Challenge to Learn January 15, 2010

The AMBITION
As Vice-President of AIESEC International, I was responsible for leading 40,000 young people towards achieving AIESEC’s target of 45% growth in results (number of international internships) within 1 year with a team of 22 people from 17 countries.

AIESEC is the world’s largest youth run NGO enabling leadership development for social change.

THE CHALLENGE
Adapting – I was in a new country working with 22 strangers under high professional pressure. I missed my family, friends and India. Building a meaningful life in the Netherlands while delivering high performance is one of the toughest challenges I have faced.
Influencing – AIESEC did not believe it could achieve 45% growth as it hadn’t seen such performance in the past. Positively influencing people across the world to believe in the target while making sure everyone’s concerns were addressed, was a significant barrier I crossed.
Achieving – After generating momentum towards 45% growth, I faced the challenge of execution. How do I focus the efforts of 40000 volunteers towards one goal? I believed it was possible & persisted with new ideas & actions.
By overcoming these challenges, and more along the way, I was able to achieve 45% growth.

WHAT I LEARNED
Inner strength – The personal and professional intensity of this assignment forced me to deal confidently with complex situations. I appreciate the importance of independence and interdependence in achievement. Humility, hard work and simplicity are values I strengthened through this experience.
Skills – Not-for-profit management, team work, process enhancement & statistical analysis formed the core of my work. The environment taught me to be assertive and culturally sensitive.
The future – One of my most important learning’s is self-awareness. I understand what makes me happy and what my future goals are. I have clarity of purpose and the strength to translate my ambition to action.

My Antarctic Story on NDTV24/7 Green Matters January 11, 2010

The Story of Team Vietnam in Antarctica December 29, 2009

You joined Rob for his first ever youth expedition 12 years ago. What inspired you to come back for a second time?
In the expedition 12 years ago, I was totally inspired by the beauty of Antarctica, by Robert Swan, and by the whole team. It was a truly amazing experience, because at that time we (in Vietnam) did not have internet, we did not have much information from the outside world. Everything I saw or heard in that trip really changed my thinking, my perspectives at the world, and took me to a great level of awareness about the environment that I had never had. The trip was so inspiring, that it made me quit my current job to switch to working for the development and environmental field.
For the last 12 years since I came back, I have been giving talks, and working on numerous environmental projects in the country, but somehow I still felt lonely. Being the first and only Vietnamese person to set foot in Antarctica is “cool”, but later I came to realize I needed more than that. I want more people to have the same experience as I did, so I can have more friends to work on the mission together with me. That’s why I decided to come back with a whole team, Team Vietnam, because I know that together, we can make a bigger impact.

What is your dream for Team Vietnam?
We have been talking about what we are going to do when we come back. Six of us have different jobs, live in different communities, so we will be able to deliver the message to totally different audiences. One part of the plan is to set up a website in Vietnamese, to inspire people to change the way they think, and take small changes in their daily habits, to become more environmentally friendly. The problem in Vietnam is not that we consume too much energy as the developed countries do, but with bad habits, we waste a lot. I really hope we can change that with our presentations, the website, and through working with the local media. That’s the least we can do.

Based on the intense experience that you have had, what is your message to young people in India?
I just would like to say this: you are going to be the leaders of your country. Don’t make the same mistakes as they did in the developed countries. Be aware, be motivated, and be ready for any opportunity that might drop on your head any time, such as an expedition to Antarctica like the one we are having. However, you don’t need to go to Antarctica to be able to save the world. Anyone can do something good for the environment. The warrior is already in you, so be proactive, start to think green, act green, and remember, Asia will be the solution to the world’s current problems. So inspire, and be inspired! The future of the world’s second biggest country is in your hands.

‘Tis the season to be jolly – Posters starring my previous teams & I December 24, 2009

Creative genius – Aditya Kumar http://www.adityakumar.me

“Save Antarctica” – NewsX reporting live from Antarctica! December 18, 2009

A bordered India in a world without borders December 17, 2009

“It is unsafe and risky to have foreigners and bachelors living in our housing society….” – this, coming from “New” Mumbai. And we proclaim that India is a leading player in globalization, poised for super-powerdom! I agree, of course India is pioneering globalization, I’m a product of that trend. However, this is limited to just one of our country’s many faces. There are 2 India’s that exist, one that’s shutting itself in with borders and another that’s flying borderless.

