I was surfing the web when I came across the story of the Aral Sea. In the space of 50 years, what had been the world's 4th largest fresh water lake has now shrunk by 90 percent due to the diversion of the rivers feeding the Aral Sea to cotton production. Towns that once were thriving fishing communities next to the Sea are now hundreds of kilometres away from what little water there is and are stranded in the middle of a dessert.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
After the Meltdown
On March 24th I had the opportunity to attend an interesting session entitled "After the Meltdown: The limits and possibilities of economics" that was organized by the Centre for Global Challenges of the Glendon School of Public & International Affairs.
After introductions by Alex Himelfarb and words of welcome by Mamdouh Shoukri (President of York University), the microphone was turned over to Chaviva Hosek, President of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research to introduce the illustrious panelists.
The panelists were George Akerlof, Nobel Laureate & Professor of Economics at the University of California at Berkeley; Tim Besley, Professor of Economics & Political Science at the London School of Economics; and Pierre Fortin, Professor of Economics at the University of Québec at Montreal.
George Akerlof spoke about "animal spirits" and how they impact the economy (this is from his recent book entitled "Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism". The term "animal spirits" is derived from Keynes and relates to the confidence and gut feelings in determining business decisions.
By this he meant that data alone (profit/loss, eps, etc) are not enough to explain business decisions and that psychology has a role to play in it. Prof. Akerlof talked about the five animal spirits, with a special emphasis on "snake oil" to explain the meltdown.
In his talk, Prof Fortin outlined the three economic tasks that governments will have to respond to in the next decade: namely, drawing lessons from the recession, responding to the demographic forces that will impact western countries and accelerating economic growth.
On demographics, he quoted David Foot who said "Demographics explain about two-thirds of everything". This is especially true if you look at the demographics facing western industrialized countries like Canada. I have previously written and spoken about this (In fact I gave a speech which contained some of this information and my analysis a couple of days before this session). The combination of demographics and ever increasing health care costs will impose a squeeze on public finances over the medium term according to Prof Fortin. There are only two possible solutions: 1) radical change to our health care sector , and 2) accelerate economic growth.
It was an interesting discussion and I will post my remarks on the demographic challenges to either this blog (if I can figure out how) or to the IPAC website.
After introductions by Alex Himelfarb and words of welcome by Mamdouh Shoukri (President of York University), the microphone was turned over to Chaviva Hosek, President of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research to introduce the illustrious panelists.
The panelists were George Akerlof, Nobel Laureate & Professor of Economics at the University of California at Berkeley; Tim Besley, Professor of Economics & Political Science at the London School of Economics; and Pierre Fortin, Professor of Economics at the University of Québec at Montreal.
George Akerlof spoke about "animal spirits" and how they impact the economy (this is from his recent book entitled "Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism". The term "animal spirits" is derived from Keynes and relates to the confidence and gut feelings in determining business decisions.
"Most, probably, of our decisions to do something positive, the full consequences of which will be drawn out over many days to come, can only be taken as the result of animal spirits - a spontaneous urge to action rather than inaction, and not as the outcome of a weighted average of quantitative benefits multiplied by quantitative probabilities." (161-162) - J.M.Keynes, General Theory.
By this he meant that data alone (profit/loss, eps, etc) are not enough to explain business decisions and that psychology has a role to play in it. Prof. Akerlof talked about the five animal spirits, with a special emphasis on "snake oil" to explain the meltdown.
In his talk, Prof Fortin outlined the three economic tasks that governments will have to respond to in the next decade: namely, drawing lessons from the recession, responding to the demographic forces that will impact western countries and accelerating economic growth.
On demographics, he quoted David Foot who said "Demographics explain about two-thirds of everything". This is especially true if you look at the demographics facing western industrialized countries like Canada. I have previously written and spoken about this (In fact I gave a speech which contained some of this information and my analysis a couple of days before this session). The combination of demographics and ever increasing health care costs will impose a squeeze on public finances over the medium term according to Prof Fortin. There are only two possible solutions: 1) radical change to our health care sector , and 2) accelerate economic growth.
