By Dr Charles Leyman Kachitsa
Water is life giving and life sustaining. Yet in excess, it can take life away, can lead to death. One has to master the formula in using it to his or her benefit which is for sustainability of life. This is a lesson learnt from the time a person is born and introduced to this world.
For sustainability, water is used in filling the human body and all other living things with fuel without which most of the body parts would not function appropriately. Apart from drinking directly, it is also taken subconsciously through other means for instance through the food we eat and including the air we breath. In that sense water just like food for human consumption is attached and related to the spirit. It must be ritually taken with the serious intent it deserves.
Water is additionally used for other aspects for sustaining livelihood for example in nurturing plants, animals and other substances taken as food. Plants and all forms of food including medicines become ready after been grown through contact with water. Very true for other aspects of life including cleaning oneself and cooling of the body. Transportation of human needs has depended on water for centuries, perhaps this is the reason why most established human habitation are near abundant water sources.
Yet in excessive contact and use, water can kill. Filling the body with water excessively can kill as much as drowning in a deep pool of water. Run-away excessive water is known to destroy anything in its path both living and non-living. In that sense, moderation just like in all we do in life except in adoration of the creator, is highly advised. Wisdom in that regard is always required.
The quotes this week are from a book that feeds forward the supposed intent that need to be embraced for changes to take place in all sphere of life. Though restricted to one area in academia, the book offers a blueprint in proactiveness for many aspects of life. I am sure that the few selected quotations listed below from this book, will enlighten you to one or two lessons. Read and enjoy:
REIMAGINING BUSINESS SCHOOLS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY edited by Ken McPhail with Jim Pendrill
“Whether it’s dealing with economic disparities, global geopolitical upheaval climate change or the impact of new technologies, we are living in pivotal times and the cumulative impact of these issues on the education sector has also been huge. As well as teaching the leaders of tomorrow, business schools have a crucial role to play in research discovery, promoting innovation and understanding how to tackle these grand challenges with impact alongside business.”
“We are living through a period of profound disruption not experienced since the Industrial Revolution. The existential impacts of climate change and artificial intelligence, along with seismic shifts in the technological, societal, economic and geopolitical landscape, demand that we re-evaluate our established understanding of democracy and the economy. Any honest assessment of our existing assumptions on which they are based no longer apply, and at worst that they have contributed to the challenges we now face. If that is the case, then what we desperately need from business schools and universities is not more of the same ‘internationally excellent’ research about business and management. We need to fundamentally reimagine how economic activity can be truly shaped as a force of good.”
“Indeed, we need to be as entrepreneurial and innovative as we possibly can to respond to the huge technological changes taking place around us. We also need to be innovative in our collaborations, and embrace the current UK Government’s focus on growth, innovation and entrepreneurship. ———- Building new and creative partnerships will be key to addressing global challenges. And these partnerships extend to students in terms of being given repeated opportunities to put theory into practice by going into the field. Crucially, they then need to bring those learnings back into the classroom. We also need to find new ways of working, new structures. and new ways of teaching and learning that reflect the world we live in and help students embrace the entrepreneurial mindset that is needed to address societal challenges, all the while reflecting the diversity of our community which will be key to identifying solutions.”
“As events across the world remind us daily, climate change is a grand societal challenge that will affect many aspects of societies and economics through the impact of droughts, floods, crop failures, fires, sea level rises and heat stress. In response to the challenge, since 2019 more than 140 countries have set net zero targets covering 88 per cent of global emissions. Many non-governmental actors such as individual firms and cities have also announced their own net zero targets.”