I have never felt as angry about the attitude and beliefs that come from some parts of my country as I did a few days ago. I think that’s also because I didn’t really care much earlier. So here is the cause of my frustration – I have lived in a decent colony in New Mumbai for the last 3 months. Last weekend I finally got a Korean flat-mate. A few days later, I hear that my housing society has passed a resolution that they do not want bachelors or foreigners to live in their apartments anymore! The reason – it’s dangerous, risky and unsafe.

My thoughts:

Is this the Mumbai I think it is? Have I been living and believing in a society that doesn’t really exist? Or is this a reflection of the beautiful contradiction that is my country? Mumbai symbolizes to me, as it does to many other young people, hope, success and freedom. If there is one city in India which is liberal in its thoughts and actions, it is Mumbai. 3 years living in the city of dreams, and I hadn’t seen the shadows lurking beneath. Shadows of conservative beliefs, mistrust and selfishness.

“Atithi devo bhava”, a famous Indian saying – guests in our home and country are a form of God. Well, really? If in a city like Mumbai, we proclaim that it’s “dangerous” to have a 21 year old Korean girl living in an apartment and we decide to ask her to vacate, are we welcoming her to our country? “Foreigners” – in these times of globalization, I do not understand how people can use that as a dirty word! Families spend hours watching idiotic shows on the idiot box, and this is one of the results.

One of the best things about India is its “community living”. I missed it in the Netherlands! However, there is a limit to how much one can interfere and take decisions in another person’s life – a person who is not related, is not a friend, who just happens to live in the same apartment complex. What time I come home, whether I sleep at 10:00pm or 4:00am, which friends visit me or stay with me, is really no one else’s business as long as it is not harming or causing a problem to other residents.

And what of contracts and agreements? We signed an 11 month contract on the apartment. Completely disregarding this contract, the housing society is considering giving us a notice to vacate. Forget about the legal system and implications, but do we not respect an understanding or promise between human beings?

This small story echoes many other realities of our country - Gaps in our education system, equal opportunities for all, general awareness of our people, moral policing Vs personal freedom. Most of all it tells the story of the 2 India’s, and sadly one is leaving the other behind in a cloud of dust. It’s these nuances of life in Mumbai and in India, that make it a challenge and no matter what I love this city and my country. I will fight to bridge the gap between the 2 India’s and make this a better home for my people and the world.

91 days skiing through the North Pole, from Russia to Canada – Laurie Dexter December 14, 2009

The first story on my list is that of Laurie Dexter

Laurie is an extreme adventurer whose feats include skiing for 91 days from Russia to Canada through the Geographic North Pole, skiing and sled hauling to the South Pole, traversing the ice caps of Greenland, Baffin Island, and King George Island in Antarctica, and numerous other polar region expeditions. As a runner he also goes to extremes, including having run 100 km in 8 hours, over 200 km in 24 hours, 600 km in 6 days, and 10 marathons in 10 days.

He lived on Baffin Island for 13 years where he learned the survival skills of the Inuit (Eskimos) and speaks their language. Since 1993 he has made over 90 ship based trips to Antarctica and more than 50 to the Arctic as an expedition leader and lecturer.

In recognition of his international contribution the Canadian Government has honored Laurie with the Order of Canada.

I had the honor of asking Laurie some question about his life and his role as our expedition leader –

What is your relationship with the Polar Regions?
I have lived in the Polar Regions most of my life. As a boy I grew up in the Shetland Islands, north of Scotland, so learned to love the sea, the isolation, the outdoors, wildlife and all of nature. A lot of my early reading was about explorers and after I first learned about the Inuit (Eskimos) I knew I wanted to meet them. I ended up living with the Inuit on Baffin Island for 13 years and still live in the Canadian north although now in the sub-Arctic.

What has been your inspiration? Why have you chosen this path in life?
As I mentioned my early heroes were explorers and mountaineers – Magellan, Cook, Scott, Shackleton, Peary, Nansen, Amundsen. But my inspiration was probably more taken from some of the early missionary explorers who worked for justice, such as Livingstone in Africa, and Wilfred Grenfell in Canada.

As a result I first worked with the Inuit as an Anglican minister, and continued to go on expeditions in the Arctic while living there, and later moved into full time work in the adventure industry.

