Where is the time?

I recently discussed with a wonderful person how time is always a pressure around us, technology speeding up things, so we say as if a piece of technology could really do that, … well society forcing this rules on us that everything need to be done faster and faster.

We decided to do something about that.

First step … make it visible!

We started writing about it … actually she did. Here we go … the starting paragraphs of the story with the title:

I’m not too old

When I was in my twenties, I felt like I was rushing to find something out there, whether it was a boyfriend that would later turn into a husband, two children … because you should never have one or none and three would be too much.

Can`t forget to get a good set of friends and more importantly a career that you find fulfilling and will give me plenty of time to be with my children and enough money to go on vacations.

So many things in so little time after all I had to do crazy amount of things before or by the time I reach my thirties and squeeze all of that in a ten year period.

It was exhausting to say the least. I felt like I couldn’t make it, I was avoiding the big silent enemy that is the Stress.  At some point I felt this rush to become successful, rich or powerful before I turn forty or fifty because what’s the point in making it then? It doesn’t sound so appealing as if I was to do all that in my twenties. Has a better ring to it, isn’t?

Well, not in my book. Everybody has a journey and speeding it up is not going to make it any sweeter or better than it is for the next person. We need to stop age judgement to define a person. It’s even worse and harder if you are a woman.

Why can’t we just ask women their age? Because we are embarrassed you are going to judge us, call us old hag, not employ us because let’s face it: once you’re old society, science makes you believe you are not good enough.

I don’t hide my age. Even when every woman in my family except mother did, I promised myself at a young age that I would be like my mother, I wouldn’t hide the fact that I was growing old, that I had a past, living a present and was looking forward to a future. And as proud as I am telling my age one day, someone told me “I like to tell my age because I look good.” It made me feel horrible because that was not the idea. I didn’t think of that I was just proud and loud to be standing there and not letting age define me.

I have heard so many people over forty say: I can’t learn a new language, my brain can’t handle it anymore, there is no point on doing this or that because science say it goes downhill from now on. It’s really hard to look for a job because they won’t hire me anymore … there are a lot more examples – don’t get me wrong – I have nothing against what science says about our bodies and how we process new information by a certain age, but at some point we need to stop treating people this way.

Making them feel that by thirty you have already lost the rat race … maybe and only maybe we as society wouldn’t have to rush so much all the time.

By the way in case you are wondering I’m 38.

 

… to be continued!

 

How do you feel about age?

 

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Zu Hören von Judith Brandner

Es freut mich sehr, wieder einmal eine Ankündigung von Judith zum Weiterleiten – vor allem Gratulation! Ich freue mich schon sehr, dich im Newton zu sehen.

 

Liebe FreundInnen, Japanfans und/oder am Nuklearen Interessierte!

Im September werden auf Ö1 zwei Radiosendungen ausgestrahlt, die Euer/Ihr Gehör finden sollten. Das sind voraussichtlich meine letzten Sendungen für Ö1, denn ich wechsle im September in die TV – Wissenschaftsabteilung/Sendung Newton.

Viel Spaß bzw. Spannung beim Zuhören!

Judith

 

Radiokolleg/Musikviertelstunde
Am Fudjiyama blüht kein Edelweiß … Das Japanbild in der westlichen Unterhaltungsmusik.
4. bis 7. September 2017, jeweils ab 09 Uhr 45 bzw. ca. 22 Uhr 40

(auf Basis der Recherchen von Prof. Sepp Linhart)

Hörbilder. Das Radiofeature
Bis in alle Ewigkeit. Die Suche nach einem Endlager für Atommüll
16. September 2017, 09:05 Uhr

 

Judith Brandner

Journalistin ö1; Publizistin

Austrian Broadcasting Corporation Vienna/Radio

www.judithbrandner.at

ユーデイット　ブランドナー

ラジオ　ジャーナリスト。作家。

www.judithbrandner.at/welcome-japan

LINKS

Mehr von Judith Brandner auf Kulturimpuls

Narendra Modi – The Robin Hood of our times

Crowd Funding the Poor

I want to start this Year 2017 with sharing a story that I have been following for a couple of weeks.

A news story that did not get the visibility it deserves.
A story that was not told properly.
The best news I ever heard.

On the 8th of November a history changing event happened. No, it is not the result of the US elections I am referring to. It is much more important than that.

It is the announcement of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to demonetize 500 and 1000 rupee notes. The banknotes were declared illegal tender at 11 pm that day representing more than 86% of cash in circulation. New 2000 rupee notes have been introduced instead. This initiative is an attempt to fight corruption and tax evasion.

The context

India is a country where many (rich) people keep (a lot of) money outside the tax system, stacked away in cash. A World Bank estimate puts the size of the black economy at 23.2% of India’s total economy in 2007. India is still largely a cash-driven economy and this money plays a key role in many different areas: the real estate market, fueling terrorist activities, financing elections, … . I am sure that creative minds can think of many other areas where black money is handy to have.

When something like this happens (and it can happen from one day to the other), there is a lot at stake. Thinking of the consequences by taking a snapshot from all 360 degree viewpoints will impress you.

You might have heard or read about this seemingly unpopular move of Modi. You might think that this is not relevant for you, because you have nothing to do with India.

But let me share 3 reasons why this is relevant to all of us.

 

1. The value of money

What does money mean to you?

From one day to the other the money in your hand can just become paper. The value we attribute to it is suddenly gone.

The effect of the Modi’s announcement was that stacks of money were found on the streets of India. Everyone could pick up the money and deposit it in his or her bank account.

