandable to the local inhabitants.
His attitude to African culture was not to try and change their way of life to ours but to serve their physical and spiritual needs. His approach was the forerunner to to-days generally accepted missionary objectives seeking to include cultural aspects and tradition within worship and Christian life practices.
His life as a devout Christian had a profound effect on the Christian community at large as although the shadow of sacrifice hung over his life he was able to “find his life.”Whosoever loses his life for my sake shall find it”.
When he left for Africa he was prepared to make 3 sacrifices.
To lose his financial independence and become reliant for the rest of his life on donations from friends.
Discontinue his career as Concert artist.
Renounce academic teaching and lecturing activities.
However just as Abraham was spared his sacrifice Schweitzer to his great joy found himself in the same position.
The Paris Bach Society donated a piano with organ pedals specially adapted to the tropics. He was able to return (between long intervals in Africa) to Europe as an esteemed professional as his performances continued to grow in popularity.
He was only totally reliant on the financial help of others for a short period as his publications and acclaimed recitals soon made him financially independent.
He was also highly acclaimed and sought after as a Lecturer in Europe and in the leading universities in the USA.
Society.
His reverence for life principle in my opinion had the greatest impact on the general community that conSchweitzer -day under the Albert Shweitzer Foundation supporting ethically based aid and educational projects.
His work is of appeal to any group that has a common interest in the general wellbeing of peoples around the world.
However in the earlier post 2nd World War period his thoughts were of great appeal to a society ravaged by war and mindful of the need to establish a new “world order” to prevent a recurrence of past atrocities.
Invitations flowed to him to give lectures abroad from world-renowned academic, ecclesiastical and musical bodies. His view were eagerly sought after and at times he must have felt some satisfaction as it is recorded “He dashed off a letter to John F Kennedy congratulating him on his recent peace initiatives”.
Legacy
His enduring legacy of thought contained within his writings on “Reverence for Life” provides a “Bridge over troubled waters” for to-days contemporary society.
As humanity struggles in a sea of bewildering change I am suggesting his principle will provide a safe passage through to what might otherwise seem intractable differences.
I would like you to consider his principle very briefly as applying to 3 key areas.: The envriroment, Ethics & Religion and Economic Development in the 3rd world.
The environment.
The ethical consideration as to ultimate sustainablity can have no better focus than that alinged to the "Reverence for Life" principle. It blends in with concerns over “Mother Earth” and her ultimate sustainability in the face of depletion, waste and pollution attributable to mankind.
The missing link is the principle that establishes our conscious “will to live” that affirms our relationship with the world but requires us to create values that in turn generate outcomes sustainable to all life.
Ethics and Religion
Human Society can decay under the weight of a religion that renounces any ethical direction. I believe this is true to day.
By way of example this is true of thought that teaches the only sensible line of conduct for a man is to withdraw entirely unto himself and to concern himself solely with the deepening of his inner life. He has nothing to do with what may become of human society and of mankind. I see a leaning towards this view in fundalmentalism sweeping the world within the Christian religion whose collective thoughts turn inward and away from any value system that might otherwise connect us to the world around us.
Schweitzer contends that the essence of religion is the "Sermon on the Mount” as a charter for liberal Christianity.
Development in the 3rd world.
Although we are witnesses to the continued demonstrations against “globalisation” in the world to day in fact the poorer nations are not as concerned and seek out foreign investment as a passport for future good health.
Indeed if we ignore the aspects of sub standard conditions and unbridled depletion of resources such investments does provide benefits. What then is the answer to the current dire position of such countries?
Governance in these countries is devoid of a strong ethical base and current corruption and continued conflicts (civil wars) reduce available resources in an ever-dwindling share to the majority of the unfortunate inhabitants.
Wherein lays our hope?
European company heads have formed ethical values within their charters restricting operations to sustainable developments and providing minimum labour conditions (independent of country requirements) worldwide. Sadly North American companies have resisted so far.
