COLUMNSWTO ministerial meeting
Mid-December 2011 saw the eighth WTO ministerial conference coming to an end with no end in sight for the conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda.
However, it was also a historic meeting in that Russia, Samoa and Monte Negro were formally accepted to the WTO and for the clinching of a 42-country deal that would liberalise billions of dollars in public contracts.
Is it the end of the world?
2012 has arrived and if we are to go by Mayan predictions, this is the year that the world will come to an end – to be precise 11-and-a-half months from now, on 21 December.
This year I got many wishes reminding me of the impending doom and how one must look at the year ahead in that light. Towards the latter part of December 2011, the movie ‘2012’ (the 2009 American science fiction disaster film) was repeatedly shown on cable TV, probably adding to the trepidation of many who may wonder if these would indeed be the end of days.
Driving for ‘value’
Great ideas need landing gear as well as wings. So, before I would build a wall, I would ask to know what I am walling in or out.
Ideas are everything and the rest is housekeeping. Let us remember that ideas are one thing but to convert it to value is another. This is one main reason why several organisations face the problem of converting boardroom decisions into execution at the sharp end of the business.
2011: Power achievements for Sri Lanka, but…
A survey conducted last week on the health of the Sri Lankan economy revealed that almost 64% said that the Government had done its task but only 43% had said that there had been growth in the economy. Whilst some can say that this data is strange, a similar set of information was shared at the at the FT budget seminar staged on 24 November 2011.
The military-industrial complex
President Eisenhower raised the alarm in 1961; its relevance today
‘But most shall he sing of Lanka
In the brave new days to come,
When the races all have blended
And the voice of strife is dumb,
When we leap to a single bugle,
March to a single drum.’
From ‘The Call of Lanka’,
by the Rev. W.S. Senior.
Exceeding expectations: Embracing the eight Es
A brand new year is ahead of us. As usual, people tend to have New Year resolutions. My suggestion is to go beyond resolutions, to have specific reinforcements. Prosperity through productivity can only be possible with such individual contribution well linked to institutionalised initiatives. Today’s column will look into the intricacies and insights of such initiatives.
Expectations galore
Extravagance: National pride to continue in 2012 as well?
Brief analysis of corrupt public expenditure in Sri Lanka
Lessons from China or Tunisia?
Just few months ago, in response to a public outcry for more accountability and transparency in the use of public funds, the State Council, which is the Cabinet in the Chinese Government, directed 98 public institutions including ministries to make public their budgets and expenditure on official receptions, official overseas visits and public vehicles.
Global action against climate change: The unfinished business with Durban summit
The failed Durban Summit
The much-hyped UN-sponsored global summit of some 194 nations in Durban, South Africa from the last week of November to the first week of December 2011 to come up with a consensual programme of action against the perceived threat of climate change ended up with ‘no action’ at all.
Song of Kolaveri D and Viral Marketing
These days most Sri Lankans are speaking, even trying to imitate the song of “Kolaveri D (Why This Murderous Rage, Girl)” and even at work. We now have a Sinhala version of this as well. What is this song? It’s a song which was released on 16 November, and it instantly became viral on social networking sites for its quirky ‘Tanglish’ (Tamil and English) lyrics.
Listen with your eyes
With so much emanating from overused vocal cords and much of it senseless utterances with little or no meaning, it is perhaps better to retire into a world of silence avoiding the cacophony and practice and enjoy listening with eyes. Anyway we know that a picture is worth a thousand words and still the science has not matched the capabilities of the human eye in taking in details.
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