Thursday, August 31, 2006

COMMUNITY COHESION

COMMENT ON UK HOME OFFICE LAUNCH OF COHESION INITIATIVE

For community cohesion, we need communities. The Hindus and Jains try hard to build and sustain communities involving young and old alike, but mostly off their own efforts and with little direct support from the government. And they are generally law abiding citizens who save a huge amount of money for the government by not depending on welfare. Also we have a healthy lifestyle with good mental and physical health and strong family support networks. Unfortunately however, in the mainstream, communities are breaking apart. Few participate in churches or any sort of local communal activity. Young parents are busy working full time with little time even for their families – let alone community. Many don’t even know their neighbours and don’t think they need to know them. And therin lies the problem. It is a direct result of materialism and the lack of spiritual and ethical values in modern society. It is also a result of the spread of greed and big business which have directly broken communities and removed relationships of trust and loyalty. Clearly, this is not an easy nut to crack for the Home Office. However, it needs to look at root causes of social break-up and alienation if there is to be peaceful social co-existence in Britain. The young Muslim terrorists feel alienated and lost and become susceptible to such violent actions through their ignorance and vulnerability. Setting a Commission is a first step, but its eyes and ambitions must be for the long term.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

LEADERSHIP AND SPIRITUALITY

The best leader is one who inspires, encourages and sustains. Leadership is both a responsibility and an opportunity, a powerful and lonely job at the same time. For leaders to nourish and stimulate others, they need to stimulate themselves and stay motivated. Spirituality and a belief in the strength of the inner spirit is very often the core strength of great leaders. They have no ego and see themselves as part of a larger cosmos, brought on this earth to perform a duty. Their reward is not in ovation or gratitude from the public but in good responsible service. The best leader is one who is also the best servant of the people.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

DIVERSITY IS BORDERLESS

There is a lot of talk about diversity today - as different cultures are being brought together by globalisation and being forced to work with one another. This process will create conflicts in a competitive work environment, but can also create opportunities. For example, India and China are regarded as the new boom economies, but how many organisations use their existing ethnic minority staff to tap into these countries through their networks? How many companies hire people locally to help them to understand these countries? In cosmopolitan cities like London, these are great opportunities which can save money and help build trusting relationships in a very effective way. Just as charity begins at home, so does diversity.