Aid Agencies are targeting funding to allow communities to develop their own business thus eliminating what amounts to slavery for many. Education programs must include aspects on the desirability of ethically based societies.
The ethical basis contained within the "reverence for Life " principle is then the essence of the way forwards as the global village becomes more and more interwoven. This is essential if globalisation is to become civilised and deliver benefits in a uniform manner to all mankind.
Conclusion
I hope I have demonstrated to you the solution to the above problems is an application of the reverence for life” principle that binds us in a responsible way to all humanity and the world around us.
In fact it is unquestionably a Grand Unifying Theory for Humanity” .
Whether you agree or not to rename his principle the “Grand Unifying Theory for Humanity” I hope my research stimulates much thought.
Visit his website by clicking on the icon link next to the heading.
Wednesday, July 13
Patient Patent Image
Charles Kovess's 6th Passion Point for 2005 reminds us of the power of ideas and the patience necessary to realise our dreams if their to become a reality. I have reproduced his latest news letter below.I love the quotes .
Even Einstein was unable to complete the complicated mathematics necessary to verify his idea of personal time as opposed to universal time that was previously thought to apply at that time in history. He had to enlist the aid of a friend, one more skilled in the complicated mathematics to reproduce the calculations to validated his theory. So this theory and subsequent developments leading to the general theory of relativity that have underpinning so much of subsequent scientific advances just began as an idea. It seems ideas make the world go around and are this most interesting aspects of life, followed by the many activities and event's that occur and finally stories about the people themselves. That's my idea anyway.
Dear Lindsay
A Passion Point to Ponder 20 June 2005.
Welcome to the 6th Passion Point for 2005. Our goal this year with these Passion Points is to provoke you so that your business, and the rest of your life, becomes filled with more passion, performance, and improved balance of mental, physical, and spiritual elements.
NEWS
We are delighted to announce that the pilot for "Charles - A Passionate Performance" was successfully filmed on Monday 16 May 2005 at Channel 31's studios in Swanston St, Melbourne.
The guests on the pilot were Professor Lorraine Dennerstein AO and Andy Gowers, former AFL player with Hawthorn and Brisbane (11 years as a professional footballer). Many thanks to our subscribers who were able to be members of our audience on the day; they had a unique and passionate time! If you want to know about the pilot and what our plans are, please ASK!
Welcome to our new subscribers.Charles has been on the road a lot over the past month, and many of you are receiving this Passion Point for the first time. Welcome to all of you from various TEC Groups, Vic Roads, BMW Group Financial Services, City of Greater Geelong Customer Service Team, Beacon Lighting, Australian Institute of Management in Queensland and the Australian Secondary Principals Association.
PURSUING YOUR VISION AND DREAM, EVEN WHEN OTHERS THINK YOU'RE CRAZY!"A date and a word have passed almost unnoticed into history .
Few would recognise October 22, 1938 and"Astoria" as being revolutionary, but they were.On that distant day, in the New York neighborhood of Astoria, a young Chester Carlson reproduced a paper image from a glass slide, proving that photocopying was possible. The image copied was "10-22-38 ASTORIA".Carlson's imagination, work and the image it produced, failed to inspire others to see its possibilities, with more than 20 companies turning down the invention. Even the chief engineer of what eventually became the first Xerox copier said of what he initially saw "For people to look at that and see the vision of a machine, you had to be desperate."
That desperation, and subsequent machine development, came in 1947 from the Chief Executive Officer of Haloid Co. (the predecessor of Xerox Corporation) a company then struggling to compete with the giant Eastman Kodak Co.It was to take over 20 years from that first image until, in 1959, the first Xerox copying machine was produced.When he was just 12, Carlson reportedly said "Someday I'm going to make a great invention."
