Yesterday I watched the team drawing and placements for the 2010 World Cup next summer in South Africa. While many throughout the world are already mapping out what they hope will be the easiest path for their team (and no doubt I will start considering the various permutations soon enough), I am struck by the ongoing "Le Hand of God" saga involving Thierry Henry. If you follow soccer even casually, you are no doubt aware that Henry handled the ball (not just once, but twice) before the goal that secured France's passage to the World Cup (and doomed Ireland's hopes). Apparently even this year's World Cup draw host nation babe Charlize Theron entered the fray. During the rehearsal for the drawing it is rumored that when she drew the ball for France she called out Ireland's name.
Always ready to defend honor (and perhaps also to criticize the French), the English soccer press has insisted that nothing short of the "honor of the game" is at stake. SMS alert: the honor of the game has already been lost. Anyone who knows me somewhat knows that I am a soccer fan. But I'm not a fanatic.
FIFA and UEFA are investigating one of the biggest soccer match fixing cases in history that might include matches in the Champions League -- the jewel of European club soccer. Only three years ago, mighty Italian clubs Juventus, Fiorentina and Lazio were relegated to Serie B for match fixing. Players regularly dive looking for penalties or free kicks. Even one of FIFA's attempts at fair play has been twisted for perverse purposes. Players will regularly fall to the pitch and writhe around in apparent pain, seeking a stoppage in play or for the opposing team to kick the ball out of play. It's amazing how many of these players hop up right afterwards or if the ball returns nearby. And there continue to be truly unfortunate and reprehensible incidents of racism or violence associated with soccer. The beautiful game has a distinctly ugly side.
Apparently, Henry is quite distraught about this whole incident. This is the individual who helped launch FIFA's anti-racism campaign so he clearly has a civil streak within him. FIFA is investigating the matter. It's possible that they might even ban him for the opening match of the World Cup. France's last World Cup campaign ended with Zidane's inappropriate use of his head and their current World Cup campaign begins with Henry's inappropriate use of his hand. Let's hope that they and the other teams let their feet speak for them. With such a high profile case of cheating, it's possible FIFA might clamp down on unsporting behavior during the 2010 World Cup. Each World Cup offers another opportunity for FIFA to right the ship or at least keep it from hitting an iceberg.
There's a great deal of attention and focus on this first World Cup in Africa. Nelson Mandela was instrumental in bringing the World Cup to Africa and he offered words of inspiration and encouragement in the sublime manner that perhaps only he can manage. The movie "Invictus" will bring to the screen the story Mandela's simultaneously inspired and calculated move to unite South Africa behind their rugby team during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. At the least, sport is an interesting pastime and, at the worst, a terrible distraction from things that really matter. But it does have the power to unite, inspire and electrify an entire nation. If the 2010 World Cup brings attention to South Africa's remarkable journey, then perhaps we should celebrate that more than the soccer.
But at the end of the day, what drives soccer more than anything is money. Is it a surprise that players, managers, and football federations behave in an uncivil manner given the very large sums of money that are involved. Which team would sell more t-shirts and tickets: France or Ireland? This World Cup may bring attention to Africa but I doubt there will be much discussion about soccer clubs basically purchasing the "rights" to children from Africa in the pursuit of the next soccer legend. I have no doubt that FIFA will try to do something about fair play during this World Cup. But I suspect something else is worrying them even more at the moment.
World Cup ticket sales are much slower than expected.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Chipotle's Response
I signed an online petition for Chipotle to sign an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). Here is their thoughtful response:
We’ve never believed that you need to have a contract to do the right thing.
At Chipotle, we’ve built our business on doing what we believe is right. We have a decade-long track record of working to improve the nation’s food supply by choosing like-minded suppliers who share our belief in raising animals and growing vegetables in ways that demonstrate respect for people, animals and the environment. When we can’t find such arrangements, we use our purchasing power to influence change among those who are willing to work with us.
Most recently, this led us to negotiate a pact with East Coast Farms, one of Florida’s largest and most reputable tomato growers, in order to pay a penny a pound more for the tomatoes we buy. This additional money will be paid directly to the workers who pick our tomatoes. That might not seem like much, but it is substantial. Workers are paid a set amount for every pound of tomatoes they pick. Over just one hour, a worker typically gathers several hundred pounds of tomatoes, such that this price difference effectively amounts to a wage hike of nearly 70% for the average worker who picks our tomatoes.
But evidence of our commitment goes well beyond that. Today, Chipotle serves more naturally raised meat (from animals that are raised in a humane way, never given antibiotics or added hormones, and fed a pure vegetarian diet) than any other restaurant company. We are also the only national restaurant company to commit to serving significant amounts of organic or locally grown produce, and the first to move to dairy products made with milk from cows that are not treated with the synthetic hormone rBGH. These decisions have come at a price. In fact, Chipotle has the highest food cost in the industry because of our commitment to serving food made with ingredients from more sustainable sources.
We’ve done all of this without contracts binding us to one agenda or another, instead working to find or create opportunities to make positive changes, and pursuing those opportunities to the best of our abilities.
This most recent progress comes after months of working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), whose campaign to improve wages and working conditions for farm workers who pick tomatoes in Florida prompted an organized effort by the Florida tomato industry to block fulfillment of similar agreements between the CIW and other large tomato buyers. By working directly with the grower, we have found an alternative that allows us to have an immediate and positive impact on the lives of people who pick tomatoes for us.
