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China Today

By my origin, as you may know, coming from a Chinese origin family, of parents born in Maurituis, I have the privilege of being a Mauritius citizen born in China.CBC (China born Chinese) as opposed to my MBC parents! A proud Mauritian, I am. To live on our Island and be exposed to the diversity of cultures at close range, I bet, is not usual. Then to be conscious of it and to take benefit of the unique situation would be wise and clever. This presents an advantage over most men of the world. We, Mauritian should be more aware of our unique heritage laid down for us and be avid to reap the fruit of these assets.I trust you enjoyed my recent blog taking you to India and the Elephanta caves for the feast of Lord Ganesh.

I have a foible for China. The obvious case may be because of my family back ground but the stronger case element is “what China presents in population size and what China will command in the future as an Economic power house”. To that matter, every single soul in the world has a stake to watch out China.

I read through a paper presented by Prof. LI Hongtu at a ENS conference in Lyons in 2004 which is still relevant & pertinent.

Reading similar documents nurtures my quest for understanding, learning and expanding my perspectives. I pray that they do the same to you. Bonne Lecture.( our frenchie touch yet another gift bestowed upon us) Enjoy…

In almost all work situations, there are some office politics. When there are humans involved there is politics. This happens even in families. The game of influencing, threatening, pressuring, convincing, and yielding or complying be it soft or hard are always present in human interactions. Some years ago, I had the chance of attending an enlightening lecture by a Belgian author, Jean Jacques Creve Coeur who wrote “Relations & jeux de pouvoir”.

I have traveled fairly well in this path in my work career. As a junior, I yielded more easily, sometimes I gave in unconsciously. At the start, I was often a door mat: I would not react either out of fear or timidity or out of not wanting to create waves. As I grew older and when I acquired more experience and responsibilities in the working environment, my level of awareness of “office politics” also increased. I have learned how to discern the office politics and how to be saved from situation before it gets out of hand.

In the nutshell, I learned when and how to play with the sharks without being eaten by them. I practiced the art of turning an unavoidable evil into a source of information for better understanding and better informed actions. Just like rumors, one needs to know which part of it is false (intoxication) and which part has a base of truth. Who are the guys spreading the rumors and for what purpose is the propaganda? Who are the initiators, designers and who are the unconscious carriers of the rumors?

I always thought that if I was made aware of the intricacies of “office politics” well ahead, I would have acted in some cases better. “Un homme avisé en vaut deux”. Can one attend a seminar on the subject?

As a matter of interest, at least those who might be swimming with some sharks now, I like to share with you a power point presentation on the theme. May the PowerPoint get you to think and be warned ahead?

Not long ago, there was on the 17 July 2006 a symposium for the Mauritian Diaspora: « Pa Bliye nou Rasinn ». I am presently viewing the DVD of the event which I could not attend. The DVD is on sale @ Capav Production Tel. 230 4672911.

The present government, through the measures expressed in the budget seems to encouraging our Diaspora to invest in our country. Indeed maintaining the bond of Mauritian worldwide is essential. Portals, websites and blogs are excellent vehicles to achieve the communications interchange.

I have to cite & congratulate Madeleine & Clancy Philippe for the good work to have created and for maintaining a portal for the Mauritius – Australia link. I would like to see more similar initiatives. Radio Moris is yet another commendable action.

We need the Diaspora as much as they need us. We all share the same root “meme rassinn” and have so much in common. To see that Mauritius is doing well is in itself a source of pride for the overseas Mauritian.

As is the case with all Diasporas, the bonds remain lasting for generations. Israel has always survived with the support of its overseas Jews. India recently has amended its law to give special consideration to its large Diaspora. China for that matter had always had a ministry of overseas Chinese to serve the vast number of overseas Chinese. Rightly, China experienced that by far the largest investment in China since its open policy, originated from overseas Chinese.

Could Mauritius, like India and China give a special status to the members of the Diaspora?

