Analysis of Why We Need a Green Revolution and How It Can Renew America by Friedman - Book Report/Review Example

Topic: Hospitality Leadership Reflection Assignment of the Institution Topic: Hospitality Leadership Reflection Assignment Introduction and key points made in the book The concept of climate was like the unspotted enemy some decades ago. Now the enemy has not only arrived he is relentlessly pounding the human civilization from all ends. The much discussed revolution is the green revolution now. The title of the book is like the theme of the book, ‘Why We Need a Green Revolution and How It Can Renew America”. Humankind has begun to realize the real significance of the concept ‘the world is one family’. Unless collective action is initiated by all countries, climate change and rising competition for energy can herald the doomsday for the world population, cutting across the geographical definitions of frontiers. Friedman has proposed some tangible steps to save the world and America in particular by tendering a national strategy which he calls “Geo-Greenism” to save the planet from overheating and prevent disastrous consequences for America. The advancement of science and technology and the internet revolution have shown their capacities to build and break humanity and climate and energy issues can no more be relegated to the background. Their tangible solutions demand urgent attention. Otherwise America will have to face the perilous situations like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and many such catastrophic situations might be taking shape. The author argues for the creation of a Green Generation. This phrase may not be grammatically correct, but the meaning conveyed by the author is clear and straightforward. The book contains sixteen chapters and the author sets the tone about the intended purpose of the book in chapter I “Where Birds Don’t Fly”. The author articulates how structural changes have taken place since 9/11 in the diplomatic and cultural fronts. His observation that security- wise, US has taken extraordinary steps to protect its embassies and the staff but has lost touch with the common citizen of the country. The author takes the big leap from problems of US to world problems and the challenges all over due to globalization, climate change and population explosion. The strength of the writings of Friedman is not only in identifying the problems but also in tendering solutions. He advocates his formula “Code Green” to generate clean power and energy and his nature-friendly approach is highly significant. He advocates the dire necessity for America to reinvent them as a green nation and concludes that national security and economic interests demand that. Synthesis of the key points and how they relate to hospitability Organization Tourism implies peace of mind. With the exception of the business tours, people visit countries and places for enjoyment and peace of mind. Unless an individual specifically goes on an adventurous tour, other tours are for rest and recreation. The queries of the tourists are like ‘What are the climatic conditions there? How is the political situation there etc.?’Climate change directly affects the business prospectus of tourist/hospitability industry. Retreating glaciers, rising ocean levels and global warming must worry the tourism and hotel industries, while making plans for their next hill resort near a mountain range and beside the seashore. When these factors are taken into consideration, the worry of receding profits would certainly turn into a reality. In the absence of tourists and the regular inflow of customers, what will the hospitality staff do? Though this book does not deal with the hospitality industry directly as such, the backgrounder information provided by the author is helpful for the development of the hotel industry. In Chapter 13(2008) “A Million Noahs, a Million Arks” he writes with the critical observation on bio-diversity “Trees, maids, education, governance, economic development. They’re all interconnected” (Chapter 13, 1). Continuing his argument on identical lines the author (2008) writes “Outgreening” involves creating a different kind of environment—a collaborative environment in which you, your company, and your community are consistently thinking about how to generate more growth, more mobility, more housing, . . . from the most innovative use of the cleanest electrons and the fewest resources”(Chapter 14, 5). He states that globalization also has its own demographic outline – a rapid acceleration of the movement of people from rural areas and agricultural lifestyles to urban areas and urban lifestyles more closely related with global fashion, food, markets, and entertainment trends and thus making a reference to hospitality industry. Key assertions that the author makes to leadership roles in hospitality industry People would like to enjoy their vacations without any apprehensions and a tourist would like to visit a guest-friendly country. People are fed up of their life in crowded cities with sky-rise buildings, the speeding lifts, travelling in crowded buses and trains, negotiating traffic jams and as such when they are on a holiday, they would like to visit mountains, rivers, seashores and valleys and if in such places if the Nature assumes the threatening posture, the exercise of going on holidays becomes apprehensive. No one would like to spend money to invite dangers to life. The concept of Clean Energy System articulated by the author is applicable to the hospitality industry as well. He argues for solar, wind and nuclear energy and makes out his case for clean electrons, with the astuteness of a scientist. He shows the acumen of an economist as he makes out the case for cheaper energy costs during off-peak hours. His thesis about energy production, distribution and consumption is implementation-worthy by a most profound and determined shift in the policies of the government. According to the author all this is achievable with the intervention by the Federal Government and national policies will have to be set forth and implemented by them at the initial stages until the State Governments see the benefit and are willing to own the responsibilities. He wants America to take the leadership in “greening” and the rest of the world, when it sees the merit of the proposals that are profit-giving as well as nature-friendly, is bound to adopt the project. Whereas the author stands for the merits of globalization he is worried about some of the adverse consequences. Reflection upon the principles in the book as to how they relate to my personal/professional experience Friedman is right on every count. If I have to buy a shirt I have a number of choices and a level playing field that transcends geographical frontiers. I am part of the new style of consumerism, and would like to add to my stock the products of the technological innovations like the latest model of the refrigerator or an ultra-modern air-conditioner. By now the author has made me realize that hunger for more and more energy is dangerous, it results in the emission of more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, pushes the heat to hazardous high levels and adversely affects the temperature and we become part of that dubious effort for declining of the beautiful bio-diversity and still decide to ignore the fact that one unique specie is destroyed forever in every 20 minutes. And yet we prefer to ignore the warning of the ringing alarm bells! I am a consultant to an NGO and this institution is in the business of producing food articles for daily use. Strictly speaking, it is a no profit organization. But it makes profits to deploy for philanthropic activities like free supplementary education for the slum children and their mid-day meals provisions, uniforms and books etc. It also works for the rehabilitation of the released prisoners by getting them employed in cottage industry projects like biscuits and candle manufacturing, buying food grains directly from producers and selling them in the brand name of the NGO. Formerly the sole aim of the management of NGO was to meet the targets of procurement and selling to make profits. Ongoing through the contents of this book, my pattern of advice to the NGO has changed. Now nature-friendly approach is introduced in each activity. For example, formerly the organization used to manufacture festival colors for selling in the market. Now only organic colors are used and no chemical is employed for any process. For packing, eco-friendly paper is used. Organic food grains and vegetables are purchased for onward retail marketing. In the monthly staff meeting, extensive counselling is given to the marketing and other staff about the issue of global warming and how each one of us can contribute to make this Planet Earth a safe place to live. Conclusion By highlighting the problem of energy, Friedman draws the attention of the administrators to the bigger issues that confront the nation. He gives the details of the mission before America and how the nation is suffering from the pangs of globalization, though it has done the nation good on many counts. He seeks the privatization of the companies and compares their freedom at par with a free press and democratic elections. After America totally reforms itself on the energy front and emerges as a new nation, he expects that it should lead; rather other nations will be willing to follow the example set forth by it. Though the author does not make direct mention about the hospitality industry, he makes the passing reference to entertainment trends. But the main theme of the book is energy which covers all industries, including the entertainment industry to which hospitality aspect is closely related. Peaceful hospitality is possible in a peaceful world. Reference Friedman, Thomas L (2008) Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America. New York; Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Print . . . Read More