Yes. You are reading correctly.

Thinking ahead, the first question coming to one’s mind is:
Does everyone have a bank account in India?

Yes, with the Jan Dhan Yojana Scheme, which Modi started in August 2014, he made sure that every Indian family got enrolled in a bank and opened a zero balance account. He wanted to make certain that every Indian family could deposit money into a bank account.

Just to say that again:

Lots of Money was found in the streets of India that people could pick up and deposit in their bank accounts.

This news touched my heart – Robin Hood at work.

The biggest crowd funding I ever heard of, no platform needed.

I wanted to know more about it and started to read all the news I could get. Surprisingly there was not a lot of noise about it. I asked myself why. I asked family and friends in India and here is what I learned:

The value of the money is not lost. The obsolete notes just need to be deposited into a bank account within the deadline (30 of Dec 2016). No problem for everyone paying taxes. Go to the bank and deposit your money.

 

2. Changing our economic systems

Have you ever personally felt that our economic system favors certain groups of people?

This question is becoming a topic in an increasing number of discussions, fueled by the growing transparency as a consequence of digitalization – spoken in specific terms: the horizontal and vertical integration is breaking down silo mentality.

This excites me and make me feel like a fish in water – seeing the chance to change our systems in a way that our societies can favor sustainable, fair and mutually beneficial solutions.

Luckily I am not the only one who thinks that “Our economic system favors the wealthy and powerful.” and many people ask themselves “Why do powerful leaders not do more good”

Modi managed to implement a very simple yet impressively effective measure which had a huge impact and benefited the majority of people in his country. I salute him.

He is driven to ensure the long-term welfare of the people of India. Having only this goal in mind (rather than his own personal benefit), he laid the foundation for removing injustice in the distribution of wealth.

It is not a political trick and not a change in the economic or financial system. It is “just” the replacement of two banknotes with new ones.

His example is the proof to me that it is possible to find ways within a current system to benefit the majority of people again.

His example is the proof to me that one person can make a huge difference in the world.

 

3. Complexity

Did you think about the consequences of Modi’s initiative in your own terms?

If so, you certainly understood very quickly that the complexity of effects and consequences of this one step are huge. I spent hours and hours reading articles, watching speeches and interviewing people. It is certainly possible that I misinterpreted or misunderstood. This is simply my impression of the effects and consequences this measure has already had and will continue to have in the future.

On the 9th of November those people with black money were facing following options:

1. Exchange it for the new notes through buying something.
2. Come clean and use one of the Black Money Window Schemes opened by the Indian Income Tax Department.
3. Accept that the cash is merely a piece of paper and get rid of it.

I heard that many people chose option 1 and 3. It led to small business owners like the tea-stand fellow on the corner or the fruit farmer coming every morning receiving huge tips. Or stacks of money floating in the river Ganga. There were also other escape routes tried, such as:

• Sending money to relatives working abroad to exchange the money,
• Buying railway and airline tickets, cancel them, and ask for a refund.

Modi’s government instantly observed all channels of financial movements in a very smart way allowing them to introduce road blocks very quickly for anyone trying to get around the rules. These observations included statistics about all financial activities to identify > from whom > how much > from where and > to what destination the money started to flow.

Lets take a look at the positive effects for the economy. I would really like to know if they were actually foreseen beforehand: It might impact the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of India negatively in the short term, yet, with positive long term consequences. It will help to bring down inflation. Not to mention about upcoming elections (black money being no more available).

Where was the media?

International media reports focused only on the Indian public standing in queues in front of the banks. They did not report on Modi’s initiative in full. I would have expected more media attention, with a more detailed analyses on effects and consequences of his initiative.

But looking at the facts it seems as if Modi intentionally chose this date (same day as US elections).  Even now, 2 days post deadline, I still do not find many articles about it. I guess, the complexity of this topic probably led news journalists to step back, and not take up the subject.

Following the conversations and voices on social media, many people shared their various opinions, discussed issues, and conducted polls within their networks…, getting involved on Twitter, Quora, Facebook and alike. Even well known people, such as the author Chetan Bhagat took part in it.

Yet, lacking the appropriate attention of international journalism brings the risk that an important topic such as this, is not seen in the right light.

 

Conclusion

We have to get used to the fact that more such complex topics will pop up in the future and that we shall have to form our own opinion or get swept away by social media waves. I believe that it will become increasingly difficult – even impossible – to identify the real facts.

Initiatives, companies and organizations which want to play an active role in our fast changing times need to become visible, open and transparent on a global digital stage. They have to ensure that their topic is seen in the right light.

Everything has a local and global aspect. In the end it is about people and their realities affecting them in their own countries (which is difficult to understand for outsiders). And the realities being relevant to all of us on this globe.

 

My contacts in India say that everyone they know are very happy about this initiative, everything is good, the new notes are in circulation.

2017 started without any problems.

Happy New Year 2017

Jutta

 

It is my mission to inspire and connect people to use their potential as problem solvers, entrepreneurs and leaders for a sustainable society with a place for everyone.

#demonetization @narendramodi

 

LINKS

Won’t stop, even if burnt alive: PM Narendra Modi on fight against black money

What are the positive effects of demonetization?

7 Reasons why demonetization is a masterstroke by Modi

Arvind Panagariya sees minimal impact of note ban on growth

Challenge for eCommerce

Why do powerful leaders not do more good?

Our monetary system favors rich and hurts poor

 

 

A dangerous journey

… that could kill the racist in all of us …

Every time I watch this video that came my way through my social media channels – I get chills. For some reason I have to watch it again and again.

