logo
It's not escaping drudgery, it's all about change: Travel helps connect dots — but muchmore than that, it brings peace of mind

It's not escaping drudgery, it's all about change: Travel helps connect dots — but muchmore than that, it brings peace of mind

Business Mayor24-05-2025

Whenever I hear Air's 1998 song 'All I Need', a memory resurfaces from half a lifetime ago when I was a manager with IBM. It was late evening, and we were trying to get a shipment released. With buses no longer running, a colleague offered to drive me to the train station. As the car came to life, the radio started playing this song.
'All I need is a little time,' Beth Hirsch sings, 'To get behind this sun and cast my weight.' The only illumination came from nearby office buildings where other managers were busy meeting deadlines. In that moment, I knew what the singer meant: I needed to move on. I needed change.
To me, travelling is all about change. I was reminded of this once more when I stepped into a tall, glass-fronted office building in Jakarta's business district to take the elevator up to the 39th floor, where I was supposed to meet EU representatives.
Having turned my back on a corporate career, I became an anthropologist. In this capacity, I was invited to participate in a mission to evaluate the EU's long-term relationship with Asean. I was back in the sort of environment I had left behind long ago. But the experience felt fresh. Travelling had indeed changed me.
From the meeting room's enormous windows, Jakarta unfolded itself, disappearing into the horizon. Now one of the planet's largest urban agglomerations-like Delhi, Manila, and Mexico City-it's hard to establish the Indonesian capital's actual size.
Some four centuries ago, Jakarta was a minor sultanate that paid tribute to its more powerful neighbour, Banten, which had grown rich because of the trade in black pepper. That is what had lured the Dutch to its harbour in 1596. Barely alive, the crew stumbled onshore and made their way into town, not only meeting locals from the islands of Java and Sumatra, but also Portuguese, who had long considered the port town home. Read More Kamala Harris's Pitch to Black Men
Relations with the sultan did not work out, and soon it was decided that the Dutch required their own capital in Asia. On the instruction of governor general Jan Pieterszoon Coen (1587-1629), nearby Jakarta was razed to the ground, and on its ashes the construction of Batavia soon commenced.
Kota Tua, the old heart of the city, corresponds to what the Dutch once referred to as their 'pride and joy'. Stately buildings flank its historical square, and references to the Dutch East Indies Company abound. In the garden of the Wayang Museum, the grave of Coen can still be visited. Otherwise known for the massacre on the Banda Islands committed under his command in 1621, Coen is mainly remembered as the founder of Batavia, around which one of the largest cities in the world would grow one day.
In the Dutch town of Hoorn, the place of my birth, a statue of Coen continues to dominate its historical centre. Although, over the years, removal of the statue has been vociferously advocated by many. Others still cling to a sense of pride when it concerns the colonial period.
Hoorn sits amid fertile land of endless green. This is where my grandfather's cows once grazed lushly. All his life, my father grew cauliflower here. It's the season for tulips now. Drawing visitors from all over the world, the landscape is awash in a riot of colours. I associate it with backbreaking work, though. That is what led me to pursue a career in management, with IBM welcoming me in its byzantine embrace. It took me a while to find the exit, but once I did, I never looked back.
As my colleague dropped me off at the station, the lyrics of the song stayed with me, the singer's quiet desperation continuing: 'All I need is a peace of this mind / Then I can celebrate.' I have been travelling ever since.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How finance can clean up Ireland's ageing fleet
How finance can clean up Ireland's ageing fleet

Yahoo

time34 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

How finance can clean up Ireland's ageing fleet

Ireland's vehicle fleet is getting older, and dirtier, at a time when cleaner transport is more urgent than ever. The CEO of Close Brothers Motor Finance Ireland argues that with the right finance tools and industry collaboration, Ireland can upgrade its roads without breaking the bank. As the world works collectively to meet the challenge of climate change, motorists too are doing their part. The International Energy Agency estimates that sales of newer, zero emissions vehicles exceeded 17 million in 2024, more than a fifth of global car sales. The picture isn't uniform however and some countries are doing better than others. While the average age of motor vehicles in Ireland compares well to EU averages, the average age of cars on Irish roads has increased from 5.8 years at the start of 2008, to 9.9 years now according to the Society of Irish Motor Industry . SIMI also estimates that nearly half the cars on Irish roads are 10 years old or more. We recently crunched the latest data from the Irish statistics office (the CSO) meanwhile and discovered that nearly 20% of Irish cars were registered in 2010 or before. There are any number of reasons for this. The boom years of the Celtic Tiger for example were a time of great prosperity in Ireland. Since then, incomes and spending power have been hit by factors ranging from Covid to the cost of living and, latterly, nervousness around American tariffs. And with inflation in Ireland having increased again in the spring, consumer sentiment remains muted. With consumers less willing to spend on newer vehicles, Ireland could find itself beginning to lag when it comes to the twin challenges of tackling climate change and improving air quality. Older vehicles are less efficient than newer models with the UN Environment Programme arguing that "ageing cars are bogging down the battle against climate change". Not only this, older cars also have more of an impact on air quality. Ireland's Environment Protection Agency warned only last year that Ireland might fall short of WHO air quality targets. So, Ireland's ageing vehicles are not only more prone to breakdown, but could be impacting health and the environment. With the Irish buying on average 2.5 used cars for every new car sold, it's vital that newer and more efficient second hand vehicles start replacing Ireland's older vehicles. This could have an immediate impact on safety and air quality and also help Ireland deliver on sustainability. The cost of living however continues to put pressure on household budgets, and car prices in Ireland remain stubbornly high. So upgrading Ireland's car isn't easy. As lenders, we can't alleviate the cost of living or apply cost controls to the car market. There are levers we can pull however, which can help Ireland upgrade its ageing fleet and clean up her roads. As an example, we recently launched an innovative PCP product that attaches a minimum future value to the vehicles we lend against. A recurring conversation I have with dealers in Ireland is about the risk of second-hand vehicle depreciation. At the end of a PCP contract a vehicle is often returned to the dealer. But what if since selling the vehicle an economic shock has impacted used car prices? This could leave a dealer out of pocket so dealers are disincentivised from offering PCP deals. This is despite widespread consumer demand due to the lower repayments PCP deals typically come with and therefore the greater range of newer - and crucially cleaner - vehicles they make available. A future minimum value guarantee on the vehicle makes things far more predictable for motor dealers, meaning offering PCP and upgrading Ireland's fleet is more achievable. Our product demonstrates what an innovative approach to motor finance can achieve when it comes to ensuring cleaner and safer roads. All of which means that Ireland can hopefully get a new set of wheels as we drive for greater sustainability in the used car market. "How finance can clean up Ireland's ageing fleet" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

