Earth Hour

Don’t  forget Earth Hour tonight. Switch off power at 8:30pm for 1 hour.

Tell your friends and family and get as many people as possible to participate.

For more information see:  www.earthhour.org and the Green Rock website: www.greenrock.org

 

Bermuda’s Income Disparity

While recently flipping through the pages of the National Economic Report of Bermuda (2007), there were a few statistics that caught my eye. Among them were these figures, based on 2006 data:

• Average Salary in Bermuda = $59,394 (N=30,210 employees)
• Average Salary for Blacks = $49,245 (N=16,420)
• Average Salary for Whites = $78,385 (N=10,071)
• Average Salary for Other Races = $52,775 (N=3719)

Of course, whenever I come across statistics I am a bit skeptical and try to keep a bit of perspective, but you have to admit that this is a pretty disturbing disparity of income. But, looking at the figures, a few things do come to mind. One is whether, within that number for whites, white expatriate employees are included because it is not uncommon for them to yield high salaries in certain job categories, particularly, in the international business sector, where the overseas recruitment of qualified staff is often necessary. If fewer Bermudians, black or white, are occupying those jobs – often high-paying – and assuming (just assuming!) those who are recruited happen to be predominantly white, then this might partially explain the disparity. This would suggest we need to work on having a better educated and qualified Bermudian workforce.

However, it is also hard to ignore the racial implications of this - especially when, according to this data, blacks represent 54.4% of the working population and whites, 33.3%. It is all the more reason for Bermudians to stop bickering and to get busy working together to appropriately and effectively address race relations and the education system. 

Good Morning, Bermuda!

Every now and then I like to have a peek at the local TV news programmes in Cayman. I used to go to the Caymans on business for the company I worked with before moving to the UK and I got to know the island very well; so I like to keep a finger on the pulse of what happens there. Watching the programmes, though, often leaves me thinking how much room there is for Bermuda to upgrade and broaden its local (news) programming.

Specifically, Bermuda needs a morning television show which is the equivalent of Cayman’s Daybreak programme. There are clips of broadcasts on their Cayman 27 website and you can see a current clip of Daybreak, here: Cayman 27 website.

Now, if memory serves me correctly, we used to have our own morning show in Bermuda ages and ages ago. Wasn’t it called Good Morning, Bermuda? And wasn’t the presenter Marlene B. Landy? She was very good, too. (Where is she now?) They used to have on a host of guests covering a variety of interests and issues in the community. I can remember getting ready for school in the mornings while watching it. (See how long ago it was?!!!)

Let’s bring an updated version of this show back to Bermuda. We can achieve a great deal with a well presented programme like this. I would like to see highly professional, well-spoken, and polished presenters who have broad appeal to the Bermuda public. The presentation and set should be first-rate, as well. Guests would run the gamit from the usual newsmakers to everyday Bermudians. (Yes, even our celebrity greeter Johnny Barnes!) They should be from all walks of life. There could be health and lifestyle segments. Cooking. Education. Community events. Business. Other topical issues to broaden horizons. You name it!!! (Okay! No, I’m not angling for a job as producer! Honest!)

A programme of this nature can really help to transform Bermuda. Actually, if done well, I think it has the potential to really bring Bermudians and residents, in general, together and help to make people more proud of the country and interested in what is going on around them. Having a website for the programme and the news channels, generally, would also be a welcome addition. Something that truly baffles me is that there is no online website for the news programmes we have already. A place like Bermuda really should have this! (Well, to be fair, I believe the Bermuda Broadcasting Company does have a website (www.bermudabroadcasting.com), but the link has never worked when I have tried it, so I have no idea what is on it. VSB used to have a website, as well, but that seems to have disappeared by now, too.) To be able to go online and catch a glimpse of the newscasts would be excellent while abroad. In today’s world of such advanced technology, it is disappointing that Bermuda doesn’t have this. We should also consider the valuable marketing potential of such an initiative, matched with an online presence. People who have been to Bermuda or are planning a trip to the island could find such access very useful and we would have the ability to market the Bermuda “product”, accordingly. Such things definitely help to improve the image of the island.

