Wavelength #28

W

Volume 3, Issue 28, July 2008

To r Sea each far ou er r s

avelength

Human Traits & Values (Comment & Open for Debate) The Power of Personal Values 1. Introduction to Values In continuation from issue W-27, under the same title The key point to keep in mind about values is that implementing them energises everything concerned with it. For an individual, committing to and applying values releases fresh energies, which always attract success, achievement, and well-being. Likewise, when companies or other institutions adopt values, individuals working at the organisation become energised, as do its customers, its products and services, and everyone and everything else associated with that organisation.

We can energise our lives by making the full effort to implement the values we subscribe to. Once we identify values that are meaningful to us, we can develop strategies to implement them. When we make a determined effort to implement those strategies good fortune is sure to follow It comes in the form of new opportunities, new sources of revenue and income, and other forms of material and psychological benefit. We may even notice that as we implement values, we experience instances of "life response" -- where good fortune suddenly comes to us from seemingly out of nowhere, defying our normal perceptions of what is logical and possible.

cont'd on pg 12

The CENTROFIN Newsletter

THE UNITED NATIONS (History-Politics) Chaos, Cosmos! Cosmos, Chaos!

Who can tell how all will end?...

When was age so cramm'd with menace? madness? written, spoken lies?

[By Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (6 August 1809 - 6 October 1892), Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom and still remaining one of the most popular English poets].

In this issue pg 2

Piracy pg 4

Healthy Food

pg 6 The United Nations (UN) is an international organisation whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights. The UN was founded in 1945 to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between nations and to provide a platform for dialogue. pg 8-9 There are now 192 member states, including almost every recognised independent state. From its headquarters on international territory within Safety First !!

New York City, the UN and its specialised agencies decide on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings held throughout the year. The pg 10 organisation is divided into administrative bodies, primarily: · The General Assembly (the main deliberative assembly); · The Security Council (decides certain resolutions for peace and security); · The Economic and Social Council (assists in promoting international pg 1, 12-14 economic and social cooperation and development); · The Secretariat (provides studies, information, and facilities needed by the UN); · The International Court of Justice (the primary judicial organ).

Additional bodies deal with the governance of all other UN System agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The UN's most visible public figure is the Secretary-General, currently Ban Ki-moon of South Korea.

The UN is financed from assessed and voluntary contributions from member states, and has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, cont'd on pg 7 Russian, and Spanish.

Mental Feng Shui

MAIB Cases

Human Traits & Values

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) This article is about maritime piracy.

The flag of 18th-century pirate Calico Jack.

Piracy is a robbery committed at sea, or sometimes on the shore, without a commission

TO THE MASTER: Please circulate copies of this Bulletin to the CREW.

from a sovereign nation (robbery with sovereign commission is privateering, and distinct from piracy). Seaborne piracy against transport vessels remains a significant issue (with estimated worldwide losses of US $13 to $16 billion per year), particularly in the waters between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, off the Somali coast, and also in the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, which are used by over 50,000 commercial ships a year. A recent surge in piracy off the Somali coast spurred a multi-national effort led by the United States to patrol the waters near the Horn of Africa to combat piracy. While boats off the coasts of North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea are still assailed by pirates, the Royal Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard have nearly eradicated piracy in U.S. waters and in the Caribbean Sea.

cont'd on pg 2

from pg 1

Pira

Maritime piracy, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982, consists of any criminal acts of violence, detention, or depredation committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or aircraft that is directed on the high seas against another ship, aircraft, or against persons or property on board a ship or aircraft. Piracy can also be committed against a ship, aircraft, persons, or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any state.

The Jolly Roger is the traditional name for the flags of European and American pirates and a symbol for piracy that has been adopted by film-makers and toy manufacturers. ·

Etymology The English "pirate" is derived from the Latin term pirata, and ultimately from Greek peira (ðåίñá) "attempt, experience", implicitly "to find luck on the sea". The word is also cognate to peril. In 17th and 18th century sources the word is often rendered "pyrate". However, the term does not exclusively relate to robbery committed at sea, as other similar origins have a broader definition.

On one voyage across the Aegean Sea in 75 BCE, Julius Caesar was kidnapped by Cilician pirates and held prisoner in the Dodecanese islet of Pharmacusa. He maintained an attitude of superiority throughout his captivity. When the pirates decided to demand a ransom of twenty talents of gold, Caesar is said to have insisted that he was worth at least fifty, and the pirates indeed raised the ransom to fifty talents. After the ransom was paid, Caesar raised a fleet, pursued and captured the pirates, and imprisoned them. The Senate finally invested Pompey with powers to deal with piracy in 67 BCE (the Lex Gabinia), and Pompey after three months of naval warfare managed to suppress the threat. In the 3rd century, pirate attacks on Olympos (city in Anatolia) brought impoverishment. Among some of the most famous ancient pirateering peoples were the Illyrians, (modern day, Albanians), populating the western Balkan peninsula. Constantly raiding the Adriatic Sea, the Illyrians caused many conflicts with the Roman Republic. It was not until 68 BCE that the Romans finally conquered Illyria and made it a province, ending their threat.

As early as 258 CE*, the Gothic-Herulic fleet ravaged towns on the coasts of the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara. The Aegean coast suffered similar attacks a few years later. In 264, the Goths reached Galatia and Cappadocia, and Gothic pirates landed on Cyprus and Crete. In the process, the Goths seized enormous booty and took thousands into captivity.

In 286 CE, Carausius, a Roman military commander of Gaulish origins, was appointed to command the Classis Britannica, and given the responsibility of eliminating Frankish and Saxon pirates who had been raiding the coasts of Armorica and Belgic Gaul.

In the Roman province of Britannia, Saint Patrick was captured and enslaved by Irish pirates.

Early Polynesian warriors attacked seaside and riverside villages. They used the sea for their hit-and-run tactics - a safe place to retreat to if the battle turned against them. *BCE/CE: Before Current Era /In the Current Era.

Middle Ages Mosaic of a Roman Trireme in Tunisia.

History Ancient piracy The earliest documented instances of piracy are the exploits of the Sea Peoples who threatened the Aegean and Mediterranean in the 13th century BCE*. In Classical Antiquity, the Tyrrhenians and Thracians were known as pirates.

The island of Lemnos long resisted Greek influence and remained a haven for Thracian pirates. By the 1st century BCE, there were pirate states along the Anatolian coast, threatening the commerce of the Roman Empire.

The widely known and far reaching pirates in medieval Europe were the Vikings, warriors and looters from Scandinavia. They raided the coasts, rivers and inland cities of all Western Europe as far as Seville, attacked by the Norse in 844. Vikings even attacked coasts of North Africa and Italy. They also plundered all the coasts of the Baltic Sea, ascending the rivers of Eastern Europe as far as the Black Sea and Persia.

The lack of centralized powers all over Europe during the Middle Ages favoured pirates all over the continent.

After the Slavic invasions of the Balkan peninsula in the 5th and 6th centuries, a Slavic tribe settled the land of Pagania between Dalmatia

acy and Zachlumia in the first half of the 7th century. These Slavs revived the old Illyrian piratical habits and often raided the Adriatic Sea. By 642 they invaded southern Italy and assaulted Siponte in Benevento. Their raids in the Adriatic increased rapidly, until the whole Sea was no longer safe for travel.

The "Narentines," as they were called, took more liberties in their raiding quests while the Venetian Navy was abroad, as when it was campaigning in Sicilian waters in 827-82. As soon as the Venetian fleet would return to the Adriatic, the Narentines temporarily abandoned their habits again, even signing a Treaty in Venice and baptising their Slavic pagan leader into Christianity. In 834 or 835 they broke the treaty and again raided Venetian traders returning from Benevento, and all of Venice's military attempts to punish the Marians in 839 and 840 utterly failed. Later, they raided the Venetians more often, together with the Arabs. In 846 the Narentines broke through to Venice itself and raided its lagoon city of Kaorle. In the middle of March of 870 they kidnapped the Roman Bishop's emissaries that were returning from the Ecclesiastical Council in Constantinople. This caused a Byzantine military action against them that finally brought Christianity to them.