As most of you who live in Mauritius, you would have enjoyed a Holyday today: The Feast of the lord Ganesh, the god of wisdom. I flashed back to the days ,when I used to frequently visit Bombay and attended the feast at Elephanta caves,an island across The Gate of India in Colaba. The eve of the festival day now gave me the opportunity to sleep late so that I could enjoy the late morning wake up.The wake time was spent refreshing my old notes and browsing the web on the new developments thereon.

You will recall that at age 48, I decided to reequip myself with new competencies to further my active life. Indeed, one of the subjects I studied was NLP. You will find at least 2 links to NLP institutions which will explain to you what it is all about and how NLP could help you in your life. These life skills, to which I have been initiated to, worked wonders for me. I now realized how these skills transformed my outlook in life and how the acquired skills were of the greatest help to me during the rough time I traveled the recent years.

Would you like to be more in control of your behavior? Would you like to be more conscious of your moods and act more calmly in a way to achieve what you really want? Would you like to have better communications skills to understand others and be able to influence them? Would you like to be more creative and happier? What about learning to learn?

NLP incorporates a number of techniques and more importantly integrates the latest discoveries in the functioning of the Brain.

This morning when I lazily got out of my bed, I thought that I might have acquired more wisdom: Thanks to NLP

From what I gathered, whilst on the one hand, we want the fish hub to be one of the pillars of our new economic development, our civil service, on the other, is lagging behind to providing the minimum requirements for the entry of our products to the targeted market: the European Market.

Not only do we have to produce the right product at the right price and at the right time, the exporter must ensure that the products are certified for the importing country. Has the authorities done there job properly? How do we stop irresponsible parties to mar our destiny?

This reminds me of an experience, which occurred many many years ago. After grueling rounds of interviews, this Youngman full of hope and high spirited, got a letter confirming to him that he had been selected out of some twenty candidates and was awarded a scholarship under the Commonwealth Scholarship scheme. He was asked to call in the Ministry of Education to pursue the formalities and to complete the Common Wealth applications.

There I was, aged 20, happily registering myself to a Canadian institution to study Heating & Refrigeration at a tertiary level at College in Canada. There were then 2 other awardees. The first was awarded a bursary to study music and the second fellow a similar scholarship in Aeronautics. I had even got the acceptance from the College which was in Laval Quebec.

Came September which was the moment to finalize the departure, the government officer, Mr. Telescourt told me that there was a problem. What turned out was: the Ministry through of an over sight did not file in the document in time for our applications to the Common Wealth secretariat to process the requests. After much exchanged of telexes (in those days) The Commonwealth secretariat conceded only the Aeronautics study as the funds were reallotted to countries that requested more scholarships and were on time.

This is the story of how an administrative mistake crushed all the hope and tomorrow of an enterprising budding yougman. Let us hope that the administrative shortcomings of the authorities will not in turn crush the tomorrow of our budding Fish hub.

Pourquoi cette Fête ?

Déjà depuis de siècles L’Eglise a toujours honoré notre Sainte Vierge, Mère de Jésus. Je vous recommande la lecture de la Préface proclamée pour cette fête. Elle est la première bénie de Dieu, car elle a été choisie pour être l’instrument de l’Incarnation de Dieu. En terme contemporain, le mot « Lauréat » me vient à l’esprit. Ne fêtons nous pas toujours nos Lauréats pour être les premiers et surtout pour être des modèles à suivre ?

Saint Jean de Damas (vers 675-749), moine, théologien, docteur de l’Eglise
Homélie 1 sur la Dormition, 11-14 (trad. SC 80, p. 111s)

La Vierge Marie « image de l’Eglise à venir…qui guide et soutient l’espérance de ton peuple » (Préface)

Ô Mère de Dieu, toujours vierge, ton saint départ de ce monde est vraiment un passage, une entrée dans la demeure de Dieu. Sortant de ce monde matériel, tu entres dans « une patrie meilleure » (He 11,16). Le ciel a accueilli avec joie ton âme : « Quelle est celle-là qui monte dans tout son éclat comme l’aurore, belle comme la lune, resplendissante comme le soleil ? » (Ct 8,5;6,10)… « Le roi t’a introduite dans ses appartements » (Ct 1,4) et les anges glorifient celle qui est la mère de leur propre maître, par nature et en vérité selon le plan de Dieu…

