Friday Five

Meryl Streep’s greatest success?

2012-03-02T07:11:00.000-08:00

Quote

“In Hollywood a girl's virtue is much less important thanher hairdo. You're judged by how you look, not by what you are. Hollywood's aplace where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss, and fifty cents foryour soul." Marilyn Monroe

News

Meryl Streep is a major success by anyone’s standards. Theversatile and gifted character actor has been nominated for a record number ofGolden Globes and Academy Awards; she won her third Oscar on Sunday for herportrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

Success is defined in different ways in different culturesand professions; in the world of entertainment, talent, professionalism, luck,determination and teamwork are all contributing factors. In Meryl Streep’sacceptance speech, it was clear she valued one thing above all others in hersuccess both on and off the stage.

Unlike many speeches at the Oscars, it was not a diplomaticlist of credits and tributes; she only thanked two people by name. Firstly Don Gummer, her husband of 33 years,to whom she said, “I want [you] to know that everything I value most in ourlives you’ve given me.” Then shecredited her professional colleague, hair stylist and makeup artist RoyHelland, for working with her for 37 years, including every single film fromSophie’s Choice in 1982 (for which she won her second Oscar) to the Iron Lady(for which Helland won his first).

Amid the rivalry, glitz and superficiality of Hollywood,Meryl Streep is an example of someone who is committed to continuity inrelationships over the long haul. The fruit of this in professionalaccomplishment and in a deeply fulfilled family life were eloquentlydemonstrated in her acceptance speech. That’s not something one expects to seeon Oscar night.

Read on

What does it take to build and maintain personal orprofessional relationships over the long haul? One essential ingredient is friendship. Read the chapter entitled “Friends” in the R Option by Michael Schluterand David Lee here.

Walk the talk
Is there someone who has worked for you over a long period, but who gets lesscredit than you do for what you accomplish together? Why not find a way of honouring thempublicly for their unique contribution to the success of the venture?

Last word

From the Bible: Proverbs 18 verse 24, “A man of manycompanions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than abrother.”

Public services and private companies ~ two worlds or one?

2012-02-24T09:50:00.000-08:00

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“It is easy to get a thousand prescriptions but hard to get one single remedy.” Chinese Proverb

News
Government reforms in health and education are provoking a sharp debate in Britain when private sector companies start running public services. Although this has been going on for some time (e.g. most GP practices are independent partnerships), the NHS hospital at Hinchingbrook and several new state-funded Free Schools are now being run by private companies.

The classic arguments are that businesses are out to make profits while public sector organisations provide services to everyone, irrespective of users’ ability to pay; these are two different worlds and no one should profit from running public services. Proponents of reform argue that private companies are more efficient, and that savings to the taxpayer more than outweigh any profit made by shareholders.

The assumptions that private companies are only out to make a profit, and public sector organisations are always inefficient, both need challenging. Being profitable and providing good services to customers are not mutually exclusive goals; indeed, to earn a profit year after year requires meeting customers’ needs and delivering value for money; this is not to deny the risk that private enterprise can err on the side of greed.

In contrast, public services are less responsive to the needs of their end users precisely because those users are not paying customers. Although many working for public sector organisations have a strong social ethos, it’s easy for the interests of staff and the demands of governments to come first. A target culture and mountains of customer complaints seem to be the inevitable result.

It is in everyone’s interest that public sector reforms reduce inefficiency without compromising on access for the most vulnerable, the range of services available and fair pay and conditions for staff. Crucial to the outcomes of the whole system are the relationships between the people who commission public services, those who provide them and people who use them. Reforms need to reduce the relational distance between these three groups, and the long term success of using private companies may hinge on whether they maintain a collaborative commitment to the health or education system as a whole.

If that is so, perhaps we can have the best of both worlds after all.

Read on:
Another approach to bridging the gap between profit and public service is social enterprise. Charles Leadbeater is a leading writer and communicator who understands the importance of relationships to public services. Read his paper on social enterprise and its role in public service innovation here.

Walk the talk:
Are any government reforms affecting public services in your community? Look carefully at the changes being proposed and consider how they might affect the three key relationships involved in public service provision. On this basis, how effective might the reforms be?

Verse:
From the Bible, Mark chapter 10 verse 45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Redefining marriage: what is at stake?

2012-02-17T03:39:00.000-08:00

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“Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can'tsleep with the window shut, and a woman who can't sleep with the window open.”George Bernard Shaw

News

While national Marriage Week was celebrated in 18countries last week, the governor of Washington state signed a bill legalisingsame-sex marriages. Meanwhile, the British government is preparing to launch aconsultation next month on redefining marriage to allow same-sex couples towed.

Those supporting the change in legal definition arguethat it’s an equality issue. Any society committed to ending discriminationmust not only allow same-sex couples the same legal rights as heterosexualcouples (which already exist in civil partnerships legislation), but should doaway with religious restrictions on gay marriage too.

On the other hand, those opposing the redefinition ofmarriage agree that politicians should ensure minorities are not discriminatedagainst, but it is not their job to redefine a centuries old institution thathas its roots in the church, nor to pass laws forcing faith groups to actagainst their beliefs.

Moral, religious and cultural arguments are being made tosupport the traditional view of marriage, but in public debate, the benefit ofheterosexual marriage to society in the long term must be demonstrated.

Two arguments stand out. A sustainable society requireseach generation to ensure the best possible outcomes for their children.Research studies overwhelmingly conclude that a stable domestic relationshipbetween the biological parents of a child outperforms every other familystructure in terms of health, emotional and financial outcomes for theirchildren. Any change in law that further weakens this gold standard ofheterosexual marriage for family formation and child development will lead topoorer prospects for children and the next generation.

Secondly, the way that men and women relate toeach other is crucial to personal, family and society’s wellbeing. Competitiveor coercive gender relationships have led to incalculable suffering over theyears; but this problem is not solved by promoting gender uniformity (which isbehind the campaign for same-sex marriages). Instead, the structure which bestencourages interdependent relations between the genders needs strengthening;society calls this marriage. Redefining it for the sake of the few could bringrelational suffering to the many; is it worth the risk?

Read on...

“Gender cooperation: some implications of God’sdesign for society” is a Cambridge Paper by Michael and Auriel Schluter, whichexplores some of the challenges of influencing gender relationships. Read thisinsightful paper here.

Walk the talk

Gender roles and relationships are stereotypedto the n-th degree, but each one of us can still choose how to relate to theopposite sex; do you have any relationships that need to be shifted from acompetitive towards a more complementary basis?

The last word

From the Bible, Genesis chapter 2 verse 24: “Forthis reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,and the two will become one flesh.”

