THE SCARS OF WAR ARE EVERYWHERE, REMINDING US OF PEACE!

The introduction in the United Nation Charter, signed on June 26, 1945 in San Francisco states the following: 

“We, the people of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind”…

That indeed is a statement that creates food for thought.

The entire global military spending in 2008 was $1.464 billion.  And the U.S. alone spent more money than the rest of the world combined.

Creating New Jobs Requires Collective Effort!

In these first few days of 2011, my thoughts are about all of those who are unemployed, who wake up every morning with anxiety and worries about the future.  To lose a job, one’s income and security, is one of the most terrible things that can happen to an individual in today’s society.

It is easy for me to say, “don’t do a pike” (see my blog October 1, 2010 – “Set your mind of a positive note – don’t do a pike”) since I am covered and protected with a stable job, a salary and a house that is paid for.  Will I ever understand the hardship the unemployed people have to face every day, every hour and every minute, their concerns about loved ones, their concerns about their own future, and their own loss of self-esteem and pride?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Christmas lights in Gothenburg, Sweden

Dear reader of my blog!

This final blog for this year will take us out on a journey of semantics.  To give you Christmas spirit and to build bridges among the nations I am providing you a list of more than 50 ways to say Merry Christmas!

Equality Not Observed!

The American Declaration of Independence signed in 1776 states the following: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.

In 1789, the French created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.  Among other things, it states: "All the citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally admissible to all public dignities, places, and employments, according to their capacity and without distinction other than that of their virtues and of their talents," eliminating the special rights of the nobility and clergy”.

China - work in progress!

I recently visited China.

China’s activity level is amazing, glowing and parisionic to its size!

There is no doubt that China will take up the economic global leadership position in a near future, surpassing both Japan, as it has already, and the US.  In 1990, China’s contribution to the global GDP was 3%.  Within five years that number will be greater than that of the US, and be around 22%.

Do what you say and say what you do!

In the financial world the saying goes, "Buy on rumours, sell on facts!"

In the political world the saying goes, "Elect on promises, deselect on deliverables!"

President Obama and his democratic party was hit badly at the mid term election.  I believe though that
this is not a public expression of confidence in the republican party, bearing in mind that the President's
approval rate is higher than the approval rates of the Republican party and that of Congress.

No, it is something else. For me it is actually poor communication and a tactical political mistake to be too
centric. This combination is lethal when in dialogue with the voters.

Free Trade for Sustained Global Prosperity

Not so long ago I was I invited to a dinner to listen to Jeff Immelt, CEO of General Electric (GE), one of the biggest and most admired companies in the United States.

With great pathos, he spoke about the financial crisis in the US and spoke in particular about the world economy and one of his remarks rings true to me, he said: “The best insurance we have for prosperity, peace, and democracy is free trade across borders, without any restrictions in terms of national competitiveness.”

And I couldn't agree more!