understanding opportunity and risk

minimising future risk       creating sustainable advantage       creating opportunity

A REMARKABLE THING March, 2009

Flying from a business location in a warm country back to the wet and windy UK is always an experience. Take yesterday for example (Friday the 13th of all dates). I flew from Madrid to London. I noticed quite strongly, from the vantage point high in the sky, just how parched the Spanish countryside was, how flat in some places, yet in others undulating in rhythm, building to great mountains ... yet all with something in common, their desperate need for water. Truly it must be much worse in many other areas of the world, but as no one has invited to me to those areas of the world, I only have research to go on.

The need for water is great. In the next 5-10 years, the need for water will become intense - so much so that in some regions of the world will be THE deciding factor directly relating to viability. The thing is ... just who is taking this grave issue seriously? Not many governments it would seem. They can hide the rising problem under the proverbial carpet as much as they like - but the problem of fresh water supply isn't exactly going to to away, is it? In reality because of a number of factors...  it's going to become worse. In reality the supply of fresh water is set to become the one focal point to define overall regional commercial viability and economic sustainability

But who really is taking the situation seriously?

Many are saying fine words. So few are doing things more than speaking such fine words.

Flying from Madrid to London was a remarkable thing ... if one cared to notice, although many were asleep - a true and honest testament to the current understanding of mankind.

From the ground, Spain was clear, confident, ambitious. The people were open and friendly, and refreshingly professional. From the air, Spain seemed parched, dry, with a light dusting of rural villages to break the ripples of tectonic plate and erosion induced land. Once past the snow capped Pyrenees and over the Bay of Biscay, the flight plan took me over the north Atlantic but still very much in sight of land - and indeed, that land was France. From my vantage point this seemed more lush and fertile than the baked land of Spain (although I may have been wrong and it just seemed that way from several thousand feet in the air), with a greater concentration of towns and villages, especially around the coast. The long sweeping arcs of beach sand were pleasurable to behold.

From Spain through to France all was encased in brilliant sunlight.

And then across the great curves of headland that is northern France, heading northward to the UK. Strange as it is, as soon as we flew over the VERY first UK coastline, making out those famous white cliffs that took tens of millions of years to produce and then rise up from the seas, cloud began to form. Within a short space of time, really, as soon as we reached the UK, there was thick grey cloud. All else in the world seemed encased in sunlight ... but not the UK. Oh no. But those of us who live here know that already, don't we?

On the coast, through the cracks in the cloud cover could be seen dense conurbations. These were not the sparse villages of Spain or the distinct towns of coastal France. In the UK these were blossoming cities bustling with people and activity, a haven for a quite incredible combination of the worlds far flung population in every shape, guise and culture - all there to make a better life for their families ... just made out beneath the cloud cover ... along with fields of bright green, vibrant, alive, productive. As we swept away from the coast, the cloud cover became too great to see through as if to shield either ourselves or the land beneath in a definite shroud of secrecy, of tempting curiosity and adventure.

And then, as the engines decreased their drone, we dropped through the layer of cloud to emerge over London. Quite the opposite to the pace and scenery of pleasant Spain and France, London was a stark industrial and vast residential landscape. Yet ... with a vibrancy and life no credit crunch could squeeze. And to my surprise the many non-UK people on the flight seemed genuinely excited to be approaching Heathrow. To be honest, I couldn't understand why. After the colour of Spain, London seemed ... well, grey beneath the cloud.

But ... that was the point, wasn't it?

We all take for granted that which we know so well - whether this be personal relationships or entire countries. And in many cases this indeed leads to our downfall. After all no one or no thing wants to be taken for granted. Places like London have a lot going for them. They are the hubs of global activity - the power houses of commerce and global integration. It's easy to be swayed by people denigrating such cities. Forget about these people. If they were to be believed then for sure the world would be at an end. Yet we know it isn't.

It is only when we look beneath the surface do we recognise that which is wonderful and worthwhile - that which is worth understanding, protecting ... and in some instances, worth fighting for against the parasites who seek only to destroy for their own ends.

Without a doubt we take too much for granted. And unless we realise how important some areas of life actually are ... we are bound to lose them forever. It's a bit like coming back to London. Previously I had mainly seen the harshness of city life combined with the even greater harshness of the credit crunch financial hardship. Yet now ... because of the interest of those who were anonymous foreigners to me ... I could see London for what it was - a lively place, full of entrepreneurial spirit, full of hope in spite of the doom and gloom predictions. It is places like this that will spur on the global economy. The world needs London.

This is something none of us should take for granted. I have no doubt your city, your country has as much to offer. Think about it. It is worthwhile seeing through the surrounding gloom to once more re-acquaint ourselves with that which is ... special. In a world of unremitting pressures we need to see more often the bright light of hope. We who are better than the destructive parasites have to believe in something better than the grey skies, we need the dream, we need to understand the grass is not always greener on the other side ... and work towards creating the reality of that something better ... together.

No one will do it for us. In the darkness and in the gloom we need to find one another. And we need to band together whomsoever we may be, where ever in the world we may be, to work unceasingly towards a greater future.

Regards

JS

If you don't understand the risks, how can you prepare? Can you afford to let the issues be blurred?

The turbulent 21st century

life isn't black and white

central@alt3.co.uk