Les apôtres ont porté ton corps sans tache, toi l’arche d’alliance véritable, et l’ont déposé à son saint tombeau. Et là, comme par un autre Jourdain, tu es parvenue à la vraie Terre promise, je veux dire à la « Jérusalem d’en haut », mère de tous les croyants (Ga 4,26), dont Dieu est l’architecte et le constructeur. Car ton âme assurément « n’est pas descendue dans le séjour des morts, bien plus ta chair elle-même n’a pas connu la corruption » (Ps 15,10;Ac 2,31). Ton corps très pur, sans souillure, n’a pas été abandonné à la terre, mais tu as été emportée aux demeures du Royaume des Cieux, toi la reine, la souveraine, la dame, la Mère de Dieu, la véritable Theotokos…

Aujourd’hui nous nous approchons de toi, notre reine, Mère de Dieu et Vierge ; nous tournons nos âmes vers l’espérance que tu es pour nous… Nous voulons t’honorer par « des psaumes, des hymnes, des cantiques inspirés » (Ep 5,19). En honorant la servante, nous disons notre attachement à notre propre Maître commun… Jette tes yeux sur nous, ô reine, mère de notre bon Souverain ; guide notre route jusqu’au port sans orages du bon désir de Dieu.

Que veut dire « Assomption » ?

J’ai retrouvé dans l’encyclopédie catholique des pistes de réflexion intéressantes. Ce qui m’interpelle, c’est cette supposition que notre Sainte Vierge Marie, par sa pureté, n’a pas été soumise à la corruption de la chair. Ce qui me donne à penser que notre résurrection se fera corps et âme.

Nous fêtons Quoi aujourd’hui ?

Nous fêtons bien notre lauréate qui entre dans la gloire de Dieu. Les réjouissances seront démunies de sens si nous ne profitons pas de l’occasion pour mieux comprendre l’événement et d’en tirer des leçons. Immaculée Conception est elle possible ? Enfanter tout en étant Vierge est un non sens à la compréhension humaine ! Ce n’est que dans la foi et à travers l’acceptation de la venue de Jésus que je m’explique ses faits.

Merci Marie

A travers de ta fête, tu m’as donné l’occasion de méditer sur ton parcours exemplaire sur terre. Que tu sois mon modèle. Mieux encore, là où tu es, intercèdes pour moi. Mère nourricière de Jésus, vivant en servante que pour Lui, tu as accepté ton rôle avec humilité et détachement dans une espérance sans limite. Sous ton regard bienveillant,j’ai eu l’honneur d’etudier au college St. Mary’s. O Marie prie pour nous.

Last week, I was watching on TV the African games which are being held at the Bambous stadium, featuring some world class athletes from the continent. My pride of my country turned into shame and horror.

The final of the 1500meters women was marred by a regrettable event. A large sun shade placed in the middle of the stadium was blown by the wind across the running track. The shade struck the runners. One of the world champions, a contender of the gold medal, was knocked down. She was thus unable to finish the race. I understood that this event was broadcasted live to a number of African countries and was covered by the world sports press. As a Mauritian I felt shameful.

Aucune autre concurrente ne put résister à l’accélération de l’Algérienne Nouria Benida Merah à cent cinquante mètres du but au 1500 m. Elle gagna détachée en 4’23″26, une victoire significative pour cette athlète qui retrouve le haut niveau après cinq ans d’absence pour cause de maternité et de blessure. La Ghanéenne Millicent Boadi ne put terminer la course après avoir été heurtée par un parasol qui avait été emporté par le vent.

Le Mauricien 12th Aug

I understand, the local press played low key on this issue and brushed up the event as an accident. I strongly ressent against the amateurish way, Mauritians act. Were there norms for fixing objects in the stadium to prevent such incidents?

There again is a blatant example where norms do not exist and the authorities do not think of norms and standard.

We want to become world class to compete in the future. Then, we need to adopt world class stardard and norms.