Despite his poor background and difficulty finding work during the Great Depression, that "someday" in October 1938 eventually gave us what we now take for granted.Imagination meets many barriers, and Carlson's image was to take a long road before being recognised as worthwhile. The image "10-22-38 ASTORIA" seems an uninspiring one, but its not the numbers, the word or the image itself that count; it's the imagination to see beyond them that does. Unlike Carlson's original image, that is a valuable lesson that never dates, and one we can always copy.
QUOTES TO CONSIDER"Dreams are the seedlings of realities." James Allen (1864-1912), English author.
Do you sow seeds in dreams, or see only deeds and schemes as reality?"All that a man achieves and all that he fails toachieve is the direct result of his own thoughts."James Allen (1864-1912), English author.
Do you achieve your thoughts, or do your thoughts believe otherwise? To your ongoing development of your passionate performance Charles Kovess Australia's Passion Provocateur Copyright- Charles B. Kovess & David J. Wood of Passionate Performance.
Republication welcome provided authors are acknowledged & advised at above address. If you want to see Charles on video, or listen to audio, just go to http://www.kovess.com and follow the links.For a list of keynote speech topics that Charles would love to deliver in a passionate, entertaining, provocative, and educational way to your teams, clients, or prospects, at breakfast, lunch or dinner, see below.All 132 published Passion Points to Ponder are on our website. If you wish to review them, please visit the site. If you wish to receive a list of the 132 titles of the Passion Points please let us know.KEY NOTE SPEECH TOPICS1 PASSIONATE PERFORMANCE: YOUR KEYS TO MENTAL, PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL WELLBEING IN BUSINESS. 2 THE POWER OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP3 THE 7 KEY STEPS TO CREATE OUTSTANDING TEAMS.4 HOW TO RETAIN THE BEST PEOPLE IN YOUR ORGANISATION.5 PASSION: THE KEY TO YOUR SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.6 HIGH PERFORMANCE BUSINESS LEADERSHIP IN THE KNOWLEDGE AGE.7 CHANGE: MAKE IT AN INSPIRATIONAL GAME!8 A PASSION FOR LIFE, AND LIVING IT!9 KEY PRINCIPLES OF PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.10 7 STRATEGIES THAT GUARANTEE LOYALTY FROM EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS. Best regards from Australia's Passion Provocateur (copyright)Charles Kovess LL.B.(Hons), LL.M., CSP*Immediate Past National PresidentNational Speakers' Association of Australia(*CSP means Certified Speaking Professional, the highest membership category of NSAA and the only internationally recognised designation for professional speakers. There are only 464 CSP's in the world, of whom only 52 are in Australasia.) ph 0395636399 http://www.kovess.com ph mobile 0412317404
PO Box 1412, Central Park East Malvern Vic 3145
Office: 13 Albert St, East Malvern Vic 3145
Author of 'Passionate People Produce' and 'Passionate Performance'Co-author of '7 Heavenly Virtues of Leadership'
Even Einstein was unable to complete the complicated mathematics necessary to verify his idea of personal time as opposed to universal time that was previously thought to apply at that time in history. He had to enlist the aid of a friend, one more skilled in the complicated mathematics to reproduce the calculations to validated his theory. So this theory and subsequent developments leading to the general theory of relativity that have underpinning so much of subsequent scientific advances just began as an idea. It seems ideas make the world go around and are this most interesting aspects of life, followed by the many activities and event's that occur and finally stories about the people themselves. That's my idea anyway.
Dear Lindsay
A Passion Point to Ponder 20 June 2005.
Welcome to the 6th Passion Point for 2005. Our goal this year with these Passion Points is to provoke you so that your business, and the rest of your life, becomes filled with more passion, performance, and improved balance of mental, physical, and spiritual elements.
NEWS
We are delighted to announce that the pilot for "Charles - A Passionate Performance" was successfully filmed on Monday 16 May 2005 at Channel 31's studios in Swanston St, Melbourne.
