Bringing the World
I spent most of the day observing a training session. Between running interference and translating odds-and-ends, I found out that the trainees are having problems scheduling overseas trainers to come to Jakarta and train them. Sending a trainee to the country of origin to train at the OEM’s factory is definitely more expensive and less effective in the long run.
I’m not going to start a rant on the caricatures that have since taken over the religious world by storm, but it does have a big impact on things not quite within the realm of direct religious life. Several countries have renewed their efforts in trying to warn their citizens against travelling to Indonesia. Travel warnings, as they call it, succint and damning at the same time. The Danes have taken boycotting Bali out of principle, and the rest of the world is agitated.
What began as a religious problem, has seeped into almost everything that makes the business world goes round: travel insurance policies, travel and flight hours, warranty terms and conditions, business codes, and even caution when one chooses one’s business partner. There is at least one instance of “You’re signing a contract with him? What’s his religion?” What’s that got to do with anything?
On a slightly different note, the Department for Education and Skills launched “Bringing the World into a World Class Education” initiative or something to that effect, a year or so ago. It basically tries to induct pupils to understand that we are now part of a global community, and that sometimes the line between a country’s sovereignty and the rights of the world at large isn’t as clear as one wishes it to be. However, xenophobia is always easier to pick up than a global altruistic view. I’m still waiting for a definitive report to come out on this, especially on how the fledgling Citizenship curriculum can successfully merge country loyalty and global sensitivity.