After the Arab raids on the Adriatic coast c. 872 and the retreat of the Imperial Navy, the Narentines restored their raids of Venetian waters, causing new conflicts with the Italians in 887-888. The Narentine piracy traditions were cherished even while they were in Serbia, serving as the finest Serb warriors. The Venetians futilely continued to fight them throughout the 10th-11th centuries.

In 937, Irish pirates sided with the Scots, Vikings, Picts, and Welsh in their invasion of England. Athelstan drove them back.

In 12th century the coasts of west Scandinavia were plundered by Slavic pirates from the southwest coast of Baltic Sea. H Thomas Milhorn mentions a certain Englishman named William Maurice, convicted of piracy in 1241, as the first person known to have been hanged, drawn and quartered, which would indicate that the then-ruling King Henry III took an especially severe view of this crime.

The Ushkuiniks were Novgorodian pirates who looted the cities on the Volga and Kama Rivers in the 14th century.

As early as Byzantine times, the Maniots - one of Greece's toughest populations - were known as pirates. The Maniots considered piracy as a legitimate response to the fact that their land was poor and it became their main source of income. The main victims of Maniot pirates were the Ottomans but the Maniots also targeted ships of European countries.

The Haida and Tlingit tribes who lived along the Southeast Alaska's coast were traditionally known as fierce warriors, pirates and slave-traders, raiding as far as California.[7]

- pg 3 Piracy on the Indian coast Since the 14th century the Deccan (Southern Peninsular region of India) was divided into two entities: on the one side stood the Muslim-ruled Bahmani Sultanate, and on the other stood the Hindu kings rallied around the Vijayanagara Empire. Continuous wars demanded frequent resupplies of fresh horses, which were imported through sea routes from Persia and Africa. This trade was subjected to frequent raids by thriving bands of pirates based in the coastal cities of Western India.

During the 16th century there was frequent European piracy against Mughal Indian vessels, especially those en route to Mecca for the Hajj. The situation came to a head, when Portuguese attacked and captured the vessel Rahimi which belonged to Mariam Zamani the Mughal queen. In the 18th century, the famous Maratha privateer Kanhoji Angre ruled the seas between Mumbai and Goa. The most famous pirate utopia is that of Captain Misson and his pirate crew, who founded free colony of Libertatia in northern Madagascar in the late 17th century. In 1694, it was destroyed in a surprise attack by the island natives.

Piracy in East Asia From the 13th century, Japan based Wokou made their debut in East Asia, initiating invasions that would persist for 300 years.

Piracy in South East Asia began with the retreating Mongol Yuan fleet after the betrayal by their Sri Vijayan allies in the war with Majapahit. They preferred the junk, a ship using a more robust sail layout. Marooned navy officers, consisting mostly of Cantonese and Hokkien tribesmen, set up their small gangs near river estuaries, mainly to protect themselves. They recruited locals as common footsoldiers known as 'lang' (lanun) to set up their fortresses. They survived by utilizing their well trained pugilists, as well as marine and navigation skills, mostly along Sumatran and Javanese estuaries. Their strength and ferocity coincided with the impending trade growth of the maritime silk and spice routes.

However, the most powerful pirate fleets of East Asia were those of Chinese pirates during the mid-Qing dynasty. Pirate fleets grew increasingly powerful throughout the early 19th century. The effects large-scale piracy had on the Chinese economy were immense. They preyed voraciously on China's junk trade, which flourished in Fujian and Guangdong and was a vital artery of Chinese commerce. Pirate fleets exercised hegemony over villages on the coast, collecting revenue by exacting tribute and running extortion rackets. In 1802, the menacing Zheng Yi inherited the fleet of his cousin, captain Zheng Qi, whose death provided Zheng Yi with considerably more influence in the world of piracy. Zheng Yi and his wife, Zheng Yi Sao (who would eventually inherit the leadership of his pirate confederacy) then formed a pirate coalition that, by 1804, consisted of over ten thousand men. Their military might alone was sufficient to combat the Qing navy. However, a combination of famine, Qing naval opposition, and internal rifts crippled piracy in China around the 1820s, and it has never again reached the same status.

cont'd on pg 11

HEALTHY FOOD 1.Potatoes and cereal products Potatoes and cereal products : essential !

There is a persistent myth that eating potatoes and bread will make you fat. This will only happen if you eat too much bread and potatoes, just as you would if you were to eat too much of anything. Popular diets also confirm that you need products such as bread, potatoes, rice and pasta to keep your energy levels up.

Potatoes, rice and pasta are rich in starch and contain hardly any fat, that is, unless you put lashings of chocolate spread on your bread or smother your pasta in creamy sauces.

Bread Slices of bread are increasingly disappearing from our menu.

Yet cereal products such as these should be among our staple foods ! Bread, particularly the brown and wholemeal varieties, contains many important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre.

Dietary fibre promotes digestion, and stops you from feeling hungry. Types of bread such as brown and wholemeal are very healthy as they are very high in fibre and make you feel full, meaning that you are less likely to snack between meals.

Depending on whether you do a lot of physically challenging work during the day, it is perfectly healthy to eat roughly 5 to 12 slices of bread per day. It does not make sense to compensate for using too much butter or fatty spreads by eating one less slice of bread. In doing this you would be depriving yourself of essential nutrients. If you are worried about your figure, try replacing chocolate spread, salami or highfat cheese with turkey or chicken breast, low-fat cheese or some stewed apple.

Rice, potatoes and variation Potatoes are delicious, nutritious, low in fat and contain enough vitamin C to make a lemon envious. They can be boiled, steamed, baked, grilled, roasted or mashed. Ideally people should aim to eat between 3 to 5 potatoes a day, yet most of us only usually around 1 ½ per day.

For those who do not like potatoes, rice can be a useful and similar alternative. However, rice does not contain vitamin C, those eating rice instead of potatoes would need to get the daily intake of vitamin C from another food source. As a general rule it is advisable to eat 20 grams of rice, pasta or other cereal products for every potato that you eliminate from your diet. Brown or coated rice again contain a lot of fibre and are therefore healthier than other types of rice available.

Cereal products such as, bulghur, couscous, barley, spelt or quinoa are other healthy alternatives to rice.

Pasta Nowadays, you will often fi nd pasta at the top of the black list of “fattening foods”.

This is not true ; in fact nothing could be further from the truth.

Pasta provides essential nutrients, just like bread and rice.

Unfortunately, the properties of pasta are often confused with the sauces poured over them. It is very tempting to add a little extra cream to your pasta sauce, or cheese, or perhaps fried mince

or diced bacon. The ready made sauces that you can buy may well be practical, but when you read the small print on the label closely you will generally see, that it is not the pasta itself that leads to weight gain, but the sauce.

Burying your plate of pasta under grated cheese is not a good idea either. Cream and cheese can be eaten as part of a balanced diet, but only in moderation.

In general, vegetable sauces (usually made from tomato, courgette or peppers) are a better choice than cheese or cream sauces. Wholemeal pasta is not only tastier, but also healthier, as it contains more fibre. Experiment with a sauce made from diff erent types of vegetables. High-fat grated cheese can easily be replaced with a light variant, and as for the diced bacon : only eat it in moderation.

2.Fruit and vegetables Eating enough fruit and vegetables ?

We all know that fruit and vegetables taste very good.

Likewise we are all aware that they are essential for the maintenance of a healthy body.

Even if you have a banana as an afternoon snack, it is still important to make sure you eat enough vegetables throughout the day.

A good habit to get into is to eat two pieces of fruit a day.

Fruit is crammed with energy giving substances that keep up your defences against illness, and aid digestion. Fruit provides carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and dietary fi bre, and eating enough of them considerably reduces the chances of suff ering from cardiovascular disease and cancer. Fruit and vegetables do

not contain many calories. 1 chocolate bar contains the same number of calories as 9 mandarins ! While eating foods high in fibre makes you feel ‘full’ sooner, which makes you less likely to snack.

