Japan tsunami : A Pandemonium

A massive and destructive Tsunami with magnitude of 8.9 earthquake on march 11, 2011 has shook the world that nature can be so merciless and unforgiving. Almost more than 10000 people dead or missing and destruction of infrastructures and assets worth +100 billion US$ will be another big challenge for Japan. World's third biggest economic power may find it difficult to hold this position for long after recently being pushed from 2nd position by China. Nuclear Reactors leakages and recent blast in Fukushima Reactor has added to the woes and radiations pose another grave danger. All this has made countries like Russia and others with lot of Reactors to rethink safety measures in such extreme kind of natural disasters. To me visuals on TV screen looked like I was watching some upcoming sequel of films like 2012. It was hard for me to believe that it was real until I kept myself glued to the TV for continuous updates. After Tsunami, it's now radiations from nuclear reactors that's worrying the world about Japan's future generations. Disaster on such a large scale after world war II has made future so bleak. Mass evacuations around damaged reactors and fear of radiations from another damaged reactor is making all the recovery more difficult. Radiations will surely have long term damage to the soil, living things and environment around for years. I hope Japanese resurrect themselves with more strength and far better, safer future.

This tragedy speaks of many things that developed nations need to understand. Relying, experimenting and extending alternate sources of energy for their power needs is actually a venture of dangerous kind without understanding impact of its accidental failures in both forms -nature and human initiated . The future is always uncertain and hidden but predictions of dangers on the nature of venture is a must and it was seen in Australia where anti-nuclear demonstrators made noise and then I realised that there are people who actually understand the dangers of such power sources. Its just like living in areas where hydrogen and atom bombs are planted in the form of reactors...Every country is making a statement that their reactors are safe...but how much? They must not forget that Japan is one of the most technologically and scientifically advanced country in the world. If the best can fail, surely others have no chance and no one knows about largeness of natural disasters coming. Our hunger for more advanced future actually adds to our woes which is unseen with the eyes and mind that enjoys technology so much. In 1945, it was US atom bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that made life a death for millions for years to come and till today. Fukushima radiations and three nuclear reactor explosions in 2011 is the biggest tragedy after World War II in Japan so who takes the responsibility of this explosion? must be our hunger for more advancements. Radiations are reaching as far as Tokyo and people have been told to stay indoors. People are scared and nervous about the coming days. Radiations reaching as far as Vladivostok in Russia and rest of the countries in the radius are alarmed. Mass evacuations, cancer, internal organ disorders, hair loss, skin diseases and genetic disorders for generations to come. Ordinary people always lose so much and people in power keep giving statements and statements to cover their failures and justify routes of dangerous scientific methods. always same everywhere.

Muslim world upheaval: Road to bloody revolutions

Headlines and news flashing across all forms of media all over the world announcing arrival of democracy and freedom in the lands of dictatorial "kings" in the Muslim world. Their reign as long as 40 years and that too with cruelty, corruption and severe human rights violations sounds as fearful and disturbing as people would have suffered for years. I myself thought so much on all this because even in my dreams I never had any idea of volcanic situations in the countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon and other countries close to them. World knows prominently about Iraq and its long internal disturbances. Saddam Hussein and George Bush, then US president made all the news and added to the dilemma of Iraqis with brutality of US soldiers which was proven by disturbing images and videos in international media and Internet. I feel blessed being safe and its scary when I imagine innocents and civilians trapped in the middle of such upheaval that's filled with blood, brutality and extinction of clans of many.

On Jan 24, 2011, Tunisia - Thousands rallied and protested against President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali in Tunis. He ruled with callousness for last 23 years making the country suffer with unemployment and corruption of highest rating. he fled the country due to high civil unrest on Jan 14 2011 and his wife carried 1.5 tons of gold. He accumulated wealth and assets and that's obvious in such situations of dictatorship. Next comes Egypt, land of pyramids and my dreams, I took strong notice of happenings in Egypt compared to other countries because its a place that I dreamt of visiting and understand the mystical Pharaohs and pyramids. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ruled the country for 30 years and same issues of corruption, wealth accumulation made way for the uprising that made the clash in Cairo a dangerous one on Feb2, 2011.