Something to think about…and DO!….I know I’d like to wake up to “Good Morning, Bermuda”! How about you?

Mumbai

Whenever extremists carry out violent attacks, they bring more harm to their cause. I understand the anger and I understand that this is their way of trying to get the world’s attention. I understand that this is the likely result of people who have felt unfairly treated thoughout history and, even more troubling, when people have become so fanatical in their beliefs and ideologies.

But this is not the way to arrive at a solution.

Bodies poolside at Taj Mahal - Photo by Reuters

Everytime these atrocities occur, it creates more hurt and anger in the world. It makes people develop stereotypes or increase their negative attitudes towards the innocent citizens or groups in whose names extremists claim to be fighting. They get attention. They engender a sense of fear among people because of their killing. It all has a distressing psychological impact on people.

But do they really get how much it hurts their own people? (I don’t like using terms like “their own people” because we live in a global village and I see us as all being connected as humans, but you get my meaning, I am sure.)

In these Mumbai killings, although the gunmen went in looking for Americans and Britons to take as hostages, they initially went in and indiscriminately killed whoever was in sight. Many were Indians, as well. Again, a life is a life, so their nationality is of little importance to me, but for these attackers, not only do their heinous acts turn Americans, Britons, and the world against them, but it turns their own people against them. Yes, they get attention and create fear and panic, but their real message gets lost…all while damaging their own countries.

I wonder how this will affect India, economically, now. Like China, India is one of the fastest emerging markets in the world and plays an important role when it comes to international business. Many multinationals are doing business in India. Many jobs are outsourced to India. And, yes, multinationals are benefitting greatly from this relationship due to the cheap labour, but so is India’s economy and its people. Indian workers are getting more money from these multinational corporations in exchange for their skills than they would have had they not existed. More money in their pockets allows them to buy more of the goods imported from other countries, which, in turn, stimulates their economies. It’s a symbiotic relationship. However, these killings could jeopardise this to some extent.

My heart goes out to the victims and their families. I was on the phone with a friend when the news of it had broken and she had to rush off the phone in a panic as her flatmate had told her that her (the flatmate’s) brother was scheduled to be in Mumbai for a meeting at one of the hotels where the shootings occurred and they could not reach him. I could hear the panic in her voice as she was explaining the situation to me. Later, I was relieved to hear from them that it turned out that the brother had ended up not going at the last minute and remained in London. That moment brought into sharper focus, just what so many people must be still going through at this moment as they try to locate their loved ones that were in Mumbai.

Famly members comfort each other as they await news on loved ones at the morgue in Mumbai. - Photo by Ruth Fremson of NY Times

The killing must stop – not just in Mumbai, but wherever there are extremists. The world must find a proper solution…or we shall never know peace.

An eye for an eye and we will all go blind.

- Khalil Gibran

PostSecret

It might be the budding psychologist in me, but PostSecret has been one of my absolute favourite websites for quite sometime. The site is updated every weekend and makes for an interesting read. It says a bit about the human condition…or a disturbing sense of humour in some cases!

Have a look at it: PostSecret Website

Thank-You!!!

Thank-you to all of you who participated in my research, either by completing my questionnaire or emailing me your thoughts and feedback. I have been moved and impressed by the overwhelmingly positive and constructive emails and comments I have received from so many of you. I have taken the time to reply to everyone who contacted me directly via email and hope there is no one I have left out.

My lack of blogging for the past month has been mostly deliberate. Much of what I have wanted to write has had to do with race and I did not want my opinion to influence the responses to the questionnaires in any way. I know that some of you who have written to me personally are interested in my own views concerning race in Bermuda and, again, I reserved comment. I was not required to do this, but it was a personal choice.