Did you know that a healthy, varied diet containing a lot of fruit and vegetables is one of the best ways to keep your body looking healthy ? Nutrition experts recommend eating an average of 250 grams of fruit per day, this eff ectively equates to 2 pieces of fruit a day. 1 portion of fruit consists of 1 medium-sized apple or 2 mandarins, or 1 dessert spoon of strawberries or berries.

What about fruit salad ?

Fruit salad consists of many small pieces of diff erent types of fruit, yet, just one bowl of fruit salad adds up to over half your daily fruit requirement. 5 handfuls of cherries, provides the same nutritional value as 2 thick slices of pineapple, 3 nectarines, 5 fresh figs, or 5 spoonfuls of stewed apple…the list goes on !

You can never eat too many vegetables.

Vegetables provide the body with carbohydrates, dietary fi bre, minerals and vitamins. About 300 grams of vegetables per day is ideal. Whether you boil, steam, bake or grill those 300 grams, dip them in fondue or eat them raw depends entirely on your preference. It does not matter whether you opt for grilled peppers or for steamed carrots, as long as you are not eating too much saturated fat or salt at the same time. It is also important to remember that one way of cooking them may preserve the healthy nutrients in your vegetables better than another.

How can you recognise 300 grams ?

How can you tell that you are eating ‘enough’ vegetables ? With cooked vegetables, 300 grams is an average of 10 tablespoonfuls per day. Sufficient vegetables eaten raw may take the form of 3 carrots,

- pg 5 -

2 tomatoes or 8 spoonfuls of cucumber slices. We don’t usually eat the same thing day after day. This is fortunate as not all vegetables contain the same vitamins and minerals, variety is very important.

It is also easier to eat your daily healthy recommended quota if you eat the vegetables throughout the day.

For example, raw vegetables with your sandwich, cooked vegetables with your evening meal, or a vegetable juice or soup as a snack.

6 spoonfuls of cooked vegetables and a handful of raw vegetables will give you your recommended daily quantity of vegetables.

Of course, fresh is best, and that way you can be sure that you are not eating too much fat, salt or other unhealthy additives.

3.Dairy products and calcium-enriched soya products Do seafarers like drinking milk?

Yes – in coffee or on cornfl akes and hot chocolate milk also tastes nice particularly when you add some whipped cream. But a cold glass of milk with your sandwiches ? With a hot meal, or in the summer at a terrace ?

People don’t often drink milk in these circumstances and certainly not as often as they should.

Calcium !

The fact that we don’t drink enough milk is crazy as milk is a tremendously healthy drink. The calcium contained in milk keeps your bones strong, even when you get older. To prevent osteoporosis, you must ensure that you get enough calcium at all ages. In other words : anyone who does not like the idea of possibly breaking a hip in later life would be well advised to eat

and drink enough calcium.

Milk contains many other essential nutrients, such as protein and vitamin B. It is even crazier that people drink so little milk when it just tastes so good.

Hot, cold, in drinking chocolate, as a fruit milk shake, with a dash of syrup, etc. Official food advice recommends drinking 3 glasses of milk per day.

As a milk drinker, you don’t need to worry about your figure unless the rest of what you eat is very unhealthy, or if you only drink full-cream milk. If you are not keen on milk but you do like soya drinks, pick a soya drink that is ‘calcium-enriched’. Just as tasty, but even healthier.

Cheese & Co. There are also many products made from milk : yoghurt, cheese, cottage cheese, pudding, etc. You should try and eat some of these types of food every day.

This is far more simple than it sounds : cheese on your bread or perhaps a fruit yoghurt snack, and you have satisfi ed your daily recommended allowance.

However, it is better to try and eat reduced or low-fat products, and watch out for any added sugar.

Soft cheeses usually have higher fat content than hard cheeses.

Although, if you want to eat healthily, the following assumption is just common sense : hard cheese contains quite a lot more fat than cottage cheese, and ice cream contains a lot more than frozen yoghurt.

First of all, butter, margarine and oil give us energy. Then they are important in supplying essential fatty acids and fatsoluble vitamins (e.g. vitamins A & D). Oil and margarine or minarine, rich in unsaturated fatty acids also help prevent cardiovascular disease.

Some margarine on the tip of a knife is actually enough for a slice of bread, as is a dessert spoon of oil or margarine per person for a hot meal. Other foods such as meat, dairy products and confectionery also contain quite a lot of fat. There is an important diff erence between saturated and unsaturated fats, unsaturated fats being the preferred option.

These are contained in oil, and in soft margarines and minarines.

Soft margarine contains more unsaturated fatty acids than a packet of ordinary margarine, and vegetable oil contains more than butter.

Mayonnaise fans should not despair : a blob of sauce from time to time is fine. However, when you do use these try to cook without using extra fat. Or try this Catalan tip : instead of butter, spread some tomato purée on your cheese sandwich.

What you definitely should not do is eliminate fat completely from your menu. We really do need some fat. The table below gives a summary of the quantity of fat contained in various types of food.

4.Spreads and cooking fats

5.Meat, fish, eggs and substitutes

Fat and fatter...

Fat in all its forms is public enemy number one in many kitchens. It is important that you use common sense when dealing with spreads containing fat (on bread) or cooking fats (when frying and roasting), as we do need some fat. Even spreads and cooking fat are essential for a balanced diet.

Meat, fish, eggs and substitutes Your body is designed to handle only a 100 grams of meat per day which is bad news for those who love eating huge slabs of steak and unlimited amounts of ribs.

Eating over a 100 grams of meat per day on a regular basis will easily help you put on weight, and increase your chances of contracting all sorts of illnesses.

Your stomach and intestines don’t know what to do with huge chunks of meat, and sooner or

later, they will let you know as much.

Eating a lot of meat will not help make you stronger.

However, it is still important that you eat enough meat or meat substitutes. Meat, fi sh, eggs and their vegetarian substitutes are a source of protein, vitamins and minerals such as iron. These are all foods that you need to feel fi t and stay healthy.

If you would rather not eat meat and fish, you can replace the 100 grams needed per day with soya products for example, seeds, pulses and nuts. However in order to stay healthy, you need to pay extra attention to the composition of your meals : as a vegetarian diet does not contain any vitamin B12. The message is ensure you have suffi cient variety and combine the right ingredients. Fortunately, eggs also belong to this group of foods and if, in addition to all the right combinations, you also drink enough milk and eat some cheese, you can be extremely healthy as a vegetarian !

If you do eat meat, then you can soon make a diff erence by choosing the right kind of meat, although this is not always easy.

What is lean meat and which types of meat is it better not to eat too often ? Here is something to help you remember : a list containing the ‘healthiest’ types of meat.

Fish is always a healthy choice, whether you choose white fish or oily fish.

As such, try to eat fish more than once per week.

Fresh meat : • lean veal, turkey breast, • turkey leg, chicken breast, chicken leg, • ox liver, horse meat, • lean beef, • lamb fillet, beef fillet and steak, • ostrich meat, pork tenderloin, • small medallions of pork, lean pork, • poultry sausage.

Cold meats : • boiled ham, • roast turkey, turkey fillet, chicken fi llet, roast beef.

cont'd on pg 6

Ms Dickey said Jack liked to keep a close watch on his territory and often chased away small animals, but one of this size was a first.

"We used to joke, 'Jack's on duty', never knowing he'd go after a bear," Donna Dickey told local newspaper The StarLedger.

Tabby cat terror for black bear Jack the cat is possessive about his territory, his owners say A black bear got more than it bargained for after straying into a family garden in the US state of New Jersey.

The unwelcome intruder was forced up a tree twice - by the family pet, a tabby cat called Jack.

The terrified bear was only able to make its escape when owner Donna Dickey called the hissing cat into the house.

"He doesn't want anybody in his yard," she added.

The bear was first spotted in the tree by neighbours who thought the 15lb (7kg) cat was just looking up at it.

They then realised the bear was afraid of the cat.