We will continue in our quest to provide Food With Integrity, always looking for suppliers who share our belief in producing food in ways that demonstrates respect for workers, animals, and the environment. And we will continue to use our purchasing power to push for change when we cannot find suitable alternatives.
-Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill, 1401 Wynkoop #500, Denver, CO 80202
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) has a post today indicating their praise and appreciation for East Coast Growers and Packers and the additional penny per pound approach.
I will eat a Chipotle burrito for lunch today and keep eating at Chipotle. And I'm even more irritated with Chick-fil-A's lack of response to my questions.
We’ve never believed that you need to have a contract to do the right thing.
At Chipotle, we’ve built our business on doing what we believe is right. We have a decade-long track record of working to improve the nation’s food supply by choosing like-minded suppliers who share our belief in raising animals and growing vegetables in ways that demonstrate respect for people, animals and the environment. When we can’t find such arrangements, we use our purchasing power to influence change among those who are willing to work with us.
Most recently, this led us to negotiate a pact with East Coast Farms, one of Florida’s largest and most reputable tomato growers, in order to pay a penny a pound more for the tomatoes we buy. This additional money will be paid directly to the workers who pick our tomatoes. That might not seem like much, but it is substantial. Workers are paid a set amount for every pound of tomatoes they pick. Over just one hour, a worker typically gathers several hundred pounds of tomatoes, such that this price difference effectively amounts to a wage hike of nearly 70% for the average worker who picks our tomatoes.
But evidence of our commitment goes well beyond that. Today, Chipotle serves more naturally raised meat (from animals that are raised in a humane way, never given antibiotics or added hormones, and fed a pure vegetarian diet) than any other restaurant company. We are also the only national restaurant company to commit to serving significant amounts of organic or locally grown produce, and the first to move to dairy products made with milk from cows that are not treated with the synthetic hormone rBGH. These decisions have come at a price. In fact, Chipotle has the highest food cost in the industry because of our commitment to serving food made with ingredients from more sustainable sources.
We’ve done all of this without contracts binding us to one agenda or another, instead working to find or create opportunities to make positive changes, and pursuing those opportunities to the best of our abilities.
This most recent progress comes after months of working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), whose campaign to improve wages and working conditions for farm workers who pick tomatoes in Florida prompted an organized effort by the Florida tomato industry to block fulfillment of similar agreements between the CIW and other large tomato buyers. By working directly with the grower, we have found an alternative that allows us to have an immediate and positive impact on the lives of people who pick tomatoes for us.
We will continue in our quest to provide Food With Integrity, always looking for suppliers who share our belief in producing food in ways that demonstrates respect for workers, animals, and the environment. And we will continue to use our purchasing power to push for change when we cannot find suitable alternatives.
-Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill, 1401 Wynkoop #500, Denver, CO 80202
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) has a post today indicating their praise and appreciation for East Coast Growers and Packers and the additional penny per pound approach.
I will eat a Chipotle burrito for lunch today and keep eating at Chipotle. And I'm even more irritated with Chick-fil-A's lack of response to my questions.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Et tu, Chipotle?
I recently wrote about my reactions to Food Inc and new decisions about eating choices and behavior. Part of the change includes eating more at Chipotle (which sponsored Food Inc.). Now I have read an article about Chipotle's apparent unwillingness to work with the Florida-based Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) toward improving working conditions for migrant workers. I joked with one of my friends that since I have seen Food Inc. but have not seen The Cove, the only food I can eat is dolphin ;-)
Why is it so hard to identify a meal that ultimately doesn't harm someone or some animal?
Monday, August 10, 2009
Life Inc.
Note: I was not aware of Douglas Rushkoff's book "Life Inc" when I originally wrote this blog post.
I have changed my eating habits since watching Food Inc. I am eating less meat and more vegetables and fruits. I'm eating more food from the local farmers' market and less "food" from fast food chains including Chick-fil-A (more on this below). I'm trying to eat at restaurants that clearly indicate their food is locally produced or organically grown.
If you are considering whether to watch Food Inc., ask yourself first: Do you want the red pill or the blue pill?
Initially I thought Food Inc. was unfocused. The movie covers a tremendous number of topics ranging from food safety, inhumane treatment of animals, the marginalization (elimination?) of the family-owned farm, and the lack of support from political leaders to pass bills that would provide greater oversight. The overriding theme connecting these rather disturbing dots is the industrialization of food production. Michael Pollan has wisely suggested "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." He's also noted that it has become increasingly difficult to do so in his latest book "In Defense of Food."
Ultimately, the most powerful message of Food Inc. has nothing to do with food. It has to do with choice--or the lack thereof.
The reason I chose "Decide" as the title of this blog relates to one of my favorite scenes from the Lord of the Rings when Gandalf states "all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." In this day and age, it seems we should add "as long as corporations allow us."
Food Inc. portrays an unnerving integrated sequence of actions by corporations and an associated campaign of misinformation or lack of information that make it difficult, if not impossible, to understand the impact of our food consumption. By switching to soy milk in an effort to make better choices, it seems quite likely that I'm consuming genetically modified soybeans and lining the pockets of Monsanto Inc.
This sobering vision of food in the United States resonates with other areas of our lives. In the famous scene from The Matrix featuring the red pill and the blue pill, Neo declares that he does not believe in fate because he doesn't like the idea that he's not in control of his life. In The Matrix Reloaded, Merovingian relishes the moment when he declares "choice is an illusion created between those with power and those without."