Queen and Country

2012-02-10T03:42:00.000-08:00

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“Themonarchy is so extraordinarily useful. When Britain wins a battle she shouts,"God save the Queen"; when she loses, she votes down the primeminister.” Sir Winston Churchill

News

Sixtyyears ago on Monday, Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne, aged just25. She had learned the values of “diligence, duty, dignity, andcompassion” from her father’s wartime leadership, and from her own vibrantChristian faith. In the intervening years, the 40th monarch since Williamthe Conqueror has served her country and the Commonwealth tirelessly, not leastby opening parliament 58 times, making 261 overseas visits, holding weeklyaudiences with her prime ministers (from Churchill to Cameron), signing 3,500acts of parliament and answering 3.5 million letters.

Thefuture of the monarchy is a topic of lively debate, with political, financialand ethical arguments being made both for and against. But what about therelational impact of Queen Elizabeth’s reign? One reason for herpopularity with the public are her “walkabouts”,which she first began during a visit to New Zealand in 1970. Shehabitually takes time to converse with ordinary well-wishers, not just theelites and dignitaries lined up to meet her. However, she has never givenan interview to a journalist, suggesting that she wants to relate to hersubjects directly and personally, rather than risking the more unpredictable,indirect route offered by the media.

Asignificant role played by the Queen is to provide support to politicalleaders. She has been a confidant to numerous Commonwealth leaders overthe years, and particularly to the incumbent British prime minister, who has anaudience with her on Tuesday evenings. The Queen’s position as unelectedhead of state for life frees her from the pressures of having to defend herrole. But neither does she yield to complacency; her extensive knowledgeof government affairs is gained by her meticulous reading of state papers (inDowning street she is known as “Reader Number One”).

Inhis new biography on the Queen, political journalist Andrew Marr talks aboutthe “humility of the hereditary”: precisely because the Queen cannot claim tohold her position through some meritocratic scramble, she is humble. However, others who are blessed by similar advantages of birth can end uparrogant, remote and dictatorial. It is to the Queen’s credit that shehas chosen to put service of others and of her country ahead of personalaggrandisement and reward. Britain would be a lot better off if leadersin industry and politics were more consistent in doing likewise.

Read on…

JohnMilton published a tract in 1660, warning of the dangers of re-establishing themonarchy in Britain following the Commonwealth period; he argued that aprofligate king would be an economic burden, and restrict both freedom andvirtue in the land. The constitutional monarchy we have ended up with inBritain has largely avoided these dangers due, in part, to the warnings ofMilton and others. Read his “Free Commonwealth” pamphlet here.

Walk thetalk

Organisationalleadership comes by merit and is exercised through the structures of theorganisation; relational leadership is ascribed to us by others, based on ourcharacter and patterns of behaviour. What one lesson might you draw fromthe Queen’s example?

The lastword

Fromthe Bible, Mark 10, verse 42-45: “Jesus called them together and said, ‘Youknow that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you.Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, andwhoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Mandid not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom formany.’ ”

Public honours - to what end?

2012-02-03T03:42:00.000-08:00

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“Honour sinks where commerce longprevails.” Oliver Goldsmith, writer and poet (1730-74)

News

The system of awarding public honours in theUnited Kingdom has been under scrutiny this week following the decision tostrip (Sir) Fred Goodwin of his knighthood. Under his leadership, RoyalBank of Scotland (RBS) was propelled from a provincial lender to, briefly in2008, the largest company in the world with assets 1.4 times larger than the UKeconomy, before the state had to intervene to prevent the bank fromcollapsing. In 2004 the Labour government recommended this electrician’sson-turned global financier for a knighthood for services to banking.

However, following the £45 billion taxpayerrescue of RBS, Fred Goodwin has been viewed in a different light – as one ofthe perpetrators of the credit crunch and global financial crisis. Thecontrolling management style and ruthless cost-cutting methods of ‘Fred theShred’ made him unpopular with employees. More recently, the media havesought to make him a scapegoat to blame for the looming recession.

Whatever the ethics of stripping someone of apublic honour, (when that person has not been convicted of a criminal offence –normally the main reason for such decisions), the honours system is currentlyin the spotlight. There are typically three types of recipient:‘establishment figures’, such as senior civil servants, politicians and royalaides; second, lesser known people who have made an exemplary contribution tosociety, and lastly, those whose achievements in sport, business or the artshave enriched the nation in diverse ways.

The honours system may arguably pursue twodifferent goals. The first is to recognise and reward those who haveconsistently served or inspired others, motivated by duty, compassion orbravery in a spirit of self-sacrifice (and this group can include both thefamous and the unknown). The second echoes the old ways of politicalpatronage, and is used by the governing elite to reward the loyalty and supportof the wealthy and powerful.

Although there is an appropriate time tohonour those who govern or lead well, honouring the powerful is more likely toincrease the relational distance between the elite and the rest of society,which can easily turn sour. But a system based on commending the good andthe brave is likely to build a more relational society.

Read on…

A thoughtful Cambridge Paper by David McIlroylooks at how contemporary society views honour and shame generally, andcontrasts this with a Biblical and relational approach to the subject. Read it here.

Walk the talk

To seek honour is not wrong initself – it all depends on whom you seek it from and to what end. Whose attention are you seeking, and why? Let’s aimfor the honour that comes from serving othersselflessly.

The last word

From the Bible, Luke 16 verse 15:“Then he said to [the Pharisees], ‘You like to appear righteous in public, butGod knows your hearts. What this world honours is detestable in the sight ofGod.’ ”

Romans 13 verse 7: “Give everyonewhat you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; ifrespect, then respect; if honour, then honour.”

Which way from Davos?

2012-01-27T05:17:00.000-08:00

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“Governmentis like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and noresponsibility at the other.” Ronald Reagan

News

TheWorld Economic Forum’s annual meeting at Davos brings together global leaders,including 800 CEOs whose companies represent 25% of the world’s GDP. So it is perhaps surprising that one of the major topics of conversationthis week is pay differentials – a crucial indicator of how fair the economicsystem is. Despite the economic downturn, CEO salaries of top companiesare 145 times the average salary of their employees.

TheBBC’s Robert Peston says that rising inequality used to be accepted as anecessary price for growing prosperity during the boom years. Butsomething is badly wrong when salaries of top earners, whose high riskstrategies led to the financial crash of 2007-8, continue to spiral upwardswhen most people face years of stagnant wages (executive pay of the FTSE100companies rose by 49% last year, compared to just 1.5% for average UK workers).

Compoundingthe problem of inequality is large scale unemployment; across the EU, over 16million people are officially unemployed, 10% of the working population (thesefigures exclude those who want to work but are not registered). Governments are responsible for running the largest economic entity intheir country (called the public sector), but the actions they take (such asraising levels of taxation) to try and keep that “business” solvent are oftenat odds with what’s needed to encourage job creation in the private sector.