After some 15 minutes, the bear descended, but was chased up another tree, before finally making its escape when Jack was called indoors.

Bear sightings are not unusual in the area of West Milford in New Jersey, which experts say is one of the state's most bear-populated areas.

HEALTHY FOOD from pg 5

6.Water One and a half litres a day As everyone knows, if you are thirsty, you have to drink. Even if you are not thirsty, you should still drink. Our body needs 1.5 litres of water per day to do everything it has to do, for example, digesting food, or eliminating waste products.

Drinking enough liquid also helps you regulate your weight, and is the best way to ensure you have nice skin.

So drink ...water Of course, water is the ideal source of fluid and it contains no calories at all ! However, a little flavour may make it taste better.

Coffee and tea provide a little variety, unless you add a lot of cream or sugar. Drinks containing

Mental Feng Shui ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.

FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.

FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SIX. Spend some time alone.

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

a lot of caff eine such as coffee, tea and caffeine-rich soft drinks have a dehydrating eff ect, so it is best to drink them in moderation.

Try not to drink more than 3 cups of coffee per work shift. Light soft drinks are another option, but it is best not to drink more than ½ a litre a day, and also not to drink them every day. You could try a broth or thin soup for a bit of a change.

Water remains the ideal drink.

Milk is not just a water-carrier, as it contains a lot more than just fluid. For example, it contains calcium, which is essential for your bones and cannot be replaced by another drink. You should try and drink 3 glasses of semiskimmed milk a day.

A refreshing change from milk is ice-cold buttermilk. Alcoholic drinks are usually prohibited on board and are not advisable for health reasons. These drinks do not count toward your fluid intake. Quite the opposite :

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY- ONE. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

alcohol dehydrates you, and for every glass of beer and wine that you drink, you should drink an extra glass of water. This is also a good tip for avoiding hangovers.

You may be taking in fluid when you drink soft drinks, but they are very sugary at the same time. Soft drinks give you a lot of sugar, without supplying any other nutrients. It is best not to drink soft drinks every day, even when you do, do so in a limited amount.

There are different kinds of water One kind of water is not the same as another. The taste of the water depends on where it comes from and also the official name of the brand..

At home, you just turn on the tap ; tap water is rendered drinkable before it reaches your home.

Onboard, this is not always the case, and you cannot just assume that the tap water is drinkable.

Spring water comes from under the ground, and is microbiologically healthy. The natural spring that supplies this water is protected against contamination risks. In principle, spring water can be drunk direct from the spring or bottled and sold.

Natural mineral water is the ‘appellation controlle’ of water.

It differs from ordinary drinking water due to its natural purity.

Mineral water contains minerals, trace elements and other natural ingredients. Mineral water is usually pumped out of deep layers underground.

Sparkling or carbonated water is spring water or natural mineral water to which carbon dioxide gas has been added. It is just as healthy as ‘still’ water, it just depends whether you like bubbles.

- pg 7 -

THE UNITED NATIONS

from pg 1

The United Nations was founded as a successor to the League of Nations, which was widely considered to have been ineffective in its role as an international governing body insofar as it had been unable to prevent World War II. Initially, the body was known as the United Nations Organization, or UNO. However, by the 1950s, English speakers were referring to it as the United Nations, or the UN. Charter of The United Nations Chapter I: Purposes and Principles.

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and To reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and To establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international Law can be maintained, and To promote social progress and better standards of life in large freedom, AND FOR THESE ENDS To practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another

The art of drinking If you want to keep your fluid balance - and therefore your health - just how it should be, here are a few tips. For water connoisseurs : • It is better to drink small quantities of water throughout the day than pour a whole bottle down your throat in one go.

Small sips avoid congestion in your body, and give it the chance to absorb all the water in an optimal way ; • Although it is tempting on hot days : don’t reach for ice-cold water, especially when you are feeling hot. An unexpected icecold shower is the last thing your stomach and intestines need when you are hot ; • Store your bottle of water in a cool, dark place, and don’t forget to put the top back on. This ensures that your 1.5 litres only does your body good ; • When working, exercising or in hot weather, you will perspire more, and need more fl uid.

as good neighbours, and To unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and To ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed forces shall not be used, save in the common interest, and To employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and hereby establish an international organisation to be known as the United Nations. ………The UN Charter contains XIX Chapters...........……

Done at the city of San Francisco the twenty-sixth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and forty five. ========

Water is the best thirst-quencher there is !

Test yourself ! Are you drinking enough ?

7.Other foods You can eat anything at any time... ...just not too much of it.

Chocolate spread on your bread is fi ne, but not a thick slab of it. A few crisps are fi ne, but don’t eat a whole family pack. If you want to eat healthily, you don’t have to eliminate anything altogether, as long as you control the quantities. This is obviously good news. At the top of active diet triangle, you will fi nd what we could call the “unnecessary” foods. It is not essential that we eat these foods and they may be less beneficial to the body than others, but we nonetheless fi nd them hard to resist. Sweets, sugary drinks, pastries, high-fat sauces, (whipped) cream, etc... can all be absolutely delicious, but they only supply us with fat

Editor’s Note: We close this brief text above with two lines from William Gladstone’s quoting: “Forward then but still remember how the course of Time will swerve, crook and turn about itself in many a backward streaming curve”.

For every two steps forward, the statesman suggested, there would usually be one step back. Overall, though, the movement went forward.

The river did flow to the sea.

(1809 is the birth year of Abraham Lincoln, Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Darwin, Felix Mendelssohn and of course William Ewart Gladstone and Lord Alfred Tennyson; what a selection of leadership to its field).

Can the world be governed by agreement rather than conflict? Over sixty years later, the UN still doggedly pursues that mandate: while the international community is seeking for its ‘rightful’ leader. Pity that Nelson Mandela has just celebrated his 90th birthday.

Ed.

and sugar. You do need these things to an extent but already get enough of them from other foods, which also contain vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre.

A little of what you fancy does you good !

You would need iron willpower to eliminate all these scrumptious things from the menu. Moreover, why should you ? Straying a little from the straight and narrow is fun. As long as you keep it to a handful of crisps, 1 bar of chocolate with a sandwich or 1 glass of cola, you can still be very healthy.

Although it is advisable not to have them all on the same day.

If you totally eliminate something delicious from your menu, there is every chance that you will just crave it more, and be miserable about it into the bargain. As long as you keep what you eat in balance, everything will be fine.

Sugar Sugar in jam, honey and syrup is enjoyable, it tastes great on bread and can be part of a balanced menu. Finding it hard to choose what to put in your sandwiches ? Here is a tip from a nutrition expert : fi ll half your sandwiches with something sweet, and the other half with something savoury like low-fat cheese or meat. This is a good rule of thumb for breakfast.

Fat We recognise fats in visible form for example, in margarine or butter. However, fat also comes in a lot of hidden forms. Many biscuits, pastries, crisps, chocolate and other appealing things contain hidden fat. This does not mean that you can never enjoy these types of foods, only that they should not be eaten every day.

(Compliments <SHIP@ICSW.org.uk>)

Safety First !!

Message from the DPA: As you are probably aware, the most frequent accidents that occur on board are personnel injuries, and the majority of these are related either directly or indirectly to slips, trips and falls. The results of such accidents can range from minor injuries or near misses, up to severe injuries or fatalities, however it is important to understand that the underlying causes are usually the same. Due to their importance, this edition's safety bulletin will be dedicated exclusively to personal safety and specifically to slips, trips and falls. We urge all seafarers to remain alert at all times, to follow all safety procedures and precautions, to use their PPE without second thought, to refer to the company's manuals or industry guidelines and always to ask their superiors when in doubt. The safety of personnel is the first priority of the company. It is up to each individual seafarer to ensure that safety is NEVER compromised. A safe ship is the prime common objective for the seafarers and the company.

Anthony Lambros / Q&S Manager DPA I welcome your comments, suggestions or feedback on the contents of this column (Safety First!) at <q&s@centrofin.gr>.