I decided that I want to share this video with my course group from the

INNES Summer School
Intercultural Competence and Effective Professional Communication in Globalized Societies

and we watched this video together on the day we spoke about conflicts, their cause and how to manage them.

• We think that everyone should watch this … .
• We fully agree with the girl saying that this should be compulsory for everyone – we all want to do this DNA test.
• Lets share this with everyone we know and change our way to look at the world.

Thanks to the creators of this initiative – join the movement!

HOW?

We only have one world, but it’s divided. We tend to think that there are more things dividing us than uniting us – Lets open our world

A dangerous journey that could kill the racist in us

 

Why do powerful leaders not do more good?

Check out this very interesting report from the University of Lausanne:

The most interesting finding for me is

“Honesty does not shield a person from mis-using power.”

Thanks to Dan Ariely’s Blog

SOME STUDIES ON POWER AND CORRUPTION

John Antonakis, Professor of Organizational Behaviour at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, and his colleagues just came out with a new paper on power and corruption (and Testosterone).

Important and fascinating — and for sure worth the 14 min of this video

 

Warum Japan irgendwann den Anschluss verliert…

This is a post in German I published in different blog on May 2nd, 2011. It was written out of frustration about the boredom I experienced during my studies in Japan. Please note that this is a generalisation of the situation and I am aware that there are schools in Japan, which have an excellent education system. I just want to post it here as a start for a discussion about education in Japan.

Wenn ich an Vorlesungen an Deutschland denke, bin ich wahrscheinlich sehr verwöhnt, denn wir sind immer kleine Gruppen, der Dozent kennt meist unseren Namen und wir müssen – ganz wie in der Schule – uns melden und beteiligen. Aber selbst bei meinem Besuch an größeren Unis mit mehr als 100 Studenten in einem Raum, kann ich immer noch mit Gewissheit sagen, dass die Aufmerksamkeit der Studenten um ein Vielfaches höher ist als in Japan.

Ich traute mich nicht schlafende Studenten zu fotographieren …

Dienstags, 10:40 Uhr – “Leadership & Negotiations” im zweitgrößten Vorlesungssaal des Wirtschaftsgebäudes mit rund 40 Drittsemestlern und einem motivierten Professor. Und trotzdem sind die ersten drei Reihen konsequent frei und schlafende Studenten an der Tagesordnung. Liegt es am langweiligen Unterricht? Kann es jedenfalls nicht sein, denn Okumura-sensei erklärt gut, macht Übersichten, die verständlich sind, bringt lauter interessante Beispiele und nimmt Bezug auf aktuelle Geschehnisse. Und trotzdem schreiben alle Studenten nur das mindeste mit und sitzen eher gelangweilt da – obwohl offiziell nicht mal Anwesenheitspflicht ist.

Ich finde das schade, denn eigentlich sollte doch die Universtität der Ort sein, wo man genau das lernt, was einen interessiert, nicht wahr? Aber scheinbar nicht hier, denn wie so oft spielt hier nicht nur die Einzelleistung eine Rolle, sondern auch der Name der Uni. Der öffnet einem dann schließlich den Weg ins Berufsleben und bist du einmal drin in der Maschinerie, ist es schwer herauszukommen. Letztendlich ist es in den meisten Fällen egal, was du studierst, solange du den Namen der Uni hast – bestes Beispiel, vier Leute auf meiner Arbeit im Hotel haben Jura studiert! Wenn ich höre, wie im International Center der Universität beraten wird, dass maximal drei Monate Austausch geraten wird, weil man sonst Zeit verliert, dann finde ich das schade. Hier wird eher darauf geachtet, dass man gleichzeitig mit allen im gleichen Alter den Abschluss macht. Kein Wunder, dass so nicht wirklich Motivation aufkommt, wenn man alles nach Plan macht und trotzdem einen Job bekommt. Das Bestreben wie in Deutschland der Selbstverwirklichung ist hier nicht so stark ausgeprägt. Und somit fehlt die bei uns oft geforderte Auslandserfahrung oder selbst das Bestreben ins Ausland zu gehen, denn Japan ist ja schön. Und warum sollte man es denn verlassen, wenn auch innerlands alles vorhanden ist?

Noch viel erstaunlicher, es gibt im Unterricht keine Fragen! Man schreibt eben nur das mit, was auch angeschrieben wird, denn genau das wird auch wieder abgeprüft. Bis jetzt hatte ich nur sehr wenig selbstständiges Erarbeiten von Lösungen. Und man fällt ja auch unangenehm auf und stört den Lehrer. Was allerdings mal ganz interessant wäre, denn andererseits sind die Dozenten absolut ungebildet in Pädagogik. So manche Typen, die da vorne stehen, haben noch nie eine Masse unterhalten müssen, bzw. Wissen an den Mann gebracht. Monotone 90 Minuten ohne Unterbrechung! Aber in den Seminaren, d.h. kleine Gruppen geleitet von einem Dozenten, wo man sich einmal pro Woche zu einem bestimmten Thema austauscht, wird trotzdem nicht mehr geredet und eigentlich wäre ja das die beste Möglichkeit, um so richtig herzhaft zu diskutieren, oder?

