- Written by Robert McCaffrey Editor, Global Gypsum Magazine
I've sometimes been accused of being slightly morose, with a cynical take on the world, but I prefer to think of it as seeing the world as it really is, and being better prepared than if I were to wander around wearing rose-tinted spectacles. So when I recently noticed an increase in reports about China's growing economic troubles, my ears pricked up. I've long been a sceptic about the sustainability of China's meteoric growth, even after having been to the country and seen for myself the jaw-dropping construction projects and scale of building work that seemingly never stops. Flying from skyscraper-studded Shanghai, below, (where I have travelled on a 400km/hr maglev train to the airport) back into low-rise London felt to me like passing from the 23rd to the 15th century.
- Written by Dr Robert McCaffrey, Managing Editor, Global Gypsum Magazine
I remember going to a business development meeting where some sage person opined that 'You need to find a niche small enough so that you can expand to fill it, but not so small that there is no business in it.' A niche, for the uninitiated, is a small space, sometimes cave-like, sometimes occupied by a religious icon, also any small cavity-like physical space or specialised subject area or concept. I wonder if we might usefully think of the building materials industry as a series of niches? Let me explain.
- Written by Dr Robert McCaffrey, Managing Editor, Global Gypsum Magazine
The publication of the new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a landmark moment. The report states that the UN-backed body of international scientists is 95% certain that half of the global warming seen in the years covered by the report is man-made. The other 50% of the warming effect is presumably perfectly natural and is therefore acceptable. This natural warming is to be borne with gritted teeth and a sigh of weary acceptance. If sea level does eventually rise by a metre, then I shall curse the man-made half of the rise, but I will try to enjoy the other half of the sea level rise, like I might enjoy a lovely natural organic hummus wholemeal baguette.
- Written by Dr Robert McCaffrey, Managing Editor, Global Gypsum Magazine
We have recently advertised for an editorial assistant to help us here at Global Gypsum Magazine. We had 10 graduates apply for the job, including two PhDs. One candidate whom I had invited for interview, subsequently called up and told me that she wouldn't be coming after all, since "Gypsum just isn't sexy enough." Are you kidding? It's a multi-billion dollar industry with major international companies innovating as fast as they can, with law suits, mergers and acquisitions and even some espionage now and then. The people are friendly, the product is just about as 'eco' as it gets and there's enough international travel in the job as you could wish for. Needless to say, she didn't get the job.
- Written by Dr Robert McCaffrey, Managing Editor, Global Gypsum Magazine
While I was out for a walk recently, I met two Asiatic ladies also taking in the fresh air - one was from Singapore and one from Malaysia. We soon found ourselves talking about the air pollution that is drifting from forest fires in Indonesia and is creating a choking haze in Singapore. They mentioned the terrible air pollution in Beijing and the fact that 6000 dead pigs had been found floating down the Huang Po, the river that flows through Shanghai. One of the ladies then told me the following joke: "Two Chinese, one from Beijing and one from Shanghai, are discussing the relative merits of their glorious cities. The Beijing resident, boasting, said "We are so lucky in Beijing; we can open the window and get free cigarette smoke!" The resident from Shanghai just snorts and says, "That's nothing. In Shanghai we turn on the taps and out comes pork soup."
