We are well into the New Year, trying to get back into the swing of things after the festive season. The SAFPA committee wishes you, our members and associates well for the year ahead. Judging by the usual indicators it promises to be a great one.
We have already had our first committee meeting in the New Year, and to keep you up to date about activities, news and events, please visit our new look website. Watch out for that, it will be in place soon.
The market survey results are running a little late due to the holiday season, but I am sure that our participating members will be getting some interesting results soon.
And of course the overriding issue and also the most important, for our industry, is that of education and training. The skill shortage is getting painfully visible. SAFPA certification programme has taken another step forward, with some eight candidates having completed the Merseta assessor's course. We are pushing very hard for Merseta to get the formalities finalised - not easy.
A reminder that SAFPA celebrates its 25th jubilee in 2007. More of that in the next issue of Motion Control.
Finally, I found something worthwhile repeating. It came to me via e-mail and can be found on various sites on the Internet, for example at www.openworldthailand.com. So here it goes.
To reflect and ... act
The difference between the poor countries and the rich ones is not the age of the country. This can be shown by countries like India and Egypt, that are more than 2000 years old and are poor.
On the other hand, Canada, Australia and New Zealand 150 years ago were inexpressive, today are developed countries and are rich.
The difference between poor and rich countries does not reside in the available natural resources.
Japan has a limited territory, 80% mountainous, inadequate for agriculture and cattle raising, but it is the second world economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw material from the whole world and exporting manufactured products.
Another example is Switzerland, which does not plant cocoa but has the best chocolate of the world. In its little territory they raise animals and plant the soil during four months per year. Not enough, they produce dairy products of the best quality. It is a small country that transmits an image of security, order and labour, which made it the world's strong safe.
Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual difference.
What is the difference then? The difference is the attitude of the people, framed along the years by the education and the culture.
On analysing the behaviour of the people in rich and developed countries, we find that the great majority follow the following principles in their lives:
1. Ethics, as a basic principle.
2. Integrity.
3. Responsibility.
4. Respect the laws and rules.
5. Respect the rights of other citizens.
6. Work-loving.
7. Strive for saving and investment.
8. Punctuality.
Regardless of whether we live in a rich or a poor country, it serves us all well to follow these basic principles and attitudes in our daily life. In this way the people of rich countries can contribute to the continuance and growth of wealth and prosperity, while people in poor countries can help it begin to build wealth and strive towards development.
Cheers for now,
Fritz Kern
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| Fax: | 086 589 2158 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.safpa.org.za |
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