What has been the most challenging expedition you have been a part of?
The hardest expedition both physically and mentally was the Polar Bridge Expedition in which we skied from central Siberia (Cape Arktichesky) to Canada (Ward Hunt Island). This took 91 days from shore to shore over a thin crust of frozen ocean that is always moving under the influence of wind and ocean currents. It is rarely flat but has large pressure ridges and also areas of open water. As we did this in winter it was also very cold, often between -40 and -50 degrees Celcius.

Could you share one of your best moments while exploring Antarctica?
One of the best trips I have done was skiing the length of King George Island pulling sleds, but to pick out best moments is difficult. Many of the highlights have been watching the response of people we have introduced to Antarctica and to see their minds open to new ideas and possibilities.

What have been some of the tougher moments in terms of navigation and zodiac operations on the IATE 2009?
We haven’t had any very difficult navigational challenges, but we did have two tough zodiac operations. When the team camped on Hovgaard Island we knew the forecast was for winds increasing overnight to around 30 knots. 30 knots is normally our cutoff point for driving zodiacs because when a driver is alone driving into the wind there is a chance that the wind can get under the zodiac and flip it. Because of the figuration of the islands the wind seemed to be funneled and when it came time to pick up the campers it was blowing over 40 knots. Fortunately it was slightly behind while driving to shore empty and coming back against the wind the zodiac was full, so there was no danger of flipping. But I was very relieved when we had everyone safely back on board and all the zodiacs safely back up the hook and lashed down on deck.

The second time was at Almirante Brown in Paradise Bay. We landed in almost flat calm conditions with a few patches of brash ice around, but after an hour or so the wind began to pick up from the north. Soon it drove the floating ice right onto our landing area. The point of land where Robert and the camera team landed became totally surrounded and they had to walk to the station where we were loading everyone as quickly as we could. The zodiacs were completely hemmed in with ice but it was not too closely packed and we were able to push our way slowly out. By then the wind was strong and we returned to the ship in choppy waves with spray occasionally breaking over the boats.

The Antarctic Legends, of courage and endurance December 14, 2009

The coolest part about being in Antarctica was of course, the continent itself. No words can describe her majesty. The feeling of standing at the top of a mountain and looking out at an endless expanse of blue white ice dotted with the black and orange of penguins, is pure magic.

The other cool part about being in Antarctica was the people I met on the expedition. Two weeks of exploring the continent were made incredibly fascinating, new and intense by my fellow expeditioners and team leaders. I would like to share some of these brilliant stories; of lives lived with courage and humility, risk and focus.

Australia’s Positioning in the Asian Hemisphere with a Focus on India by Kate Hanlon December 11, 2009

It’s 11pm. I’m traveling alone by rickshaw back to my Mumbai apartment following dinner in a back-water restaurant with friends. The auto driver asks me if I’m enjoying India, I say; “very much”. He asks where I am from, I say; “Australia”. There is a pause … “It’s very bad what’s happening to the students there”.

Thus begins the next round of a conversation I’ve been drawn into many times – by rickshaw drivers, friends, students, colleagues …
They are referring to the racially-fuelled attacks on Indian students that occurred in Sydney and Melbourne and head-lined Indian media earlier this year. Before these attacks, I would instead expect to spar in a conversation on the recent prowess of either Australia’s or India’s cricket team.

It would appear potential conversation starters are extremely limited.

Over the last few decades, Australia’s sights have been firmly set on the gains of a strong relationship with countries in East Asia such as China, Japan and Indonesia. So it’s no small wonder that India and Australia have so little common ground. Maybe it’s time to broaden our reach and consider the wealth of advantages available from forging stronger ties with India. And in the process, improve our positioning amongst the wider Indian population.

My opinion is not that we should simply address Australia’s image in India (although we should), it is that there are very strong grounds for a relationship between our two countries.

Australia’s approach needs to be multi-pronged; spanning economics, migration and tourism. To start with, data on our countries reveals some useful insights;

Australia’s exports to India have risen at an annual average of more than 30% for the last 3 years and India is our 4th largest export market for goods and services (DIISR).
India is the world’s 5th largest consumer of energy and consumption is rising at one of the fastest rates in the world (CFR). A point of interest considering our supply to the energy commodities market.
40% of Indian’s population is under the age of 15 (World Bank). This represents a huge human talent market when we face challenges of skill supply in many core industries.
63,731 Indian students commenced studies in Australia in 2009 (to October-end). That’s 19% of overall commencements, second only to China (AEI).
India is one of the fastest growing outbound tourism markets and has grown despite a downturn globally (UNWTO).