Atheart is the question, what is the purpose of the economic system? Is itabout maximising rates of growth (which assumes that the whole population willthereby be better off) or should it be about ensuring that every person ofworking age has the opportunity to earn a decent living for themselves andtheir dependents? Crudely speaking, do people serve the economic systemor does the economic system serve the people? The current form of globalcapitalism is geared towards maximising profits, but is failing society as awhole. Is there a road from Davos towards a more relational economicsystem?

Read on…

150kms to the west of Davos lies Ibach, home to a company famous for Swiss armyknives, which puts jobs first. This relational business has managed toavoid making anyone redundant for economic reasons for the last 80 years, andyet has survived several recessions to become a global brand. Read theVictorinox story here.

Walk the talk

Ourspending decisions usually reflect a trade-off between financial and relationalwealth. For example, buying something in the local store instead of anout of town supermarket will cost you more financially, but you becomerelationally more connected with people in your neighbourhood, and help keepsomeone employed locally. Next time you go shopping, why not practicetaking the relational costs or benefits into consideration, not only thefinancial ones?

The last word

From the Bible, Proverbs 28, verse 20: “Thetrustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick richeswill get into trouble.”

Germany’s dilemma

2012-01-20T17:52:00.000-08:00

Quote

“Thereis, in fact, no law or government at all in Italy; and it is wonderful howwell things go on without them.” LordByron

News

Italianprime minister Mario Monti pleaded with Germany and other creditor countriesthis week to do more to lower Italy’s unsustainable borrowing costs, not onlyto help prevent Italy defaulting on its debt but also to give someencouragement to Italians who are facing the brunt of austeritymeasures. As Europe's largest and healthiest economy, Germany isconfronted with a web of dilemmas. Like Hercules slaying the Hydra, forevery potential solution to the debt crisis, two more problems are poised tospring up.

Thecrisis has been argued from legal, economic, political and moral angles. Forexample, legally, the terms of the Maastricht Treaty prevent Germany frombailing Italy out; economically, Germany might be able to increase thefirepower of the European Financial Stability Facility to the point of coveringItaly’s debts, but not those of the other Eurozone nations whose debt crisesare also threatening the euro. Politically, many in Germany resistthrowing good money after bad and encouraging governments that are lessdisciplined than their own. From a moral perspective, it could be arguedthat as Germany encouraged the peripheral European countries to join the euro adecade ago, and has since trebled its exports to the Eurozone, it has a moralduty to stand by its southern partners.

Ultimately,each of these perspectives is relational, for they describe and influence howpeople, institutions and nations interact with each other. The EU began as theEEC – the European Economic Community – but has moved towards an ever closerpolitical and social union. This shifts the nature of relationshipbetween member states from contractual towards covenantal – a much deeperbinding of two parties together for better, for worse.

Perhaps the heart of Germany's dilemma is not about the euro, debts orinterest rates. Twenty years ago the West Germans pursued a relationalgoal – the reunification of their country – at any price financially. Thedilemma now hinges on understanding the nature of their relationship withfellow members of the Eurozone. Is it a covenant, which will promote thelong term peace and stability of the relationship at any cost, or somethingmuch more conditional? The future of the Eurozone may well hinge on theanswer to that question.

Read on…

Forthose of you who have not studied economics, and feel a bit lost in the arguments,a good place to learn about some of the main principles and laws as they applyto current affairs can be found in the ‘Economics Help’ blog, which you canread here.

Walk the talk

Sometimeswe're tempted to use a financial argument as an excuse to end a difficultor strained relationship. "We couldn't afford to keep her on,"or "You're just not paying your way." Money should always bemade to serve relationships, not the other way round. Is there anysituation where you need to correct your priorities?

The last word

Fromthe Bible, Luke 12, verse 34: "For where your treasure is, there yourheart will be also."

The Big Issue and two-dimensional poverty

2012-01-13T17:54:00.000-08:00

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“Wethink sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. Thepoverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatestpoverty.” Mother Teresa

News

Just before Christmas researchers at Sheffield University reportedthat homeless men in Britain have an average life expectancy of 47, and womenjust 43. Although drug and alcohol abuse is a major factor contributingto homelessness and premature death, there are many other reasons for peopleexperiencing short- or long-term homelessness.

Variousinitiatives in higher income countries have sought to alleviate the plight ofhomeless people, one of the most prominent being street papers such as The BigIssue. These news, arts and culture magazines are distributedthrough street vendors, who have to be homeless in order to sell them. They purchase the magazine for half the cover price and go on to earn the otherhalf from as many copies as they sell. Launched in 1991, the Big Issuehas helped inspire an international network of street papers with over 100publications in 40 countries; over 200,000 homeless people have benefitted fromthe training, encouragement and support provided by the organisations behindthese papers.

Itis the possibility of earning their own income and not being dependent onhandouts (or worse, petty theft) which motivates most vendors to stand onstreet corners in all weathers. The venture has the potential toalleviate poverty in two dimensions, both financial and relational. Theprocess of becoming homeless usually involves some form of relationalbreakdown, and people are more likely to suffer rejection and abuse oncehomeless – not least from others in the same situation. Living on thestreet is relationally complex; homeless people lack the relative security oftheir own home, often rootless, and uncertain how far (if at all) to trustothers.

Becominga street vendor can help such people regain a measure of dignity and respect,and passers-by have the power to accelerate or hinder that process. If peoplewho do have somewhere to call home ignore street paper vendors or treat themwith disdain, then they contribute to the relational poverty experienced by thehomeless. Such people have often fallen through the safety net of thestate welfare system, and so the responses of individuals – in buying streetpapers and showing kindness to vendors – can go a long way towards creating amore relational society.

Read on…

Anarticle in yesterday’s New York Times called for a rethink in how poverty istackled in the US, citing the work of LIFT, an organisation recognising therelational dimension of poverty and responding accordingly. Read thearticle here.

Walk the talk

Doyou know of any people selling street papers in your town? If so, why notgo out of your way this week to buy a copy of The Big Issue or other title, andmake a point of looking the person in the eye, calling them by their name(written on their ID badge), and sharing a word of encouragement or kindness.

The last word

Fromthe Bible, James 2:2-4 ‘Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a goldring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If youshow special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a goodseat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floorby my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges withevil thoughts?’

European identity and the poet-president

2012-01-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

Quote
“Heaven in Europe is a place where the British are the policemen, the Frenchare the cooks, the Germans are the mechanics, the Italians are the lovers andthe Swiss run the place. And hell is where the British are the cooks, theFrench are the mechanics, the Germans are the policemen, the Swiss are thelovers and the Italians run the place.” Anonymous.