Frank Rich expressed this sentiment in a recent op-ed piece in the New York Times:
"What disturbs Americans of all ideological persuasions is the fear that almost everything, not just government, is fixed or manipulated by some powerful hidden hand, from commercial transactions as trivial as the sales of prime concert tickets to cultural forces as pervasive as the news media."
Indeed, it would seem that the invisible hand of the market has moved from guiding us to slapping us.
In their insightful and fascinating book "Nudge" Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein discuss the concept of choice architecture and its influence on our decisions: "A choice architect has the responsibility for organizing the context in which people make decisions. A crucial parallel is that there is no such thing as 'neutral' design." Thaler and Sunstein specifically point out that they are not espousing a form of paternalism that drives people to a predefined choice, but rather to architect our lives such that we can make informed choices. Sadly, Food Inc. provides ample evidence that our government (regardless of red or blue state persuasion), rather than acting as a choice architect on our behalf, is often part of the problem.
My personal experience with Chick-fil-A offers interesting food for thought. I have enjoyed Chick-fil-A ever since I was a child growing up in North Carolina. One of the simple pleasures from my childhood was going to the mall with my brother and eating Chick-fil-A. This might not seem like much, but it undoubtedly reinforces my desire to eat Chick-fil-A today. About a year ago, I had contacted Chick-fil-A in response to watching a PETA video demonstrating Kentucky Fried Chicken's suppliers' horrific practices. Chick-fil-A promptly sent me a response indicating that they took this issue very seriously and worked with the USDA to define a set of best practices for humane treatment of chickens.
I continued to eat Chick-fil-A.
After watching Food Inc. I contacted Chick-fil-A again, this time asking them about the production process of their suppliers (mentioning Food Inc. particularly). Once again, Chick-fil-A responded with a prompt, friendly response pointing me to the same USDA website. Having seen from Food Inc. how toothless the USDA can be with enforcement, I decided to pursue this matter further.
Chick-fil-A is a privately held company so it's even harder to discover information about their practices. Thanks to Wikipedia, I discovered that Wayne Farms LLC is one of Chick-fil-A's suppliers. Wayne Farms LLC website highlights their commitment to family values, safe working environments, etc. They apparently even have an audit process to ensure their network "meet the high product quality and safety standards required by Wayne Farms." As I looked around their website, it became clear to me that the site was full of such wonderful statements and claims--and absolutely little or no specific information. What are these "high product quality standards required by Wayne Farms"? I followed up with Chick-fil-A.
Enclosed below is the email exchange between me and Chick-fil-A:
Dear Mr. Choudhury:
Thank you again for taking the time to contact Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-A is proud to have many long-standing business relationships with our chicken suppliers.
At this point-in-time, we have several suppliers which have plants in the South, Southeast, and Southwest. All of our chicken comes from chickens that are processed under the continuous USDA inspection program (please visit the following website for additional information: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Chicken_Food_Safety_Focus/index.asp).
We regularly visit our chicken supplier facilities, making sure they are reaching our high level of quality requirements. If you are concerned about a particular chicken company and would like to know if they are one of Chick-fil-A’s suppliers, kindly provide us with the company name and your concerns. If they are indeed a supplier, we will be happy to review your concerns or forward your comments to the appropriate parties.
Again, thank you for your time and interest in Chick-fil-A.
Sincerely,
[name removed]
Chick-fil-A CARES
Chick-fil-A...We Didn't Invent The Chicken,
Just The Chicken Sandwich.
On the Web at www.chick-fil-a.com
P.S. Please retain your Thread ID in the message body. This will help us locate your information should you need us again.
[THREAD ID:1-FO5N9E]
------
Hello,
Thanks for this response. Please call me Sayeed. It's good to know Chick-fil-a has its own set of high level of quality requirements for its suppliers. I would love to hear more about these internal requirements. Could you please tell me if any of the following companies are amongst your suppliers and how they match up against your internal set of quality requirements:
Wayne Farms
Pilgrim's Pride
Sanderson Farms
Tyson Foods
Thanks again.
Sayeed
------
Despite multiple follow-up messages from me, Chick-fil-A has not responded to my email. My last message to them clearly stated that I was speculating whether they were ignoring me on purpose or trying to hide information. I told them that every time I felt the urge to eat at Chick-fil-A, I would eat at Chipotle instead (full disclosure: Chipotle is one the sponsors of Food Inc.).
I have stopped eating at Chick-fil-A.
The family farm depicted in Food Inc. as the counterexample to industrial food production is Polyface Inc. I am struck by the number of times we see the letters "Inc" or "LLC" following a name. Initially I was put off by the "Inc." following Polyface. Then I went back to first principles. Incorporated is a legal term, but its first definition is: characterized by unity, being or joined into a single entity; 'presenting a united front'.
My single decision will mean nothing to a large corporation like Chick-fil-A. But what if we combined our decisions? What if Life Inc. didn't refer to the industrialization of everything in our lives, but rather each of us presenting a united front and demanding information and choice?
I have changed my eating habits since watching Food Inc. I am eating less meat and more vegetables and fruits. I'm eating more food from the local farmers' market and less "food" from fast food chains including Chick-fil-A (more on this below). I'm trying to eat at restaurants that clearly indicate their food is locally produced or organically grown.
If you are considering whether to watch Food Inc., ask yourself first: Do you want the red pill or the blue pill?