It was an interesting discussion and I will post my remarks on the demographic challenges to either this blog (if I can figure out how) or to the IPAC website.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Only in Britain
I read the following in the Globe & Mail on Wednesday...
I don't know about you, but my reaction to this is WTF? Where do these people work? In my experience, civil servants in Canada work hard and are dedicated to serving the public. I don't know any who have too little to do and are stress...quite the contrary, they are stressed because of all the work that they have to do.
British civil servants have been given counselling manuals advising them how to deal with stress related boredom and a lack of work, The Daily Telegraph reports. "In one booklet from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, officials said stress-related problems could be caused by having 'too little work or responsibilities' and suggested that pressured workers take up a hobby to alleviate anxiety. The Department for International Development's book warned workers to avoid becoming lethargic from 'too little pressure' but allow for 20 percent more time to complete tasks they feel could add to stress. 'Breathe in and out heavily a few times and imagine yourself being successful', it advises workers."
I don't know about you, but my reaction to this is WTF? Where do these people work? In my experience, civil servants in Canada work hard and are dedicated to serving the public. I don't know any who have too little to do and are stress...quite the contrary, they are stressed because of all the work that they have to do.
Friday, March 19, 2010
150!Canada Conference
Here are a couple of pictures from the 150! conference. The first is me standing in front of the set that we had on the stage - the BIG numbers! Dylan said that is looks like I am at my 150th birthday! That would be a lot of candles.
Voici deux photos de notre conférence 150!Canada. Me voici devant les GROS chiffres de 150. Dylan pense que c'est mon 150eme anniversaire!
Here's a picture of me with Denise Amyot, our incoming President and CEO of the Tech Museums in Ottawa (Science and Technology Museum, Aviation Museum and The Agriculture Museum.)
Me voici avec Denise Amyot, notre présidente-élu et présidente du Musée des sciences et de la technologie du Canada, du Musée de l'Aviation, et du Musée de l'Agriculture.
Voici deux photos de notre conférence 150!Canada. Me voici devant les GROS chiffres de 150. Dylan pense que c'est mon 150eme anniversaire!
Here's a picture of me with Denise Amyot, our incoming President and CEO of the Tech Museums in Ottawa (Science and Technology Museum, Aviation Museum and The Agriculture Museum.)
Me voici avec Denise Amyot, notre présidente-élu et présidente du Musée des sciences et de la technologie du Canada, du Musée de l'Aviation, et du Musée de l'Agriculture.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
150!Canada Conference - WOW!
It has taken me a few days (almost a week actually) to sit down and collect my thoughts on an amazing experience - the 150!Canada Conference that IPAC along with our friends at MASS LBP organized on March 11 and 12, 2010. What a fantastic and energizing event!!
The purpose of the conference was to start us thinking about Canada's sesquicentennial in 2017 (it is not that far away). And, think & discuss the 300 delegates did!
On the first day of the conference we had 25 incredible & dynamic speakers - including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin, Peter Aykroyd who was Director of Communications for the Centenary celebrations, Roch Carrier, Jeff Melanson of the National Ballet School, Mary Simon, Tom Jenkins of Open Text and Senator Romeo Dallaire. Each of the 25 speakers had 10 minutes to present their ideas to the delegates gathered at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. This is a different format from our traditional conferences. But it worked very well as the speakers had to focus on their core message quickly and the audience was attentive the whole time.
On the second day, the delegates broke out into round tables based on a number of different topics and discussed ideas, made recommendations, etc that will form the basis of the report from the conference. This report, which should be ready in the next two weeks will be made public and sent to governments, businesses, community groups, etc around the country. We hope that this will kick-start the planning for the 150th.
It was interesting to meet local 150 organizations that have already been established in London, Montreal and Edmonton. These cities have already started to think about this occasion and develop ideas on how to celebrate this milestone.
For those of you who missed the conference - we will be posting videos of the presentations by all the speakers shortly on the website. As well, CPAC filmed our conference and will be showing it soon.
There was another first at this conference - at the end of the first day we held a concert at the NAC! Jowi Taylor and Dina Graser produced a spectacular show that included performances by the incomparable Jully Black and Radio Radio. Delegates were dancing in the aisles at the NAC!!