News

Europehas entered 2012 on a bleak note: Chancellor Merkel declared the road torecovery will be long and fraught with setbacks, and president Sarkozy said thecrisis is the worst since the second world war. The debt debacle acrosssouthern Europe rages unabated, and other countries round the world areresigning themselves to being dragged into recession by Europe’s demise.

TheEuropean project hinges on the strength of trust, solidarity and mutualcommitment between the member countries, especially in the Eurozone. Knittingtogether these diverse nation states is one thing during a time of prosperity,or when faced with a common external or historical enemy. But when adversitycomes not from outside but stems from within, for example from very differentattitudes to work, retirement, debt and public borrowing, are the relationshipsstrong enough to weather the storm?

Thepoet-cum-president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, who died just beforeChristmas, understood that nations, like individuals, need to be confident oftheir identity, purpose and role in the wider world in order to deal maturelywith others. Referring to Russia’s attitude to NATO enlargement ten yearsago, Havel said, “If I do not know who I am, who I want to be, what I want toachieve, where I begin and where I end, my relations with those around me, andwith the rest of the world, will inevitably be tense, full of suspicion andburdened by an inferiority complex that may be hidden behind pompous bravado.”

Perhapstoday Havel would be asking whether the Eurozone countries have sufficientshared culture and commitment to make a single currency work in the longrun. Unity in Europe cannot be brought about mechanically, by adopting acommon set of fiscal rules and harmonising EU law. Ultimately it can onlywork when the majority of people in each member state are more committed to ashared European identity – recognising the benefits of diversity within that –than to their separate national identities. This is a far cry from theway countries such as the UK see things today. Without this, the EU isonly held together by mutual self-interest, which at a time like this is invery short supply.

Read on

Thearguments for and against a common European currency, and how monetary unioncan only work in the long run with political union, were laid out in aCambridge Paper by Paul Mills and Michael Schluter back in 1998. You canread this timely perspective from two Christian economists here.

Walk thetalk

Personallyor corporately, how deep is our sense of identity, and how do any weaknessesplay out? Consider what you might do in order to celebrate your personal,family or community’s identity and thereby deepen your maturity.

The lastword
From the Bible, John chapter 13 verse 3-4, “Jesus knew that the Father had putall things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning toGod; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped atowel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began towash his disciples' feet…”

Narratives and the Nativity

2011-12-23T03:45:00.001-08:00

Quote
“I am not struck so much by the diversity of testimony asby the many-sidedness of truth.” StanleyBaldwin, three times British Prime Minister.

News

DavidCameron’s speech on the 400^th anniversary of the King James Bible inOxford last weekend, in which he stated that Britain was still a Christiancountry, was met with a predictably wide range of responses and comments.

"I was surprised that he put his viewsso forcefully, it was an interesting political angle,” stated an Anglicanvicar. The President of the NationalSecular Society responded, “Mr Cameron's promotion of faith for other peoplewhen his own is so wishy-washy is typical of a politician who thinks religionis a useful means of social control.” But a member of the Muslim Council of Britain declared enthusiastically,"It's very seldom I get excited by what our prime minister has to say andthis is one of those times.”

Newsworthyevents – especially those with political implications – can be reported inquite different ways depending on the purpose and viewpoint of thewriter. Take the two different accounts of the Nativity in the NewTestament – one written by Matthew (Jewish, used to work in the financeindustry), and the other by Luke (Greek doctor-cum-historian). Each told the story from a different angle,and their prudent editing reflected the audience they wrote for.

Matthewrecounts the events for Jewish people to convince them that Jesus is indeedtheir Messiah-king, descended from King David and whose birth fulfils variousOld Testament prophecies. But Matthew’sinclusion of the Magi’s visit and Herod’s massacre of infants in Bethlehemunderlines the radical political consequences of this. The child born in Bethlehem had come toestablish a kingdom, allegiance to which would challenge and supersede loyaltyto any political authority on earth – especially the Roman Empire, who would laterput Christians to death by their thousands.

Luke,on the other hand, writes for a non-Jewish audience – people from a diversityof races, cultures and backgrounds – showing that this Son of God was born forthe whole world, a universal saviour. Luke’s account reveals the radical social consequences of the Nativity:the story is told from Mary’s point of view and gives prominence to two other women– Elizabeth and Anna. Then he introducesthe shepherds – social outcasts – as the first people to be told of the birthof Jesus, and through the old man Simeon he declares the child to be “a lightto the Gentiles”. Luke thus introduces theinfant Jesus in a way that starts to level out the deep social inequalities ofthe time based on gender, class, wealth and ethnicity.

Atone level the Nativity is a story that any child can understand and marvelat. At another, it heralds a seismic shiftin the relationship between God and the human race, and between people of everystatus and creed. David Cameron spoke ofthe historical influence of the Christian faith on British culture, but thisstory is not over. Its power totransform hearts and relationships, and in turn the political and social order,has much life in it yet.

Read on

Thefull text of David Cameron’s speech about the influence of the King James Bibleon English language, politics and society, can be read here.

Walk thetalk

Asyou celebrate Christmas this weekend, why not take the opportunity to discussthe more subversive implications of the Nativity story with someone you aresharing the celebration with?

The lastword
From the King James Bible, Luke 1, verses 52-53, Mary declares about God, “Hehath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. Hehath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.”

‘Occupy’ demonstrations and the dangers of inequality

2011-12-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

Quote
“The love of property and consciousness of right and wrong have conflictingplaces in our organization, which often makes a man's course seem crooked, hisconduct a riddle.” Abraham Lincoln

News

TheHigh Pay Commission published its long awaited report last week after a year ofresearch into executive remuneration in the UK. Chairperson Deborah Hargreaves stated, “There's acrisis at the top of British business… When pay for senior executives is set behindclosed doors, does not reflect company success and is fuelling massiveinequality it represents a deep malaise at the very top of our society.”

Thatmalaise is being expressed visibly by the Occupy movement, whose tent cities inMadrid, New York, London, Rome and other financial centres are bracing forwinter. Inequality is the key issue, andcampaigners in the US rally under the banner, “We are the 99%”. At the heart of their protests is the senseof injustice that top executives, especially in the financial sector, have seentheir salaries rise substantially over the last 3 years, while the vastmajority of the working population face falling real incomes in an era ofausterity.

Notonly is income distribution becoming more unequal, even greater inequalityexists in asset ownership. The top 1% ofAmericans now own 37% of the nation’s wealth; the bottom 80% own just 15% - andthe gap has widened more rapidly in the last 3 years than it has for decades.

TheOccupy movement demonstrates that trust in business elites is in sharp decline;no longer is it assumed that their wealth generating talents and entrepreneurialskills will benefit the wider population. Something has gone badly wrong with Capitalism, but the search foralternatives struggles to move beyond a call for more regulation, taxation andred tape.

