Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi receives Amir of the State of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, who is paying a state visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The two leaders will hold talks on ways to further advance the historical and outstanding relations between Egypt and Kuwait, as well as regional issues and dossiers pertinent to joint Arab action of priority.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
In the current global landscape, it’s undeniable that the attention of world leaders is often diverted by a myriad of pressing issues, ranging from regional conflicts like the Israel-Palestine conflict to geopolitical tensions such as the situation in Ukraine, compounded by economic challenges like inflation and the existential threat of climate change. This reality creates a concerning phenomenon where leaders may feel less accountable for their actions on the international stage, knowing that the focus of global attention is fragmented and often fleeting.
When we localize our perspective, we recognize that this lack of global cohesion can indeed undermine accountability for leaders on a national level. In the midst of global turmoil and competing crises, leaders may exploit the distraction to advance their own agendas without facing significant international scrutiny or repercussions. This not only emboldens reckless behavior but also erodes trust in the mechanisms designed to uphold peace and security on a global scale.
The danger inherent in this scenario is twofold: first, it allows leaders to act with impunity, making decisions that can have far-reaching consequences for their own citizens and the world at large without facing meaningful consequences. Second, it perpetuates a cycle of instability and conflict, as unchecked aggression and unilateral actions sow seeds of discord and mistrust among nations.
As concerned citizens, it is imperative that we remain vigilant and hold our leaders accountable, not just within the context of global events, but also in the day-to-day governance of our nations. By demanding transparency, accountability, and adherence to international norms and laws, we can help mitigate the risks posed by leaders who seek to exploit global distractions for their own gain.
We must recognize the interconnectedness of global challenges and advocate for a more cooperative approach to addressing them. By working together to tackle issues like climate change, economic inequality, and conflict resolution, we can create a more stable and equitable world where leaders are held accountable not just by their own citizens but by the international community as a whole.
The current global political climate is, without a doubt, teetering on a precipice where the stakes are not just high—they are existential. When leaders with significant control over national military and nuclear capabilities exhibit unstable, aggressive behaviors, the potential for catastrophic outcomes increases exponentially, not just for their countries but for the entire world.
The unsettling scenario where leaders from powerful nations like the USA and Iran engage in provocations and threats is a stark reminder of how quickly things can spiral out of control. The fear is not unfounded; the use of nuclear weapons by either country could lead to unimaginable destruction and a humanitarian crisis on a global scale. The radioactive fallout, the devastating impact on global climate, agriculture, and water sources, and the economic collapse are just the tip of the iceberg.
What is profoundly concerning is the apparent lack of robust, global diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and disarmament. The world’s reliance on outdated and often ineffective methods of conflict resolution in an era where warfare could potentially end all human life is alarming. The United Nations and other international bodies must be empowered and reformed to mediate these conflicts more effectively, moving beyond mere condemnations to actionable, enforceable resolutions that ensure peace and security.
Moreover, the underlying issues of greed and power struggles that fuel such conflicts need to be addressed. Global inequality, resource distribution, and the unchecked power of sovereign nations to stockpile and threaten the use of weapons of mass destruction must be reevaluated in the context of their global impact, not just national interest.
It’s critical that we, as a global community, advocate for and support diplomatic endeavors that prioritize human life and the future of our planet. We must also educate ourselves and others about the dire consequences of nuclear warfare and the importance of disarmament. The survival of humanity depends on our ability to transcend narrow self-interests and work collectively towards lasting peace and security. Only through sincere, inclusive, and transparent dialogue can we hope to achieve parity and stability in international relations. The time for this is not just now; it was yesterday, underscoring the urgency with which we must act to change the trajectory of our current path.