Initially I thought Food Inc. was unfocused. The movie covers a tremendous number of topics ranging from food safety, inhumane treatment of animals, the marginalization (elimination?) of the family-owned farm, and the lack of support from political leaders to pass bills that would provide greater oversight. The overriding theme connecting these rather disturbing dots is the industrialization of food production. Michael Pollan has wisely suggested "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." He's also noted that it has become increasingly difficult to do so in his latest book "In Defense of Food."
Ultimately, the most powerful message of Food Inc. has nothing to do with food. It has to do with choice--or the lack thereof.
The reason I chose "Decide" as the title of this blog relates to one of my favorite scenes from the Lord of the Rings when Gandalf states "all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." In this day and age, it seems we should add "as long as corporations allow us."
Food Inc. portrays an unnerving integrated sequence of actions by corporations and an associated campaign of misinformation or lack of information that make it difficult, if not impossible, to understand the impact of our food consumption. By switching to soy milk in an effort to make better choices, it seems quite likely that I'm consuming genetically modified soybeans and lining the pockets of Monsanto Inc.
This sobering vision of food in the United States resonates with other areas of our lives. In the famous scene from The Matrix featuring the red pill and the blue pill, Neo declares that he does not believe in fate because he doesn't like the idea that he's not in control of his life. In The Matrix Reloaded, Merovingian relishes the moment when he declares "choice is an illusion created between those with power and those without."
Frank Rich expressed this sentiment in a recent op-ed piece in the New York Times:
"What disturbs Americans of all ideological persuasions is the fear that almost everything, not just government, is fixed or manipulated by some powerful hidden hand, from commercial transactions as trivial as the sales of prime concert tickets to cultural forces as pervasive as the news media."
Indeed, it would seem that the invisible hand of the market has moved from guiding us to slapping us.
In their insightful and fascinating book "Nudge" Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein discuss the concept of choice architecture and its influence on our decisions: "A choice architect has the responsibility for organizing the context in which people make decisions. A crucial parallel is that there is no such thing as 'neutral' design." Thaler and Sunstein specifically point out that they are not espousing a form of paternalism that drives people to a predefined choice, but rather to architect our lives such that we can make informed choices. Sadly, Food Inc. provides ample evidence that our government (regardless of red or blue state persuasion), rather than acting as a choice architect on our behalf, is often part of the problem.
My personal experience with Chick-fil-A offers interesting food for thought. I have enjoyed Chick-fil-A ever since I was a child growing up in North Carolina. One of the simple pleasures from my childhood was going to the mall with my brother and eating Chick-fil-A. This might not seem like much, but it undoubtedly reinforces my desire to eat Chick-fil-A today. About a year ago, I had contacted Chick-fil-A in response to watching a PETA video demonstrating Kentucky Fried Chicken's suppliers' horrific practices. Chick-fil-A promptly sent me a response indicating that they took this issue very seriously and worked with the USDA to define a set of best practices for humane treatment of chickens.
I continued to eat Chick-fil-A.
After watching Food Inc. I contacted Chick-fil-A again, this time asking them about the production process of their suppliers (mentioning Food Inc. particularly). Once again, Chick-fil-A responded with a prompt, friendly response pointing me to the same USDA website. Having seen from Food Inc. how toothless the USDA can be with enforcement, I decided to pursue this matter further.
Chick-fil-A is a privately held company so it's even harder to discover information about their practices. Thanks to Wikipedia, I discovered that Wayne Farms LLC is one of Chick-fil-A's suppliers. Wayne Farms LLC website highlights their commitment to family values, safe working environments, etc. They apparently even have an audit process to ensure their network "meet the high product quality and safety standards required by Wayne Farms." As I looked around their website, it became clear to me that the site was full of such wonderful statements and claims--and absolutely little or no specific information. What are these "high product quality standards required by Wayne Farms"? I followed up with Chick-fil-A.
Enclosed below is the email exchange between me and Chick-fil-A:
Dear Mr. Choudhury:
Thank you again for taking the time to contact Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-A is proud to have many long-standing business relationships with our chicken suppliers.
At this point-in-time, we have several suppliers which have plants in the South, Southeast, and Southwest. All of our chicken comes from chickens that are processed under the continuous USDA inspection program (please visit the following website for additional information: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Chicken_Food_Safety_Focus/index.asp).
We regularly visit our chicken supplier facilities, making sure they are reaching our high level of quality requirements. If you are concerned about a particular chicken company and would like to know if they are one of Chick-fil-A’s suppliers, kindly provide us with the company name and your concerns. If they are indeed a supplier, we will be happy to review your concerns or forward your comments to the appropriate parties.
Again, thank you for your time and interest in Chick-fil-A.
Sincerely,
[name removed]
Chick-fil-A CARES
Chick-fil-A...We Didn't Invent The Chicken,
Just The Chicken Sandwich.
On the Web at www.chick-fil-a.com
P.S. Please retain your Thread ID in the message body. This will help us locate your information should you need us again.
[THREAD ID:1-FO5N9E]
------
Hello,
Thanks for this response. Please call me Sayeed. It's good to know Chick-fil-a has its own set of high level of quality requirements for its suppliers. I would love to hear more about these internal requirements. Could you please tell me if any of the following companies are amongst your suppliers and how they match up against your internal set of quality requirements:
Wayne Farms
Pilgrim's Pride
Sanderson Farms
Tyson Foods
Thanks again.