Capitalisteconomics is primarily about generating a return on capital; what might a more relationaleconomy look like? Drawing its inspirationfrom the Judeo-Christian ethical tradition, ‘Relational Thinking’ understands allfinancial decisions to be expressions of relationships – for example betweenbuyer and seller, lender and borrower, employer and employee, taxpayer and government. Ensuring these relationships are close, fairand lasting is essential to a successful economy; rising inequality is a signthat they are moving in the opposite direction.

Theclamour against financial injustice is growing globally; in the quest for waysto recover values and agree a moral framework for markets, the concept and languageof relationships offers a fresh perspective. The challenge is to incorporate relational values into the structuresand working practices of organisations; reducing the accountability gap betweencapital providers and users and between company board members and their lowestpaid staff is a good place to begin.

Read on

‘TransformingCapitalism from Within’ by Jonathan Rushworth and Michael Schluter sets out analternative, relational approach to the purpose, performance and assessment ofcompanies. This report proposesfar-reaching reforms as to how companiescould operate as ‘Relational communities’ in a sustainable and profitable way,rather than as vehicles within which all parties compete for short-termfinancial gain. Read theexecutive summary here.

Walk thetalk

Everytime you make a financial transaction over the next week, pause first to thinkabout the relationship inherent in the matter; is there anything you might dodifferently to make that relationship closer, fairer or more long-lasting?

The last word
From the Bible, Luke chapter 12, verse 56: “You know how to interpret the appearance of the earthand the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?”

China’s children count the cost

2011-11-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

Quote
“If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by ourinstitutions, great is our sin.” Charles Darwin

News

Thenumber of children in China left behind by their migrant worker parents issimilar to the entire population of Italy. China’s economic powerhousehas led to the amassing of vast foreign currency reserves (enough to buyItaly’s national debt twice over), but what are the true costs of this growthrate, and how sustainable is it?

Theplight of the ‘left behind children’ tells another side of the story. There are 242 million migrant workers in China’s cities, but the parents amongthem have left 58 million children home alone in rural areas. 69% ofthese children stay with their grandparents, 24% live with one parent, 4% arecared for by other relatives, while the remaining 3% (1.5 million children) areleft to fend for themselves.

Researchersat the Chinese Academy of Sciences state that the left behind children’seducation, mental health and character development all suffer from a lack ofparental involvement, attention and affection. These children are alsoexpected to help with farm work, and in caring for the elderly. Remittances sent back to villages do bring a measure of rural development, butin the long term the relational cost may outweigh the economic benefits.

Amajor problem is the hukow system of household registration, which makesit very difficult for migrant families to register in cities and becomeeligible for public housing or education. Effectively, the policy ofmaximising economic growth has driven a wedge between urban residents andmigrant workers, who are viewed more as human capital than members of thegrowing community.

Moredamaging though is the tendency for rapid growth to weaken the informal, familybased welfare system which cares for the old, the sick, those out of work andchildren. Sustainable economic growth can only be ensured by keepingsocial overheads low, which depends on family welfare structures remainingviable; otherwise the burden of welfare has to be taken over by the government,leading to higher taxes and reduced competitiveness.

Onein four rural Chinese children are currently ‘left behind’; if the relationalcosts of massive migration are not properly considered, and economic growthslowed down to a socially sustainable level, then China will end up with deepeconomic as well as social problems in 20 years from now.

Read on

RelationshipsGlobal has just released its most significant report to date on the impact ofaid and development policy on family relationships. Download “Moving theGoalposts: moving the family to the heart of development strategy” here, and read Chapter 7on Migration (pages 42-48).

Walk thetalk

Workusually takes us away from home, but for most people that is only on a dailybasis; if you are considering longer trips away from home, or even migration toanother country for economic reasons, have you factored in not only the shortterm pain of separation, but the long term relational consequences that mightarise?

The lastword
From the Bible, 2 Corinthians 12:14 “Children shouldn't have to provide fortheir parents, but parents should provide for their children.”

Nuclear waste – whose problem?

2011-11-11T03:51:00.000-08:00

Quote
“The key to disposing of high-level nuclear waste appears to be not technology,or terrain – but trust.” Richard Black, BBC Environment Correspondent.

News

AHigh Court appeal by residents of a small village in Northamptonshire againstthe decision to allow radioactive waste to be dumped near their village wasrejected last week. This follows a two year battle during which communitygroups resisted plans by a large corporate, Augean, to bury rubble fromdecommissioned nuclear power plants.

The company claims they have ‘followedclosely the standards set by law and the guidance of the Environment Agency andthe Health Protection Agency to ensure that the proposals will be safe.’ However, the local community takes a different view and has published a convincingset of arguments that the long term risks are higher than the company claims.The dispute may have been settled in the High Court, but it is far fromresolved at the relational level.

Thesuccess of this initiative requires a high degree of trust between the parties.It is not enough for the company to argue compliance with various health andsafety standards set by remote national agencies. Residents have goodreason to doubt the value of such guarantees, especially when the governmenthas an interest in increasing the national capacity for nuclear wastedisposal. The local community needs assurance that Augean is notonly seeking a profit for shareholders, but takes into account the needs ofother stakeholders. Unfortunately, most big business simply doesn’t workthat way.

Trustis built relationally; company executives must make time for ongoing dialoguewith community leaders face to face, listen carefully to their specificconcerns, make appropriate concessions, and adapt their proposals accordingly. And not only to gain the initial approval.

Thebenefits of the nuclear industry are reaped by the whole nation, in that itpermits cheap, clean energy to be generated. The risks, however, areborne disproportionately by the communities around the power stations, near thewaste disposal sites, and on the transport routes in between. The government needs to earn the trust oflocal communities by allocating sufficient resources to ensure safety ofradioactive waste.

Itis only when the nuclear industry, the government and local communities agreeon the balance between public interest and local safety that the relationshipswill be in place for a successful national nuclear industry.

Read on

InCumbria, a partnership of local councils and community organisations isproviding a good example of more positive relationships between community andgovernment in decision making over the disposal of radioactive waste. Read an article likening this to Finland, where trust is seen as the key factorin decisions over nuclear waste, here.

Walk thetalk

Ittakes a well-developed sensitivity to justice to ensure that risks are spreadfairly between parties; in your sphere of responsibility, have you consideredwho bears the risk and who takes the rewards?

The lastword
From the Bible, Proverbs 29:7 “The righteous care about justice for the poor,but the wicked have no such concern.”

Three ways of valuing property

2011-11-04T03:52:00.000-07:00

Quote
"Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow oldwanting to get back to.” John Ed Pearce

News

The behaviour of the housingmarket in the UK is difficult to predict. Since the financial crisis of2008, prices have not fallen significantly, despite the lack of credit and asubdued market. Although demand continues to outstrip supply, the numberof new homes built last year was the lowest since 1949. First time buyersare still unable to get on the housing ladder, as the ratio of average firsthouse prices to earnings remains stubbornly high (currently 4.4 against a longterm trend of around 3.1).

