Business, Economics and Consulting

The United Nations was formed by a conglomeration of nations whose leaders envisioned all countries reaping the benefits of a socially just and democratic world. The original purveyors of the UN were driven by the dream of nations rich and poor, working together, sharing resources and gaining from this mutual cooperation without one taking advantage of the other.

When I was younger, I nurtured the dream of joining the United Nations and contribute to important discussions that would positively impact the world. I dreamt of joining the ranks of a global police force that looked at policies and actions that … Continue Reading

As I am writing this column, the United Nations Climate Change Convention is in the concluding stages of negotiations between developing (G77) and developed (G8+5) nations on the next steps to combat the effects of global warming. If the news stories that have come out of Copenhagen in the past weeks are used as an indicator, then we can conclude – quite unfortunately – that these negotiations have been almost total failures.
The stand of the G77 is founded on the fact that while developing nations are not significant contributors of greenhouse gases and similar pollutants, they are most susceptible … Continue Reading

We all know somebody who knows somebody who has yet to fully recover from the twin furies of Ondoy and Pepeng. I, for one, have a friend who inherited his parents’ house in Marikina. After working for several years with an international oil company, he was able to transform the once humble bungalow into a well-appointed home with all the accoutrements and comfort that money can buy – full renovation, rainfall showers, central air-conditioning, designer furniture and the latest toys for big boys.

The events last month have become all-too familiar, though: all of what he lovingly put into his … Continue Reading