Special thanks to Peter Herrndorf and his staff at the National Arts Centre for all their assistance and kindness. Without their enthusiastic support we would not have been able to pull this off. Thanks to our sponsors - the Royal Bank of Canada, OpenText, and the National Film Board of Canada for all their support. And salutations to our media partners, Metro News Ottawa, the Walrus and the Literary Review of Canada.
Thanks to all the facilitators and others in the special red 150!Canada t-shirts for ensuring that the conference ran smoothly.
Finally a very special thanks to our partners at MASS LBP and especially to Peter MacLeod.
This is but the start of a 7 year journey to 2017. Stay tuned for more on our sesquicentennial.
The purpose of the conference was to start us thinking about Canada's sesquicentennial in 2017 (it is not that far away). And, think & discuss the 300 delegates did!
On the first day of the conference we had 25 incredible & dynamic speakers - including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin, Peter Aykroyd who was Director of Communications for the Centenary celebrations, Roch Carrier, Jeff Melanson of the National Ballet School, Mary Simon, Tom Jenkins of Open Text and Senator Romeo Dallaire. Each of the 25 speakers had 10 minutes to present their ideas to the delegates gathered at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. This is a different format from our traditional conferences. But it worked very well as the speakers had to focus on their core message quickly and the audience was attentive the whole time.
On the second day, the delegates broke out into round tables based on a number of different topics and discussed ideas, made recommendations, etc that will form the basis of the report from the conference. This report, which should be ready in the next two weeks will be made public and sent to governments, businesses, community groups, etc around the country. We hope that this will kick-start the planning for the 150th.
It was interesting to meet local 150 organizations that have already been established in London, Montreal and Edmonton. These cities have already started to think about this occasion and develop ideas on how to celebrate this milestone.
For those of you who missed the conference - we will be posting videos of the presentations by all the speakers shortly on the website. As well, CPAC filmed our conference and will be showing it soon.
There was another first at this conference - at the end of the first day we held a concert at the NAC! Jowi Taylor and Dina Graser produced a spectacular show that included performances by the incomparable Jully Black and Radio Radio. Delegates were dancing in the aisles at the NAC!!
Special thanks to Peter Herrndorf and his staff at the National Arts Centre for all their assistance and kindness. Without their enthusiastic support we would not have been able to pull this off. Thanks to our sponsors - the Royal Bank of Canada, OpenText, and the National Film Board of Canada for all their support. And salutations to our media partners, Metro News Ottawa, the Walrus and the Literary Review of Canada.
Thanks to all the facilitators and others in the special red 150!Canada t-shirts for ensuring that the conference ran smoothly.
Finally a very special thanks to our partners at MASS LBP and especially to Peter MacLeod.
This is but the start of a 7 year journey to 2017. Stay tuned for more on our sesquicentennial.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Celebrating Canada
Later this week we are hosting the 150!Canada Conference in Ottawa. This is the first conference that will kick start our country's preparations for our sesquicentennial in 2017.
The just completed 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver galvanized Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The pride that we have in our country, which much of the time is below the surface, burst out for all the world to see. The Globe & Mail's Stephen Brunt had a wonderful video essay on the games and Canadians reaction to them. It is a wonderful video.....
Now our challenge as a country is to maintain this spirit in everything that we do as we head to our 150th anniversary. We must work together to forge a better country where all have equal opportunity to excel and contribute to the betterment of Canada. It is not too late to come to our 150!Canada conference on March 11th and 12th in Ottawa and share your energy and enthusiasm.
The just completed 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver galvanized Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The pride that we have in our country, which much of the time is below the surface, burst out for all the world to see. The Globe & Mail's Stephen Brunt had a wonderful video essay on the games and Canadians reaction to them. It is a wonderful video.....