This analysis of the housing market is an economic one; we arealso increasingly familiar with valuing a building environmentally, accordingto its energy efficiency. But there is a third way to value property –relationally.

High housing costs force many adults in their 20s and 30s to moveback in with their parents, requiring both generations to make big adjustmentsto living as an extended family. An increasing number of divorced couplesremain living in the same house, bringing its own set of relational tensions,not least for their children. Divorce also accounts for a large part ofthe demand for housing. Other families are trapped in rentedaccommodation, unable to afford their first home; the uncertainty this bringsputs additional pressure on relationships.

The 15 year boom in property prices up to 2008 in Britain led to adowngrading of the value of houses as homes – providing a sense of stability,belonging and identity. Instead, houses ‘crossed the sacred barrierbetween home and capital,’ which helped fuel the nation’s fatal addiction todebt.

It may take a generation to correct the current economicimbalances in the property market; however, the relational value of propertycan be rebuilt now by designing homes and living spaces which are not onlyenvironmentally sustainable, but which foster good relationships. Avoiding anti-relational architecture such as high rise blocks, and creatingmulti-generational dwellings, more communal spaces, granny flats and otherinitiatives can help reduce the relational distance between generations,neighbours and across the wider community.

It’s time to think relationally about housing.

Readon

‘The R Option’ by Michael Schluter and David Lee explores ways todevelop a relational lifestyle at home and work. Read the chapter onRoots here.

Walkthe talk

How relational is your own thinking about property? If youare considering moving house, or making changes to your present one, how mightyou increase the relational value of your home?

The last word
From the Bible, Isaiahchapter 5, verse 8: “Woe to you who add house to house and join field to fieldtill no space is left and you live alone in the land.”

A visual interlude

2011-10-28T03:56:00.000-07:00

FordMadox Brown was one of the Pre-Raphaelite painters who brought great detail andaccuracy into their works, exploring scenes from history, mythology or dailylife in Victorian Britain.

‘Work’is a complex painting Brown created over a 13 year period, depicting a group of“navvies” digging up a street near his studio in Hampstead. Surroundingthem is a variety of other characters, typical of London during the 1850s, whoillustrate widely different relationships with respect to work.

Thenavvies are heroic characters, working to create the infrastructure of modernBritain. Here they are installing piped water to the houses of northLondon for the first time, an advance which would reduce the incidence of bothcholera and alcoholism.

Onthe right of the scene are two men observing the manual work and conversingtogether. Brown sees the philosopher and the clergyman as “brainworkers”, who improve the lot of others through the power of their thinking andteaching. He modelled these two on Thomas Carlyle, whose book “Then andNow” inspired the painting, and Revd Maurice, who founded a college for workingmen where Brown used to teach.

Belowand behind them are people out of work – haymakers in search of a harvest,Irish immigrants displaced by the potato famine, and other itinerantagricultural labourers. As they shelter from the heat of the July sun,their lack of significance in the painting reflects their apparent worthlessnessin real life.

Thenthere are those who do not need to work for a living: a gentleman and hisdaughter out for a morning ride, who find their path inconveniently blocked; alady with a blue parasol on the left, concerned with keeping in fashion and ensuringher greyhound’s red jacket stays clean; another middle class woman behind heris distributing tracts for the temperance society.

Byplacing the gaggle of children and the ragged chickweed seller in theforeground, the artist emphasises the destitute who cannot work, or who lacksupportive relationships, and depend on their wits and the charity of others tosurvive in a cruel world.

Brown’sdecision to crowd so many characters of widely differing wealth and status intoone scene – in close relational proximity – reflects his strong socialconscience.

Astrue now as it was then, material wealth has to be created and stewarded,involving strength and wisdom and good judgment. But those attributesalone do not make a society great; that depends also on a society’s ability tocare for and include those who cannot work due to age, illness or lack ofeducation or opportunity – in a way that is both compassionate and just. As recession, unemployment and reduced welfare budgets loom large, we would dowell to contemplate Ford Madox Brown’s perspective on the world.

(Youcan explore the painting further by visiting the Manchester Art Gallery’sdedicated section on ‘Work’.)

One in a thousand

2011-10-21T02:00:00.000-07:00

Quote
"Everyoneis kneaded out of the same dough but not baked in the same oven.” YiddishProverb

News

The release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalitthis week in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners

was hailed as a triumph by Hamas, who heldShalit and negotiated the terms of release. It brings to 13,509 thenumber of Arab prisoners freed since 1957, in exchange for a total of 16captured Israeli soldiers – which equates to a ratio of around 800 to one.

On the Israeli side, feelings weremixed. Journalist Ari Shavit summed it up. "There are manyvery good reasons to oppose the deal for the release of Shalit. Theyinclude the fact that the deal is a surrender by Israel to terror; that it willspur Hamas... and empower extremists in the Arab world and in Palestine... Andyet there is one decisive reason to support the deal: Israeli solidarity;without this feeling there is no meaning to our lives here."

Theextraordinary terms of trade involved in the prisoner exchange indicate twowidely different valuations of human life. The Israelis sense ofsolidarity is so strong – of covenantal proportions – that they will pay farover the odds to release one of their own from captivity. On the otherside of the coin, though, is the implication that a Palestinian is worth just1,000^th of an Israeli. The danger is that this will bemanifested in other ways in the complex politics of Israel/Palestine, and leadto further injustice.

Readon

Thelatest Cambridge Paper by Julian Rivers touches on the same underlying issuesas it examines the new British equality law. It contrasts the biblicalconcept of equality with the prevailing cultural approach which marginalisesthe genuine differences of conscience between people, which are essential tohonest public debate. You can read this insightful paper here.

Walkthe talk

Howmuch do we allow notions of political correctness to stifle differentexpressions of belief or conscience in our office, home or school? Mightyou do something to encourage more honest airing of different viewpoints, andhold back the tendency to mock or pass immediate judgment on others who don’tappear to be politically quite correct?

Thelast word
Fromthe Bible, Galatians chapter 3:28 “In [Jesus] the distinctions between Jew andGentile, slave and free man, male and female, disappear; you are all one inChrist Jesus.”

Steve Jobs and the fruit of Apple

2011-10-07T01:59:00.000-07:00

Quote
"3Apples changed the world: 1st one seduced Eve, 2nd fell on Newton and the 3rdwas offered to the world half bitten by Steve Jobs." Posted onTwitter, 6^th October.