Libyan uprising began on 15 Feb, 2011 inspired by whatever happened in Egypt and Tunisia but to me it was Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year rule and his Bedouin(nomadic tribe of Arabs)roots so interesting. Gaddafi travels with a tent. He went to Paris in 2007 and pitched his tent in a garden of the Elysee Palace, which is the presidential residence. In Rome of 2008 he pitched it in Villa Doria Pamphili park. he doesn't travel often because he meets with much criticism for his Bedouin ways and about 40 unmarried women security guards. His cruelty surpasses many with his attacks on Libyan protesters with fighter jets,tanks and artillery.
His gigantic accumulation of wealth in many countries and erratic ways had landed the country in a civil war like situation which may go on for long. Its world Powers and United Nations that needs to act and not criticize because it should not become another Iraq which still after years couldn't be in the state of equilibrium.
March 8, 2011-Gaddafi warns NATO if it enters Libya with threats of death of millions and Obama declares invasion to remove Gaddafi. Libya seems to be entangled in a long and uncertain civil war with millions already fled the country and others on the verge of fleeing. Its something that world is looking at in helplessness because war and invasions in its every form always bring sufferings and death to innocent civilians who are children and women.
Yemen tension is making month of March more bloody with killings of 52 people by President's gunmen and creating further chaos and disturbance for Middle East. Syria tension adds more to the woes and all this looks like chain reaction of protests and violence which seems unending.

I pray to god that such crisis end sooner because it will destroy millions of lives in the game of power and money. I know I will never understand war because what we fight for, we never carry it to another world.. a futile effort of being god and supreme on an individual level or country level is like magic that never exists.

Truly long struggles that even modern world and global approach couldn't help and it makes me believe as if we are in the times of ancient barbaric cruelty and archaic power preservation's.
We all criticized so much all this but we forget that modern days nuclear weapons of mass destruction, their accumulation and major powers of world (China,US, France, Russia & many others) in their unending efforts to dominate (China trying to push US out of Asia and making allies with South America to corner United States) each other will pave way for the destruction of mankind on a scale that will wipe off entire human race along with all other life forms in a bipolar world of superpowers. Muslim world crisis is only a trailer and beginning of what future holds.....may be violence of extreme kind that's yet to come.............

Social Networking Sites = Graveyards

I remember how I felt when every time my eyes looked at the number of people on friends list of almost everyone on sites of networking in last two years. Many had friends as many as 800 or more as if they added every invitation sent or whom so ever they came across. Gone are the days when people had 8 or 10 good friends in real life and managed very well each of the relationship in a quality way.

 I know few people in real who even never sent any hello to people on their friend list for last 2 years or since they had initial "hi" "hello" while adding each other. In reality most of the people on these lists are kind of dead contacts which lay there as if in grave because they have no more life left. life here means that charm, that fun, that talking each day or may be at least once in a month or bi-monthly but that essence of friendship or knowing people has become dead and so boring. Here too many numbers on surface shows one's empty strength of handling social networking without understanding that this leads to nowhere. Its an illusion that all carry in the world of networking because many do that, my friends, your friends so let me do that too or else I will be left behind in this modern revolution of technological sophistication.

For few may be it's necessary and genuine when people from same big organization needs to be connected for interactions and communications but for many it becomes a trend of following few and then starts that chain reaction of "keep on adding people". I mostly reject people when they add me because I can't fool myself adjusting and congesting myself with a person who is already over-loaded. Either I know them personally or they add me if they can really understand me as a friend for long and very important I don't want to get lost in that ever growing crowd of friends where one who added me will not even recognise after few weeks or may be months.

 World truly may have become a global village but I find no emotions or not even that genuine aspect of relationship which existed in real world before. Its a race and we are running blindly without understanding or questioning our own acts and behaviours online. Once my cousin told me that he adds people on and on and with many he never had any conversation. In the same way I questioned few known people and they had same answers.

Internet in reality can still be the best option to make friends or understand cultures across the globe but by only making few friends and trying to understand them first and giving time to such networking can really give back each some quality understanding of cultures or people and strong bonds which may not be that virtual as it seems to be. We have best of technology and talent but to turn the tables we need more, that we have to think.................

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 TO myself

Today its 1st Jan and through blog I wish myself first because I need to celebrate and be happy with my own self and this mood will be reflected when I will greet others. I am more into my family members with almost no friends so I spent my new year night with the Idiot box but trust me I actually smiled when it was 12:14 am midnight 2011. I felt I had my party, my celebration watching best that healed my senses. I somehow switched on to Nat Geo and it was a wildebeests new born running for first time in slow motion and add to that backdrop of Africa's jungle scene. I watched it so engrossed as if life bloomed across with all the beauty, innocence and fragility yet energetic as if saying "hey, I am going to make it". This is how I also wanted to enter into new year with all that feeling of new born life and hope of being truly alive.
That calf getting on to its feet and his efforts of standing ,walking and finally running told me so much about life. My views on human life has gone to next level of understanding of my own existence in this so much not so gentle world just like that jungle of Tanzania...

OBAMA in India, Michelle shines..