This project was for my undergraduate degree requirement. However, somehow, it seems to have taken on a life of its own and it is possible that I just might reopen and expand the research at a later time – post my degree. No promises, though. Right now, I have quite a few responsibilities and decisions as I am in the midst of preparing for the last of my final exams, wrapping up assignments (including my research report) and beginning the daunting task of packing, as I transition back to life in Bermuda. Lots and lots ahead!

I will likely comment further on the actual research report at a much later time, but for now what I do wish to say is that I appreciate the apparent honesty many people demonstrated, particularly with respect to the open-ended questions I posed at the end of the questionnaire. I did not set out thinking I could solve the racial problems in Bermuda. I am a bit long in the tooth to be so idealistic or naive. However, if this has been something that has made a few people think and maybe even act, then I am happy to have helped if it is at all constructive and positive. 

I chose the research topic because race relations is an issue that interests me and I wanted to find a way to integrate the subject with other areas of psychology that include individual differences, social psychology, and cultural psychology. There are some specific, narrower psychological themes that fall within these broader categories that interested me that I wanted to explore. I also knew I wanted to tackle a subject that concerns Bermuda and when it comes to race, I have been interested in hearing more from the broader white community, since this group has been generally quiet for various reasons.

When it comes to race relations in Bermuda, I believe more contructive approaches are needed in engaging people in the dialogue and helping to improve relationships between blacks and whites. It is clear to me that many whites have a great deal to say about the issue and more needs to be done to encourage people to share their opinions. It is an important step if blacks and whites are to learn more about each other and understand each other better, thus narrowing the racial divide on the island.

Much more on all of this another time, though.

For now, thank-you once again!!!

Psychology Research: Participants Needed!

Readers, I need your help! I am currently carrying out research for a psychology project and I need people who will participate by completing an online questionnaire.

The project is examining how personality traits and patterns of social interaction influence interracial attitudes among whites in Bermuda.  As a result, to participate in the study you should be a white resident of Bermuda and at least 18 years of age.

I would be forever grateful if you could help me with my research by completing the questionnaire and passing it on to as many of your friends, relatives, and colleagues as possible. If you are a fellow blogger, I would also appreciate it if you helped me spread the word by mentioning it to your readers and/or posting a link to the questionnaire on your site. Please note that participation in this study is completely anonymous and the questionnaire and further details can be found by clicking the following link:

Online Questionnaire

(Link above removed…Thanks for your previous participation)

If you would like to share your views in even greater detail then you are more than welcome to contact me, as well. This post will remain at the top of this page for the duration of the research process, so be sure to scroll down periodically to see if I have anything new posted. In the meantime, many thanks in advance for your valued participation and feedback.

Catching Up

Yes, I’m playing catch up in the blogosphere (I always thought it was “blogsphere” – sounds better to me!) and getting over the extreme trauma of my laptop crashing two weeks ago. No, I did not back up my files and the less I think of what I lost on my old laptop, the better. Other than that I have been enjoying my break doing what I want while being intermittently plagued with thoughts of what I should be doing. And now a new term begins on Monday with a VERY full day scheduled! This term is sure to go by at lightning speed since it’s my last one. Scary, scary!  *sigh*

I had a busy day yesterday (again, doing what I want) and only late at night did I realise that the US presidential debates were to kick off – at 2am on this side of the pond. So, I did everything (short of using toothpicks to hold my eyelids open) to stay up so I could watch it and, sure enough, I fell asleep a few minutes before the start and awoke for the last 20 minutes! It’s just as well, though, as it didn’t seem I missed a great deal if those last few minutes were an indication of how much the debate unfolded. And if I am to go by the reports of many of the main US and UK papers, I am probably right.