News

Theuntimely death of the digital generation’s maverick leader, Steve Jobs, ismourned all round the world by fans of his innovative genius. Since Jobstook back the helm of the Apple Corporation in 1997, millions of people havebecome owners of iPhones, iPods and iPads, as well as the latest Mac computers.

UnderJobs’ leadership, Apple’s products have become iconic. They combinecutting edge technology, style and ease of use with a brand that embodies thefreedom and individualism of the postmodern world. ‘iProducts’ are at theheart of the explosion of the internet, the mobile phone industry, andaffordable laptops which have created a digital generation connected acrossevery continent.

Socialnetworking (which includes texting and email along with social networkplatforms such as Facebook and Twitter) has brought unimaginable changes to thenumber of people we stay connected with, as well as the speed and convenienceof getting in touch.

Butthere are downsides of this technological revolution, especially the way it canchange the quality and nature of our relationships. As more and morecommunication is done via a smart phone or laptop, it can weaken people’sability to communicate and relate to others face to face. Also,maintaining more relationships means less time is available for each one.

Paradoxically,the technology which enables us to be ‘better connected’ can prevent us fromengaging in real-time relationships; the convenience of being contactable atall times can become the burden of constant availability; and the ease oftexting what we think and feel can weaken our face to face social skills andour ability to resolve conflict.

Solet us celebrate new technologies and learn to use them, but beware ofcaptivation by their beguiling possibilities and subtle demands.

Readon

MITresearcher Sherry Turkle recently published a book called “Alone in the crowd”,about how social networking is eroding our ability to live comfortablyoffline. Read a summary of her challenging findings with respect tointimacy, boundaries, conversational ability and other issues here.

Walkthe talk

Itis easy to be guilty of ‘presenteeism’ (being physically present but mentallyor emotionally absent) in our close relationships? Texting at mealtimes,glancing at the TV when in conversation, or thinking about work when your childis reading to you all weaken relationships. Is this a habit you need tochange?

Thelast word
Fromthe Bible, Proverbs 18:24: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, butthere is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Cameras on the road to Damascus

2011-09-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

Quote
“Knowledgeis power” – attributed to Francis Bacon;

“Alittle knowledge is a dangerous thing” – attributed to Alexander Pope.

News

TheUS Ambassador to Syria was pelted with tomatoes and eggs yesterday as he metwith an opposition leader in Damascus. Pro-government supportersexpressed anger towards the US Administration for comments which “encouragedarmed groups to attack the Syrian security forces”.

Earlierthis week a BBC reporter was one of the few foreign journalists to be allowedinto Syria since the protests began 6 months ago. She has not found anymembers of the public willing to speak critically of the government oncamera. However, other Syrians are secretly filming incidents anduploading them to the internet. “Our weapon is the camera” declared ayoung protester, “Our revolution must be live, on-line.”

Internationalreaction to the Syrian pro-democracy movement has been relatively muted, inpart due to the complexity of Middle East politics. However, the morethat human rights abuses are exposed in Syria, the stronger the moral argumentfor intervention.

Thequestion is, how are moral judgments – and therefore relationships – influencedby information? Control of the media is a vital strategy used by manyauthoritarian regimes in the Middle East and elsewhere, both to hide injusticesand to silence opposition voices. But that doesn’t mean that allunofficial videos are true and accurate either, for propaganda may be used byboth sides; critical awareness is vital.

Moraljudgments are easier the more black and white a situation appears, but peoplein public office must be careful to obtain accurate information before makingjudgments – even if it complicates the issue – as their decisions can haveprofound consequences on relationships. Thus the news media have atremendous responsibility to be accurate and impartial in their reporting, sopeople can make right judgments, and leaders conduct international relationswith justice.

Readon

ANew York Times blog weaves together a variety of national and internationalnews sources, including videos posted on the internet, to provide a morecomplete picture of what is happening around and behind news stories. Theentry about yesterday’s egg throwing incident can be read here.

Walkthe talk

Weoften make moral judgments based on information from third parties. Arethere any situations where you would be wiser to gather more accurate andimpartial information before making a decision, in order to reduce the risk oftreating someone unjustly?

Thelast word
Fromthe Bible, Proverbs 18:17 “The first to present his case seems right, tillanother comes forward and questions him.”

Unemployment: whose problem?

2011-09-16T07:28:00.000-07:00

Quote
“A man willing to work, and unable to find work, is perhaps the saddest sight that fortune's inequality exhibits under this sun.” Thomas Carlyle

News

Public sector job cuts in Britain reached a new record, as 111,000 people were laid off between April and June. Decisions to make people redundant are taken primarily on economic grounds, but the experience and impact of unemployment goes far beyond the economic realm. Being out of work carries huge relational costs. It puts stress on family and couple relationships through the loss of household income, uncertainty about the future, and in some cases from enforced role changes (e.g. when the woman works longer hours and the man has to carry more of the domestic and childcare work).

The stigma of unemployment brings psychological pressure, causing to a loss of self-esteem, depression and even suicide. In the long term it can lead to welfare dependency – particularly damaging for young people who are unable to build up their skills, or begin and provide for a family. Unemployment is isolating, leaving people with neither work colleagues nor the funds to socialise with salaried friends.

At the community level, the gap between those in work and those out of work often creates social and political tensions. When a major employer in a town goes out of business, it can decimate the whole community – which happened in many British mining towns in the 1980s.

Unemployment is generally viewed as a political and economic issue. So governments ensure people receive financial help, and use fiscal measures to create jobs. But from a relational perspective, what might be done differently?

Arguably, the locus of responsibility and initiative could be shifted down to a more local level. The less unemployment is treated as a problem for central government, the more responsive and adaptive the help can be to local conditions and personal circumstances. City councils could develop initiatives to encourage people and businesses in the local community to share in the challenge of keeping people in work. Such relational responses to unemployment have the potential to reduce the gaps between those in and out of work, and build stronger community relationships as well.

Read on...

15 years ago, the Relationships Foundation set up Citylife (now renamed Allia) to pioneer Employment Bonds – a mechanism for people to invest in creating jobs in local communities. An article in the Guardian tells the story; read it here.

Walk the talk

Unemployment is a nationwide problem, but is there some way that you can make a difference to just one unemployed person? You may not be able to offer a job, but could you visit and encourage someone you know who is out of work, or volunteer with a local charity that teaches job skills to young people?

The last word
From the Bible, Ecclesiastes 2:24 “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God”.

Response and relationships since 9/11

2011-09-08T07:29:00.000-07:00

Quote
“Revenge is the easy way out, but it doesn’t do the vengeful person any good. Revenge just perpetuates a cycle. I don’t want revenge, I want healing.” Rachel North, survivor of the 7/7 bombings in London

News

The 10^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks has filled much column space and air time in the media this week. These range from personal recollections of people caught up in the horrific events of that cloudless morning, to debates on the outcomes of military intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The invasions and regime change in these two countries were part of what George Bush dubbed the “war on terror”. The 9/11 attacks were seen as security issues; only a military response could guarantee the safety of America and its Western allies. This set the tone for the decade ahead.