An excellent orator, a perfect charmer who truly came , saw and conquered. I watched his every detail whether it was his intelligent friendly interaction with students in Mumbai or his down to earth persona at Raj ghat . His respect for Mahatma Gandhi, acknowledging India's power and its place in United Nations, his praise of Indian culture and "Jai Hind" in Parliament touched every Indian heart and sentiments. After all his so much larger than life image of being US President, I felt I was more impressed and took notice of someone else's presence around him so strongly. it was Michelle Obama, his wife whose sensible, down-to-earth attributes made her shine more than Obama. Even on television I felt as if she was someone amongst us, I felt so connected when she merged so beautifully with common people. I myself got lot to learn about being more sensible and down-to-earth and will truly make efforts to be a good orator and more friendly in my interactions with others.

HACHI the dog : a symbol of faith,immortal love and devotion

A Richard Gere film based on a true story of an abandoned dog called Hachi. Hachi's dedication and soulful, selfless, immortal love for his master and Hachi in waiting for next 9 years till his own death for his already dead master is awesome and moves even the toughest heart, I am sure. This is one movie in my lifetime that I cannot watch again because it was most difficult for me to watch Hachi's loneliness and yet his never ending love and wait for his master. I actually cried and felt difficult in breathing and I was happy crying because it made me more humane, sensitive and understanding.

 It told me much about life that it's not about being with people for materialistic reasons but it's about being and waiting for our loved ones for no reason even if they are not coming back because if we love and care for someone we should be true to our own hearts. I am sure I am going to be more like Hachi and wait for my own people even if they abandon me or leave me. Its a film that changed my life, my thinking and I can say it made me man of big heart, a heart that holds love care for animals. I have a german shepherd Diego whose paws I took in my hand and promised him..I am going to walk with him till the end and beyond and nothing in this world will take me away from him as I know they feel, they search us too when we are lost.. movie is an eye opener, enlightening but reality is same too..

FRANCHISE SYSTEMS : WHY fails N falls

Everyday we all see many immature and mature brands getting into a franchise business without much study, preparations, infrastructure and work ethics. In last 10 years this system has become a craze and money making trend for every kind of businesses whether its a business empire worth 20 million or 20 billion.

Its food, clothing, healthcare, tourism or education, none of the markets escaped eyes of franchise systems. The speed by which its spreading , the same speed its failing too. exceptions of few successful systems do exist as exceptions are always there but studies and researches explains that there is a huge number of failures in the system. I myself went online for in depth study about franchise system's analysis and statistics based on real grounds. they are as follows:

" a financial theory which explains how best to organize relationships in which one party (the principal or franchisor) determines the work, which another party (the agent or franchisee) undertakes. Since the agent’s self-interest are in conflict with the principal’s self-interest, alignment of outcomes via contractual relationships is a key to mutual success."

"All that glitters isn’t gold in franchising. While franchising can be a successful means of expanding a distribution system its reliability in achieving success is certainly questionable. This is particularly true for emerging franchisors. In fact academic research has shown that as many as three-quarters of all new franchise systems cease franchising within 10 years of formation "

"characteristics of successful franchise systems:

1. New franchise systems which permit passive ownership of franchised outlets are more likely to fail
2. New franchise systems which require higher levels of franchisee cash involvement are less likely to fail
3. New franchise systems which require franchisees to have experience are less likely to fail
4. New franchise systems which are geographically concentrated are less likely to fail
5. New franchise systems which are more complex are more likely to fail
6. New franchise systems which employ master franchising are more likely to fail
7. New franchise systems which have higher levels of total investment are more likely to fail

The results of the study indicate that franchise systems founded between 1981 and 1983, which are structured to economize on agency costs, are more likely to survive than franchise systems which are not structured to economize on agency costs. This finding is important because the failure rate of franchise systems is high, with over 72 percent of the new franchise systems in the sample ceasing to franchise by 1995.

There are few simple reasons for franchisor failure:

1. Franchisors don’t treat the franchise relationship as an interdependent relationship where success at all levels in the organization is dependent on each party to the franchise agreement. Ignoring this fact causes franchisees to feel they’re treated like unappreciated employees, breaks down communications and ultimately fractions the system itself. This results in untimely royalty payments and focuses franchisor’s attention on collections and possible legal actions.

2. Too much of pressure and dictations suffocates the partner who feels trapped in a system where for a brand name his life becomes hell and thus to ventilate he or she goes to an extent of closing the business even at a cost of any kind of financial loss.

3. Franchisors, especially startups, whether out of necessity or overzealousness, use the practice of checkbook franchising. That’s the difference between selling a franchise and awarding a franchise. Just because a franchise candidate has the funds doesn’t mean he will be successful as a franchisee. Too many of these franchisees cause problems in all areas and affect the system as a whole resulting in closed units and legal problems. Both of which must be disclosed in disclosure documents that ultimately affects franchise sales.

In the end, franchisors experience reduced revenue streams in both royalties and franchise fees while increasing legal expenses. Once this cycle begins it’s extremely difficult to stop without drastic change.