I took a walk in the park with my family yesterday. There is a nice paved bicycle trail that runs by a farm land. The paving is so nice and smooth that you could rollerblade on it. Here is my story...
In Australia we have the luxury of such a lovely paved road just for bicycling as a hobby, while many in the poorer countries would be happy to have just a simple cement rendered road for their everyday use. Yes, I recall that my hometown in Malaysia had to wait for years and submit countless appeals just to get that realized. The difference is that Australia places a lot of emphasis on social welfare and has the means to do so. Like all the countries in the West, industrialization brought about a big jump in prosperity to these countries. Along with it came social improvement programs, which we now continue to see and enjoy.
Fast forward to the 1970's. Globalization started to roll. Factories and jobs moved over to the countries that could offer low cost labour. These countries, however, do not share the same social welfare aspiration of the West. Therefore their labour costs will always be lower than in the West. They are not going to see money splurged on beautiful parks (they destroy the parks to build factories), or lovely paved bicycle roads (are you mad?!), or aged care for the old (let the weak take care of the weak).
Globalization has indeed created the road to prosperity for some. It comes at a social cost and an environmental cost. The winners: jobs for the jobless in the newly industrialized countries. The losers: working life is never the same for many in the West.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Globalization Part 1: A new world order
It is reported that the US is dependent on consumer spending to keep its economy going, while it continues to battle high unemployment rate and a flagging economy...
It is frequently reported that Australia is running on a "two-speed" economy. While mining-related industries do well, others lag behind...
Welcome to globalization, where economics is not what it used to be anymore. We should stop being surprised by the seeming contradictions and start to understand the impact of globalization on the economy. Western countries would like to believe they can have the cake and eat it too. That is, they can enjoy cheap made-in-China goods while still holding on to a high paying job. The simple truth is that when industries and jobs are moved offshore to a low-cost country, jobs are lost. Along with jobs, in time to come, goes the purchasing power.
In the globalized world, capitalism finally reveals its true self. It does not discriminate between countries, culture, or ideology. Capital investment goes where the company stands to make the most profit. Hence, America will have to snap out of the consumer-driven economy and try to regain the industry-driven economy (now lost to China) which once made it great. Meanwhile, resource rich countries like Australia will continue to chug along on a two-speed economy unless the government realizes that the non-mining industries are not slow-pedaling but are succumbing to the effects of globalization. Unless something is done about it, Australia will eventually become just a producer of raw materials, reversing the role with NIC's (newly industrialized countries) before they caught the globalization bug.
It is frequently reported that Australia is running on a "two-speed" economy. While mining-related industries do well, others lag behind...
Welcome to globalization, where economics is not what it used to be anymore. We should stop being surprised by the seeming contradictions and start to understand the impact of globalization on the economy. Western countries would like to believe they can have the cake and eat it too. That is, they can enjoy cheap made-in-China goods while still holding on to a high paying job. The simple truth is that when industries and jobs are moved offshore to a low-cost country, jobs are lost. Along with jobs, in time to come, goes the purchasing power.
In the globalized world, capitalism finally reveals its true self. It does not discriminate between countries, culture, or ideology. Capital investment goes where the company stands to make the most profit. Hence, America will have to snap out of the consumer-driven economy and try to regain the industry-driven economy (now lost to China) which once made it great. Meanwhile, resource rich countries like Australia will continue to chug along on a two-speed economy unless the government realizes that the non-mining industries are not slow-pedaling but are succumbing to the effects of globalization. Unless something is done about it, Australia will eventually become just a producer of raw materials, reversing the role with NIC's (newly industrialized countries) before they caught the globalization bug.
Gardening - hobby or housework?
Here is a picture of the flower bed in front of my house. I can't take the credit for the plantings; I just keep the garden going by doing what is necessary: weeding, pruning and fertilizing. I see gardening as routine work, not unlike any other housework.There is a general misconception among many Asians I have met (I can't say for sure about other cultures). Many of my friends think that I love gardening just because I don't mind doing the routine upkeep work. Also, whenever I try to get my children to help, they tell me gardening is not their hobby (as if they are doing me a favour by not taking away my fun!). Of course, some people treat gardening as a hobby, but to me it is just outdoor housework. If you have a garden, routine upkeep is as much an option as sweeping your floor or cleaning your dishes. You do it because it is housekeeping; simple as that.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Bluetooth handsfree car kit
Here is an interesting and useful gadget, if you haven't already got one. It is a handsfree car kit that automatically connects to my mobile phone whenever I am within a few feet of it. It has been around for quite a while; I am just a slow adopter of the gadget. The handsfree kit is clipped on to the sun visor of my car. Battery life is real good - it lasts me about four weeks before I "felt" I had to charge it again (it was still going on and on).
Why I am so pleased with it:
First of all, I can leave the phone in my pocket while I am driving. No more scrambling for the phone when it rings. No more accidentally leaving my phone in the car when I get off. Now I can safely answer the phone and talk as long as I like without risking a $300 fine. I can also play music or video on my phone and the sound will come off the bluetooth car kit. Cool!
