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iva

IN TER N ATIO N A L

Business, ethics, deeds...

"With this financial crisis and its conse- "However, we should always ask our-
quences, do you realize that people selves," Syse continues, "where does
are going back to more traditional va- the value come from? One should ne-
lues?" my colleague observed one day. ver forget the human factor behind all
"It's not only in Europe.You can find this.Who are those human beings who
this phenomenon everywhere around contribute to malcing these values and
who are those whose possessions are
the globe".
at risk? In other words, the financial
Gordon Gekko's vision is out - greed world should also bear in mind this ex
is no longer good - and people have nihilo nihil fit concept. And who would
realized that people earning vast not agree when you read about what

amounts of money does not make so- is going on: people are being laid off;
ciety a better place to live. Rather the some are facing salary reductions; we
contrary. Many people are now looking have a new working poor... These are
at ethics and moral standards, either phenomena that we never thought we
in the business world or in their daily would see in Europe in the twenty-
lives. People who keep their word; first century, and yet here they are!"
someone whose deeds are performed
with integrity. This is the new trend The economists have issued a war-
we can now see emerging in societies ning: the present crisis could turn
into a double dip, creating even more
around the world.
trouble than in the past. While they
In a recent seminar,the Norwegian phi- argue about the remedies, the politi-
losopher Henrilc Syse pinpointed one cians dither. So what will the solution
common denominator of this current be, other than going back to good old
crisis:"ex nihilo nihil fit" or for those of traditional values... One can only ask?
us who have forgotten our Latin:"out
of nothing is created nothing".ln other Finally, for those with an eye on his-
words, behind the present economic tory, 100k at what happened in 1929
crisis lays the fact that no new value and its aftermath ... Let us hope that
was created. It all started out in the this crisis will not lead to a repetition
United States, when credit institutions of that scenario...
lent money to people who had no
chance of paying it back.All these bad With these words, Diva's team wishes
loans were wrapped up in such nice you a pleasant day.
packaging that nobody knew what was
Marit
going on until one day the bubble burst.

The views expiessed are the iesponsibility of the authors E-mail: diva inteinational@gmail com
and do not necessauly ieflect tlie views of DIVA Tel: 41-22-917 43 02
@ www.divainternational.ch
Editor: Mant Fosse
DIVA is a publication of Giaficnn Ltd Graphic design: Cynl Cailliez
Friends contributing to this issue:
C de Lavarenne, A Caire, H Beywood, J Fox, I Maiguet,
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E A Varadi, J Varadi, P Vuot, J -M Wissmer
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