Case Study: Fatal accident by falling inside the forepeak tank Vessel: Bulk carrier applicable to all vessels Source: “Alert!” The International Maritime Human Element Bulletin Issue17/5/8 Abstract: This report of a fatal accident that occurred aboard a bulk carrier, whilst on passage, highlights a number of human element issues pertaining to crew experience and supervision, and the vulnerability to the risk of falling from height particularly when the ship may be rolling and pitching.

A team of three crewmembers were carrying out maintenance work inside the forepeak tank. The Bosun and one O/S were working near the shipside shell while another O/S was assigned to sweep off the rust debris close to the outer edge of a stringer, some 5 meters away.

Two portable lights were used to illuminate the area in the vicinity of where the Bosun was working, but not where the lone O/S was working.

The tank was empty of water and the crew had opened the manholes to ensure good ventilation; the atmosphere inside the tank had been certified safe by the Chief Officer, and power ventilation was provided.

Some time after they had started work, another O/S came to assist the team. He saw the Bosun and one O/S, but there was no sign of the other one. He was eventually found lying unconscious at the bottom of the forepeak tank some 15 meters below the working position. He was subsequently certified as dead.

Findings / Contributing Factors: The deceased was wearing a pair of safety shoes and a safety harness, although the safety belt of the safety harness had not been secured to any anchor point.

His total sea experience was less than four months.

The edge of the stringer plate on which he was working was protected by guardrails, comprising of a top-rail and a midrail of height about 80 cm and 40 cm respectively; the report suggests that this may not have been sufficient to prevent people falling over. It adds that the vessel's pitching and rolling movements would be particularly prominent in the forepeak tank. Furthermore, the floor of the stringer plate was wet and muddy.

The report concludes that at the time of the accident, the O/S was working alone and no one witnessed how he fell. Based on the physical findings at the scene, due to insufficient lighting and the wet and muddy floor, he was believed to have slipped and stumbled over the guardrail, falling to the bottom of the tank.

The report suggests that the Safety Management System in the ship had not been effectively implemented, particularly with regard to the requirements of the STCW Convention (in respect of the Ordinary Seaman's familiarity with shipboard equipment, operating procedures and other arrangements needed for the proper performance of his duties); and of the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen (in respect of the care of inexperienced crew).

The full report can be downloaded from: www.mardep.gov.hk/en/publication/pdf/ mai060309_f.pdf

TRUST (Ten Really Useful Safety Tips)

Slips, Trips and Falls Slips, Trips and Falls (STFs) account for the majority of occupational accidents aboard ships.

For this reason we will expand on previous issues’ subject of TRUST, which was relevant to Good Housekeeping. Good Housekeeping is one narrow aspect on the prevention of personal injuries caused by STFs. When looking at the causes of STFs from a more general view, vessel's design, actual building process and maintenance plan are also relevant. However, during the vessel's service the seafarer should try to mitigate all the ship's inherent hazards by keeping in mind the following tips: 1. Conduct regular and seamanlike safety inspections. Identification of hazards is the first step in avoiding them. A formal risk assessment should be carried out if the task in hand is complicated or its nature is such that a RA is required.

2. Follow the principle of “one hand for the ship and one for yourself”. Remember that safety comes first the job comes second. If you feel the task cannot be performed safely, ask for assistance or refer to your supervisor.

3. Do not leave equipment, materials or stores lying around on the decks. Remember that ships are likely to roll even in good weather conditions.

4. Erect safety rails, handrails or guards as appropriate. Cover or protect openings and holes.

5. Tripping hazards should be eliminated. If they cannot be, mark all unavoidable tripping hazards.

6. Post safety notices. Notices should be conspicuous, highly visible and should contain easily understandable instructions.

7. Provide extra lighting when needed.

8. Wear correct personal protective equipment for the task in hand. Footwear, safety gloves and helmet are essential.

9. Wear lifejackets when working in the vicinity of ship's side. Wear safety harness when aloft.

10. Eliminate to the extent possible any slippery surfaces.

- pg 9 Safety Bulletin 08-04

OUR OWN TRACK RECORD How do we measure up?

Case Study: Vessel: Source:

Personal Injury - Slip on Deck Tanker applicable to all vessels Company's records

Personnel Injury Frequency I. Details of incident and course of events

The OCIMF has devised a uniform standard for collecting, classifying and reporting injuries occurring on board.

The company has adopted use of this standard, so that meaningful and directly comparable safety performance results can be drawn. All personnel incidents (except first aid cases) fall into one or both of these broad categories: LTI's (Lost Time Injuries): Injuries (incl. fatalities) which result in the loss of a workday (in addition to the incident day).

TRC's (Total Recordable Cases): All work related injuries (including LTIs), but excluding First Aid Cases.

In order for meaningful results to be drawn for fleets of differing sizes, these are measured as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;frequencyâ&#x20AC;? against the hours of exposure (i.e. the total hours that the seafarers have been serving on board). The graph on the right shows the company's performance over the past three years in way of this frequency for each category (LTIF and TRCF).

The vessel was at Fujairah anchorage. The Office Representative was on his way to disembark the vessel. He was walking at port side main deck when he accidentally slipped and sustained a fracture on his right hand. First aid was rendered onboard and the Master contacted the agent in order to arrange for an ambulance. The injured person was then repatriated in order to undergo surgery.

II. Incident Investigation and findings An investigation on this incident was conducted by the Master and the Head Office and revealed that: >The injured person was carrying a shoulder bag (not a back pack). >The injured person was not wearing safety shoes. >At the time of the accident the deck was slippery due to moisture. >The injured person did not use the designated walk way / ramp.

III. Root cause of the incident There was no proper use of PPE. Moreover, we can safely assume that the injury sustained would have been less serious if it was not for the bag carried: when the hands are not free one cannot be protected properly during a fall.

IV. Suggested preventive actions 1) All Superintendents and other Head Office Representatives should make proper use of PPE when onboard the vessels in the same fashion as all crew members. This is also a requirement of the company's SMS as they should give the good example and encourage others to use PPE. 2) Backpacks should be preferred when visiting a vessel.

3) Head Office personnel must remember that extra caution should be paid when they are onboard the vessels, since ships have by nature more risks than a shore environment.

GENERAL LESSONS LEARNED This example was relevant to shore personnel visiting a ship, but is equally applicable to crew members who (although familiar with the surroundings throughout the ship), continue to suffer injuries from slips, trips and falls. The main causes for slips occurring onboard are well known to everyone who is familiar to a ship's environment:, and are:

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Inappropriate footwear Inattention Loose/unattached rugs & mats Oil & grease Polished deck surfaces Wet or slippery decks Worn or damaged non-skid areas

There is a plethora of advice and guidance from various sources, yet slips, trips and falls still occur.

Human behavior is by far the most important factor and the most challenging to get right. We can have the highest quality procedures and risk assessments but without a positive attitude across the whole company, a reduction in the number of slips, trips and falls can never be achieved.

A copy of the full reports can be obtained by contacting the company's Q&S department.

CASE 4

MAIB Cases Too Little, Too Late Narrative

A 1568gt general cargo ship in ballast was on passage through UK territorial waters on a course of 007° in autopilot, and making good a speed of 7 knots. The wind was from the north, force 7, and the sea was rough with a swell of between 2 and 3 metres.

Fifteen minutes after taking over the bridge watch from the master, the chief officer saw a beam trawler off his port bow at a range of 2 miles.

The fishing vessel had also been seen by the master shortly before handing the watch to the chief officer, but he had not assessed her CPA or notified the chief officer of her presence during the watch handover. The chief officer saw that the vessel was fishing and, by using the EBL on the radar display, assessed that she was on a steady bearing. The radar display in use (see Figure 1) did not have a gyro input and was not equipped with an automatic or semi-automatic plotting facility.

The beam trawler, which had a crew of three, was on a course of 160° at a speed of 6 knots.