Sayeed
------
Despite multiple follow-up messages from me, Chick-fil-A has not responded to my email. My last message to them clearly stated that I was speculating whether they were ignoring me on purpose or trying to hide information. I told them that every time I felt the urge to eat at Chick-fil-A, I would eat at Chipotle instead (full disclosure: Chipotle is one the sponsors of Food Inc.).
I have stopped eating at Chick-fil-A.
The family farm depicted in Food Inc. as the counterexample to industrial food production is Polyface Inc. I am struck by the number of times we see the letters "Inc" or "LLC" following a name. Initially I was put off by the "Inc." following Polyface. Then I went back to first principles. Incorporated is a legal term, but its first definition is: characterized by unity, being or joined into a single entity; 'presenting a united front'.
My single decision will mean nothing to a large corporation like Chick-fil-A. But what if we combined our decisions? What if Life Inc. didn't refer to the industrialization of everything in our lives, but rather each of us presenting a united front and demanding information and choice?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Stand by me
In one of my recent blog entries, I talked about a worldwide exchange that results in mellifluous harmony rather than monologues that result in cacophony. I think this video captures what I was talking about:
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Economic earthquakes
Susan Hough, a geophysicist with the United States Geological Survey, has written an op-ed piece in today's New York Times about earthquake prediction. In an earlier stage of walking within my life's labyrinth, I was involved in this line of research. Her piece makes interesting and insightful observations. It ends with the following sentences:
"The public would like scientists to predict earthquakes. We can’t do that. We might never be able to do that. What people and government can do is work to make sure our houses, schools and hospitals don’t fall down when the next big one strikes, and that we’re all prepared for the difficult aftermaths. We can look around our homes and our workplace and think about what would happen to them if the terra firma suddenly ceased being firm. We can stop worrying about predicting the unpredictable, and start doing more to prepare for the inevitable."
Imagine replacing the words "scientists" with "economists" and "earthquakes" with "recessions" (or "depressions").
"The public would like scientists to predict earthquakes. We can’t do that. We might never be able to do that. What people and government can do is work to make sure our houses, schools and hospitals don’t fall down when the next big one strikes, and that we’re all prepared for the difficult aftermaths. We can look around our homes and our workplace and think about what would happen to them if the terra firma suddenly ceased being firm. We can stop worrying about predicting the unpredictable, and start doing more to prepare for the inevitable."
Imagine replacing the words "scientists" with "economists" and "earthquakes" with "recessions" (or "depressions").
Monday, March 30, 2009
Infinite in All Directions
I have been on a whirlwind tour of South and Southeast Asia, some of it intentional, some of it unintentional. Within the span of 12 days, I will have visited Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Dhaka, Delhi and Singapore. Nine flights--two of them about 15 hours duration--and four addresses when all is said and done. Mix in a personal crisis and you have a recipe for complete and thorough exhaustion. While I wouldn't choose this particular pathway, I actually find exhaustion in some doses to be useful. It gives me a reality check on my willpower and stamina. It usually leads to strange but illuminating dreams. It's almost if my shields are stripped away and I'm forced to stare into a spiritual mirror.
As someone who likes to draw connections between seemingly unrelated items, I find Freeman Dyson's Infinite in All Directions particularly appealing. His preference for contradictions rather than clarity resonates with me. While I was in India heading to a workshop on digital preservation, my taxi was charged by a group of running bulls. My taxi driver navigated the situation brilliantly (I had the feeling he'd been through this before), but it still made me realize how odd it must be to focus on digital preservation in a country without clean water for all its citizens. Not exactly the running of the bulls that people seek in Pamplona--or on Wall Street.
I am struck, even dumbfounded, by how much so many people in Asia are trying to emulate Americans. I realize the US remains a dominant force in the world, but there's no denying that the lure of wealth rather than economic aid or military presence has driven this latest round of fascination. People throughout the region are trying so hard to speak, dress, and behave like Americans. And that's the tip of the iceberg.
There is a shiny skyscraper mall in Dhaka that features western retail shops and bright lights. Yet I experienced at least half a dozen power failures in my mother's house in Dhaka. My cousin told me that factories in Dhaka must run according to standards that include air conditioning, one restroom per four employees, an eight hour workday, and a cafeteria. All this so that one secure a contract with WalMart. Apparently, some factory workers rioted when they were served the same food for two consecutive meals. How soon we forget. There's bottled water everywhere which is great. Unless of course you can't afford bottled water in which case you're still dependent on local water supplies--that now may receive less attention given the proliferation of bottled water.
Mumbai is the seat of finance and entertainment in India yet it is still reeling from the horrific terrorist attack last year. My hotel had a metal detector at the entrance, my taxi was examined on the way into the hotel, and there was a guard on each floor. No matter how much everyone asked me in impeccable English if everything was perfect, it was disorienting to the say the least. Apparently, tourism is down in India, yet there's some evidence that high hotel rates rather than fear of terrorism is the main cause. Even now, it's important to maximize profit. Women working in hotels, with airlines, or in restaurants look like they've stepped out of Vogue yet in the newspaper, I read daily about at least two (reported) incidents of men brutally killing their wives for "disobeying" them.
Singapore is a testament to planning, discipline and commitment to society. No doubt that there are tradeoffs involved, particularly related to personal liberties, but I'd love to see an open, honest debate about how their society compares to the US (yes, I realize this debate would probably have to take place outside of Singapore). Yet even in Singapore there is concern that the global financial crisis might lead to "four to six years of recession" in a worst-case scenario. Strange. I don't read such honest assessments in the US press.
