Analysis

Not the corporate overlords you were expecting; Google and Wael Ghonim

"The heroes, they're the ones who were in the street, who took part in the demonstrations, sacrificed their lives, were beaten, arrested and exposed to danger."

Wael Ghonim was speaking on Dream 2, Egypt’s most watched television channel, shortly after being released from 12 days of confinement.  Twelve days during which he was blind-folded and badgered by police demanding to know which foreigners were financing the protests unfolding outside in Tahrir Square.

School, education, and the globalisation of competitiveness

In 1966, the Chinese dictator, Mao Zedong, was determined to ensure that there would be no threat to his continued rule.

The ensuing “Cultural Revolution” was absolutely effective at ensuring his continued dominance of China.  It was also instrumental in demolishing the entire basis for education, learning and innovation in China for forty years.

There is no Santa. There is only us.

On 12 January 2010 an earthquake tore through Haiti. The tragedy was complete. 230,000 dead, 300,000 injured, more than a million left homeless.

12 months later and the headlines are full of “one year on” stories. Editorials are shocked – shocked – that, despite the largest aid relief program in history, little has been done.  Rubble lies where it fell.  No houses have been built, no infrastructure projects begun.

Join the BIRCS, they said, see the world

Should you ever find that there really are just too many hours in the day you can spend a diverting afternoon perusing through the lists of organisations which a happening nation may choose to join.