2. ENVIRONMENTAL ChEMISTRy & TEChNOLOGy 2.1. Lectures

Chem. Listy, 102, s265–s1311 (2008) Environmental Chemistry & Technology
consequence of a non-lived and crippled life. A person who
is not able to create must destroy. We have been witnessing
growth of violence. The violence has many forms – human
(physical and mental), military, economy, financial, political,
etc. Difference between war and peace has been becoming
less apparent as seen from many contemporary examples.
The volume of gun-running is not small. For example, in the
last three years American companies sold weapons for nearly
19 milliard dollars, French companies for 4 milliard dollars
and German ones for 1 milliard dollars. People tend to feel
insecure. Violence has negative influence on mental, physical,
and social health.
F a c t o r 8 – P e r m a n e n t D e v e l o p m e n t
Probably never in human history was people’s ability to
self destroy as high as it is today. Will we control the ability
or cope with it? Is permanent development possible? Is there
and will there be enough sources for needs filling? Values and
needs vary with individuals, regions, states and continents
– will the differences be apparent? One of many world principles
is stability and balance. Let us admit that something
like this exists in materially developed world. The situation,
however, can rapidly change into misbalance and dramatic
value, visions and ideology conflicts.
The world has been changing fast and dramatically. Is
mankind able to accept these changes throughout its physical
and mental essence? Probably everybody must admit that
mere existence of modern technologies brings along civilisation
risks that were unthinkable several years ago. How can
the modern technologies be used and controlled for general
use? Do modern technologies serve people or do people serve
modern technologies?
F a c t o r 9 – A b i l i t y t o M a n a g e
To be able to cope with development and suppress
negative factors as much as possible, the problems have to
be recognised and described openly and impartially. It also
necessary to find consensual solution – to manage. Management
is, in its essence, optimal use of available sources. The
main group of sources include: human, financial, material,
information and time sources.
Risk factors are unpleasant parts of life. They can, however,
work as challenge for searching for solution. Individual
and social scruples make people tend to avoid thinking about
unpleasant things. This phenomenon can be seen every day.
However, burying heads into sand and pursuing ostrich-like
policy will not lead to success. This policy will lead to postponing
and not solving the problems and, in its consequences,
will be nonreturnably harmful.
It is necessary to independently examine the risk factors
and, if necessary, to establish an independent institution for
these purposes. Avoiding unpleasant things can cause their
outbreak. Political institutions have to be included in this
s422
work in larger extent than they are today. Without wearing
ideological blinkers must we ask questions like: “Is it true?
Can it be true?” instead of “who and why said that?”.
If we characterise contemporary and, especially, future
environment as turbulent, it will not be an empty or just interesting
concept. In various studies there have been characterised
dozens of risks that can reach different levels of significance
and different levels of development. It is probable
that there may quickly appear new unexpectable, and, from
today’s point of view, unpredictable risks. Unfortunately, we
make some decisions using logic of today or even yesterday.
Environment has been becoming more and more complicated;
technologies have been in progress. People and their
understanding, thinking and behaviour are changing, too.
It is necessary to ask the main question: Is there (do we
have) any visions, plans, and directions for the new century?
Are there any devices for them? Don’t we focus on shortterm,
purpose-made, selfish solutions, which will chase us
into a trap? Don’t we remove consequences instead of causes
of our decisions?
We are certain that the crucial key matter of future is
regulation, management, ability and willingness to manage
even within international standards, as well as balanced unity
of managing items. It is necessary to solve problems within
international standards without selfishness, using the principles
of solidarity and balanced values substitutions. It will
take us a long time to do so.
Conclusions
The above stated factors are mutually interconnected;
they influence each other, change their content and extent.
There is a possibility of chaotic and unrestrained development
along with uncontrollable, unpredictable changes resulting
from these factors. In their consequences, these changes
create risks and threats. It is very important for the top management
representatives to realise the characters of development
factors. These factors concern each of us, too.
REFEREnCES
1. Beck, U.: Riziková společnost. Sociologické nakladatelství,
Praha 2004.
2. Huntington, Samuel P. Střet civilizací. Rybka publishers,
Praha 2001.
3. němeček, P., a kol.: Možné trendy rozvoje podniků. Akademické
nakladatelství CERM, Brno 2004.
4. novák, J.: Možné vývojové tendence okolí managementu.
In Sborník konference GEMAN 04 „General
management“. Plzeň: Sdružení EVIDA Plzeň, 2004.
5. Rašek, A.: Zpráva o stavu České republiky-oblast bezpečnosti.
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