Data alone, it looks like there is potential for mutual benefit in forging better cooperation between India and Australia. But there is also something that cannot easily be quantified, but is infinitely important. We should be outraged – OUTRAGED – for our country to have a racist image in any part of the world. It is imperative for Australia to address this, but not this alone.

To be serious about impactful engagement with India, our strategies need to be connected to our foreign policy generally, our involvement with Asia specifically, and connected to domestic initiatives.

Cooperating further with India should be part of an overall strategy of engaging with Asia, in fact, it should be part of an overall long-term foreign policy plan. This should be a bi-partisan plan that defines the growth of Australia’s cooperative partnerships strategically and outlines a conscious connection to forums we participate in and hold over the next 20-30years.

We need to work on regional institutions being comprehensive in their scope and membership. After many years of talking about a power-change from “West to East”, it would seem emerging and influential economic powerhouses in Asia are bringing the pendulum shift. This means a change in dynamic of global discussions is probably not far behind and, in the words of Paul Keating, “we will be looking at some concert of powers in the Pacific and Indian Oceans”. Australia should ensure that the voices of the countries in our region echo with the needs of the region, including our own, through a common comprehensive platform to outline those priorities.

To further access the growing tourist and student market, Australia should have a campaign specifically designed to attract visitors from India. This should be combined with an effort to attract longer-term visits from skilled employees. However, this initial effort needs to be more pro-active. Only 11% of India’s working-age population is educated at a tertiary level (World Bank India). To truly access benefits of the Indian labour market, we should be active contributors to the education of young people in India, invest in attracting these students to study in Australia, and therefore ensure our universities are of an internationally competitive quality.

We need to educate our country, and specifically our young people, on what it means to be truly multi-cultural. This is an excellent opportunity as we develop a national curriculum; how is Australia practically preparing our young people, through our educational institutions, for not just an increasingly multi-cultural country, but an increasingly culturally and linguistically dynamic world?

Australia’s partnerships in East Asia are a good example of how policy and action can lead to new partnerships the rest of the world is yet to consider. It is with this spirit, and in light of the potential, that Australia needs to act on building further ties with India.

To do this, we need to remake our image first. I will not forget the conversation I recounted earlier; being confronted with an image of racism in Australia I did not recognise. India will not forget the stories of their students; being confronted with racism they did not expect. And neither should we. We should not stand for it. We should nurture and promote the multi-cultural Australia we really are.

This is Australia’s time to build a powerful partnership with, and positive image within, India.

We should seek out partnership with current and future global leaders. We should not be observers, we should be architectures of tomorrow. To be on the sidelines is to stagnate, to lead is to be part of the future. Where do we want to belong?

You can read it at the address below, it’s called “Australia’s Positioning in the Asian Hemisphere with a Focus on India”.

Message from Kate - If you register (sign up with your name and email address here: http://www.youngwriters.org.au/youngwriters/register.asp) you can vote and/or comment on the submission. If you like what you read, it would be great if you could give my submission a high rating!

Antarctica – A Whisper of Life December 10, 2009

Antarctica is a whisper, the most marvelous and extravagant of whispers; as it entails the most pristine of beauties, it can suddenly and without notice, turn into the most hostile of environments.

It’s a whisper that let’s you feel what heaven’s like, as a whale dances peacefully right besides you. Timeless, as the most magnificent of sceneries surrounds you, with all possible combination of blues and whites; it’s a poem.

It’s a whisper as it diffuses and disappears before your eyes, before you even notice. It thus forces you to be present, as each moment might be your very last chance to enjoy such beauty. And yet it inspires you to look for, to imagine and to generate other moments of connection with nature of such beauty, so as to attempt to resemble them in the future, to live once again or for the very first time what these words I write cannot describe.

It’s a whisper that goes so fast that it is truly irrelevant if you’ve been here or not. It is a cry to live life as presently as you can. It reminds you, and does no more than that, of the fragility of every moment, of how these moments can entail the most radical of beauties or be as harsh as you can imagine.

Live life to the fullest. Antarctica cries out loud just that. Look for such beauty on every sunset, on every walk on the woods, on every drop of water in a calm lake or a wild river. It does nothing more than remind you that you are nature, and that you have been longing to reconnect with this reality that lies within you.

Antarctica is a whisper of life
(written by Max Olivia)