Diese Kultur wie Deutsche sie haben, sich auszutauschen, Standpunkte zu vergleichen, ist hier absolut unterentwickelt. Japaner legen Wert auf die Harmonie und Unstimmigkeiten würden das trüben und somit hat der Dozent recht, denn wie könnte man dem Dozenten widerspechen? Das entschuldigt aber nicht die mangelhafte Präsentationsfähigkeit! Also, drei in Kleinstschrift vollgeschriebene Blätter, die einfach heruntergelesen werden, wäre bei uns in der achten Klasse schon durchfallreif gewesen. Handout, übersichtliches Erklären, Fragestellung, bitte! Aber wenn sowas auch nicht verbessert wird, wie soll es dann weitergehen?

Was kommt dann am Ende heraus? Studenten, die keinerlei Präsentations- und Diskussionsfähigkeit besitzen und die nun erstmal drei Monate in der Firma lernen, wie man sich zu verhalten hat und wie alles gemacht wird, also eigentlich das, was ich erwarte, dass man es in der Universität lernt. Geht man dann überhaupt zur Universität, um zu lernen? Nein, Frauen können sich ja einen Mann angeln! 😀
Und das bestätigt mich letztendlich in meiner Theorie, dass Japan eine breite Masse hat, die einfach nur mitschwimmt und die wirklich innovativen Sachen von Leuten kommen, die da herausfallen (s. Visual Key, etc.). Und solange kein Bestreben besteht sich großartig mit dem Ausland auszutauschen und Vergleiche zu ziehen, wird hier alles fröhlich in der Blubberblase so weitergehen, bis sie platzt.

Genug Dampf abgelassen, Uni macht ja trotzdem Spaß. Aber als eine der wenigen Ausländer im Unterricht einen einfachen Sachverhalt zu erklären, während sich keiner von den Japanischen Studenten meldet, ist schon verstörend.

Embracing Difference

The culture of the country you grow up in forms you and your identity. My identity is firmly anchored in German culture as I grew up in Berlin the first 17 years of my life. Nevertheless, being the child of a Japanese father and a German mother, the issue of where I belong and as what I identify arises pretty quickly. I was never a a victim of harassment, but sneaky side comments in elementary school let me wonder how not only I but also others see me. As a matter of fact, the first twelve years of my life I looked into the mirror and did not see a difference.

I can honestly say that I am happy I was raised in Germany, where 50% of a class is mixed and I walk through streets listening to all kinds of languages. This is a very stereotypical description, but I want to highlight the difference to classes I experienced during my time I attended Japanese high school. Out of 1000 students, the Assistant Language Teacher, two or three mixed kids and me were the only foreigners at that school. Naturally, the understanding of people having a different cultural context or speaking a different language was just about zero and I met a lot of stereotypes such as “All foreigners speak perfect English”.

The treatment I experienced while living in Japan I recognized in the movie “Hafu – Japan is changing” by film maker Megumi Nishikura and Lara Perez Takagi. It is about Japan, a homogenous country that is embracing new cultures and how society deals with the change of identity. Is only 100% Japanese the real Japanese? Or are there more aspects to “being Japanese”? It is also about the identity of half Japanese people, their struggles and their wishes for the Japanese society. I recommend this movie to all, who wonder how Japan treats people who are different, because this is not only applicable to half Japanese people, but to foreigners in general.

こんな顔でも日本人で有り得る社会になって欲しい。

I want this to be a society, where I can exist as a Japanese person the way I look.

– Megumi Nishikura

Homepage: http://hafufilm.com/

All Generations engaged at WorldSkills 2013

Our Youth – Our Future

The Worldskills 2013 in Leipzig were an event not only for highly engaged and highly competent youth in 46 professions. It was also a cross-generation event. There were an equal amount of experts committed to mentor and coach their national winners to be able to compete with the best talents of 52 nations.

There were many meetings and conferences that took place in the Conference Center of Leipzig Messe organized and attended by European and OECD leaders about youth (un)employment from across the world.  In this truly global effort, that will be the basis for a continuously engaged platform, you could meet Ministers, Law Makers, CEOs of companies and foundations. They came together to not only speak about the currently very bad situation for youth in many countries but to take action and offer perspectives and a future to their youth.

The focus was put on joining forces, using synergies, learning from other`s mistakes and successes to leverage existing knowledge for changing the way things are. The dual education system which has been an essential part of the national education system in Germany, Switzerland and Austria is believed to be a big part of the solution to low youth unemployment. I attended following conferences during the WorldSkills Competition:

Green Industrial Skills for Sustainable Development

Humanity faces enormous challenges in the sustainability of our current lifestyles and systems. The decisions we take can either move us in the direction of sustainability or contribute to the growing problems. Green Industries are the driver towards sustainability and currently experience a high growth time. It is crucial to have access to the necessary skills to be able to realize the potential growth path.

The conference took place on July 1, 2013 and started with a plenary sessions and keynote addresses from Nobel Peace prize Laureate H.E. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson National League for Democracy in Myanmar, Ursula Müller from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, Chakib Jeane and Marcos Pontes from UNIDO and Olga Strietska-Ilina from ILO. The following three panel discussions were dedicated to following topics:

• Panel 1:  Green Industry Initiative
• Panel 2:  Skills Development for renewable energy
• Panel 3:  Worldskills and how to sustain the industry through green skills competition development

It was a very interesting day dominated by the questions of how VET Vocational Education and Training can solve this problem to fill the skills gap detected in this crucial sector.

European Alliance for Apprenticeships” (EAfA)

Please see article about this initiative.