The US is a wonderful place in so many fundamental ways. But is it really the only pathway for the entire world to emulate? Do Asian societies really need their own equivalent of "Will it Blend?" How interesting to read articles that some in Asia now believe that the US has its own brand of "third world cronyism" protecting the financial sector.
Freeman Dyson stated: "If it should turn out that the whole of physical reality can be described by a finite set of equations, I would be disappointed." Indeed. While he may have meant this from a scientific perspective, it's highly relevant to consider statement from our current economic lens. The finite set of equations that drove the current financial mess turned out to be nothing more than fantasy. But it seems that we're dealing with a worldwide hangover with very real effects.
Yet even before the economic meltdown, there were signs of doubt. Even with fast food spreading like a virus, there remains incredibly rich diverse local food. While the officials languages at India's national level are Hindi and English, there are dozens of state recognized languages and hundreds of local dialects. The jingle of bangles reminded me that local fashion trends still include Asian elements.
There is a discussion--and in many circles concern--about a global culture. The only global culture that would frighten me is one where Madison Avenue dictates how we behave and Wall Street allocates our resources. If we can have an exchange between different cultures as opposed to a monologue we might have a chance to turning a cacophony of voices into mellifluous harmony that celebrates the diversity of our world.
The world may be flat, but it is still definitely infinite in all directions.
As someone who likes to draw connections between seemingly unrelated items, I find Freeman Dyson's Infinite in All Directions particularly appealing. His preference for contradictions rather than clarity resonates with me. While I was in India heading to a workshop on digital preservation, my taxi was charged by a group of running bulls. My taxi driver navigated the situation brilliantly (I had the feeling he'd been through this before), but it still made me realize how odd it must be to focus on digital preservation in a country without clean water for all its citizens. Not exactly the running of the bulls that people seek in Pamplona--or on Wall Street.
I am struck, even dumbfounded, by how much so many people in Asia are trying to emulate Americans. I realize the US remains a dominant force in the world, but there's no denying that the lure of wealth rather than economic aid or military presence has driven this latest round of fascination. People throughout the region are trying so hard to speak, dress, and behave like Americans. And that's the tip of the iceberg.
There is a shiny skyscraper mall in Dhaka that features western retail shops and bright lights. Yet I experienced at least half a dozen power failures in my mother's house in Dhaka. My cousin told me that factories in Dhaka must run according to standards that include air conditioning, one restroom per four employees, an eight hour workday, and a cafeteria. All this so that one secure a contract with WalMart. Apparently, some factory workers rioted when they were served the same food for two consecutive meals. How soon we forget. There's bottled water everywhere which is great. Unless of course you can't afford bottled water in which case you're still dependent on local water supplies--that now may receive less attention given the proliferation of bottled water.
Mumbai is the seat of finance and entertainment in India yet it is still reeling from the horrific terrorist attack last year. My hotel had a metal detector at the entrance, my taxi was examined on the way into the hotel, and there was a guard on each floor. No matter how much everyone asked me in impeccable English if everything was perfect, it was disorienting to the say the least. Apparently, tourism is down in India, yet there's some evidence that high hotel rates rather than fear of terrorism is the main cause. Even now, it's important to maximize profit. Women working in hotels, with airlines, or in restaurants look like they've stepped out of Vogue yet in the newspaper, I read daily about at least two (reported) incidents of men brutally killing their wives for "disobeying" them.
Singapore is a testament to planning, discipline and commitment to society. No doubt that there are tradeoffs involved, particularly related to personal liberties, but I'd love to see an open, honest debate about how their society compares to the US (yes, I realize this debate would probably have to take place outside of Singapore). Yet even in Singapore there is concern that the global financial crisis might lead to "four to six years of recession" in a worst-case scenario. Strange. I don't read such honest assessments in the US press.
The US is a wonderful place in so many fundamental ways. But is it really the only pathway for the entire world to emulate? Do Asian societies really need their own equivalent of "Will it Blend?" How interesting to read articles that some in Asia now believe that the US has its own brand of "third world cronyism" protecting the financial sector.
Freeman Dyson stated: "If it should turn out that the whole of physical reality can be described by a finite set of equations, I would be disappointed." Indeed. While he may have meant this from a scientific perspective, it's highly relevant to consider statement from our current economic lens. The finite set of equations that drove the current financial mess turned out to be nothing more than fantasy. But it seems that we're dealing with a worldwide hangover with very real effects.
Yet even before the economic meltdown, there were signs of doubt. Even with fast food spreading like a virus, there remains incredibly rich diverse local food. While the officials languages at India's national level are Hindi and English, there are dozens of state recognized languages and hundreds of local dialects. The jingle of bangles reminded me that local fashion trends still include Asian elements.
There is a discussion--and in many circles concern--about a global culture. The only global culture that would frighten me is one where Madison Avenue dictates how we behave and Wall Street allocates our resources. If we can have an exchange between different cultures as opposed to a monologue we might have a chance to turning a cacophony of voices into mellifluous harmony that celebrates the diversity of our world.
The world may be flat, but it is still definitely infinite in all directions.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sleepless in Singapore
I've traveled through Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Dhaka and Singapore in eight days. I've discovered that eventually one's body stops trying to figure out time zones. An interesting way of dealing with jet lag. There are so many feelings, thoughts, emotions, observations...I feel overwhelmed. I haven't been to South or Southeast Asia in a long time. Madison Avenue and Wall Street now seem to be Asian addresses, yet there remains a certain respect or attachment for distinctly Asian ways--especially now as the world watches the US with bated breath.