How effective has that response been? It has succeeded in preventing any further attacks on American soil, which was its foremost objective; however, Al Qaeda bombs have taken many more civilian lives in Bali, Madrid, London, Amman and other cities across the Middle East and Asia, especially in Iraq.

Major investments in security and surveillance technology at airports and borders have caught a number of would-be terrorists, but the average American or European does not feel much more secure than ten years ago. In part this is due to the rise in fear and suspicion of Muslims in general, compounded by the way that military, religious and political issues have been conflated over the decade.

What of the cost? The post 9/11 wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq have cost 225,000 lives (of which 31,000 were military personnel and their contractors), and $4 trillion has been spent by America alone. This is 100 times more than the $43.4 billion spent by the US on official development assistance to those three countries over the same period.

Every country has a right to defend itself, by force if necessary. But the use of force over the long term to tackle underlying tension usually ends up exchanging one set of problems for another, and is hugely expensive in economic and relational terms.

Looking ahead, the threat of terrorism can be viewed as a security issue or a relational issue. If the resources spent on trying to make the post 9/11 world safer could lean more on the relational side of the equation (e.g. educating people on the difference between moderate and radical Islam, promoting Christian-Muslim dialogue, or investing more in the development of some of the poorest Muslim countries), then a more sustainable peace could be built – between nations and between ordinary people alike.

Read on...

A panel discussion at Harvard on Tuesday agreed that the 10^th anniversary of 9/11 is an opportunity for the US to move away from a military-driven response to a policy built on “diplomacy, outreach and persuasion”. Read a report on the discussion here.

Walk the talk

Using threats and even force at home or work can sometimes bring about compliance in the short term, but at the lasting expense of trust, respect and understanding. Are there any on-going tensions that would benefit from patience and careful listening on your part?

The last word
From the Bible, Proverbs 15, verse 1: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

After the riots, back to school

2011-09-02T06:54:00.000-07:00

Quote
“The poor suffer twice at the rioter's hands. First, his destructive fury scars their neighbourhood; second, the atmosphere of accommodation and consent is changed to one of hostility and resentment.” President Lyndon B Johnson

News

As children and teenagers return from their school holidays in Britain, the riots in August will be a major topic of conversation. The scenes of chaos and looting bring home the truth that a society which aspires to both freedom and security depends on ample amounts of both trust and self-restraint. We commented on the relational aspects of trust in an earlier Friday Five; the flip side of trust is self-restraint. This involves accepting that right and wrong exist in an absolute sense – it’s not just about getting caught – and choosing the right when the opportunity presents to do otherwise (such as a walking past the smashed window of a mobile phone shop, when others are helping themselves).

Basic moral standards are formed for better or worse in children through parenting at home and the socialisation process in the community – especially at school, and in faith groups. Values are both taught and caught, and good relationships are both the method by which those values are transmitted and the fruit which they produce.

This reinforces our conviction at Relationships Global that working to improve relationships in public and private life is not a ‘bolt-on extra’ – they are a fundamental part of any healthy society. Good relationships, or at least functional ones, are taken for granted when all is well; but when decades of broken families and disrespect for authority erupt into scenes of looting and arson, then knee-jerk reactions about being harder on criminals are woefully inadequate.

On the BBC this morning, the Prime Minister spoke about the need for ‘tough love’ in dealing with those involved in the riots. The government cannot legislate morality, however; their power is limited to indirect influences on attitudes and behaviour. What is needed is a broad, grassroots movement committed, over the long haul, to recovering moral standards (here faith communities should take the lead) and rebuilding family and local community relationships in the real world.

Read on...

The Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, has written a deeply reflective comment on the riots and points towards how social capital can be rebuilt, so as to ‘Reverse the decay of London undone’. Read this excellent article here.

Walk the talk

Many of the youths convicted following the UK riots have grown up with absent fathers, and are gang members. One of the greatest needs that all young people have is for real conversations with adults they respect. Might you help meet that need for any children (perhaps your own!) who lack quality time with an adult?

The last word
From the Bible, Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Aid, Africa and relational distance

2011-07-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

Quote
“Don’t only give your care, but give your heart as well.” Mother Teresa

News
Drought in the horn of Africa is causing a mass exodus of families and communities from their homes and lands in a desperate attempt to avoid starvation. The response to East Africa’s worst drought in 60 years has been generous; the World Food Programme reported a surge in donations this week, and the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal in UK has just passed £30 million in private donations.

Against this backdrop, there has been controversy in Britain over the size of the government’s aid budget. Since 1997 successive Labour and Conservative governments have been pursuing the UN target of giving 0.7% of GDP in aid. David Cameron is under fire for increasing the aid budget at a time when almost every other government department is required to make the largest spending cuts in decades.

Detractors argue that much official aid is badly spent, and since the cold war ended, there has been a growing commitment to overcome the corruption, waste and excessive bureaucracy that have blighted aid programmes. The new concept of ‘smart aid’ focuses on transparency and delivering results for the poor, demanding better accountability to both taxpayers in rich countries and to the poor in low income countries.

Western aid is deeply rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of compassion and solidarity with the poor. This kind of giving increases the wellbeing of donors as well as recipients – but it hinges on the degree of connection between the giver and receiver. Citing statistics such as 12 million people being threatened by drought in East Africa may get our attention, but personal stories, of families with names, are far more likely to create a sense of connection across the thousands of miles between readers and drought victims.

Reducing the ‘relational distance’ or gap between donors and recipients is one strategy for making aid more effective; it can motivate donors and also hold aid agencies more accountable. How might this principle be applied to official development assistance?

First, the number of intermediary institutions could be reduced to ensure more money ends up with the final beneficiaries; secondly, taxpayers might be allowed to nominate an NGO from a list to receive that part of their income tax which goes to the aid budget and thirdly, perhaps some of the bilateral aid (government to government) could be decentralised to the level of city to city; ‘twinning for aid’ could open up many new avenues for people to engage meaningfully in helping the 1 billion people who live in absolute poverty today.

Read on...
Jamie Drummond of the campaign organisation ONE argues in favour of Britain’s aid programme and suggests how it could be ‘smarter’. Read the article here.

Walk the talk
We give to charity appeals as a response of compassion or perhaps to relieve our consciences; might you narrow the relational gap with your giving and make it more personalised? Sponsoring a child, a family, a school or a community are all options for using your money not just to meet a need but to build a lasting relationship, which though remote, is still real.

The last word
From the Bible, 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each of you must give what you have decided in your heart, not with regret or under compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.”