Skilling the future: VET and Workplace learning for Economic Success

This international conference organized by the OECD and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research [BMBF] focused on the role of Vocational and Adult Education as well as Workplace learning as the emerging challenges. After the keynote parallel working groups started and engaged in the following topics

1. VET and higher education: transition pathways and innovative blends of VET
2. Systematic development of apprenticeships and workplace learning: changing roles of responsibilities of trainees, employers and social partners
3. Innovative concepts for making the bridge between school and work

I participated in the working group three and presented the success story of  Cisco Networking Academy – a CSR Program for educational organizations supplying a learning platform with IT Networking and System resources for IT skills development.

Resume
The Worldskills Conference Program 2013 “Our Youth – Our Future” was definitely a highlight of the WorldSkills Competition and will be instrumental to connect stakeholders on a global level to implement policies and programs that improve the situation and give our youth a prospective and positive outlook into the future of their nations.

LINKS
Worldskills Leipzig 2013
WorldSkills Conference Program
Cisco Networking Academy Program

In Erinnerung an Fukushima …

Fukushima in Japan persönlich miterlebt zu haben, wird wohl immer tief in meiner Erinnerung verhaftet bleiben und obwohl das für weltweit eigentlich alle Leute gilt, hat es doch für jeden einzelnen eine andere Einfärbung und Bedeutung.

Zum Nachvollziehen und sich Hineindenken, was vor Ort geschehen ist und wie die Information an die Gesellschaft erfolgt, gibt es viele Möglichkeiten:

Als erste Referenz zu den wirklichen Hintergründen zu empfehlen

Die Fukushima Lüge ZDF *
TEIL 1 – TEIL 2 – TEIL 3

—————-

* update 22.4.2020
Leider wurden die Videos von Youtube gelöscht, gesperrt, zensuriert- ich konnte zumindest eines der Videos von ZDFzoom wieder finden. Zur Doku lasse ich die Links genauso hier verlinkt stehen wie sie waren. Die Suche im Netz mit dem Suchwort “Fukushima Lüge” bringt sie jedoch auf weitere Spuren …

Die Fukushima Lüge Teil 1 vom 08 01 2014
“Teil 2 dieses Filmbeitrages wurde leider weltweit gesperrt. Fukushima –
Der Filmbeitrag zeigt die kriminellen Machenschaften in …”

—————-

Gern verweise ich hier auf Publikationen von Zeitgenossen meiner Unterrichtstätigkeit in Japan von Judith Brandner, Ann Cotten, Lydia Mischkulnig.

Judith Brandner
Reportage Japan
Außer Kontrolle und in Bewegung
Interview dazu
Hören Sie sich rein

Neuerscheinungen

Jürgen Draschan, Bertlinde Vögel (Hrsg.) (2012):
NACHBEBEN JAPAN
Wien: Luftschacht Verlag. ISBN: 978-3-902844-12-5

Mit Beiträgen von Xaver Bayer, Judith Brandner, Ann Cotten, Elfriede Czurda, Erwin Einzinger, Franzobel, Peter Glaser, Ludwig Laher, Hanno Millesi, Lydia Mischkulnig, Sabine Scholl, Josef Winkler.

Buchpräsentationen:
Literaturhaus Graz, 24. Sept. um 20.00 Uhr
Literaturhaus Wien, 25. Sept. um 19.00 Uhr

ONCE UPON A TIME / ES WAR EINMAL FUKUSHIMA
von Kei Kimura/Maketa Smith-Groves
Herausgegeben von Renate & Peter Giacomuzzi
Übersetzungen von Isabelle Esser und Isabella König

Buchpräsentation mit Kei Kimura und Maketa Smith-Groves beim Sprachsalz-Festival
am Samstag, 15. September 2012, 11.30 Uhr, Stadtbücherei Hall, Tirol.

The righteous Mind – Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion

by Jonathan Haidt, Pantheon Books, New York, 2012, Kindle Edition

BOOK REVIEW Thanks to John Ames and Marc Pasturel´s highlights

Haidt is a psychologist studying the nature and evolution of morals, especially as they apply to politics. He is a political Progressive, but eminently careful to be as objective as possible in his research and his conclusions. His generalizations are supported by numerous experimental test projects and statistical analysis, which are fascinating in themselves.

The book makes two main points. First, our initial reaction to situations or expressions of ideas is formed by deeply held moral foundations. Haidt expresses this as “Intuitions come first, Strategic reasoning second”. Many people, much of the time, of course never reach the second step. He uses a metaphor of the mind consisting of an elephant and a rider, with the elephant being the unconscious moral foundations, and the rider being the intellect or reason. The rider can nudge the elephant slightly one way or the other, but the initial course is chosen by the elephant. In fact, the rider often acts as a “press secretary” for the elephant, spinning a rationale for actions driven by our moral foundation without our conscious thought.

These moral foundations have developed over millennia of evolution, some of it strictly individual, like caring for young, and some related to group life, like sensing helpfulness. (Of course the DNA is carried by individuals, but its development may be driven by individual characteristics that facilitate the success of groups, usually small ones.)
As these moral foundations develop, they create what he calls Moral Capital – this is an interlocking set of values, virtues, norms, and institutions that comport with evolved psychological mechanisms and enable a community to regulate selfishness and promote cooperation. For example, it would include the trust that enables a free market.
Development of moral capital “solves one of the hardest problems humans face: fostering cooperation without kinship.” Elements of this problem are bullying, or exploitive leadership, and free riders, those who consume the wealth of the group without contributing to it.

So, what are these moral foundations?

