Scholars engage on public policy and personal growth
Rhodes Scholars have taken part in lively discussions at Rhodes House this term with distinguished speakers on topics as diverse as a Commonwealth initiative on climate change, Africa's environment, Canadian foreign policy, ambition, and 'healing through creativity'.
Talks have included:
Dr Danny Sriskandarajah (New South Wales & Magdalen 1998), Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society, on ‘GreenHouse: A Commonwealth Climate Challenge’ - Dr Sriskandarajah spoke about the contemporary role and potential of the Commonwealth, the work of the Royal Commonwealth Society in promoting international understanding and on issues such as the status of women and youth leadership, and in particular its initiative, GreenHouse: A Commonwealth Climate Challenge. This 'climate challenge' will give 12 households in each of 12 cities in 12 countries across the Commonwealth 12 months to reduce their environmental impact. Oxford will be one of the participating cities. Rhodes Scholars were joined at this event by members of the Oxford branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
Professor Paul Collier on 'Should Africa's environment be preserved?' - Paul Collier is Director of Oxford’s Centre for the Study of African Economies, and the author of such highly-acclaimed works as The Plundered Planet: How To Reconcile Prosperity with Nature and The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can be Done About It. Professor Collier stressed our obligation to the future, the distinction between depletable and renewable resources, and the need to assess our use of nature by whether it would be 'OK by me' in the future. Urging the need for 'a critical mass of informed citizens' on such issues (including issues of resource taxati
on), he encouraged Scholars to take an interest in the Natural Resource Charter - a set of principles for governments and societies on how best to manage the opportunities created by natural resources for development.
Dr Desiree Cox (Commonwealth Caribbean & Pembroke 1987) on ‘Healing Through Creativity’ - Desiree Cox was the first Rhodes Scholar from The Bahamas, and the first woman Rhodes Scholar from the Commonwealth Caribbean. A medical doctor who is also a jazz singer, creative writer, and visual artist, she is recognised for her innovative work on the individual's capacity for self-healing and the healing potential of human relationships and creativity. Dr Cox spoke of authenticity as a key to leadership, the importance of self-caring for restoring ourselves as whole people, the need to do creative things and to be willing to take risks, and - in the words of the African-American theologian-philosopher Howard Thurman - to 'do what makes you come alive'.
The Hon. Jam
es Wright, High Commissioner for Canada, on 'Canada and the world' - James Wright, a distinguished Canadian diplomat who represents Canada in the UK, spoke on Canada's role in international economic affairs (including its leadership of G8 and G20 summits during the global financial crisis), international security (including the importance of a political process of negotiation in Afghanistan), humanitarian work (such as assistance to Haiti in the aftermath of the massive earthquake), and the environment. He said that major global issues need global solutions, and spoke of Canada's important contribution to this.
In welcoming Mr Wright, the Warden of Rhodes House, Dr Donald Markwell, spoke of the great contribution of Rhodes Scholars over the last century to public debate and public service in Canada, including to helping to shape Canada's role in the world - a tradition Mr Wright encouraged current Rhodes Scholars to maintain.
The Bram Fischer Memorial Lecture by Nelson Mandela’s lawyer, George Bizos - Mr Bizos was one of the lawyers who defended Nelson Mandela and others on trial for their lives in the Treason Trial of 1956-61 and the Rivonia Trial of 1963-64. The lecture is given in memory of Rhodes Scholar lawyer Bram Fischer (Orange Free State & New College 1931), who – as part of his many acts of resistance to the apartheid regime, for which he paid a high price - also acted for Mr Mandela in those trials.
In his lecture, Mr Bizos spoke memorably and vividly of those trials and related events, and warmly remembered the life, sacrifice, and impact of Bram Fisc
her.
For a report on George Bizos's Bram Fischer Memorial Lecture, including the full text and video of the lecture, click here.
Ms Moya Greene, former head of Canada Post Corporation, now head of the UK's Royal Mail - Moya Greene spoke on the theme that ‘ambition is not a four-letter word’, and discussed with Scholars the importance of mentoring (having 'a hand behind your back'), of risk-taking (not always taking the safe choices), of establishing and maintaining networks far from your current field and of the importance of this in enabling resilience in the face of setbacks, and other tips for life and careers - including 'know what you need and hire for that', 'do due diligence on the boss' before you take a job, and 'save your money'.
Mr Elias Chipimo, Jr (Zambia & Oriel 1990), on 'Africa: a tale of two continents and why prosperity continues to elude us - the case of Zambia' - Mr Chipimo, a lawyer in Lusaka who is running for President of Zambia as the candidate of the National Restoration Party, outlined a vision for Zambia's future with a strong emphasis on building leadership capacity throughout Africa.
For a fuller report 
on Elias Chipimo's talk, including the text of his address, click here.
The German Rhodes Lecture by Professor Peter Eigen, founder of Transparency International, on 'The role of civil society in promoting just global governance: the case of anti-corruption efforts' - Professor Eigen, who left the World Bank to pursue anti-corruption efforts through Transparency International, spoke of the importance of 'antagonistic co-operation' between companies, government, and civil society in many fields, including human rights, the environment, and labour provisions. He focussed especially on how this worked through the efforts of Transparency International, working with governments, international organisations, the private sector, and other NGOs, to outlaw and expose corruption, which caused such harm to the well-being of people in many countries. The German Rhodes Lecture is organised by current German Rhodes Scholars in Oxford, bringing a distinguished German speaker to Rhodes House.
Roger Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, on 'Fixing the game - what's wrong with capitalism' - Professor Martin presented a diagnosis of the problems inherent in western capitalism and prescriptions on how to fix them. Rh
odes Scholars were joined by Weidenfeld Scholars at this event, during which Professor Martin spoke of how the models and theories that shape our actions often produce the opposite of what we wish, citing especially the massive increase in use of stock options to compensate executives, which had actually made things better for executives but worse for shareholders. He also encouraged the view that if firms look after their customers, employees, and communities, their shareholders are likely to 'do fine' and get a fair return on their investment. Roger Martin's ideas are further developed in his forthcoming book, Fixing the Game: Bubbles, Crashes, and What Capitalism Can Learn from the NFL (Harvard Business Review Press, May 2011).
Another highlight of this term was the great success of the 'Promises Auction' conducted by the Rhodes Scholars' Southern Africa Forum. Very many diverse – and previously hidden! - talents emerged from comic to classical, from culinary to cultural, and everything in between. It was an entertaining and sociable evening which raised a staggering £5,000 for projects in Southern Africa.
During his visit to Rhodes House in March for a Trustees' meeting, H.E. Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana and current Rhodes Trustee, met with many Scholars from Africa and elsewhere. The Scholars were delighted to be able to discuss issues, especially relating to Africa's future, with such a distinguished leader, who is one of only two leaders to be awarded the Ibrahim Prize for excellence in African leadership.
Next term will also include many opportunities for Rhodes Scholars to engage with distinguished speakers at Rhodes House on diverse topics - from the role of leadership in South Africa's transition from apartheid to democracy, to how to make globalisation 'a win-win', to the life and impact of Cecil Rhodes.
Several Rhodes Scholars are leading the organisation of the Global Scholars' Symposium, a major conference of overseas postgraduate students on prominent scholarships in Oxford and Cambridge, which will focus on major challenges facing the world and how to solve them. It will be held at Rhodes House in early May.