I felt both Obama and McCain came off as evenly matched in their performance, but I was slightly frustrated with Obama because I wanted him to be more aggressive and to quicken his pace. I realise that it is his style to be more measured and contemplative, which I do prefer, but I believe in order to really outshine McCain he must give even better than he gets. McCain kept using statements like, “Again, what Sen. Obama doesn’t understand” and responding to Obama’s comments with variations of “See! This is where Sen. Obama’s lack of experience…” Obama should have used similar, calm references to examples of McCain’s instability and gambling nature as evidenced in the way he has been running his campaign and particularly his behaviour and flip flops on the current economic situation. Lately, McCain has been very unsteady and seemingly wreckless in his approach and Obama should be capitalising on this. He should be forcefully and widely talking about how the country needs thoughtful, measured, and stable leadership that is characterised by a diplomatic, yet no-nonsense approach, and how this connects with the foreign policy discussions they were having last night. I just wanted him to be more aggressive. He was more assertive than he usually is, but I felt he needed to ratchet it up a bit further. I gather that since foreign policy is supposedly one of McCain’s strongest talking points, then it was even more of a balancing act for Obama. He did well. I just wanted more out of him and I don’t think he will win this race unless he goes on the offensive more. He doesn’t need to be nasty, but he just needs to push more. Still, I did not see the entire debate and don’t feel like watching it online at this point.

At least we have the VP debates to look forward to with Palin and Biden next week. It should be VERY entertaining interesting. Given what I’ve seen of Palin in the Charlie Gibson (ABC News) and Katie Couric (CBS News) interviews, I’d say all Biden has to do is show up. Palin as a heartbeat away from the presidency would be incredibly hilarious if were not so disturbing. I keep waiting for Ashton Kutcher or someone to pop out and tell the American people and the rest of the world that is watching that “You’ve been Punk’d!” I think we would all (even a few Republicans) let out a huge sigh of relief because it’s becoming more and more painful to listen to her in an interview and take her seriously. See Russia from Alaska. Dear, oh dear, me…

As for UK politics.

*sigh*

Gordon Brown. 

I feel sad for the fella. I really do. He was a good Chancellor and wanted the PM job so bad, for so long, and now, look. He has been besieged by one crisis after another since he took office, what with the Northern Rock saga, lost public information, the by-election in Scotland, and not to mention the 10p debacle that was his own doing. When I listened to his speech on Tuesday, I was willing him to hit it out of the park and while he did okay, I can’t quite say it did the trick. I like that he was direct and upfront in saying he is who he is – not a celebrity or trying to win a popularity contest (does he know he is in politics? does he know how it all works?)…I also liked how he insisted he will not be trotting his kids out for spreads in the mags, using them as “props”. Good on you, Gordy! But the rest of it, while he makes a bit of sense and seems competent to me, was a little flat and uninspiring and other than telling people you are going to put wads of cash into their accounts, I’m guessing they want to be inspired and wowed and given hope. They want to have confidence in you and “feel” you can pull it off – whatever “it” is that matters most to them.

Brown has an image problem. He seems a competent man, but because of his visible discomfort and lack of “pop and sizzle” (where have I heard that before?), he comes off looking rattled and deathly uncomfortable in his role. Nice touch with having his wife introduce him on Tuesday night, but he didn’t even look comfortable when he approached the podium and kissed her. I had to remind myself that was really his wife, quite frankly. Brown doesn’t need to be another Tony Blair. I’d REALLY rather he wouldn’t and please tell me what was the fuss about him in the first place??? I still don’t get it! (He lost points with me once Gee Dubya got hold of him!) Brown just needs to study the playbooks of the American politicians (NOT Sarah Palin, okay, Gordy?) and adapt it to UK politics. After all, there is only so much that the English sensibilities can take when it comes to most things American, I’m afraid. Even I get light-heartedly teased for my unfamiliar, across the pond friendliness and what they think is an American accent. (Note to self: Remind new lecturers on Monday to NOT ask me to give the “American perspective” on whatever it is we end up discussing in psychology and business tutorials!)

Anyway, it is what it is. Life goes on whatever the outcome. On Nov 4th it will be Obama or McCain and we shall have to wait and see if Brown will make it to the New Year, if that. What will be will be and in the meantime we will just have to put up with this painful reality show in America. (Big Brother, eat your heart out!)