The guests on the pilot were Professor Lorraine Dennerstein AO and Andy Gowers, former AFL player with Hawthorn and Brisbane (11 years as a professional footballer). Many thanks to our subscribers who were able to be members of our audience on the day; they had a unique and passionate time! If you want to know about the pilot and what our plans are, please ASK!
Welcome to our new subscribers.Charles has been on the road a lot over the past month, and many of you are receiving this Passion Point for the first time. Welcome to all of you from various TEC Groups, Vic Roads, BMW Group Financial Services, City of Greater Geelong Customer Service Team, Beacon Lighting, Australian Institute of Management in Queensland and the Australian Secondary Principals Association.
PURSUING YOUR VISION AND DREAM, EVEN WHEN OTHERS THINK YOU'RE CRAZY!"A date and a word have passed almost unnoticed into history .
Few would recognise October 22, 1938 and"Astoria" as being revolutionary, but they were.On that distant day, in the New York neighborhood of Astoria, a young Chester Carlson reproduced a paper image from a glass slide, proving that photocopying was possible. The image copied was "10-22-38 ASTORIA".Carlson's imagination, work and the image it produced, failed to inspire others to see its possibilities, with more than 20 companies turning down the invention. Even the chief engineer of what eventually became the first Xerox copier said of what he initially saw "For people to look at that and see the vision of a machine, you had to be desperate."
That desperation, and subsequent machine development, came in 1947 from the Chief Executive Officer of Haloid Co. (the predecessor of Xerox Corporation) a company then struggling to compete with the giant Eastman Kodak Co.It was to take over 20 years from that first image until, in 1959, the first Xerox copying machine was produced.When he was just 12, Carlson reportedly said "Someday I'm going to make a great invention."
Despite his poor background and difficulty finding work during the Great Depression, that "someday" in October 1938 eventually gave us what we now take for granted.Imagination meets many barriers, and Carlson's image was to take a long road before being recognised as worthwhile. The image "10-22-38 ASTORIA" seems an uninspiring one, but its not the numbers, the word or the image itself that count; it's the imagination to see beyond them that does. Unlike Carlson's original image, that is a valuable lesson that never dates, and one we can always copy.
QUOTES TO CONSIDER"Dreams are the seedlings of realities." James Allen (1864-1912), English author.
Do you sow seeds in dreams, or see only deeds and schemes as reality?"All that a man achieves and all that he fails toachieve is the direct result of his own thoughts."James Allen (1864-1912), English author.
Do you achieve your thoughts, or do your thoughts believe otherwise? To your ongoing development of your passionate performance Charles Kovess Australia's Passion Provocateur Copyright- Charles B. Kovess & David J. Wood of Passionate Performance.
Republication welcome provided authors are acknowledged & advised at above address. If you want to see Charles on video, or listen to audio, just go to http://www.kovess.com and follow the links.For a list of keynote speech topics that Charles would love to deliver in a passionate, entertaining, provocative, and educational way to your teams, clients, or prospects, at breakfast, lunch or dinner, see below.All 132 published Passion Points to Ponder are on our website. If you wish to review them, please visit the site. If you wish to receive a list of the 132 titles of the Passion Points please let us know.KEY NOTE SPEECH TOPICS1 PASSIONATE PERFORMANCE: YOUR KEYS TO MENTAL, PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL WELLBEING IN BUSINESS. 2 THE POWER OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP3 THE 7 KEY STEPS TO CREATE OUTSTANDING TEAMS.4 HOW TO RETAIN THE BEST PEOPLE IN YOUR ORGANISATION.5 PASSION: THE KEY TO YOUR SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.6 HIGH PERFORMANCE BUSINESS LEADERSHIP IN THE KNOWLEDGE AGE.7 CHANGE: MAKE IT AN INSPIRATIONAL GAME!8 A PASSION FOR LIFE, AND LIVING IT!9 KEY PRINCIPLES OF PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.10 7 STRATEGIES THAT GUARANTEE LOYALTY FROM EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS. Best regards from Australia's Passion Provocateur (copyright)Charles Kovess LL.B.(Hons), LL.M., CSP*Immediate Past National PresidentNational Speakers' Association of Australia(*CSP means Certified Speaking Professional, the highest membership category of NSAA and the only internationally recognised designation for professional speakers. There are only 464 CSP's in the world, of whom only 52 are in Australasia.) ph 0395636399 http://www.kovess.com ph mobile 0412317404
PO Box 1412, Central Park East Malvern Vic 3145
Office: 13 Albert St, East Malvern Vic 3145
Author of 'Passionate People Produce' and 'Passionate Performance'Co-author of '7 Heavenly Virtues of Leadership'
Wednesday, July 6
Sustainability
Following on from my posting on ethics and my conclusion annual reports should reflect sustainable reporting, as a CPA I was pleased to read of a joint venture between CPA Australia and the University of Sydney to develop sustainable reporting.