I just re-experienced a tropical rain storm. It was quite something seeing the dark, gray clouds eventually encompass the impressive Singaporean skyline. As if nature wanted to remind us that she continues to have dominion. The sound of thunder and raindrops flowing through leaves and bouncing off concrete, steel and glass had a lyrical feel. It was almost enough to make me fall asleep.
I just re-experienced a tropical rain storm. It was quite something seeing the dark, gray clouds eventually encompass the impressive Singaporean skyline. As if nature wanted to remind us that she continues to have dominion. The sound of thunder and raindrops flowing through leaves and bouncing off concrete, steel and glass had a lyrical feel. It was almost enough to make me fall asleep.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A Touching Valentine's Day Story
Valentine's Day is the second most marketed event after Christmas. It shows. It has become a celebration of consumerism rather than romance or love. The economic meltdown has dented spending on this Valentine's day. The New York Times reported on couples that had to forgo thousands of dollars worth of gifts and dining out. Only in the New York Times would one find a story describing one couple's choice of store bought foie gras as a sacrifice. I can't help but imagine that once upon a time Valentine's Day was more genuine, sincere, and heartfelt. That it was about true displays of love and commitment and not about contrived or artificial romance.
Where can I find a touching Valentine's Day story?
On the other side of the world, there are men in India who are beating up women celebrating Valentine's Day and destroying Valentine's Day cards. As one of my friends pointed out, if they really wanted to be "efficient" they could beat up the men who purchase the cards in the first place, but I sense that there's something deeper going on. It's gratifying to see how some Indian women are responding. But it is within neighboring Pakistan that I find inspiration. Not that Pakistan is faring any better with women's rights.
ABC News ran a story today about acid attack victims in Pakistan. Apparently, 80% of women in Pakistan are victims of domestic violence. A young woman who married told her husband that she would not move into his family's house. He decided that an appropriate response was throwing acid on her face. Most women who are victims of this reprehensible abuse end up being ostracized or outcast. There is at least some movement in Pakistan to deal with this horrific problem. ABC described a "beauty salon" (for lack of a better term) that offers beauty treatments, medical care, and job training for acid attack victims.
The young woman in the story is part of this beauty salon. Her father is supportive of her involvement, but his support goes well beyond this. When asked about how he feels about his daughter, he said the following:
"My daughter is very beautiful...I'm even MORE proud of her than I am of my sons..."
I think only South Asians might be able to appreciate the true power of this statement--one that challenges too many of 1.3 billion people to stop acting like jerks when it comes to gender relations. When this young woman was asked about her experience and the beauty salon, she said, "When I look in the mirror, I still ask myself 'why me?'...now that I'm here I feel courage...I have hope." I get the impression that with her father's love and support, she'll never remain a victim for long.
Public displays of affection, especially between men and women of any age or relationship, remain rare in South Asia. At the end of the news story, the father walks through a gate. His daughter sees him, smiles beautifully--some things even acid can't destroy--and hugs him. He warmly hugs her back.
Now that is a touching Valentine's Day story.
Where can I find a touching Valentine's Day story?
On the other side of the world, there are men in India who are beating up women celebrating Valentine's Day and destroying Valentine's Day cards. As one of my friends pointed out, if they really wanted to be "efficient" they could beat up the men who purchase the cards in the first place, but I sense that there's something deeper going on. It's gratifying to see how some Indian women are responding. But it is within neighboring Pakistan that I find inspiration. Not that Pakistan is faring any better with women's rights.
ABC News ran a story today about acid attack victims in Pakistan. Apparently, 80% of women in Pakistan are victims of domestic violence. A young woman who married told her husband that she would not move into his family's house. He decided that an appropriate response was throwing acid on her face. Most women who are victims of this reprehensible abuse end up being ostracized or outcast. There is at least some movement in Pakistan to deal with this horrific problem. ABC described a "beauty salon" (for lack of a better term) that offers beauty treatments, medical care, and job training for acid attack victims.
The young woman in the story is part of this beauty salon. Her father is supportive of her involvement, but his support goes well beyond this. When asked about how he feels about his daughter, he said the following:
"My daughter is very beautiful...I'm even MORE proud of her than I am of my sons..."
I think only South Asians might be able to appreciate the true power of this statement--one that challenges too many of 1.3 billion people to stop acting like jerks when it comes to gender relations. When this young woman was asked about her experience and the beauty salon, she said, "When I look in the mirror, I still ask myself 'why me?'...now that I'm here I feel courage...I have hope." I get the impression that with her father's love and support, she'll never remain a victim for long.
Public displays of affection, especially between men and women of any age or relationship, remain rare in South Asia. At the end of the news story, the father walks through a gate. His daughter sees him, smiles beautifully--some things even acid can't destroy--and hugs him. He warmly hugs her back.
Now that is a touching Valentine's Day story.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Bravo David Beckham
David Beckham reached an impressive milestone by securing his 108th cap for the English soccer team. Matching Bobby Moore's field player record for most caps--especially in this era of football--is quite an accomplishment. What's more impressive is Beckham's transformation. When he moved to the LA Galaxy, most observers (including me!) had written him off and cast him as an entertainer rather than a soccer player. Ruud Gullit has spoken about the difficulties of managing in the MLS. Aside from having its season at a different time than other soccer leagues, the games do not occur with any regular timing. I'm sure these factors make it hard as well for a player who grew up in European soccer.
