Towards World Governance…

A very important article which appeared in Liberation Monde recently: “Vers une gouvernance mondiale”…

TOWARDS WORLD GOVERNANCE

Appeal by the Collegium International, Geneva, 20th January 2014

The world faces a convergence of crises of global scale without precedent: the depletion of natural resources, biodiversity loss, financial bubbles and bank failures, the dehumanisation of the economic system, social disintegration, rising inequality and social insecurity, rising intolerance, disparagement of the political elites, famines, shortages, viral pandemics…

These developments, which have taken place in the context of an uncontrollable expansion and revolution in communications technology, are largely the results of a major crisis of thought and of sense, and of the deterioration of a matrix of fundamental values.

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An Expat Working in Paris – A Personal Insight

Since settling in Paris many years ago, my experiences of working in the capital have been exclusively with international companies, where the working language was English. Most recently, I joined a French, very Parisian institution.

I soon discovered that working methods, reporting lines, social interactions, attitudes towards clients can greatly differ within French companies, as compared to those of the more Anglo-Saxon corporate cultures of companies I have worked with previously in London and Paris…

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Damian Aspinall.. A Passionate Conservationist…

Damian… Aspinall’s…

Plea… from the heart…

“Look into the eyes…

of a caped tiger…”

Had a… huge impact…

On… me…

I empathise… sympathize…

Totally… completely…

With his crusade to free animals… cooped up in beastly zoos…

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“Women’s Forum Brazil 2013” – A Case of Empowerment…

I recently asked a wise, enlightened acquaintance a topical question: “How, in your opinion, is women’s role changing in the ‘5th Dimension’, from a spiritual point of view?” The answer came quickly and clearly: “Because of women’s increased empowerment, they now have a stronger platform to show that their way can work in a more beneficial way…”.

Since the discussion moved on, I was left to wonder about this simple yet startling reply later, in the privacy of my thoughts. “Their way”… I presume meant women’s naturally more diplomatic, nurturing, consensus-driven method of operating, versus the more power-driven, competitive, authoritative, sometimes confrontational approach of men. Given the current unstable, chaotic, and down-right dangerous state of the world, I mused, we need every bit of help, every useful suggestion, to move us through this turbulent period in human history, and on to a more peaceful, balanced, harmonious place in our collective state of existence.

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Madonna and Angelina… A Worthy Cause…

S-o-o-o… impressed by…

Madonna…and… Angelina Jolie…

Patching up… their differences…

For a… worthy cause…

Angelina Jolie, 37… who criticised Madonna on the manner of adoption of her two children from Malawi… David Banda and Mercy James… showed an elegance and generosity of spirit by phoning the “Material Girl” to praise her efforts in helping Third World young women get an education.

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What Hope – Women Entrepreneurs in France?

I was looking through the Women’s Forum’s “The Book” recently and a quote from one of the sessions at the 2012 Deauville “Global Meeting” conference, entitled “Can economic austerity be an opportunity for women?” caught my eye :

“In France, the dialogue between the government and the private sector is very poor. At the end of the day, it’s not surprising that the decisions taken by government are far from what the private sector expects.”

Given that this quote was uttered by Agnès Audier, Partner and Managing Director of The Boston Consulting Group, and a highly respected professional who’s previously held senior advisory positions in both the private and public sector… she must know what she’s talking about. The next headline, further down the page, made me gulp even more: “In France, 90% of women entrepreneurs do not draw a salary”.

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Women and the Workplace: a Personal Perspective

In this weekend’s edition of the International Herald Tribune, I was drawn to read an article entitled “In Sandberg, Echoes of De Beauvoir” by Chrystia Freeland, where the author makes the correlation between some of De Beauvoir’s thoughts on women and their perception within society and Sheryl K. Sandberg’s recent book “Lean In”, which argues that some of those misperceptions of women described long ago, still hold true today. I was riveted.

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International Women’s Day 2013…

Being a British professional and single mother living in Paris, I fully understand the trials and tribulations that women have to face in their working lives, in France and the wider world.

That is why I was interested to commemorate “International Women’s Day” this year, yet again, by attending the Franco-British Chamber’s conference entitled “Women and Corporate Social Responsibility: What role for business?”, being held at the sumptuous British Ambassador’s Residence located in the heart of Paris.

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Homéopathes sans Frontières… A Concert…

“Concert”…

“Save… the date”…

“Le 27 novembre 2012… 20h30…

Salle Adyar… Paris 7e”…

The card… in front of me…

Declared…

A concert… given in support of HSF France… Homéopathes sans Frontières… together with two other organisations which organise the “agro-écologie locale”… the local Agroecology… ALED Les Enfants de Demain… in Burkina-Faso… and ONG BENIN…

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