The answer to this constitutes Haidt’s second main point, which he calls Moral Foundations Theory, and which consists of a set of six dimensions or variables expressing different kinds of human interaction, and which can be measured in individuals. They are:
• Care/Harm – This foundation originates in the human need for extended care for vulnerable children. It makes us sensitive to suffering in others.

• Fairness/Cheating – This sensitivity fosters cooperation and reciprocal altruism in small groups without individuals being exploited or allowing tolerance for free riders. It makes us sensitive to indications of good or bad partners for collaboration. It contains the principle of proportionality, as in “the punishment should fit the crime”, and reward should reflect input to production. In this regard, Haidt observes that while conservatives may never use Karma in a sentence, they believe in it, while progressives, at least the New Age sub-species, often use it, but don’t really believe in it.

• Loyalty/Betrayal – The early success of larger tribes over small groups led to a sensitivity to the quality of team players and an aversion to “others”, especially traitors. We see it in loyalty to family, sports teams and nations. Unquestioned loyalty leads to Manichaeism (third century Persian prophet) that considers everyone either all good or all evil.

• Authority/Subversion – a sensitivity to signs of status, and behavior that is appropriate to one’s status. This is an early trait based on dominance hierarchy, like in chimps and very early man. It is still present, but balanced by.

• Liberty/Oppression – a response to the challenge of living in small groups with individuals who would, if given the chance, dominate and bully the others. It is triggered by signs of attempted domination.

• Sanctity/Subversion (or pollution) – believed to be based on very early practices around safe eating. This foundation invests classes of objects with intrinsic value or revulsion. In our culture, eating a dog or a dead human seems wrong. This is a refutation of the utilitarian view of values.

Haidt demonstrates, with several laboratory experiments, that these six foundations seem present in a rudimentary form in human brains at birth, and are then refined by life experiences and cultural training. Thus their actual expression as stated morals can vary among cultures.

Progressives emphasize the Care/harm, Liberty/Oppression, and Fairness/Cheating foundations, but they define them differently from conservatives, who regard all six more or less equally. This asymmetry and the different meanings lead to difficulty in communication between these groups. The conservative vs. liberal (progressive) approach to the environment and global warming provide rich examples of several of these moral foundations. (It’s the end of the world – It’s a fraud)
Haidt offers no profound remedies for this problem, only the diagnosis. One of his few concrete suggestions is for congressional representatives to resume the earlier practice of moving their families to Washington during their tenure in office. This no doubt fostered greater collegiality due to easier and more frequent social interaction, but can also be seen as leading to conservatives seeking social approval of the usually dominant Democratic Party and its once monolithic media sycophants.

As another example of Haidt’s progressive bias, he states that it is “profoundly important for the health of a society that governments can and should restrain corporate super organisms”. He leaves open the meaning of “restrain”, and on what basis to do so.

Without detracting from the value of Haidt’s analysis of human reactions to situational stimuli, it bears pointing out that man at his best is rational, not simply reactive. A successful life of an individual or a nation must be based on careful long-term thought and not impulsive reaction to immediate stimulus, which is what is measured in university psychology laboratories. His analysis will be of immense value to advertising executives and political consultants, but to someone planning a career or conducting statecraft only as a reminder of what pitfalls to avoid.

These objections are but quibbles tangential to the main thrust of the book. Every serious student of political (and social) behavior can profit from reading it.

Post-Script: Only because Haidt gave it the prominence of the opening paragraphs, I must encourage readers to overlook his choice of an innocuous platitude quoted from a person hardly to be admired to introduce his exploration of the question, “Can we all get along?” This unfortunate choice doesn’t foreshadow the quality of the subsequent analysis.

To be in the spotlight for a cause

CONVERSATIONS THAT BUILD VIEWS

Toby Weymiller	I respect this actor who lost over 90% of his annual income to fight against giant nuclear power machine! Actor in the spotlight of Japan’s antinuke movement | The Japan Times Online
Jutta Jerlich	As I learned In Japan people who fight and want things to improve, pay a very high price – mostly loosing all their income and consequently life. That is why very few people dare to even think about change.
Toby Weymiller	OR ….that fear is there and; consequently, it’s hard to gather momentum with any movement against something large and powerful like this industry. Sadly, I believe the public are fairly easy to "control" here, but many countries are like this. America, to some extent, is like this, as well.
Tsuguo Fujita	自分の考えをしっかり持って発言できるのはすばらしいと思います。
Toby Weymiller	I agree, Fujita-san. To be able to speak your beliefs freely is wonderful.
Jutta Jerlich	I ‘d be happy to help build momentum for change in Japan

Sharing my V I S I O N ?

Many centuries ago great architects were also engineers, philosophers and writers. So interdisciplinarity is not a new concept. Today new technologies and ICT tools open up a broad field of ways of how to innovate and make life better for all. We depend on creative and innovative people to sustain and develop our economy to fulfill the needs of our society.

The Course CREATIVITY ENGINEERING offers participants a chance to learn about their creative potential, understand about the implementation of ideas in a market environment and check how things work out when trying to make an idea become reality in a multidisciplinary team from different cultural backgrounds.

It is my vision to make Creativity Engineering a step forward and make it an event that takes place with partners in different locations on the globe. I am looking for people sharing this vision in universities and companies. Contact me if who want to be part of making sure that we learn how we can use our knowledge and creative potential in the work environment in todays offices in better ways.

↓↓↓ English ↓↓↓ ↑↑↑ Deutsch ↑↑↑

Vor vielen Jahrhunderten waren große Architekten auch Ingenieure, Philosophen und Schriftsteller. Interdisziplinarität ist kein neues Konzept. Heute eröffnen uns neue Technologien ungeahnte Wege mit Innovationen das Leben für alle zu verbessern. Wir brauchen kreative und innovative Leute zue Erhaltung und Entwicklung unserer Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft.

