31 August 2009: inspirational people
Back in the place Brits call “Blighty” and I can’t tell readers how different the topics agenda is in Spain. We had some really interesting discussions about life after Franco, the Suarez presidency, why a generation of 40-something men in Spain are commitment dilettantes and how Zapatero is considered by the Spanish electorate to be Europe’s worst leader………..next to Gordon Brown. Apparently, the Spanish media have a seriously low opinion of the British Prime Minister.
We talked a lot about the political, media and television sectors in Spain and Latin America, and again the frames of reference are so different! My friend referred to someone the Spaniards know as the “Prince of Darkness” in British politics and it’s a completely different person to the ones Brits themselves have labelled with this moniker! Then there was also the different references between the Spanish, Imperial Chinese and British Rpyal Families, someone called the Duchess of Alba and various Spanish and Chinese restauranteurs, architects and actresses who may/may not be equivalents of Jamie Oliver / Sir Richard Rogers / Johnny Depp.
Anyway, onto our inspirational people for this week……….
(1.) Lord Adair Turner
Lord Adair Turner is the current Chairman of the FSA (the UK’s equivalent of the SEC / Consob / AMF / regulatory agency for the financial sector). His biography can be read here:
* http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/About/Who/board/turner.shtml
His recent article in Prospect magazine on the Tobin tax attracted a strong reaction from the City and its financial professionals, according to media commentators:
* http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/331e7a84-958f-11de-90e0-00144feabdc0.html
* http://www.silobreaker.com/tobin-tax-explained-5_2262559664539435011
It’s not for the Tobin tax or the fact that he has the audacity to say that some banking activities are “socially useless” that he’s listed here in Inspirational People. It’s because he’s also interested in and committed to climate change issues:
* http://www.climatechangecorp.com/content.asp?contentid=5825
* http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/02/climate-change-lord-turner
(2.) Mike Perham
This 17 year-old Brit became the youngest person to sail around the world single-handed. What he did shows us that achievement and inspiration are not just about passing national exams and getting good grades. It’s also about facing the challenges of nature head on — solo even — and showing perseverance, endurance and temerity. It’s an amazing triumph for this young man and now he’s planning to set up a Sail Mike Foundation to encourage youngsters to sail!
Here’s hoping he achieves his dream of taking part in London 2012 sailing competitions!
(3.) Hayley Lister
Another amazing sailing star from the wee islands of Britain! This 37 year-old today became the first female quadriplegic to sail around “Blighty” solo.
* http://www.hilarylister.com/
* http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090831/tuk-disabled-sailor-sets-yacht-record-6323e80.html
* http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/sailing/article6816329.ece