Last night,I had a lenghty discussion with Percy who was featured in the Apartes edition of 28 Jul 2006 wherein he exposed his viewpoints on the possible explosive situation looming ahead for Mauritius.

His view points:

1. Growth of HIV of the past was brought by drug addicts who were using infected seringues.
2. The scarcity of Gandia is bringing the drug addicts to Brown Sugar.
3. The price of one dose of Brown Sugar is now lower(Rs 400 a shot) as the quality drops.
4. Because of the low content of opium, the less potent Brown can only be administered by intravenous shots.
5. Infected Drug Addicts are propagating HIV through SEX.
6. Gandia smoking does not propagate HIV, Brown Sugar administered thru infested seringues does.
7. The population of HIV infection is growing at exponential speed.
8. We have reached a critical level as over 20 cases of HIV weekly now detected on pregnant women.
9. The issue is not” what do We need to do?” Various models exist already. Holland & Switzerland have travelled along these roads before and are succesfully limiting the damages. When and how do we get the Government to act?

I, being not knowledgeable in the field, feel very much concerned with the problem. The future damage to society in Mauritius could be alarming.

How do we build up the public awareness and move the authorities to act?

Entrepreneur: Why invent the Wheel?

Mauritius is not the only country to count on Entrepreneurship to boost up the economy for the future. The US is living it. The development of start ups in the US is phenomenal. In France, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia and almost most all countries of the world, establishment of small enterprises and medium sized enterprises is being promoted. Literature thereon abounds on the net. Different models, according to the specific country needs are detailed in the different websites.

I found the website of the UK to be very interesting for us, Mauritius. Our trade laws were inherited from UK. So, we have a lot in common with them. UK has been for years ahead in the game of promoting Small Enterprises. Let us be inspired by their model and then adapt it to our operations and needs. A well of wealth is available to us on the web. Treasure hunting is now made easy through the search engines of the like of Google. Entrepreneurs go for it now. Act now.

Why invent the wheel? Use it to serve our purpose. The genius lies is in using the ideas of others to suit your specific purpose at the right time and right cost. Copying the idea of a guy is called plagiarism. Copying the ideas of many at the same time is call “research”. For the Entrepreneurs, the purpose is to turn ideas into workable businesses. Entrepreneurs are always Confronting Reality.Execution, Execution and Execution. Act now and execute.

“Me” Generation morphing to “We” Generation

On reading 2^nd August editorial of Daniel J. Kadlec of USA TODAY, I picked up the title and some ideas.

Quote

As boomers, turning 60, enter the traditional retirement years we are witnessing a grand transformation in this period of life, which has long been marked by withdrawal, entitlement and the pursuit of leisure. The emerging model embraces personal growth, giving back and continued employment. These hallmarks of the new retirement have the potential to reshape the economy and society to everyone’s benefit.

Do boomers really want to work longer? In a Merrill Lynch survey, 83% of boomers said they intended to work for pay full- or part-time after leaving their primary career. Certainly, some of them figure they’ll need the money. But most who work in their later years do so for other reasons. In a MetLife survey, nearly three of four working folks ages 66 to 70 said they chose to keep working to remain active and engaged. Needing income was a distant concern, ranking behind doing something meaningful and cultivating friendships with colleagues.

Un Quote

Indeed, this is my case. I am part of the baby boomer generation. I need to do something meaningful and keep on cultivating friendships. I for one, have found solace in blogging.

In Malaysia, the retirement age for government civil servants is 55. What they do thereafter? Many start a new life career. They start a new business and become entrepreneurs. Quite a number of highly skilled professionals joined together to form a corps of consultants. Tan Sri Dato’Soong Siew Hoong, secretary general of the Associated Chinese chamber of commerce of Malaysia, who I met some years ago, is one of the head of the corps of retirees acting as consultants called ERA( Expertise Ressource Association). He will be visiting the Chinese Business Chamber from the 7^th to the 11^th August. Let us pick on his brain to show us how to organize our own corps of consultants and network with the Malaysian ERA.