Der Kurs CREATIVITY ENGINEERING bietet Teilnehmern die Möglichkeit, ihr eigenes kreatives Potential besser kennen zu lernen, Erfolgsfaktoren bei der Umsetzung im Markt verstehen zu können und ausprobieren zu können, welche Probleme und Erfolge bei der Verwirklichung so einer Idee in einem interdiszipliären Team mit Mitglieder aus verschiedenen Kulturen entstehen können.

Ich habe die Vision einen Schritt weiter zu gehen und aus Creativity Engineering einen Event zu machen, der mit localen Partner an verschiedenen Orten rund um den Globus stattfindet. Liegt es Ihnen am Herzen, dass wir unser Wissen und kreatives Potential in der heutigen Realiatät der Arbeitswelt schlauer einsetzen lernen. Ich suche Leute an Universitäten und in Firmen, die diese Vision teilen. Kontaktieren Sie mich …

Lets start the dialog and connect with me

Wanted: People interested to use their innovative potential

The Course CREATIVITY ENGINEERING offers participants a chance to learn about their creative potential, understand about the implementation of ideas in a market environment and check how things work out when trying to make an idea become reality in a multidisciplinary team from different cultural backgrounds.

Right NOW we are accepting applications for the Course in the framework of the Vienna University of Technology Summer School 2012. Do join us for a fruitful und fun Summer Session in Wien. Here is the link to registration.

↑↑↑ English ↑↑↑ ↓↓↓ Deutsch ↓↓↓

Der Kurs CREATIVITY ENGINEERING bietet Teilnehmern die Möglichkeit, ihr eigenes kreatives Potential besser kennen zu lernen, Erfolgsfaktoren bei der Umsetzung im Markt verstehen zu können und ausprobieren zu können, welche Probleme und Erfolge bei der Verwirklichung so einer Idee in einem interdiszipliären Team mit Mitglieder aus verschiedenen Kulturen entstehen können.

JETZT haben Sie die Möglichkeit, sich für den Kurs im Rahmen der Internationalen Summer School der TU Wien 2012 anzumelden. Wir freuen uns auf eine spannende und lustige Summer Session in Wien. Hier geht es zur Anmeldung.

Fragen? Questions?

Kreative Partnerschaften

Das Bundesministerium für Unterricht, Kunst und Kultur in Wien, Österreich veranstaltet eine Workshopreihe zu Themen des EU-Arbeitsplans für Kultur 2011 – 2014. Dieser Plan hat für 2011/12 die Zugänglichkeit zur Kultur sowie die Teilhabe von mehr Menschen an Kultur als Priorität, für 2012/13 die Ausweitung der kulturellen Vielfalt und Verstärkung des interkulturellen Dialogs und schließlich für 2013/14 den Erwerb der Schlüsselkompetenz “Kulturbewusstsein und kulturelle Ausdrucksfähigkeit” als Zielsetzung.

Der Start erfolgte am 16. Juni 2011 mit dem ersten Schwerpunkt “Kreative Partnerschaften”. Neben Informationen zu Arbeiten auf EU – Ebene über Kulturvermittlung waren es vor allem drei Best Practice Beispiele aus Deutschland (Berlin), Norwegen und Großbritannien, die vorgestellt wurden.

ZOOM: Berliner Patenschaften Künste & Schule

Neben den 11 bestehenden Patenschaften zwischen Schulen und unterschiedlichen kulturellen Einrichtungen, die durch eine Partnerschaft mit dem Projektbüro Kulturelle Bildung der PwC-Stiftung gefördert werden, beeindruckt vor allem auch die Implementierung von 40 Partnerschaften ohne eigene Projektmittel. Die begleitende Forschung unterstützt die Bemühungen und die Motivation zu kontinuierlicher Zusammenarbeit mit Kindern und Jugendlichen im schulischen Alltag. j.folk@kulturprojekte-berlin.de , www.kulturprojekte-berlin.de/patenschaften

NORWEGEN: The Cultural Rucksack

Im April 2011 feierte der Kulturelle Rucksack sein 10-Jahres-Jubiläum. Dieses Programm, das von Künstlern aus allen kulturellen Bereichen wie Musik, Literatur, Film, Darstellende Kunst, Kulturelles Erbe, … betreut wird, umfasst 3400 Schulen im ganzen Land, 800.000 Schüler und Schülerinnen. Es wird seit 2005 mit etwa 20 Millionen Euro jährlich gefördert, die von den unterschiedlichen Kulturinstitutionen aufgebracht werden. Die wissenschaftliche Begleitung erfolgt durch die Universität Bergen. Astrid.Holen@kulturrad.no , www.denkulturelleskolesekken.no

GROSSBRITANNIEN: Creative Partnerships

Trotz oder gerade wegen der Herkunft aus sozial und ökonomisch benachteiligten Gesellschaftsschichten bemüht sich CCE (Creative Culture & Education) um eine Entwicklung in Richtung kreatives Lernen. Das “Flaggschiff” des Regierungsprojekts betreut ca. 2700 Schulen, begleitet jede Schule 3 Jahre und stellt jeweils 60 Best Practice Schulen vor. Die Schlüsselkompetenzen sollen von den traditonellen Fähigkeiten wie Muttersprache, Fremdsprachen, Mathematik, Naturwissenschaften, … erweitert werden zu kritischem Denken, Kreativität, Problemlösung, Entscheidungen treffen, … . Es werden auch die am Projekt teilnehmenden Lehrer in die “Kunst”-Sprache eingeführt, wodurch auch sie  eine zusätzliche Entwicklung ihrer Kreativität in bezug auf die Unterrichtserteilung erfahren. Die Erfolge sind erkennbar am wachsenden Schulerfolg, an der sinkenden Absenzenrate und auch am verstärkten Engagement der Eltern. diane.fisher-naylor@cceengland.org , www.creative-partnerships.com