Despite these challenges, Beckham has raised his game considerably to the point where he deserved to be on the pitch against Spain. In fact, he played better than most of the English squad. When he was captain of the squad, he seemed more intent on appreciating the elegance of his passes or free kicks rather than leading. It was quite something to watch him working the ref, yelling at his teammates, and floating toward the back line to get touches of the ball. He used to be too focused on his marketability. Even in this respect, he's raised his game. It's quite a gesture for him to donate his shirt from the Spain match to the charitable foundation bearing Bobby Moore's name.
I mocked David Beckham when he joined the LA Galaxy. I'll gladly eat some humble pie. I'm happy to admit that I'm cheering for him to make his move to AC Milan permanent and add more caps with the English national team.
Despite these challenges, Beckham has raised his game considerably to the point where he deserved to be on the pitch against Spain. In fact, he played better than most of the English squad. When he was captain of the squad, he seemed more intent on appreciating the elegance of his passes or free kicks rather than leading. It was quite something to watch him working the ref, yelling at his teammates, and floating toward the back line to get touches of the ball. He used to be too focused on his marketability. Even in this respect, he's raised his game. It's quite a gesture for him to donate his shirt from the Spain match to the charitable foundation bearing Bobby Moore's name.
I mocked David Beckham when he joined the LA Galaxy. I'll gladly eat some humble pie. I'm happy to admit that I'm cheering for him to make his move to AC Milan permanent and add more caps with the English national team.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Philosophy of life
I've looked to many sources for inspiration about living life. I recall reading in Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth, Bill Moyers' account of a response from a Japanese Shinto priest. When asked about his ideology of life, the priest apparently paused as though in deep thought, and then slowly shook his head. "I think we don't have ideology," he said. "We don't have theology. We dance."
I'm not there yet.
I've always been drawn to the visual over the textual for inspiration. Joseph Campbell provided context for my reactions to the archetypal messages from the original Star Wars that inspired me as a child (no, I'm not going to use the Lucas revisionist renaming scheme). The title of this blog is inspired by my favorite scene from the Lord of the Rings movies (though it is true that I first experienced those stories in print). Perhaps the most intense textual experience came from Victor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning.
Music has always been an inspiration, ranging from a spellbinding moment of Branford Marsalis' improvisation during a rendition of Fauré's Requiem with the Baltimore Symphony to Tim Finn's lyrics from his song Through the Years:
"I want to be oblivious,
To everything that worries us,
I want to learn the secrets of the universe."
Tim Finn also added:
"I'm never gonna find the answer;
It's never gonna be
Exactly what I hoped it was,
But it's good enough for me."
I like to think that I'm half cat, but that doesn't quite capture my philosophy either. More than anything, I find that my friends are the greatest source of inspiration. Recently, one of my friends wrote a wonderful piece about living life that cites Lin Yutang:
"Lin Yutang’s ideal is the ‘scamp’ – an amiable loafer who wanders through life, learning, loving, living. He is a good-natured Renaissance Man, dabbling here and there, connoisseur of nothing, dilettante extraordinaire. He is earthbound, a man of his biology and of his senses. (For Lin, happiness is “largely a matter of digestion.” He favorably quotes a college president who admonished his freshmen that “There are only two things I want you to keep in mind: read the Bible, and keep your bowels open.”) Lin’s loafing scamp is a profoundly embodied mind, not a brain on a stick. And most of all, he’s eminently ‘reasonable’ – a trait Lin mentions throughout, and points to as the very foundation of the Chinese character."
A loafing scamp. I like that--a lot. Now if I could only learn how to dance...
I'm not there yet.
I've always been drawn to the visual over the textual for inspiration. Joseph Campbell provided context for my reactions to the archetypal messages from the original Star Wars that inspired me as a child (no, I'm not going to use the Lucas revisionist renaming scheme). The title of this blog is inspired by my favorite scene from the Lord of the Rings movies (though it is true that I first experienced those stories in print). Perhaps the most intense textual experience came from Victor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning.
Music has always been an inspiration, ranging from a spellbinding moment of Branford Marsalis' improvisation during a rendition of Fauré's Requiem with the Baltimore Symphony to Tim Finn's lyrics from his song Through the Years:
"I want to be oblivious,
To everything that worries us,
I want to learn the secrets of the universe."
Tim Finn also added:
"I'm never gonna find the answer;
It's never gonna be
Exactly what I hoped it was,
But it's good enough for me."
I like to think that I'm half cat, but that doesn't quite capture my philosophy either. More than anything, I find that my friends are the greatest source of inspiration. Recently, one of my friends wrote a wonderful piece about living life that cites Lin Yutang:
"Lin Yutang’s ideal is the ‘scamp’ – an amiable loafer who wanders through life, learning, loving, living. He is a good-natured Renaissance Man, dabbling here and there, connoisseur of nothing, dilettante extraordinaire. He is earthbound, a man of his biology and of his senses. (For Lin, happiness is “largely a matter of digestion.” He favorably quotes a college president who admonished his freshmen that “There are only two things I want you to keep in mind: read the Bible, and keep your bowels open.”) Lin’s loafing scamp is a profoundly embodied mind, not a brain on a stick. And most of all, he’s eminently ‘reasonable’ – a trait Lin mentions throughout, and points to as the very foundation of the Chinese character."
A loafing scamp. I like that--a lot. Now if I could only learn how to dance...
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