Final guidelines for transformative change
AS we accept the fact of our ever-greater connectivity with the rest of the global community, we need to think through the implications of this fact. Mr. Estrada asks us to consider three final guidelines arising from such connectivity.
“The high (and improving) level of connectivity has many important implications, such as:
• “It sheds light on previously murky important matters of governance (at all levels), national, corporate and individual. Just note recent examples such as Wikileaks, thePanama Papers, etc.
• “It makes it virtually impossible for governments to keep important (or even critical) strategic initiatives “secret.”
• “Data/information that is propagated is not effectively“refereed”for accuracy, reliability or objectivity, making it potentially incendiary in the hands of demagogues or extremist groups.
• “It has contributed to the “instant gratification” contemporary culture; it appears to have also shortened the public’s “attention span,” most particularly, (among) the young.”
“It is not possible to create islands of affluence in a sea of political instability, poverty or hopelessness.
• “Witness: Mexican/Latin American/Asian migration to the US/Canada; African/Arab migration to Europe; migrations to more affluent countries in the Middle East; migration from the former “USSR/Warsaw Pact countries to the EU/UK; migrations to Australia and Canada.
• “Attempting to impose quotas/ controls – as opposed to addressing root causes – simply polarizes and radicalizes societies and creates an increasingly volatile environment.”
“Isolationism sows the seeds of conflict, war and now, unconscionable destruction. Furthermore, there is no way a “zero sum game” between powers is acceptable, given the destructive power at hand today.”
In view of the above guidelines, “we must educate our youth well on the lessons of history and civics. Col- laborating closely with academe, citizens must organize and make the case (among the public, the public sector leadership, the private sector and civil society) for: • “Unity in diversity. • “Collaboration vs. conflict. • Dispute Resolution based on agreed “universal” principles.
• “Measured regional and global economic integration.”
“We also need to set up an objective way of refereeing what appears like data on the Internet. Above all, we need to undertake research and take action on the optimum deployment of human talent in the age of robotics, analytics, artificial intelligence and unprecedented computing power.”
This is quite a multi-faceted call, coming with important guidelines for our consideration as we open up a dialogue on shaping and formulating strategic priorities for building our Dream Philippines.