by Michel Klompmaker
Sometimes I really can’t help myself. What then? I have a need to confine a few things to paper, when in a semi-philosophical mood. This way I can then rid the thought from my head. Why suddenly now, you ask? Well, it was quite the month in my opinion. An exceptionally special month is behind us, and I will try to explain what I have taken away from it, all from a risk perspective, as you can and should expect from this platform.
First of all, the hottest day ever measured on October 29 in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, was no less than 24.6 degrees. I still remember at the end of October from my youth, a long time ago, deep in the last century, where I was skating on frozen natural ice on ditches at the end of October on my Frisian walkers…
Why global warming? It seems definitively clear to me now: ESG is no longer an issue for a limited number of environmental activists. No, it is an absolute necessity and should be high on the agenda of every risk manager and director, both in the private and public sector. The EU will soon come up with a draft for a new directive in the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), with the wish to have this directive enter into force in 2024.
Elon Musk
The next thing that struck me was Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter. After he previously renounced the takeover, it did happen and some top managers were immediately fired. That may sound very healthy from an American business standpoint, but there is something very strange going on with this Elon Musk. As a businessman, he presents himself as a kind of ‘peacemaker’ between Ukraine and Russia on the one hand, and Taiwan and China on the other. The richest man in the world who, out of his sincere goodness, is concerned about a just solution to existing conflicts? Do you believe it yourself? What do you think, he comes up with proposals that fit exactly in the vein of Russia and China…coincidentally, two countries where Mr. Musk would like to sell some cars, and other services…
Inside the mind of Trump
Dangerous political followers of Trump have resurfaced in recent days. They have since adopted the tried and tested tactics and methods of this former president. To cast doubt on its correctness in the event of a defeat in the official elections, as is the case again with Brazilian presidential candidate Bolsonaro. How long has it been since January 6, 2021, the storming of the Capitol in Washington and a few days ago the attack on the private home of Nancy Pelosi and her husband?
A little jump to the Middle East
In a few weeks, the World Cup will start in Qatar. Quite apart from the question of how it ever got there, very recently it has become known that free tickets and accommodation will be offered to football fans from the West, under the strict conditions that only positive communication about the tournament in Qatar must be communicated via social media. be, on pain of… Not only that, they are also expected to report to the authorities about fellow football fans who express themselves less positively. After all, Qatar is convinced that money can buy everything.
Then from Qatar a little more to the north, to the other side of the Persian Gulf, we come to Iran, where a strict, corrupt and fundamentalist criminal regime has been in power for about 43 years, which is frantically suppressing any form of free speech, in a very bloody way. Why are only a few countries taking strong action against these criminals, who cote que coûte mislead Western and domestic media with stories to the family about the sudden cardiac arrest of hundreds of young people as the cause of death after they were arrested.
Then we move on from Iran back to the West, to Sharm el Sheikh, where ordinary Egyptian citizens are not allowed and cannot come in a protected area. After all, there is a wall around the resort of about 36 kilometers long. And it is precisely there that a climate summit is now being organised by Egypt.
You can of course draw your own conclusions, but as far as I am concerned, the risks have increased exponentially.
The illustration is based on Rodin’s work, Le penseur, translated to The Thinker.
