Banking Ethics in the Information Age

Troubled times seem to create an opportunity to display ethical behaviour. The recent events in Tunisia have given the banking community a perfect opportunity to display their ethics. Some have done well. I would like to give all who do very public credit.

In this age of social networking and information sharing the reputation of a bank can be shared with millions in seconds. We shall shortly, I believe see a clear demonstration of that. In the coming year we will see many people change their occupations, giving rise to a new generation of politicians and leaders.

In the case of the North African region for instance, it isn't hard to imagine a few changes in the near future is it? A bank which displayed poor ethics when there was opportunity to do otherwise might find itself exceedingly unpopular with the new legislators and re-awakened voters and their loyal friends.

As for our old friend the ratings agencies - well I put it to you in very clear terms, their judgement is not to be trusted. The response of Moody's in relation to Tunisia is to punish the country for empowering itself to reach a new age of prosperity. I would go so far as to say that Tunisia will soon become one of the 'cool' places to go. There will be some strife in their neighbourhood, but we all know the cause of that. Moody's judgement on Tunisia is seriously flawed. The country was being pillaged by a gang of thugs and not nearly living up to it's full potential. To suggest that it's future is less bright than under the Ben Ali regime is nothing short of libellous insult.

It is an insult to us all. Would we be a better credit risk if under the yolk of a totalitarian regime?

I can personally attest to the fact that Tunisia has more than it's fair share of bright young people. They have intelligence, courage and determination. Given no un-necessary hindrances they will prevail and succeed.

It is the interest of the western powers to ensure that the free democratic movement in Tunisia has every chance to reach it's potential, because that potential is essential to the future relationships between the greater North Africa, Middle East and the western powers.

Tunisia is the model for all others to follow. It will be a shining example of how democracy reaches across cultural and religious divides. Simply put, the majority of the Tunisian people shared the same sufferance's. The majority of the humans on the earth, unfortunately share them. Some aren't yet aware. They will become aware very quickly.

The war machine would have us believe that without iron-fisted dictators holding on to power with torture and murder is absolutely essential to prevent the radical Islamisation of those poor countries suffering under such circumstances. It is patently untrue.

It seems that all too many of you forget the women of the world. Given the freedoms that real democracies provide, women will not be prepared to yield to irrational demands, nor will they be silent. Perhaps most western women are more subservient, leaving it to their alter ego's on the soap opera's to live with verve. Not so the women of the middle east nor Africa. The girls are getting a voice. If you have missed it then you just haven't been listening in the right place.

Tunisia not only deserves all the support we can give it, we actually need it to work to prove to other states in similar circumstances that there is a way forward without resorting to ultra-violence. We also need to seriously shorten the list of places available as a haven fro such despots as we know exist. That is not to say there shouldn't be somewhere for them to go if they do so gracefully, but if it is any better accommodation than Gitmo, they should be packing now and thanking their lucky stars for the warning.

The internet isn't quite as temporary as we thought. Not everything disappears into the ether, some things will mirrored for 10,000 years and studied by innumerable students of history. How do you want to be portrayed?