Now our challenge as a country is to maintain this spirit in everything that we do as we head to our 150th anniversary. We must work together to forge a better country where all have equal opportunity to excel and contribute to the betterment of Canada. It is not too late to come to our 150!Canada conference on March 11th and 12th in Ottawa and share your energy and enthusiasm.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Poésie
La grasse matinée
Il est terrible
le petit bruit de l'oeuf dur cassé sur un comptoir d'étain
il est terrible ce bruit
quand il remue dans la mémoire de l'homme qui a faim
elle est terrible aussi la tête de l'homme
la tête de l'homme qui a faim
quand il se regarde à six heures du matin
dans la glace du grand magasin
une tête couleur de poussière
ce n'est pas sa tête pourtant qu'il regarde
dans la vitrine de chez Potin
il s'en fout de sa tête l'homme
il n'y pense pas
il songe
il imagine une autre tête
une tête de veau par exemple
avec une sauce de vinaigre
ou une tête de n'importe quoi qui se mange
et il remue doucement la mâchoire
doucement
et il grince des dents doucement
car le monde se paye sa tête
et il ne peut rien contre ce monde
et il compte sur ses doigts un deux trois
un deux trois
cela fait trois jours qu'il n'a pas mangé
et il a beau se répéter depuis trois jours
Ça ne peut pas durer
ça dure
trois jours
trois nuits
sans manger
et derrière ces vitres
ces pâtés ces bouteilles ces conserves
poissons morts protégés par les boîtes
boîtes protégées par les vitres
vitres protégées par les flics
flics protégés par la crainte
que de barricades pour six malheureuses sardines...
Un peu plus loin le bistro
café-crème et croissants chauds
l'homme titube
et dans l'intérieur de sa tête
un brouillard de mots
un brouillard de mots
sardines à manger
oeuf dur café-crème
café arrosé rhum
café-crème
café-crème
café-crime arrosé sang !...
Un homme très estimé dans son quartier
a été égorgé en plein jour
l'assassin le vagabond lui a volé
deux francs
soit un café arrosé
zéro franc soixante-dix
deux tartines beurrées
et vingt-cinq centimes pour le pourboire deu garçon.
Il est terrible
le petit bruit de l'oeuf dur cassé sur un comptoir d'étain
il est terrible ce bruit
quand il remue dans la mémoire de l'homme qui a faim.
Un poème de Jacques Prévert
Il est terrible
le petit bruit de l'oeuf dur cassé sur un comptoir d'étain
il est terrible ce bruit
quand il remue dans la mémoire de l'homme qui a faim
elle est terrible aussi la tête de l'homme
la tête de l'homme qui a faim
quand il se regarde à six heures du matin
dans la glace du grand magasin
une tête couleur de poussière
ce n'est pas sa tête pourtant qu'il regarde
dans la vitrine de chez Potin
il s'en fout de sa tête l'homme
il n'y pense pas
il songe
il imagine une autre tête
une tête de veau par exemple
avec une sauce de vinaigre
ou une tête de n'importe quoi qui se mange
et il remue doucement la mâchoire
doucement
et il grince des dents doucement
car le monde se paye sa tête
et il ne peut rien contre ce monde
et il compte sur ses doigts un deux trois
un deux trois
cela fait trois jours qu'il n'a pas mangé
et il a beau se répéter depuis trois jours
Ça ne peut pas durer
ça dure
trois jours
trois nuits
sans manger
et derrière ces vitres
ces pâtés ces bouteilles ces conserves
poissons morts protégés par les boîtes
boîtes protégées par les vitres
vitres protégées par les flics
flics protégés par la crainte
que de barricades pour six malheureuses sardines...
Un peu plus loin le bistro
café-crème et croissants chauds
l'homme titube
et dans l'intérieur de sa tête
un brouillard de mots
un brouillard de mots
sardines à manger
oeuf dur café-crème
café arrosé rhum
café-crème
café-crème
café-crime arrosé sang !...
Un homme très estimé dans son quartier
a été égorgé en plein jour
l'assassin le vagabond lui a volé
deux francs
soit un café arrosé
zéro franc soixante-dix
deux tartines beurrées
et vingt-cinq centimes pour le pourboire deu garçon.
Il est terrible
le petit bruit de l'oeuf dur cassé sur un comptoir d'étain
il est terrible ce bruit
quand il remue dans la mémoire de l'homme qui a faim.
Un poème de Jacques Prévert
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