Her skipper was in the wheelhouse, but was working on the vessel’s chart plotter and did not see the approaching cargo ship. When the vessels had closed to a distance of 5 cables, the chief officer on board the cargo ship altered course to Figure 2 027°. After steadying on the new course, the chief officer assessed that the trawler was still on a steady bearing. He changed to manual steering and put the helm hard to starboard; he also sounded the ship’s whistle.

radar display

Figure 1

By now, the vessels were only 2 cables apart and the whistle alerted the mate working in the trawler’s forward shelter deck. He ran to the wheelhouse and put the trawler’s engine astern, but this did not prevent her bow from colliding with the aft end of the cargo ship’s port side.

The cargo ship was holed above the waterline (see Figure 2) and diverted to a nearby port for survey and repair, but the trawler sustained only superficial damage and continued fishing.

Although the two vessels established communication on VHF radio and exchanged details following the collision, neither reported the accident to the coastguard.

The Lessons 1. Encountering and keeping clear of fishing vessels is a routine occurrence for most bridge watchkeepers. However, once in a while this can be complicated by unexpected course alterations by the fishing vessels concerned. This occasional erratic behaviour by some fishermen does not justify a vessel delaying avoiding action. This serves only to confuse the situation further, reduce the margin for error, and it usually necessitates a greater alteration to achieve a safe passing distance.

2. The number of ships fitted with the means for an OOW to visually determine a vessel’s bearing movement is decreasing. Consequently, there is an increasing reliance on radar to determine passing distances and CPAs, even when vessels are in sight of each other. However, the technical specifications, performance and

functions of the differing radar displays available vary considerably, and some are able to provide only coarse approximations.

Therefore, the limitations of the equipment available must be taken into account when assessing the risk of collision and deciding on a safe passing distance.

3. When working a 6 hours “on”, 6 hours “off” bridge watchkeeping regime opposite the same person, it is easy for a degree of complacency to set in when handing and taking over the bridge watch. If this is not guarded against by both officers, it will only be a matter of time before the ‘handover’ is reduced to a ‘cross-over’ and important information is not passed on.

4. Given the limited manoeuvrability of vessels engaged in fishing, it is in their interests to keep a proper lookout, to ensure dangerous situations caused by other vessels not keeping clear are spotted in time to allow successful avoiding action to be taken. This cannot be achieved unless at least one person is looking out of the window and at the radar display.

5. Even where assistance is not immediately required and there has been no pollution following a collision, grounding, or other serious accident, informing the local coastguard as soon as possible has potential benefits should the situation suddenly change. In particular, assistance is likely to be at hand much sooner if the coastguard has already been able to inform the relevant services of a vessel’s situation, rather than starting from cold.

Piracy

- pg 11 -

...from pg 3

The Bugi sailors of South Sulawesi were infamous as pirates who used to range as far west as Singapore and as far north as the Philippines in search of targets for piracy. The Orang laut pirates controlled shipping in the Straits of Malacca and the waters around Singapore and the Malay and Sea Dayak pirates preyed on maritime shipping in the waters between Singapore and Hong Kong from their haven in Borneo.

Piracy in Eastern Europe One example of a pirate republic in Europe from the 16th through the 18th century was Zaporizhian Sich. Situated in the remote Steppe, it was populated with Ukrainian peasants that had run away from their feudal masters, outlaws of every sort, destitute gentry, runaway slaves from Turkish galleys, etc. The remoteness of the place and the rapids at the Dnepr river effectively guarded the place from invasions of vengeful powers. The main target of the inhabitants of Zaporizhian Sich who called themselves “Cossacks” were rich settlements at the Black Sea shores of Ottoman Empire and Crimean Khanate. By 1615 and 1625, Zaporozhian Cossacks had even managed to raze townships on the outskirts of Istanbul, forcing the Ottoman Sultan to flee his palace. Don Cossacks under Stenka Razin even ravaged the Persian coasts.

Piracy in North Africa The Barbary pirates were pirates and privateers that operated from North African (the "Barbary coast") ports of Tunis, Tripoli, Algiers, Salé and ports in Morocco, preying on shipping in the western Mediterranean Sea from the time of the Crusades as

well as on ships on their way to Asia around Africa until the early 19th century. The coastal villages and towns of Italy, Spain and Mediterranean islands were frequently attacked by them and long stretches of the Italian and Spanish coasts were almost completely abandoned by their inhabitants; after 1600 Barbary pirates occasionally entered the Atlantic and struck as far north as Iceland . According to Robert Davis between 1 million and 1.25 million Europeans were captured by Barbary pirates and sold as slaves in North Africa and Ottoman Empire between the 16th and 19th centuries.

The most famous corsairs were the Ottoman Barbarossa ("Redbeard"), and his older brother Oruç, Turgut Reis (known as Dragut in the West), Kurtoðlu (known as Curtogoli in the West), Kemal Reis, Salih Reis and Koca Murat Reis. A few Barbary pirates, such as Jan Janszoon and John Ward, were renegade Christians who had converted to Islam.

According to recent legal analysis by the U.S. Supreme Court, the United States treated captured Barbary corsairs as prisoners of war, indicating that

they were considered as legitimate privateers by at least some of their opponents, as well as by their home countries.

Piracy & Security Hijacked 'Amiya Scan' freed (Compliments the Lloyd's List News Portal)

By Helen Hill, Amsterdam Wednesday 25 June 2008 The 'Amiya Scan', formerly named BBC Bornholm.

THE 'Amiya Scan', a vessel hijacked by Somalian pirates for 31 days, is now under the control of its crew and heading for a safe port.

The vessel's owner has not released any further details about how the hijacking was brought to an end, but Lloyd's List has been told that no other vessels were involved and the hijacking did not end violently.

All of the crew are safe and well and have enough food and drink onboard, a spokesman said.

However, it is not yet certain how much fuel the vessel has as it had been running low.

It could be that a vessel needs to be sent to the 'Amiya Scan' so it can refuel at sea, and it could be another week before the crew reach a safe port, the companies stated.

Families of the four Russian and five Philippine crew-members have all been notified. Once established which port the hijacked vessel will enter, a specialist team will be sent out to meet the crew, said the spokesman.

The director of the charterer Scan-Trans said: “It was a difficult time but with professional backup we were able to remain calm and focused on the well being of our crew on board. Also, international diplomatic support, and restraint, contributed to the solution. We cannot stress enough how pleased we are with the release.”

Human Traits & Values from pg 1

Accomplishment, Success Accountability Accuracy Adventure All for one & one for all Beauty Calm, quietude, peace Challenge Change Cleanliness, orderliness Collaboration Commitment Communication Community Competence Competition Concern for others Content over form Continuous improvement Cooperation Coordination Country, love of(patriotism)

2. Power of Values to Shape Our Lives Each of us is motivated to move our lives in certain directions. That motivation is determined by the values we subscribe to.

Our values are thus the formations and ideations of thought, the distinct formulations of understanding that express what we perceive to be important truths about life. These ideals are then reinforced by our emotions and feelings, which turn those mental perceptions into a vital passion that we hope to realise in our lives.

Whether we actually make the effort to implement them is another matter.

Creativity Customer satisfaction Decisiveness Delight of being, joy Democracy Discipline Discovery Ease of Use Efficiency Equality Excellence Fairness Faith Family Family feeling Flair Freedom Friendship Fun Global view Good will Goodness Gratitude Hard work Harmony Honesty Honour Independence Inner peace, calm, quietude Innovation

Below is a list of important personal values culled from years of observing individual success.

Integrity Justice Knowledge Leadership Love, Romance Loyalty Maximum utilisation (of time, resources) Meaning Merit Money Openness Peace, Non-violence Perfection (e.g. of details) Personal Growth Pleasure Positive attitude Power Practicality Preservation Privacy Problem Solving Progress Prosperity, Wealth Punctuality Quality of work Regularity Resourcefulness Respect for others Responsiveness

Results-oriented Rule of Law Safety Satisfying others Security Self-givingness Self-reliance Service (to others, society) Simplicity Skill Speed Spirit in life (using) Stability Standardisation Status Strength Succeed; A will toSuccess, Achievement Systemisation Teamwork Timeliness Tolerance Tradition Tranquillity Trust Truth Unity Variety Wisdom

unconscious lives, without meaning or purpose. On the other hand, when we take to values, we live a purposeful and dynamic existence -- i.e. we become truly human.