Das anschließende “World Cafés” ermutigte die Teilnehmer in Round Table Diskussionen eine Liste von zu erreichenden Zielen (nicht ohne Berücksichtigung der zu erwartenden Hindernisse) bis zum Jahr 2020 zu formulieren.

Die nächste Veranstaltung findet im Oktober 2011 statt.

Links
Dokumentation/Präsentationen
Videozusammenfassung
BMukk
Kulturkontakt

Inside Japan: Shushoku Katsudo 就職活動

Shukatsu ist die Abkürzung für Shushoku Katsudo und bezeichnet den Prozess der Jobsuche in Japan. Der Prozess ist kompliziert und zeitaufwendig, es müssen zahlreiche Veranstaltungen und Prüfungen in einer bestimmten Reihenfolge besucht bzw. bestanden werden. Am wichtigsten ist jedoch, dass dieser Prozess nur einmal pro Jahr startet. Wenn der Einstiegszeitpunkt verpasst wird, ist es zu spät.

Dieser Prozess der Jobsuche beginnt oft bereits schon nach dem 2. Studienjahr, sodass man bis zum vierten Studienjahr, in dem der Abschluß erfolgt, nur zwei mal die Möglichkeit hat, an Schukatsu teilzunehmen und damit einen Job zu bekommen.

Für die Studenten, die nächstes Jahr ihr Studium abschließen werden, hat sich die Situation verschlimmert. Viele Firmen haben ihre Beteiligung an diesen Programmen abgesagt. Das ist eine – weitere – Katastrophe für sehr viele!

Es war schon vorher so, dass viele Studienabsolventen keinen Job mehr finden. Die Wirtschaftskrise und nun die Katastrophe aufgrund des Erdbebens haben diese Situation bedenklich verschärft. Doch wie es der japanischen Kultur entspricht, wird über solche Probleme kaum gesprochen.

See also

SHUKATSU – The Road to a Job in Japan [in English}

Die Macht von Konzernen – the Power of Multinationals

Filmtipp – the Movie BANANAS!

12 nicaraguanische Bananenarbeiter und deren Klage gegen den weltgrößten Obstunternehmer Dole. Eine spannende Chronik eines Gerichtsthof-Dramas, dass nach und nach die vielen Schichten der globalen Nahrungsmittelpolitik und der Dynamik zwischen der Ersten und Dritten Welt enthüllt. Laufende Kameras im Gerichtssaal und Interviews mit dem Anwalt Dominguez und den Klägern ziehen den Zuschauer mitten in die Geschichte hinein.

Bananas documents the history of a lawsuit brought by Nicaraguan banana plantation workers who were allegedly made sterile by Dole’s use of the pesticide DBCP. The Tellez v. Dole Food trial is considered to be a landmark case in the history of workers’ rights. On behalf of twelve Nicaraguan banana workers Juan “Accidentes” Dominguez is tackling Dole Food in a ground-breaking legal battle for their use of a banned pesticide that was known by the company to cause sterility.

Interestingly it the movie was removed from the prestigious Documentary Competition at the Los Angeles Film Festival. In fact, Dole went to court to file an injunction to stop the film from being shown. The judge threw it out, saying that she “will not consider any request for prior restraint on free speech.” Director Fredrik Gertten immediately declared in his impassioned introduction to the screening that he did not endorse the statement of the Festival. This elicited a huge cheer from the audience, even though nobody had yet seen the film.

More about the movie
IMDB international movie database

Kinogutscheine Greenpeace gewinnen
Gewinnfrage bis Montag, den 17. Jänner 2011 um 24:00 Uhr beantworten

Unsere Krisen? – nach welchen Werten handelt der Einzelne allein und in Gesellschaft …

Die Werte, nach denen wir unsere Handlungen ausrichten, verändern sich heute in Echtzeit und darüberhinaus sind sie über politische Räume nicht einheitlich, manchmal selbst in benachbarten Regionen nicht einmal ähnlich. Die Werthaltung von Nachbarländern in Europa können voneinander abweichen, auch diametral entgegen liegen. Ein weiteres Phänomen kann jeder selbst bei sich beobachten: Wir handeln alleine anders als in Gruppen oder in größeren Gesellschaften. Warum tun wir das?

Die Mechanismen sind wahrscheinlich so individuell wie es Menschen auf der Erde gibt, obwohl sie historische Wurzeln haben. Es wäre gut sich über seine eigenen Entscheidungen alleine und in Gesellschaft klar zu werden. Die Unterschiede geben Auskunft über die eigene Herkunft und eben jene Werte, nach denen man seine eigenen Entscheidungen ausrichtet. Sich selbst bewusst in dieser Dialektik zu erfahren bringt uns einen Schritt näher, das zu verstehen, was wir zur Bewältigung der unzähligen Krisen verstehen sollten. Denn es sieht so aus, als dass sich im Großen jene Dialektik reproduziert, die in uns allen steckt.