Click on the link for the full story.
Click on the link for the full story.
Saturday, July 2
'Charlie'- A Father
My Father was a”mans”man. A bomber pilot in World War 2, invalided out of the war from his posting in India in 1944, where he had contracted some sort of blood disorder before hostilities ended in 1945. The war changed my father’s character.
My Mother, knew this, and made such unbelievable allowances for him which seems inconceivable to me to day.
One day Charlie had been playing golf. As usual he had enjoyed himself with his mates, Curley Campbell, who loved to bet, and partnering Cuttee the club champion and other players had joined in for a game of “skins”. A “skin’ in golf is a hole won and my father had had a good day, collecting more than his fair share of winning “skins”. So he happened to consume a good portion of his “winnings” at the Club Bar. So much so that it caused him to overlook his planned wedding anniversary dinner date with my mother that night. Much later he drove home slowly, aware he’d had too much to drink.
Meanwhile at home my Mother had been sitting, rigidly in her chair, dressed for the evenings planned engagement, patiently waiting for “Charlie” to finally arrive home.
There was certain tension in her tiny frame, like a steel spring ready to snap at the slightest surface disturbance.
Charlie arriving home saw my mother through the window dressed for the occasion, sitting motionless in the chair and remembered the anniversary dinner plans as he walked up the steps to open the front door.
He opened the door slowly, tentatively; considering an appropriate entrance, at the same time reaching for his hat and crouching forward, as if in combat, gently throws it. It glides over the furniture for the perfect soft “landing” at my mother’s feet.
Bullseye.
Charlie kept a War Diary.
Went on a 1,000 mile trip last night, a “bullseye”. Bags of searchlights and few night fighters. Flew at 13,000 feet and nearly froze.
We are on another “bullseye” last night, airborne from 10pm, until 5am, about a 1,000 miles .Wizard trip. No night fighters but search lights were troublesome, my starboard motor wasn’t behaving very well, (it was a lousy kite anyway) and I was very pleased to return safely to base. Whole crew very tired. Squadron Leaders had given us the night off, so it’s early to bed.
My mother heads slowly turned, coldly eyeing its presence. Eyes glanced to the door; tension subsides at Charlie’s hesitant entrance. A momentarily flicker of compassion passes over her, for her Charlies home.
Charlie’s enters the room, a fleeting glance to my Mother, as confidence returns.
A contrite Charlie stands before the ‘Commander’ for he’s arrived back at base at 9.30am in the morning after a nights celebration ‘and his boys caught AWL are in plenty trouble’ but the incident is quickly overlooked.
He speaks slowly to disguise any hint of slur, ‘Hello Dear. Now I was thinking about our anniversary. Rather than take you out to –night as we planned I have a better idea. Tomorrow we could celebrate, you can cook for me my favourite “Sunday roast’ and I will invite all my air force mates, from whom you will hear some good jokes.’
This reminded me of the frequent stories by “Charlie” of the dear English folk whose homes became a home away from home to the “lads” from Australia.