This being the case, what are the truths of life, i.e. the personal values that you believe in? What are the cherished ideals and beliefs that have shaped your life; that are motivating and driving your life today?

Why not take a little time and come up with a short list, and then consider how each has or currently is shaping your life.

If we think about it, we will see that people relate to personal values in a number of

What really motivate us in life are the things we truly value.

Without values or beliefs, we would be mechanical-like beings, driven here and there by the vicissitudes of life. Without values, we would be creature-like, compelled to action solely by our urges and passions. In this inhuman existence, there would be little consideration for truths we hold dear, let alone implement them to ennoble and enrich our lives. In this reality devoid of values, we would live

ways. Thoughtful people are continually thinking about those things they cherish and believe in. Powerful people are also motivated and driven to implement them in their lives. In fact, the most successful people are constantly evaluating their values, and are continually driven to turn them into a living reality. For these individuals, values are an inexhaustible source of inner power that energises them

to no end; driving them to the heights of success, while bringing about deep fulfilment in their lives.

Interestingly, not only do values energise us, but when we implement them, it energises everything they come in contact with! If I apply the value of customer service and delight when I speak with the client, I energise the conversation, which

- pg 13s

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with other people when we are loyal, reliable, honest, generous, trusting, trustworthy, feel a sense of responsibility for family, friends, co-workers, our organisation, community or country. On a more physical level, we may place great value on cleanliness, punctuality, orderliness, accuracy, quality, and physical perfection in whatever we do.

Values, Accomplishment, and our Psychological Energies

leads to greater response from the person on the other end, who is now motivated to purchase the services I am offering. Also, if I am truly sincere in my belief in customer satisfaction, I create an added value that reinforces and builds on the first one. A combination of values applied to a situation dramatically energises circumstances, which not only increases the likelihood of success, but turns the interaction into an enjoyable, even thrilling experience. Thus, implementing values have an innate capacity to create more energy, accomplishment, and joy in living.

Values are actually a very special power in the universe. It is one our minds can grasp for the purpose of uplifting life. Values are actually spiritual skills -- a divine gift that comes to us from the infinite Source of things. The highest of principles -- such as Oneness, Love, Beauty, and others -descend from the heavens, and are reinterpreted as values by our minds.

For example, the spiritual principle of Oneness is recognised by our minds as values of cooperation, integration, teamwork, and others. Likewise, the universal principle of Love expresses through values of goodness, selflessness, self-giving, openness, tolerance, respect for others, and a number of others.

The last twenty-five years has seen an explosion in an interest in values. Religious leaders speak of family values, nations speak of moral values, spiritual teachers speak of the highest values of gratitude, benevolence, and selfgiving; even self-surrender to the Divine.

Values drive us, motivate us, move life, move us forward -- enabling progress even evolution. Values are what enable life to take the Next Step -- whether they drive our own individual lives in a positive direction; improve the economic,

and cultural conditions of a nation; or move society forward in its never-ending ascending path of progress.

Tolerance, openness, respect for the individual, and teamwork are several great human values, while Oneness, Love, Beauty, and Truth are some of higher spiritual values that they derive from. At certain points, the human and spiritual values come together and blend into one another, expressing through spiritualised human values such as selflessness, selfgiving, and gratitude.

Values are expressions of emotionalised truths that when implemented energise whatever they come in contact with, enabling the greatest positive results with the least effort in the shortest period of time -- whether it is for the individual, a collective, or society as a whole.

Values are the nexus to our future progress. It is the call of the Divine to the minds of men to seek a better life -- to pursue ultimate delight and fulfilment in life.

3. Advanced Thoughts on Values What is a Value?

Values are psychological objects.

Although we cannot see or touch them, they are every bit as real as any physical object. People may dedicate their entire lives or even give up their lives to pursue their values, as so many loyal patriots have done fighting for values of freedom, equality and human rights during the past two centuries.

We all have values that determine our decisions and guide our lives. Those who value their individuality take responsibility, are self-reliant and act with self-respect. Those who value truthfulness cannot bring themselves to tell a lie. Those who value family or friendship sacrifice their personal interests for the good of others. Those who value goodness cannot bring themselves to do something they know is wrong. We express values in our relations

Accomplishment in life depends not only on physical energy, but even more on the intensity of psychological energy we are able to bring to our action. Interest, commitment, determination, passion, drive, enthusiasm are some of the ways in which we characterise the intensity of our psychological energy. It turns out those values direct our psychological energies for accomplishment. The scholar with a passion for accuracy will expend enormous energy in the search for facts and the effort to impartially verify them.

Once he does so, his work will be relied upon by others and gain a reputation for its veracity. The gymnast or figure skater with a passion for perfection will continue to practice throughout her career to hone her skills, moved by the quest for the value of perfection that score of perfect 10. The artist, musician, seafarer, engineer, the chef, the flight attendant, the accountant are all guided by values in the execution of their work and the results they achieve are directly related to the level of values they attain. Thus, we see that Values determine the intensity and flow of our psychological energies.

In the end, the quality of the values we embrace and the intensity of our commitment to them determine the level of our accomplishment in life.

cont'd on pg 14

Human Traits Values &

4. Example Values Here are some thoughts on several of the more interesting personal values listed above: Simplicity In this time of great complexity and hurry, there is no more important personal value than "simplicity." Taking the time to simplify anything that is overly complex is a very helpful skill in these rapidly accelerating times. Simplifying a work not only streamlines it, but makes it more effective and productive, leading to greater results when compared to its former complex arrangement.

Strategies: -Take any important work or project in your life and come up with at least two ways to simplify it.

-Develop a half dozen ways to simplify your life.

from pg 13 Values as the Highest Psychological Form for Accomplishment We can see a continuum of psychological forms from data to values. ·Data are mental facts derived from sense observation. ·Information is data organised by the physical mind into meaningful relationships. ·Thoughts are specific conclusions or observations drawn from the information. ·Ideas are generalised conceptions derived from specific thoughts. ·Opinions are thoughts which the mind endorses and the ego identifies as its own. ·Beliefs are ideas which the mind endorses and the mental ego identifies with as true for its life. ·Attitudes are opinions endorsed and energised by the vital ego. ·Values are idealized conceptions that are endorsed by the personality.

In terms of accomplishment, thoughts are mental forms of energy which do not necessarily lead to action. Ideas carry the energy of mental understanding. Opinions carry the force of mental conviction.

Attitudes carry the vital force of our emotional endorsement. Values carry the power of psychological commitment and determination. Values issue from a deeper or higher centre of motivation in our personalities and therefore carry far greater power than our opinions and attitudes.

Origin of Values - from Life and from Spirit From below, society acquires values through a long process of trial and error experimentation with various approaches to life. Over years and centuries, the

collective comes to recognise that certain principles or guidelines are essential for the survival or vital for the growth of the individual and the community. They learn by experience to value these essential principles and pass them on to future generations as cultural guidelines for action. They discover that cleanliness is essential for health. Punctuality and regularity of action are essential for success in agriculture. Honesty and truthfulness are essential in trade. Loyalty and patriotism are essential for the integrity and defence of the community.

Responsibility, generosity and self-sacrifice are the bedrocks of the family.

From above, enlightened individuals directly experienced higher states of spiritual consciousness and perceived selfexistent truths of the spiritual reality that manifested the universe. They discovered the essence of what we call God, Spirit or Divinity expresses itself as fundamental spiritual values in the universe such as Freedom, Peace, Truth, Unity, Goodness, Harmony, Beauty, Love, Joy, and SelfGiving. They recognised that the more you strive to live by these values, the higher you rise in consciousness and the more the higher spiritual consciousness enters your being and expresses in your life.