What really matters is I have my new laptop AND my new telly and, for the moment at least, all seems right in my little world…

Questions on the BRRI/Big Conversation

I’m having withdrawal symptoms from not blogging, but I am trying to complete a few major assignments and will be blogging to my hearts desire as soon as I’m done in the next few days. I have quite a few things on my mind, so beware! 

In the meantime, maybe you can help me with something. I will be soon carrying out research for a project I have and I need information concerning the Bermuda Race Relations Initiative (BRRI). Perhaps someone can help me with the following questions:

• Does anyone know if there is an official and recent progress report on the BRRI that is available to the public? If so, where can I find it?
•  If anyone has attended the BRRI meetings, I would like to hear your impressions of those meetings and what you feel you have gained from them? Have your experiences been positive or negative? 
• What is the racial make up of attendees at the meetings? I gather from initial reports in press releases and the media that participation or attendance by whites has declined steadily? Does anyone know how many whites, in particular, attended the last meeting? 
• There was some mention of a documentary related to this initiative being in the works. Does anyone have information on when this will be available?

Any other information you think would be helpful in sharing would be most welcome. You can respond by leaving a comment to this post or you can email me directly. I woud greatly appreciate it!

Funding for Mature Students

Bermuda needs to increase funding for mature students pursuing studies at the university level. The Bermuda Government has taken a first step in increasing funds within its existing scholarship and loan programmes, which is good, but more must be done, particularly for mature students.

As someone who is self-funding their studies, I am all too familiar with the high cost – financially and otherwise – in upending one’s life to improve qualifications and skills by completing a degree. Individuals in my position either use their own savings, take out bank loans with astronomical interest fees, or use some combination of the two.

Many adults I speak with would like to go overseas to study, but find it difficult to do so because they are unable to afford it. This is unfortunate because there are loads of highly experienced Bermudians who would like to and would benefit from completing a degree. Bermuda and employers island-wide only stand to gain from having Bermudians improve their educational qualifications. Employers are constantly saying how costly it is for them to import labour and we know this is true, so an investment in Bermudians reaps huge rewards all around.

Quite honestly, for many adults, it is hard enough for them to get beyond the fear of stepping out of their comfort zones and beyond any self-doubt concerning their ability to handle a return to studies after such an extended period. Regrettably, too many people fall into the trap of thinking they are too old to go back to school. However, once they get their heads around the idea, they are then faced with the financial costs and are prevented from pursuing their goals due to a lack of funds.

Some companies will sponsor employees, but many people do not want the restrictions that accompany this arrangement. For example, sometimes companies, understandably, expect employees they sponsor to continue their employment for a period after receiving their qualification. For people who do not wish to remain with their firms or who wish to retrain in an entirely different field this is not a suitable option. 

It is critical that Bermuda improve the quality of its workforce so that the island remains competitive. This means not just improving its education system and providing funding for Bermuda’s young people to further their education, but to also make it possible for adults who want to retrain for a new career or to further their education overseas to do so.

Perhaps interest-free (a misnomer in many cases!) student loan programmes can be set up specifically for mature students. These loans could cover tuition and living expenses and repayments could begin once studies have been completed. The Ace Foundation’s Career Paths Initiative Loan Programme (which has been heavily oversubscribed in previous years and now appears to have been removed from the website!) is a good example of the sort of thing I am thinking of, but exclusively for mature students. Mature students should not be competing with younger students for funds in these scholarship and loan programmes – they must be kept as separate catergories. The Bermuda Government could develop a programme like this and perhaps partner with private companies interested in assisting. Certainly, companies could choose to take the initiative in either setting up such programmes directed at mature students or expanding their existing programmes to include them, independent of the govenment, as well. In any event, there is a definite need to cater to and invest in Bermuda’s mature students. 

It is a very healthy move and one worth actively pursuing sooner rather than later.