They outpoured the best of “British” gratitude. The ‘Homes of England ‘became a refuge, a sanctuary, warmth. Stiff upper lips, ‘The British Empire’, don’t worry about the bombs, siren going off, bloody nuisance, those bloody Germans, finish your cup of tea first son. My fathers often spoke about it, almost in reverent tone, not one to normally show his feelings. Land of hope and glory, this was their finest hour. A time to record it.
Arrived at the BBC studios at 9.30am. met several officials then a rehearsal after which we began recording. We made 6 records, 2 of which had to be repeated. because of technical faults. The BBC fellas were very pleased, called in story writers and 2 newspaper correspondents to get our story. To day we are going to have our photograph taken for the papers.
“Feeling a bit peckish Charlie” asks my Mother, fully restored to her devotional self.
Yes, sure I am
Steak and Eggs.
Just what the Doctor ordered.
The Medical Superintendent handed Charlie his papers. Cause for celebration you’re being invalided out of the air force.
The post massage was brief
Darling I’m on my way home. I can’t wait to see you. Everyone at the hospital is jealous. They have drawn pictures of you with me coming towards you. They think you’re a good sort. I nearly died, they thought I was goner, but I pulled through for you my dear, I was unconscious for 10days. I’m coming home. .
Her “Charlie’s returning. It was almost too painful to talk about the long separation to anyone. They (her feelings) must not be mentioned in any detail ever. The emotion is an ocean, and you must not swim against the tide. It’s not a good idea.
The red roofed houses of Sydney have received many telegrams of those who will not return. It casts a grey shadow over the community. A sad note too deep to hear.
His premature death from cancer aged 57 was hastened, if not directly caused by his wartime experiences. I remember he had continued difficulty in breathing and frequent bouts of bronchitis. At his funeral I can remember the streets being blocked off; in anticipation of the large crowd as all of the numerous service organisations he had served so well, came to bid “au revoir” to their “faithful digger”. And of course the spirit of those great mates, the best friends he ever had, who had perished earlier, in the “Theatre of War” were also present in the form of the last entry in his diary. …it seems if the war is like a series of more or less interesting events, with a nightmare of sudden death in the background. Many of the fine lads mentioned in this book will never again to see their homes. They will always, to me, be the good friends they were when we last met, they were men I was proud to call ‘friend”.
My parents marriage appeared to be made in heaven for I can scarcely remember a single cross word ever spoken between them .But it was based on a lop sided devotion of my Mother to my father, who reigned supreme. And to whom she spoilt rotten.
It belongs to a past era, never to be repeated, as the two stories testify
My Mother, knew this, and made such unbelievable allowances for him which seems inconceivable to me to day.
One day Charlie had been playing golf. As usual he had enjoyed himself with his mates, Curley Campbell, who loved to bet, and partnering Cuttee the club champion and other players had joined in for a game of “skins”. A “skin’ in golf is a hole won and my father had had a good day, collecting more than his fair share of winning “skins”. So he happened to consume a good portion of his “winnings” at the Club Bar. So much so that it caused him to overlook his planned wedding anniversary dinner date with my mother that night. Much later he drove home slowly, aware he’d had too much to drink.
Meanwhile at home my Mother had been sitting, rigidly in her chair, dressed for the evenings planned engagement, patiently waiting for “Charlie” to finally arrive home.
There was certain tension in her tiny frame, like a steel spring ready to snap at the slightest surface disturbance.
Charlie arriving home saw my mother through the window dressed for the occasion, sitting motionless in the chair and remembered the anniversary dinner plans as he walked up the steps to open the front door.
He opened the door slowly, tentatively; considering an appropriate entrance, at the same time reaching for his hat and crouching forward, as if in combat, gently throws it. It glides over the furniture for the perfect soft “landing” at my mother’s feet.
Bullseye.
Charlie kept a War Diary.
Went on a 1,000 mile trip last night, a “bullseye”. Bags of searchlights and few night fighters. Flew at 13,000 feet and nearly froze.