If you are interested to get one, a regular bluetooth car kit costs anything from AUD$30 to AUD$100. Just make sure your phone supports bluetooth. Except for the most basic models, most phones do.
Why I am so pleased with it:
First of all, I can leave the phone in my pocket while I am driving. No more scrambling for the phone when it rings. No more accidentally leaving my phone in the car when I get off. Now I can safely answer the phone and talk as long as I like without risking a $300 fine. I can also play music or video on my phone and the sound will come off the bluetooth car kit. Cool!
If you are interested to get one, a regular bluetooth car kit costs anything from AUD$30 to AUD$100. Just make sure your phone supports bluetooth. Except for the most basic models, most phones do.
Friday, January 28, 2011
All things to all people...
1 Corinthians 9:20-22 says:
"To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some."
Very often in our lives we behave differently with different people. The Apostle Paul does it for the sake of the gospel, while we may do so for varied reasons. This is not hypocrisy but a necessity. Every day we interact with all sorts of people. Everyone is different. If we want everyone to act the same way to suit our temperament, very soon we will find that we have no friends left.
It is the same with children. As our children grow up, they develop their own unique personality. We just have to learn to adapt to each child's character. That is how we can cherish each one for whom he or she is.
I realize that when I go out with friends I have to adapt to each one's individual character. There is a lot of give and take. Some friends want to dominate all chitchats. Some like to talk about their own interests, often oblivious to whether anyone is listening at all. Some are just listeners. I realize that the best way to be at peace with others is to be "all things to all people."
"To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some."
Very often in our lives we behave differently with different people. The Apostle Paul does it for the sake of the gospel, while we may do so for varied reasons. This is not hypocrisy but a necessity. Every day we interact with all sorts of people. Everyone is different. If we want everyone to act the same way to suit our temperament, very soon we will find that we have no friends left.
It is the same with children. As our children grow up, they develop their own unique personality. We just have to learn to adapt to each child's character. That is how we can cherish each one for whom he or she is.
I realize that when I go out with friends I have to adapt to each one's individual character. There is a lot of give and take. Some friends want to dominate all chitchats. Some like to talk about their own interests, often oblivious to whether anyone is listening at all. Some are just listeners. I realize that the best way to be at peace with others is to be "all things to all people."
Monday, January 24, 2011
Do you read the papers?
It is said that if you do not want any bad news, do not read the newspaper. True, I have noticed that there are actually more bad news than good ones. I read the news first thing in the morning. Very quickly, I would have covered enough bad news to dampen my day: the government making bad decisions, big companies using their grip to squeeze out more profits, privatized utility companies jacking up prices at will, etc.
Sometimes there is the occasional ludicrous statement made by politicians. For example, NSW Premier Kristina Keneally says that if Adelaide is the best city to live in in Australia, why is it that Adelaide has 1.2mil people and Sydney has 4.5mil? Duh? By this reasoning, China is the best country in the world to live in. It makes you wonder if we really have voted into office people of at least average intelligence.
But I would rather have the truth reported as it is than government propaganda. Where I migrated from the newspapers are always reporting good news as far as the economy and local businesses are concerned. The GDP is always growing at an impressive rate, the inflation is always at a low figure, and business opportunities and employment figures always make you feel as if our children's future are in good hands. I am more selective now of what I read, and I will still read our Aussie newspapers, good news or bad, as long as it reports the truth.
Sometimes there is the occasional ludicrous statement made by politicians. For example, NSW Premier Kristina Keneally says that if Adelaide is the best city to live in in Australia, why is it that Adelaide has 1.2mil people and Sydney has 4.5mil? Duh? By this reasoning, China is the best country in the world to live in. It makes you wonder if we really have voted into office people of at least average intelligence.
But I would rather have the truth reported as it is than government propaganda. Where I migrated from the newspapers are always reporting good news as far as the economy and local businesses are concerned. The GDP is always growing at an impressive rate, the inflation is always at a low figure, and business opportunities and employment figures always make you feel as if our children's future are in good hands. I am more selective now of what I read, and I will still read our Aussie newspapers, good news or bad, as long as it reports the truth.
Multi-charger
I have many chargers at home. Every portable device I have ever bought comes with a charger. Recently I came across a multi-charger that is able to replace almost every charger I own. It is actually a multi-headed cable that plugs into a standard USB charger, as you can see from the picture. Thus you can plug the cable into a computer, or a wall plug USB charger, or a cigarette lighter USB charger. The cable costs AUD$5, the wall charger costs AUD$3, and the cigarette lighter charger costs AUD$2. What a deal!This multi-headed cable is able to replace every charger I have, except the charger for my Nikon camera and for AA/AAA batteries. So if you are flustered by having too many chargers around the house, or having too many to carry with you when you go traveling, this multi-charger is your answer!
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