China Extends Probe Into EU Pork Imports
China Extends Probe Into EU Pork Imports

Yahoo

time44 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

China Extends Probe Into EU Pork Imports

China said Tuesday that it would extend a yearlong probe into pork imports from the European Union, as Beijing seeks to bolster ties with the 27-member bloc amid heightened trade tensions with the U.S. The Chinese Commerce Ministry decided to extend its antidumping investigation into EU pork products by six months to Dec. 16, citing the complexity of the case, according to an official notice. Think Twice Before You Click 'Unsubscribe' The Canned-Food Aisle Is Getting Squeezed by Rising Steel Tariffs The Best New Features Coming to Your iPhone, iPad and Mac (and What's Missing) FTC Seeks Information From Top Advertising Agencies as Part of Ad-Boycott Probe Judge Tosses Justin Baldoni's Lawsuits Against Blake Lively and New York Times The probe was launched last June in response to the EU's decision to slap antisubsidy levies on Chinese electric vehicles and was originally set to conclude later this month. Most of the EU's pork exports go to East Asia, in particular China, with Germany, Spain and France among the biggest producers, according to the European Commission. Tuesday's announcement is viewed as another goodwill gesture by Beijing, as Chinese leaders launch a global charm offensive to improve relations with major economic partners amid a trading fight with Washington. Back in April, Beijing extended a similar probe into brandy imports from the EU by three months to July and expanded Spanish pork exporters' access to the Chinese market through bilateral trade agreements. Earlier this month, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao talked with EU trade officials over a range of issues including Chinese EVs and export controls during a trip to France. In a statement after Wang's trip, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said negotiations with the EU on setting minimum prices for Chinese-made EVs have entered its final stages. Wang also said in his meetings with European counterparts that China will accelerate approvals of qualified rare-earth exports to Europe, adding that he hopes the EU can bolster exports of high-tech products to the country, according to the ministry. In retaliation against President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs in April, China slapped new export controls on seven types of rare-earth minerals that are needed for a range of products including electronics, cars and advanced defense equipment. Such restrictions from the world's dominant rare-earth supplier have become a headache for global businesses, especially American and European automakers, many of which have warned of significant disruption in the global supply chain. Tuesday's extension also came as senior officials from China and the U.S. are meeting in London for their second round of talks with export controls taking the center stage. Write to Singapore Editors at singaporeeditors@ Alexander Brothers File $500 Million Defamation Suit Against The Real Deal Warner Discovery Splits Cable From Marquee Streaming, Studio Businesses Apple Unveils Array of New Software, but AI Comeback Remains Far Off Disney to Pay NBCUniversal Another $438.7 Million for Hulu Stake Businesses Are Bingeing on Crypto, Dialing Up the Market's Risks Errore nel recupero dei dati Effettua l'accesso per consultare il tuo portafoglio Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati

EU targets Russia with sanctions, lower oil price cap
EU targets Russia with sanctions, lower oil price cap

UPI

timean hour ago

  • UPI

EU targets Russia with sanctions, lower oil price cap

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas briefed the press Monday on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, in Brussels, Belgium. Photo by Olivier Matthys/EPA-EFE June 10 (UPI) -- The European Commission on Tuesday unveiled its latest in a series of sanctions against Russia targeting energy exports, infrastructure and finances. "Oil exports still represent one-third of Russia's government revenues," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a news conference in Brussels, Belgium. "We need to cut this source of revenues," she added. The measures aimed to put pressure on Moscow to end Russia's war in Ukraine include a proposal to lower the current $60 oil price cap to $45 per barrel and bans use of the Nord Stream pipelines between Germany and Russia. At least nine individuals and 33 companies will be slapped with asset freezes. And the EU will consider adding another 77 boats part of Russia's "shadow fleet" banned in European ports of entry, part of at least 300 other barred Russian vessels. In addition, at least 22 Russian banks will be cut off from the SWIFT international banking system and the Russian Direct Investment Fund. Von der Leyen called the sanctions "robust" and "hard-biting" and added that Russia's economy has already been bowing to past pressure. "Russia continues to bring death and destruction to Ukraine," she said Monday at the press conference with Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat. "Our message is clear: This war must end." Kallas called Russia's military invasion of Ukraine "outright illegal." She said it was "clear that Russia does not want peace," adding it is "cruel, aggressive and a danger to us all." It arrived ahead of this weekend's G7 summit in Alberta, Canada where the new oil price caps will be discussed. "With this package, we step up pressure on Russia," stated von der Leyen. "Our objective is very clear: We are reiterating the call for a full, unconditional ceasefire of at least 30 days," she said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store