more on Isreali-Lebanon conflict

As a follow up to the last blog, here is what I found when I checked my email this morning. Although I have my reservations about IMD, things like this is what makes me proud of being a part of this institution. We are not only business people, but also good caring citizens of the globe.

The email came from our political econ professor, Jean-Pierre Lehmann. Enclosed was a "letter published in today's FT by two IMD MBA alumni of 2005, one Lebanese and one Israeli. Of all the comments I have seen, this is the first with joint co-authorship by a Lebanese and an Israeli. It is an excellent letter. It was written entirely at the initiative of the two authors. The FT response was immediate and very positive and the letter is being published in fact within 48 hours of reception."

"I am really very pleased and proud. I think this also vindicates the spirit in which we hold our discussions in the IPE class. This year unfortunately we have no Israeli participant. In the past, however, we have had joint presentations from Arab and Israeli participants, who have had to work extremely hard to find common ground. Just as this letter was the result of numerous exchanges between the two authors, in which the possible meaning of every word counts. It is not easy. This also underlines, in my view, the fact that business leaders should not seek to avoid difficult political issues, but should confront them. The letter by Talal and Roberto will not, alas, bring the war screeching to a halt. But it will be a small yet significant stone in the foundations that need to be built for peace in the region, as elusive as it may appear at this moment. This joint Lebanese-Israeli initiative also underlines the IMD as global meeting place concept. A global meeting place not just to talk about banalities, nor just about serious business issues, but about really serious political issues, which will strongly impact on the global market and global business.
So many congratulations and thanks to Roberto and Talal and may they serve as inspiration to all of us!
Best
Jean-Pierre"

Cheers to the alums, and may the conflict end soon.

shocking news

I have been on the road for the last month. First for a school trip to Argentina, followed by holidays on a european tour to Italy, Austria, and Ireland. The month of traveling meant I was not only out of Internet access, but also extremely short on news about the world, and about my classmates. That is until I came back to Lausanne last night. More on my trip later, but first, I want to write about one of my fellow classmates, Mohamad. Mohamad is from Lebanon, and is one of my brightest and charismatic classmates here at IMD.

Once, during dinner with two friends and me, Mohamad described how his childhood was filled with fear of war, bombs falling around him, and bullets woozing by him. I was shocked. He talked about how their family had to go into hiding, fleeing into the mountains. It wasn't the first time I heard about war: A good friend, Tamra, is from Sarajevo. But it was the first time I felt that way: I couldn't even relate, I couldn't even imagine how life was, days after days of living in a war zone, year after year. Just how fortunate am I to grow up in Taiwan. Even with the constant threat of a Chinese invasion, life was relatively calm. It's nothing comparing to what Mohamad grew up with.

Well, the news of what is happening in Isreal and Lebanon is no "news" any more. It's been around for days. What was shocking to me upon my return to Lausanne is that Mohamad has been back in Lebanon with his family. Nothing has been said about whether Mohamad will return in time for school, but the airport in Damascus has been bombed by Isreal. How will he get out?

Enough of me blabbering about. Here is a real dose of reality from an email Mohamad sent a few days ago.

"The situation is really terrifying... it is just waiting where the next bomb will hit! I am still glad that I am around, otherwise I would have gone crazy worrying about my family and friends in Lebanon from Lausanne. My city now is completely cut from all directions! I hope we can manage to get the basic supplies for children and elders! It is back to chaos and war! I can hear the planes and the machine guns around as I am writing! I hope it will be over soon and both Israel and Hizbollah get back to rationality and put an end to this catostrophy and blood shed. I also hope to see you soon!"