2. Education : BA in EDPM
3. Company name: Filla’s Leather
4 Title :CEO
5. Found in : 2021
6. What it do : Designing and producing leather products
7. Head Quarter: Hawassa
8. Start up capital : 50,000 birr
9. Current capital : Growing
10. Number of the employees : 6
11. Reason for starting the business : Interest on leather products
12. Biggest perk of ownership : Freedom
13. Biggest Strength : My family’s support
14. Biggest challenge : Lack of access to materials
15. Plan: To open shops all over the country
16. First Career : Primary school teacher
17. Most interested in meeting : Mihret Debebe
18. Most admired person : None
19. Stress reducers : watching films
20. Favorite book : Alweledim , Abe Gubegna
21. Favorite past time : Reding history books
22.Favorite destination : USA
23. Favorite automobile : None
Last week we saw how difficult it is to say “No” and that as a result of that we find ourselves running in the rat race and away from achieving results. Some of the reasons for not being able to say ‘No” are the importance of relationships (we don’t like to disappoint others), procrastination (postponing things that really need to be done) and not knowing very well what our real priorities are. The sad thing is that as some people fail to say “No” to requests that come their way, they often don’t really mean it and will not do what they just promised they will do. As a result of that they disappoint the very person they didn’t want to disappoint in the first place. As a result, again they become somebody that cannot be trusted.
Needless interruptions, unimportant meetings, some phone calls, some email and other people’s problems are examples of issues that may come our way and that we need to learn to say “No” to if we want to be more effective in achieving what really needs to be done. And to be able to say “No” we need to know what our priorities are and thus what to say “Yes” to.
Interesting enough, things we need to learn to say “Yes” to, are usually not very urgent. Instead, we easily say “Yes” to things that are seemingly urgent, no matter whether they are important or not. Telephone calls are a good example of something urgent that comes our way at any time and that we cannot resist to answer, while we don’t even know yet whether that call is more important and worth answering while attending to a very important client or meeting for example. Many people enjoy attending to what seems to be something urgent and are busy being busy, while they should be doing something else more important instead. A typical not so urgent thing that is easily pushed forward is planning ahead. Planning ahead can prevent a lot of trouble later but we seem to prefer facing the crisis and end up fighting fires here and there. Planning for the sake of planning doesn’t help much either, if activities are not being carried out according to plan and that happens a lot. Weddings provide a good example here. Many meetings are held to plan for a wedding which is a very important occasion indeed. Many things need to be arranged like the limousines, flowers, the hall, the church, the meals, the drinks, the video, the dress, and the invitations. During these planning meetings, people are assigned their tasks, which they eagerly agree to do as they cannot say “No”, remember? However, some of them will drag their feet and fail to do what they agreed to do, much to the disappointment of others. As we get closer to the wedding, the fire fighters and crisis managers come forward and all is well that ends well. But only at the cost of a lot of stress and uncertainty, while things could have gone wrong easily. The time spent planning is time well spent but only if the plan is carried out accordingly and adjusted in time if so required.
As mentioned above, proper planning can prevent a lot of trouble later. Let us take construction as an example. I see houses being built without properly planning the order in which things need to be done. As a result, walls and ceilings are broken up again for the plumber or electrician to come and lay their pipes and cables. The lack of planning also affects the quality of the end result as things are done in a hurry.
Planning, prevention and preparation are thus the issues we need to learn to say “Yes” to if we want to achieve results. And while plan “A” is ready to be carried out, it is good to have a plan “B” in case things turn out differently. Pausing and adjusting the plan is just as important as there are always hick ups and unexpected developments. Expecting the unexpected helps in preventing crisis and moving on effectively. This is what pilots do before taking-off. They make sure they have enough fuel to divert to alternative airports, should they encounter a problem in reaching their primary destination.
Now, planning can only be done properly if we know what the end-result needs to look like. In other words, if we connect to the purpose of the organization we work for or a specific project. Next, we need to know what our own role is in achieving the results of the organization or the project. Now, goals and objectives can be set, followed by identifying what activities need to be carried out to meet those objectives. Finally, a budget and time schedule can be set, providing the resources for what needs to be done. And while the project is now underway, it is important to consistently monitor progress, figure out where things go different than planned and adjust the plan accordingly. With the end-result in mind, chances are that they will be reached. Meanwhile we need to keep saying “No” to the things that come our way but distract us from reaching our objectives and goals.
“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of the things which matter least.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Ton Haverkort
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