Global issues, film, China, interest rates, Mega Mergers and, of course,
our new Premier of Québec ...
Les Nicholsons
David and Diana (Yes, Diana was in Geneva this week and Me Marie Cormier played the part of Den Mother.)
david nicholson says
Wednesday Night Salon #993
sooncome Calendar
March 14th, 2001
INTRODUCTION
NEW FACES
Two new guests were welcomed to this Wednesday Night gathering: Storrs McCall, well-known McGill personality and Professor of Philosophy whose impressive biographical notes include his book "A Model for the Universe", a teaching career that spans the continents from Pittsburgh to Uganda, and the founding of Philosophy in East Africa. Grégoire Dupont, who has recently left Bombardier and is potentially the only hire by Nortel worldwide in the last month! At Nortel, as a product manager,he balances customer, technology, and business strategy imperatives. He has a European Bacc (he is Belgian but resident now in Montreal) and has an MBA from Australia. He is also an avid sheep farmer.
Tony Masi, returned after a long absence due to his new duties as McGill's Vice Principal Information Systems and technology.
THE ECONOMY AND NORTEL
Conventional wisdom has for some time, declared the Canadian dollar to be undervalued, yet once again it is dropping in value against the U.S. dollar, probably only rising in the future as world commodity prices rise. Would it be in Canada's interest to adopt the US Dollar? Expert opinion suggests that there is net benefit to Canada in maintaining a flexible exchange rate.
In the current stock market tumble, questions arise as to whether Nortel [T-NT], one of Canada's two world class companies has any earnings left at all. Nortel will survive and thrive, with constantly increasing use of digital technology. New buildings are being conceived as "smart buildings" and existing ones are being converted. This is a growth area that is growing exponentially, providing electronic concierge and security services as well as serving as server for the tenants. see our Nortel page or [T-NT] chart & latest news
TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION
With current technology, the same lecture can be delivered to students around the globe in their own language, delivered by the ultimate expert and/or most gifted teachers in a given field. Although this is undoubtedly of value to areas of the world where education facilities are inadequate, there is still no substitute for the personal identification with, - and bond between-, teacher and student. Courses can definitely not be totally automated, even by using the latest technology.
Globalization, Free Trade and the Opposition
The Summit of the Americas (15kb) conference is coming to Quebec City. Are we likely to see a rerun of Vancouver and Seattle? Very likely, and with the same actors and bit players. The dynamics of modern day protests are very interesting, bringing together a sprinkling of true believers, anarchists and a large crowd of young people who come together to party. The issue of globalization is coming at us with incredible speed and, although of extreme importance, it is unfortunately, secondary to the vast majority of these "protesters".
The media does the public a disservice by highlighting the more anarchic elements (30kb) of the protest movements, rather than the serious work (.5kb) undertaken by the Alternative Summit of concerned experts in fields such as Human Rights and the Environment. Recognizing that Globalization has arrived and must be managed if the vast wealth produced by it is to reach a larger proportion of the world's population, this group seeks to define and present recommendations to the Summit on ways in which genuine concerns for democratic societies are addressed and incorporated in the blue print for free trade and globalization.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND TRADE
The United Nations' Human Rights Charter gives Human Rights priority over trade. Governments who have not ratified that charter should be excluded from free trade. This is what is happening in Europe today. Members who apply to the European Union for admittance must accept the observance of human rights or risk exclusion. The same must be applied universally. Although on the surface, there appears to be a difference because the European Union really constitutes a level of government, it began as a common market. This may very well be the universal model.
As for human rights violations in some developing countries and China, it must be remembered that it was only when the economy developed to a certain level that slavery was abolished in the western world. In our lifetime, we have seen the evolution of South Africa, the former Soviet Union and even Mexico. It may very well be that as there are always people within a country who will agree to and work for change, it is increased prosperity that provides the impetus for change.
HOW TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE PROTESTERS
The complexity of the issues addressed by the MAI and other organizations like the Summit of the Americas is such that very few people inside the meetings have an understanding of the ramifications of the negotiations. Not being clear on the question makes it virtually impossible to communicate the answer. Unfortunately, Globalization has become and "either/or" issue for both sides rather than one that is open to discussion and compromise.
QUOTES OF THE EVENING
- "Nortel is building the backbone of the Internet and the Internet is not going away. It may go down a bit, but it will go up in the long run."
- "It is highly unlikely that we will see the Canadian dollar shoot up to 70 cents."
- "A lot of education takes place with identification with the instructor. A box can (only) be a complement."
- "Can globalization wear a human face?"
- "Those of us who disagree with her ( Maude Barlow) still have a lot to learn from her about how to say it."
- "What's good for the world economy is good for the U.S."
- "Free trade imposes costs (for some)"
- "A vast majority of student demonstrators are attracted not by the cause, but by the promise of good music, dope and the opportunity to meet members of the sex to which they are attracted."
- "It took America time to eliminate slavery. (With globalization) We are trying to make underdeveloped countries accept in fifteen years standards that it took two hundred and fifty years for us to reach."
- "When Western Europe embraced Eastern Europe, it was largely because of the new markets that this area offered to the free market economies. It appears to some that globalization equals neocolonialism."
- "As you move farther away from the developed countries, you move away from freely elected governments which represent the will of the people."
Notes by Herb Bercovitz
Edited by Diana Thébaud Nicholson
