Showing posts with label the Future. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Future. Show all posts

10/14/2019

#RandomThoughts For the Week




A new week is before us in our Platforms as our team will be assessing on-going developments in 
India, China along with the on-going challenges in Syria.

We hereby present the following #RandomThoughts for consideration as we look forward to the on-going expectations at hand.


7/13/2008

Reflections on My Inspiration....

When I launched this blog in 2005, it was for a simple reason: to begin the thinking of trying to reflect upon what was right and what was wrong. I began it as a debate and it somehow took a life of its' own. I have worked to evolve it not only as a forum to talk about what is wrong, but about what is right. It also led me to launch my current affairs blog (http://www.outsiderviews.com) to build upon the work here and to somehow evolve this blog into more of a long term vision on what is within the realm of the possible.

Some of the ideas that I hope to build upon was further inspired by the Time Magazine Special on 10 Ideas that are changing the world (http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1720049,00.html, retrieved July 14, 2008). I wanted to note these ten ideas, conduct periodic research and report on some of the emerging trends. Here are the ideas as reported by Time Magazine:
1) Common Wealth; 2) The End of Customer Service; 3) The Post-Movie-Star Era; 4) Reverse Radicalism; 5) Kitchen Chemistry; 6) Geoengineering; 7) Synthentic Authenticity; 8) The New Austerity (Living Within One's Means); 9) Mandatory Health; Re-Judaizing Jesus. Within it, I am trying to figure out how to make out of Bio Fuels, the rise of Ethanol and how it has contributed to the rise in the Price of Fuel. I am particuarly keen on Vinod Khosla's ideas and his investments in Khosla Ventures who has made it a point of going green. There is also one of the greatest VC firms of all (Kleiner Perkins) who backed Sun, Google and others and is now committed to going Green. That is something that we have to continue to be aware of and understand. I will be talking about it over the ensuing weeks and months and assessing what is possible. We're indeed living in interesting and exciting times. I am hopeful and optimistic. That's what inspires me to continue my never ending quest to discover, to learn and to "hopefully" educate. I continue this journey, fully being aware of the late Sir John Templeton's Admonition that, "....An Investor (or anyone for that matter in my view) who has all the answers doesn't even understand the questions."

1/03/2008

Iowa...and all the possibilities.....

Well, Iowa is now over and some things have become clearer. The campaign for the day after George W. Bush has begun..and not a day too soon...

Barrack Obama won the Gold for the Democrats, (As Mitt Romney called it) but John Edwards showed that he's in it for the long haul. Chris Dodd and Joe Biden are pulling out. If a Democrat wins the White House in 2008, that Democrat will be crazy not to consider these two outstanding Americans for Secretary of State, Attorney General or Secretary of the Treasury. I think that it will be a competitive race at least for a while yet on the Democratic Side.

I think the Democratic Party will be stronger for it and will be able to effect the change that is necessary for us all. What is going on now cannot continue. As John Edwards said, we're a better country than to tolerate people with no health insurance, allow children to go to bed hungry and allow over 200,000 veterans to be homeless. Yes, Mitt Romney, there are two Americas and we have to bridge the gap for the sake of the future.

I am not impressed by the Republicans nor particularly care for them because of what they have done to this country over the past eight years. I admit I was surprised when I saw Mike Huckabee win Iowa. I think at least Iowa showed that even the Republicans are looking for more straight talk and fresh ideas...or at least a fresh face, not more of the same. The struggle is on for the future of America and to a large extent, the world. America still matters and everyone needs to realize that.

12/13/2007

A Story of Hope and Inspiration

I could not help but post this message of hope and inspiration. I shared this with my students, simply because it underscores the need to believe in the art of the possible....enjoy!!!

Source: http://www.blackbritain.co.uk/news/details/2618/News/, retrieved 12/13/2007

Miraculous journey from the slums of Kenya ends with university graduation

This may be the end of the first part of my journey, but it certainly isn't the end of the road. In my field work in July this year, I was able to share and set some foundations of how best to work effectively with slum communities.

Sammy Gitau
A former Kenyan slum child who found University of Manchester prospectus leaflets in a dustbin will finally achieve his dream of gaining a Masters degree today.

Sammy Gitau discovered the documents inside a discarded cardboard wallet decorated with the University's name in a well-to-do neighbourhood near his home in Mathare, Nairobi 's oldest slum district. Sammy read references to his country on a page about a course based at the university's renowned 'Institute for Development Policy and Management'.

And after a struggle of epic proportions he'll receive the accolade today. Aged 13, Sammy became his family's breadwinner when his father, who brewed illegal alcohol, was killed in a hammer attack. After he was beaten by angry mobs for thieving he became a drug seller in 1997, hitting rock bottom when he overdosed on cocktail of drugs soon after.

Even after he was accepted on to the course, Sammy was forced to take on the UK immigration service, which after hearing about his limited schooling, refused to believe he was a genuine student. The ruling was overturned seven months later. Drawing on his experiences, Sammy established a community resource centre which lobbies for fresh water and an electricity supply, as well as helping young men to come off drugs and find a job.

A group of wives of local and international officials - including the wife of the head of the Kenyan EU delegation Monica Quince - helped Sammy to convert cargo containers into classrooms from which he could teach skills to disenfranchised youngsters, such as carpentry and computing. And it was another EU official Alex Walford who encouraged Sammy to apply to the university's School of Environment and Development to take the MSc in the 'Management and Implementation of Development Projects'.

He said: "After the drugs put me in a coma, I remember hearing hospital staff telling me I was going to die and when you are dying, you make a deal with God. You just say, get me out of here and will do anything. I will go back and stop children going through the same kind of life as me. This may be the end of the first part of my journey, but it certainly isn't the end of the road. In my field work in July this year, I was able to share and set some foundations of how best to work effectively with slum communities.

"It is the hope and the trust in the eyes of my people that strengthens and ensures me of great success in the future. I have big plans for the centre - I hope to expand the project into other areas of Nairobi. Who knows, it be may a model which can be emulated across Africa. If it wasn't for my amazing experience and support from my friends at Manchester University and constant support from donations around the world, this dream would never have become a reality."

Sammy's University programme director, Dr Pete Mann said: "I found it humbling to teach Sammy - it really is a remarkable achievement. In class, he was reflective, thoughtful and creative - a very successful student. A development project or agency can only benefit from one who has witnessed so much adversity yet brings such intense spirit of endeavour on behalf of others. We have only begun to hear from Sammy Gitau."

7/21/2007

Chris Gardner, The Pursuit of Happyness and the Art of the Possible

I saw The Pursuit of Happyness last night. What a powerful movie!!!

Will Smith and his Son gave powerful performances. Beyond that, the story itself is moving and inspiring. What is within the possible is still possible in this country. Whether our political leaders in their infinite wisdom insure that what Bill Clinton once called "the Dream Called America" will endure or not is another question.