The wise perceived that the values derived from life experience are derivative truths and lower expressions of these same higher spiritual values and stepping stones on the ascending stair of evolution. E.g. the human value of tolerance can be said to be a reflection and melding of the spiritual values of Freedom, Goodness, and Harmony; and the value of honesty is honesty is a reflection of the spiritual value of Truth.

Harmony Harmony is the coming together of disparate elements for common purpose. It is the moving together of varied or opposing forces, so that they emerge in a higher truth that all can benefit from (not merely a compromised truth). The value of Teamwork is one variation of the value of Harmony, as is the value of Organisation.

Harmony is such noble and elevated a value that it can be considered a spiritual value.

Strategies: Make harmony a permanent personal value that you believe in and practice. Over the next few days and weeks notice points of conflict that appear in your work and life and seek to implement a higher truth, or point of view, or action in each situation that can harmonise the opposing ideas, conflicts between people, and other forms of opposition.

Content Over Form We know the expression "don't judge a book by its cover". It means that is what is inside that is important, not the superficial surface. This expresses in a variety of ways in life. For example, any serious person will judge the truer, deeper meaning of a thing, rather than merely its outer form. A tendency to react to the outer aspect and not its intrinsic value prevents one from getting at the heart, the inherent truth of the matter, taking one away from the full knowledge that would have led to right decisions and actions, and thus great accomplishment and success in life.

It is from the depths of situations and circumstance that you find its essence. For example, if one admires another's social position, instead of their true accomplishment, including the values they subscribe to, you will miss the key to their success, and therefore fail to learn from it.

Or, if you are merely evaluating a person

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Strategies: Consider various circumstances in your life where the outer or surface form is more important to you than its intrinsic content and value. Adjust your attitudes and beliefs accordingly.

Concern for Others Perhaps the single most powerful way to succeed in life is to have more concern for our fellow human beings.

Normally, we are overwhelmingly concerned about our own selves, driven by our own personal motives and ambitions. However, the happiest people literally lose themselves in the feelings, thoughts, and aspirations of others.

Are you ready to "forget yourself" and be genuinely interested in the welfare of others?

Are you willing to be tolerant and kind to others, listen attentively and silently to their words, be non-judgmental, and open to their opinions and points of view? If you are, you're an excellent candidate for great success in life, not to mention an ever-increasing personal happiness and joy.

Strategies: Try a little experiment. When you meet with others, immediately put yourself in their shoes. Think only of what they want. Listen carefully to their thoughts and feelings, and show genuine concern and empathy. Do this for the entire meeting. Now watch how the interaction goes. Watch how the energy level of the other person increases. The other individual becomes more animated and involved.

In addition, if you watch closely, you may notice some interesting things starting to happen. An outthought of point of view or perspective may be raised in the conversation.

New ideas or fresh new insights are suddenly revealed. Or, a new interesting idea, project or event might suddenly come out of the discussion. This all happens because you have shifted your concern toward the other person.

Practicality Often people with great talent, artistic temperament, or other qualities fail to achieve because they are not practical in their thoughts and deeds. For example, when important opportunities come their way, they shun them; or they have a prejudiced view about the value of money, i.e. they shun it. Any attempt on one's part to be more practical will rapidly catapult one from one's current status towards the pinnacle of success.

Strategies: List two to four ways you have been or are impractical in life. Now make an effort to your ways. Keep reaffirming your new approach till it becomes part of your being. If you are not sure if and how you are impractical, why not be brave and ask those who are looking out for your best interests for their opinions.

Integrity, Honesty Sometimes people don't say what they mean in order to hide something, protect themselves or someone else, or simply because they are trying to deceive in order to gain from circumstance. Do you have any of these traits?

If so, why (i.e. where do they come from)?

What can you do to overcome these tendencies?

Results-Oriented Some people do their work to keep busy, occupied, entertained or otherwise pass the time. A key to success and achievement in life is to insure that the activities you are engaged leads to a constructive, useful purpose. Those who value real results from actions they take make far greater use of their time, leading to higher levels of success and achievement in life Hard Work It is universally agreed that hard work is one of the keys to success in life and work. Without it, few can succeed. A person may not be hard working for a number of reasons -- the influence of parents, a lack of energy, a lack of motivation, a bad experience, pure laziness, etc. Consider why you may not be hard working, and then make a determined effort to change the behaviour. Keep up the effort over time. Watch how life continually blossoms with good fortune!

"To be continued on the next issue W-29 with the final three parts: Continuous Improvement/ Progress - Respect for the Individual - Self Analysis"

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from the shallow perspective of their appearance, or quickly coming to a conclusion based on a brief acquaintance, then you also miss the deeper and wider truths behind. If you judge a book by its cover you will never get to know the depths of others, and the true meaning of life's situations.

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! Necessity never made a good bargain ! Faith in self is the ability to not panic ! There is no little enemy ! A man who never made a mistake, never made anything ! A penny saved is a penny earned ! Feed a cold and starve a fever ! Before it was 'we spend too much time driving.' Now, it's 'we spend too much time and money driving'. ! Eat to live, not live to eat.

- Socrates (469-399 BC) ! Economy is the wealth of the poor and the wisdom of the rich. ! A man's house is his castle ! A picture is worth a thousand words ! It's difficult for an empty sack to stand upright ! Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof ! I notice that when all a man's information is confined to the field in which he is working, the work is never as good as it ought to be.

A man has to get perspective, and he can get it from books or from people - preferably both. ! Even a sheet of paper has two sides ! The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them ! A little learning is a dangerous thing ! The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool ! Chop your own wood; it will warm you twice ! Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes ! Count your blessings ! A change is as good as a rest (holiday) ! Even the best laid plans go awry ! A drowning man will clutch at a straw ! Example is the best precept

OCIMF TMSA Guidelines :

(extract)

ELEMENT 6. Cargo, ballast and mooring operations (Aim. Ship operators should establish, monitor and maintain all planning and operational procedures for cargo and ballasting operations and equipment, and ensure that these procedures are effectively implemented)

Main objective The highest standards of cargo operations planning, monitoring and execution are fundamental to the safety of ships and their crews, and for the protection of the environment. Whilst the master is ultimately responsible for cargo operations, shore based management is responsible for setting standards and ensuring that they are maintained.

Element 6 explains how ship operators can achieve these objectives.

Cargo, ballast and mooring operations Ship operators should establish, monitor and maintain planning and operational procedures that ensure the safety of the ship, the crew, the cargo and the environment.

Systems and procedures Shored based managers should establish procedures to ensure that:

nAll cargo and ballast operations, including contingency measures, are thoroughly and sequentially planned to produce a detailed cargo plan for use by all personnel as recommended in ISGOTT

nLoading computers, where fitted, are approved and run against test conditions where required, and that any defects are recorded and reported to shore based management

nThe status and performance of critical cargo operations related equipment, plant and hardware are consistently monitored and maintained, and defects are recorded and reported to shore based management

nMasters continuously monitor cargo operations planning and execution, identify areas for improvement and take actions as required

nBefore, during and on completion of any cargo operations, there are defined requirements for physical cross checking on

line settings, by at least two members of the ship's crew. These checks should include the settings of all valves, vents and overboards, whether or not they are in use, to verify their correct positioning. nMinimum requirements for recording and monitoring of all cargo operations, including ullages and rates, are in place, and these records are properly and consistently maintained nVessel mooring management is based on sound industry principles such as those contained within OCIMF's publications on effective mooring and mooring equipment guidelines. This should also include information concerning mooring equipment installed on board, proper maintenance of this equipment, and provision of adequate and competent resources.

Disclaimer. The contents provided herewith are for general information purposes only; not intended to replace or otherwise contradict the detailed instructions/procedures issued by the owners/managers, flag etc.

Editor: Cmdr Nicholas A. ILIOPOULOS - Master Mariner - Human Resources Tel. +30.6944.941 333. Email: ilioship@yahoo.com.sg Comments. This editor welcomes readers' responses to all articles & Editorials.

Design-Production: www.paradox.com.gr Tel.+30.210.6560 574

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