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Author:
Lesley Pocock, Chief Editor
The December Issue of
the MEJB incorporates the International
Journal of Economic Humanism and Sustainability
(IJEHS), which will continue our focus on
vital planetary issues. Global warming,
the destruction and poisoning of habitats
and over population continue to put the
planet at great peril. Poverty, disease,
natural disasters and social inequities
affect the majority of humans and imperil
the basic fabric of civilised society.
It need not all be bad
news. Indeed the current state of the world
provides a meaningful challenge to human
psyche and human endeavour. We can all give
up and die with a whimper, or we can use
the best of human intellect, reasoning,
and compassion and rise to the challenges
we are faced with and provide an intelligent
response both practically and timely.
Is this the responsibility
of business? I would say yes. I recall a
television debate years ago where global
warming was first discussed (in the 'doze
in a greenie' era of conservation politics)
and one business man, made aware of the
full issues via the debate, saw global warming
as an 'opportunity to sell more air conditioners'.
This was a pathetic and short-sighted response
then, and is even more so now.
It seems the scramble
for economic growth has blinkered the business
world from what should be the obvious. Lives
of future generations are being sacrificed
to the 'me' generations who do not see the
need to give back as much to the planet,
as we take. Obviously we leave the planet
in a sadly depleted state if we do not do
this. Our current global population at time
of writing is 6,357,260,973 and the planet
cannot continue to feed all humans, and
other living populations. Other populations
are dying out, to accommodate us. As these
other living populations we are slaughtering
are our food source, it is a wonder that
our greed has not forced us to consider
this.
This edition of the
MEJB focuses on both sides of the coin.
Dr Pavel Kasyanov, a Russian environmental
economist, in a personal perspective entitled
Russia v Globalisation, looks at where we
are going wrong as a civilisation and points
the blame at 'human values', or the lack
thereof, particularly among those humans
living in 'consumer-based' economies. He
also looks specifically at Russia's place
in a globalised economy.
On the other side of
the coin, we have the heroic efforts of
those assisting in Pakistan and the Reaching
the Unreachable article and photo essay,
provide an element of hope, both on a human
level and an economic level. It shows that
much can be done if the spirit is willing
and also looks at the economics of exchange
rates and how they can be utilised to address
the great economic divide.
We also focus on the
non-esoteric. William S. Lightfoot &
Lydia Porter have provided a well written
article on The effect of credentials and
incentives on a response rate from a sample
population of engineers, based on the results
of a research study undertaken by Motion
Tech Trends (MTT), consultants to the motion
control industry.
The Earth and I, by
US environmentalist, Dr Glen Barry looks
at critical environmental issues and provides
a blueprint for urgent environmental reform.
Dr David Alan Goodman, of Newport Neuroscience
Center, in San Marcos, California reports
on a comprehensive 20 + year study on brain
sciences, particularly biorhythms and dreams,
with this new area of study now called Chronomics.
THE NEW WORLD VIEW EMERGING FROM MENTAL
SCIENCE --2005 TO 2035:
IMPACTS VIEWED 30 YEARS FOLLOWING A NEUROSCIENCE
REVOLUTION looks at the cyclical nature
of human history, following an enormous
volume of research spanning 29 years.
Finally, at a Keynote
Address at the Australian National Press
Club November 23, 2005, Tim Costello, leading
philanthropist, and CEO of World Vision
Australia, looks at the implications of
proposed 'Anti terrorism laws' in Australia,
and how they may affect basic human rights
of all, but particularly the rights of Australian
ethnic or cultural minorities, in a paper
entitled TERRORIST THREAT TO POLITICAL LEADERSHIP.
While the MEJB will
focus on a range of mainstream business
topics, IJEHS will focus on futures - both
human and economic. Chief Editor of IJEHS
is Dr Mike Ellis, Convenor of the Centre
for Change, and Founder of the Medical Renaissance
group. Mike is a medical doctor with a passionate
interest in the promotion of Wellness.
We encourage you to
contribute your original articles for both
journals and thank those luminaries who
have shared their visions with us in 2005.
We wish all readers a peaceful and productive
2006.
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