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| Wednesday, 24 November 2004 |
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Letters | |
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The arms race - peace and eradication of poverty Peace is sought to live a decent life with average comforts, and this necessarily implies eradication of poverty. The scourge of poverty is highlighted when seen in the background of extreme disparity in wealth among nations, labelled as the developed and the developing. In such a context, it is almost the duty of the rich countries to search for ways to eradicate poverty and thereby arrest terrorism, instead of spending for and gathering armaments to destroy terrorists. It also becomes the reciprocal duty of the 'developing' countries to create the climate to obtain funds from the developed countries to eradicate poverty. It is incumbent on both sides to examine causes for the failure of foreign aid in the matter of poverty reduction. Pillars of peace are the basic essentials for life such as, food, clothing, housing, education, health care, work, freedom etc. To meet these, considerable financial resources are necessary, and in the present context of developing countries, it has to be met by the rich countries - and they in turn should provide it with a searching heart, soul and mind, instead of just ladling it upon the poor countries take it or leave it style. In other words the self esteem of the recipient countries has to be bourn in mind, notwithstanding the epithet that beggars cannot be chosers. Arrogant attitude will not be the panacea for that much talked of development. Although history will not bring bread to the table, some of the nations now deemed developing, still blame some of the developed nations for stifling their achieved development, some time in the colonial past. This is correct to some extent. But should both sides sit on their laurels and let chances pass by, to solve the problem for their mutual benefit? We see today armaments circulating the globe. Why? Because there is an obvious race for that arms build up. As a race has to be run by at least two, it would be prudent if all nations stop the race to be the greatest, and divert energies to run the race for eradiation of poverty, thus appeasing a majority in the world that would then begin to reciprocate the gesture enabling all to live without the impending mutual destruction? Have we not heard that the greatest will be the least, and the least, in a sense, will be made the greatest? The peace that accompanies poverty reduction implies respect to life from its conception to natural death. This further implies - not making minced meat of human beings, prior to this death. Is it not due to poverty that disrespect for life with its consequent crime, violence and terrorism begin? It is the available pool of the poor that become fodder for ambitious tyrants. Eradication of such pools therefore is a must for mutual existence - beyond just charity alone. Some international organisations have as their objectives lofty ideals such as strengthening democracy, building peace, defend human rights, foster free trade (amidst vast wealth disparities), combat drugs and promote economic development etc., but to what extent could they pursue these ideals, amidst the crazy arms race? - OSCAR E. V. FERNANDO Interim management, a new lifestyle for people looking for flexibility, freedom to express one's views, without inhibitions and accepting challenging assignments. Gone are the corporate permanencies due to constant delaying and the lack of loyalty in organisations. Career professionals at least some of them no longer believe in the permanency of jobs and no risk taking. Firms that have cut down on resources bring a lot of pressure on existing managers who have a heavy load to bear, not to speak of late hours and curtailment of family life etc. research has revealed that interim management is increasingly attracting professionals; not merely those in their twilight years who are trying to put something by for their retirement but the younger crowd who have opted for 'Interim management' deliberately. Women seemed to be most attracted by it. The flexibility, challenge and the better work life seemed to attract them. Further the status of a title or climbing the corporate ladder has more appeal to the male of the species than the female. The belief that companies adopt a paternalistic caring attitude no longer holds water. The 'Quid pro Quo' is no longer there. The freedom to choose, the relative lack of stress, the objectivity, with no axe to grind and psychologically unbound with no baggage is a key appeal to many. The gap one could have between assignments is another 'Deliberate Strategy' that could be adopted. For people who enjoy the short term side of things it is the 'Ideal attraction'. But the uncertainty can be worrying for interim management requires immense mental discipline. The mental shift between corporate and self employment prevails. Although no one can fire you and you are in complete control between assignments, you have got to maintain a work balance. The Institute of Interim Management has seen an increase in interims in the 30-40 year group. But this is not a 'soft option' career path. There will be ups and downs for there can be a gap between the end and beginning of a new assignment. At times there may be too many assignments at one time. Pressure in the financial sphere and strain of personal relationships at home are minus features that Interims may have to cope with. The establishment of a network of contacts through personal marketing efforts is essential for interims. A positive attitude, self-discipline and constant contacts are vital ingredients. Being an interim manager can give you greater control of your life, less stress and though at times one may have to work harder, the flexibility and lack of contract, knowing that you are in full control of what you do, eases out the work. Being an Interim manager brings free time, greater control over your career and challenging assignments in a shorter time frame. Resilience, mental discipline and the sense of freedom of taking time out between assignments can compensate for all negatives. Interim management is a free lifestyle a choice for people - Not for Permanency seekers (does it exist). It is for those who are willing to change, stop and dare. - Dr. ROHINI JAYARTNE Plastic surgery and medical specialties Your news item regarding plastic surgery and a curriculum we studied, practised plastic surgery, as a part of general surgery and some branched out, when this became an increasingly independent specialty in the 70s. It was never totally unavailable to general, orthopedic and other surgeons. When I went to UK and later to USA, for FRCS exams, plastic surgery, in almost all programs, was routinely learned, taught, practised. As it is a more specialized branch, it should be included as such and if possible, the surgeons, who trained and practised abroad (especially when the successive Governments refused to acknowledge the need and value of physicians and felt there was an excess in the late 60s and 70s, forcing much needed doctors to migrate) and they should be given as many inducements as possible to come on vacations, or donate their time to teach the native doctors, more of these techniques, until the country can train more within Sri Lanka. This process will take many years and the interim solution, is to accept this shortage, project the needs for the next 10 to 30 yrs and plan on an unrelenting course (free of political shortsightedness) and develop these specialties and others, so that hopefully we can reach a world standard in physicians and specialists, per 100,000 of the population (consider the ayurvedic and other methods, as adjunctive and not supplemental). - DRBDES I have read many letters and articles clamouring for animal rights in the press during the past so many months. All those expressed kind and generous sentiments about the so called dumb-friends. I agree that those dumb-friends sometimes are better than so called humans. I know of some who cry for the sake of animals and their rights do not show the same kindness and generosity towards humans by word and deed. This is the stark reality. I can hilariously mention the following categories of animal lovers I have come across: 1. Meat-eating animal lovers Among them there are some who show kindness to animals just to cover up their evil-deeds towards humans. Of course, there are few honest animal lovers but they love both humans and the animals alike. I was informed of an ungrateful case where even those who helped in shaping the draft animal act were omitted to mention. So much for the gratitude of those involved. Let alone 'Metta, 'Karuna', 'Muditha' and 'Upeksha' the noble qualities. - A.B.R. Ratmalana |
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