- Written by Robert McCaffrey, Editorial Director, Global Gypsum Magazine
I’ve recently finished reading a book entitled ‘Why the Germans do it better,’ by John Kampfner, and it says some interesting things about how Germany has evolved in the last hundred years or so, and how it has transformed itself from the wreckage of two world wars into the economic powerhouse of Europe. I thought I would share some of its most interesting points with you.
Firstly, the book tackles head-on the devastating effects of World War II on Germany and its population (and the world). An internal conversation and reckoning on the country’s behaviour during the National Socialist years has been taking place for decades, but there is a growing disconnection between the generations that were alive during the war, and those that came afterwards (who can now be in their 80s) and who were not involved in any way. Today’s German youth may have no personal connection to the war years at all. The author underlines that Germans are now prepared to discuss, debate and re-interpret the past, in contrast to the frozen view of the war years in some other countries - if it is debated at all.
- Written by Robert McCaffrey Editorial Director, Global Gypsum Magazine
This month, I want to address an issue that has puzzled me for many years: Why do people - why does everyone - occasionally do bad things? This is not a new question, of course. It has been asked throughout history, and there are plenty of accounts in ancient documents of ‘bad’ behaviour (for example - ‘causing’ 42 children to be eaten by bears after being called a ‘baldy’ - check out 2 Kings 2:23-24 in the Bible).
- Written by Robert McCaffrey Editorial Director, Global Gypsum Magazine
As we inexorably come out of the pandemic, we are learning to live in a new world. Many things have changed in the last two years or so, probably perma- nently. Working-from-home is something that many employers now find themselves offering. Transport systems are still experiencing lower user numbers (for the better, say the users), while the theory of the ‘Great Resignation’ suggests many workers simply took them- selves out of the jobs market during the pandemic, and have not come back yet, leaving many countries with a lack of workers.
- Written by Peter Edwards Editor, Global Gypsum Magazine
I recently drove around 120km to a meet-up with some friends. It was great to catch up properly for the first time in two years, but aside from the partying, I also had an unrelated revelation. On the way there, I was running late. I’m no speed demon, but let’s say I ‘maximised my opportunities’ to go as fast as legally possible. Around 90% of my time was spent at 112km/hr (the UK limit), including on the M25 past Heathrow Airport. Not hitting traffic here during day light hours is like winning the lottery.
- Written by Peter Edwards Editor, Global Gypsum Magazine
Every six months most of Europe and North America, as well as a selection of countries elsewhere in the world, change their clocks: forward in the spring, back in the autumn. Nearly 1.3 billion people who live in the 55+ countries do this, to ‘benefit’ from Daylight Saving Time (DST). As ‘DST-natives’ we learn to see it as part of the natural order of things. But it is nothing of the sort, and it is starting to wear thin.
