Recession, and the Way Out

The current economic meltdown, one of the worst in the last 60 years or so, is bound to have many repercussions. It has already started telling on the job market and thousands of people are getting laid off or facing reduction in wages.

The next few years will be tough on new blokes entering the job market. Those who have spent money for seeking admissions for various courses, especially in the technology and finance sectors, will face the crunch when they start getting out of the protected environment of academic life. Students passing out this year and next are going to be severely hit.

One of the things that these students should think of now is to pursue higher studies. This is the best time to be in a university acquiring additional qualifications, knowledge and skills. Universities and institutes also should be preparing to provide such opportunities and gearing up for such a scenario.

This would be mutually advantageous for the student community as well as the academic institutions. Care should be taken to see that the element of exploitation is taken away when the financial angle of education is taken into account. When quantity (of students seeking academic pursuits) increases the centres of learning should take care that the quality does not suffer.

The near and long term future of the global economy will depend on their efforts.

Expensive Game

In India, you have protests on every issue, whether it is an attack on pubs, blocking trains or even naming a movie, Slumdog Millionaire.

The protests are in the form of road shows or comments from politicians or well-known personalities.

But why doesn’t anyone protest against the extravagant cricket tournaments?

The world is going through recession and efforts are being taken by the government and to provide more liquidity. But nobody is protesting against BCCI for IPL spending lavishly and attracting players for thousands of dollars.

Come on BCCI and television channels, stop glamourising IPL.

Cricket’s Movers and Shakers

Congratulations to the West Indies cricket team for winning the first Test match against England in the on-going home Test series in the Caribbeans. The English team fell like a pack of cards. Historically speaking, this proved to be England’s third lowest score in Test cricket.

The excellent win of the West Indies can be attributed to the brave show put up by the team spearheaded by its skipper, Chris Gayle.

And, of course, who can forget the pace and swing of Jerome Taylor?

History will provide testimony to the fact that the day the star-studded English team was bundled out, some of its superstars were ‘auctioned off’ to the lucrative IPL league for millions of dollars.

The fact is that IPL has proved to be a distraction not only to the English players but other cricketers, as well. They have been lured by the glamour of wealth, gold and money.

The cricket fraternity should not forget that nobody, not even IPL, is bigger than the noble game of cricket and playing cricket should never be dictated by a few powerful movers and shakers.

The other side of recession

Due to global financial crisis daily thousands of people are losing their jobs worldwide.

Like doctors, engineers, teachers etc., every businessman is supposed to have a social commitment and welfare of his employees.

When some of the business tycoons are terminating their employees, due to low demand and operational crisis, at the same time they are spending millions for players’ auction in IPL Cricket in India.

The government should take immediate action against such businessmen, and people should refrain from seeing such matches where money not sports dominates.

Save the Earth

There should be some effort on the part of the media to create awareness on the over-consumption of valuable resources like water and energy.

One needs to be very careful while using the natural resources that are fast depleting, and future generations will otherwise be most affected. The rate of water consumption in the UAE is very high. The meagre charges being levied on water consumption may be one reason for the lack of control in using water.

Some households are seen using the hose to clean the portico; it is heartbreaking to see the amount of pure water flowing onto the road from the houses.At night, decorative bulbs illuminate walls and gardens.

What a waste of energy! I urge the authorities to look into this. Global warming is hitting us badly, and experts say the impact is going to be serious.

We, as responsible citizens, would do well taking every step to see that we leave the earth as it is, for posterity.