My third Speech at ToastMasters: Pen to Porsche Buy Buy Buy - first version

                                                        Pen to Porsche – Buy Buye Bye!

Dream:

Bank: Dear Mr. Jain, Welcome to the Royal Bank of Scotland Van Gogh Priority banking Services. Congratulations, You are entitled to a loan of Rs 50 crores as our priority banking customer.

Hello this Tarun : I have bought a Mercedes Benz, I have bought a Porsche, I have bought a Penthouse at DLF heights, I have bought a new Rolex, I have bought a new Harley, I have bought a new jeans, I have bought a Louis Vuitton shirt, I went to Disney world in Hong Kong.

Tarun: Now I want to buy happiness. .!!!!

Bank: Dear Sir, We cannot buy you the latter. There are somethings which money can’t buy but for everything else we have the MasterCard.

Tarun: But the man in your advertisement is so happy in the Disneyland. Where did he buy it from? Should I try the VISA?

Bank: Sir, we are better than VISA and our rates are low. There are something which money can’t buy but for everything else we have the MasterCard.

Tarun: But how do you look so happy?

Bank: Sir, I have got the cosmetic chin smile treatment for 2 lac rupees. As an esteemed customer we can offer you interest free credit for cosmetic smile chin treatment.

CONFUSED!!!!!

Real:

I take deep sigh as I am still with Pen and can decide whether I need to be mad for Porsche or take some time to write to read and write for happiness. We need not go for that cosmetic smile treatment as laughter can reach us naturally. Few of my friendstold me an interesting story,  were out for a night out and mapping streets at the night , when they met a person who was standing out of his Porsche and smoking. As usual tendency to poke in everyone’s life they went up to him to ask for a lift. This person asked them their salaries and making fun of them took them to five start buffet and drinks. And when he poured out his personal life, my friends were stunned.

Now taking everyone to a little intellectual heavy statistical journey.

According to a UN report, the top 20 %( financially) of the world’s population consume 86% of the total available resources. After the shift in mindset caused by Fordism in 1920s, each one of us aspires to live life like that of those top 20%. The fuelled monetary aspirations, uncontrolled credit spending, unwillingness to save and finding happiness in the newer material possessions are the key causes of current economic crisis. According to World Resources Institute, we require three earths to fulfill the American dream of the world’s citizens – An impossible dream! Unfortunately unaware of the realities, each one of us wants to leave our small heavens to find pleasure in hedonism and consumerism.

There can be numerous economic theories on the necessity of spending to grow the economy; however I want to ask which growth do we talk about? Whom are we racing against? And what are we achieving instead? Can a wealthiest man with all the luxuries be happy if no one acknowledges it? Or if non one like his Facebook Porsche photos? Can a broken family raise responsible kids with a BMW?

Aren’t we using the dysfunctional parameters to measure growth? Shouldn’t we form new measures to identify ourselves and the world vision? Is it necessary to spend 420 Billion USD on advertising when 50 billion USD can take care of the poor?

Dr Tim Jackson, author of an influential book, Prosperity without Growth,  writes: "The starting point must be to unravel the forces that keep us in damaging denial ... the profit motive stimulates a continual search for newer, better or cheaper products and services. Our own relentless search for novelty and social status locks us into an iron cage of consumerism. Affluence has itself betrayed us."

Coming back from the global statistical fundas to our own real lives. What should we do to connect with waves of statistics?

Can we all take a pledge to do kind little gesture to a poor everyday?

Can we all take a pledge to water the plants, feed the animals and birds everyday

Can we all become conscious of our environment and adopt mass transits

Can we all live simple and not show off, despite our wealth

Can we take responsibility to connect with our families wherever they are

Can we all take responsibility to be part of the same society where we started from, and keep grounded.

Can we can all pledge to pay actual taxes – the businessmen here should feel the pinch hereJ. My previous employer had the transactions done at Bermuda to evade the taxes but 90% workforce in India.

I believe this is possible. There is a small heaven inside waiting for us to reflect back and open our hearts to our environment. Break the walls of measuring success by affluence,. Here is a good news, We Indians in whatever state we are, ranks among the happiest nations

I would like to end with my version of a beautiful song by David Rovics.

There are places there are hills They’re not just called hills, they're really hills There are places where there are forests Not like "Twelve Pines," but really forests There are places where the birds sing And you can hear the eagle call know they're out there Somewhere beyond the mall There are places there are rivers Not surrounded by concrete, but living rivers With fish in them and frogs and little tadpoles With ducks and deer drinking by the sinkholes There are places far away The trees turn colors in the fall know they're out there Somewhere beyond the mall –

Beyond the Mall – by David Rovics

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me