We are on another “bullseye” last night, airborne from 10pm, until 5am, about a 1,000 miles .Wizard trip. No night fighters but search lights were troublesome, my starboard motor wasn’t behaving very well, (it was a lousy kite anyway) and I was very pleased to return safely to base. Whole crew very tired. Squadron Leaders had given us the night off, so it’s early to bed.
My mother heads slowly turned, coldly eyeing its presence. Eyes glanced to the door; tension subsides at Charlie’s hesitant entrance. A momentarily flicker of compassion passes over her, for her Charlies home.
Charlie’s enters the room, a fleeting glance to my Mother, as confidence returns.
A contrite Charlie stands before the ‘Commander’ for he’s arrived back at base at 9.30am in the morning after a nights celebration ‘and his boys caught AWL are in plenty trouble’ but the incident is quickly overlooked.
He speaks slowly to disguise any hint of slur, ‘Hello Dear. Now I was thinking about our anniversary. Rather than take you out to –night as we planned I have a better idea. Tomorrow we could celebrate, you can cook for me my favourite “Sunday roast’ and I will invite all my air force mates, from whom you will hear some good jokes.’
This reminded me of the frequent stories by “Charlie” of the dear English folk whose homes became a home away from home to the “lads” from Australia.
They outpoured the best of “British” gratitude. The ‘Homes of England ‘became a refuge, a sanctuary, warmth. Stiff upper lips, ‘The British Empire’, don’t worry about the bombs, siren going off, bloody nuisance, those bloody Germans, finish your cup of tea first son. My fathers often spoke about it, almost in reverent tone, not one to normally show his feelings. Land of hope and glory, this was their finest hour. A time to record it.
Arrived at the BBC studios at 9.30am. met several officials then a rehearsal after which we began recording. We made 6 records, 2 of which had to be repeated. because of technical faults. The BBC fellas were very pleased, called in story writers and 2 newspaper correspondents to get our story. To day we are going to have our photograph taken for the papers.
“Feeling a bit peckish Charlie” asks my Mother, fully restored to her devotional self.
Yes, sure I am
Steak and Eggs.
Just what the Doctor ordered.
The Medical Superintendent handed Charlie his papers. Cause for celebration you’re being invalided out of the air force.
The post massage was brief
Darling I’m on my way home. I can’t wait to see you. Everyone at the hospital is jealous. They have drawn pictures of you with me coming towards you. They think you’re a good sort. I nearly died, they thought I was goner, but I pulled through for you my dear, I was unconscious for 10days. I’m coming home. .
Her “Charlie’s returning. It was almost too painful to talk about the long separation to anyone. They (her feelings) must not be mentioned in any detail ever. The emotion is an ocean, and you must not swim against the tide. It’s not a good idea.
The red roofed houses of Sydney have received many telegrams of those who will not return. It casts a grey shadow over the community. A sad note too deep to hear.
His premature death from cancer aged 57 was hastened, if not directly caused by his wartime experiences. I remember he had continued difficulty in breathing and frequent bouts of bronchitis. At his funeral I can remember the streets being blocked off; in anticipation of the large crowd as all of the numerous service organisations he had served so well, came to bid “au revoir” to their “faithful digger”. And of course the spirit of those great mates, the best friends he ever had, who had perished earlier, in the “Theatre of War” were also present in the form of the last entry in his diary. …it seems if the war is like a series of more or less interesting events, with a nightmare of sudden death in the background. Many of the fine lads mentioned in this book will never again to see their homes. They will always, to me, be the good friends they were when we last met, they were men I was proud to call ‘friend”.
My parents marriage appeared to be made in heaven for I can scarcely remember a single cross word ever spoken between them .But it was based on a lop sided devotion of my Mother to my father, who reigned supreme. And to whom she spoilt rotten.
It belongs to a past era, never to be repeated, as the two stories testify
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