Blogging

I did not intentionally head to Martin Place in Sydney tonight, the scene of the siege a week ago today that resulted in the loss of three lives … but find myself there I did. There are more flowers than I expected, filling five or six large barricaded off areas.

What really surprised me was the people solemnly filing past the flowers – many family groups together including plenty of young kids respectfully taking in the sea of colour.

I think the reaction speaks to the difference of life in Australia. A siege resulting in deaths is rare here as is gun violence, thankfully.

What happened a week ago shocked the country and I can see the extraordinary floral tributes and visiting them providing a small outlet through which people have been able to publicly express their shock and to reflect on the lives lost and the impact on those who survived.

None of this relates this blog and running a newsagency – except that it further informs my own view of the world and this blog is, in part, just that.

Sorry for the blog being down this morning. The server farm where it is located has been down with all hosted websites affected. It’s limping at the moment and will be to full speed very soon I’m told.

I am in China this morning, in Beijing and about to head out for the first event in a Trade Mission organised by the Victorian Government. My software company was invited to participate in pursuit of sales opportunities to independent and small retailers here.  There are 600 delegates here from 400 companies. Plus the Premier and several ministers. It’s the biggest ever trade mission from Victoria and my first.

We will be covering five cities over the next five days before a couple of days in Hong Kong and business elsewhere in Asia for three days. So, blogging could be light. I have racked up some posts ready to go on topics I think will interest newsagents. I’ll be in daily contact with my newsagencies and other colleagues and will try and publish posts to help facilitate the conversations we have here.

Here is part of what Business Victoria has published about the trade mission:

The Super Trade Mission to China is the largest ever to leave Australia’s shores. China is Victoria’s largest trading partner and is a major engine of global economic growth. As China’s economy grows and its appetite for sophisticated consumer products develops, Victorian organisations offer a safe and superior range of goods and services for the China market.

This historic mission allows participants to gain a first-hand understanding of China’s market dynamics and give them the opportunity to showcase their organisation and forge new connections with potential qualified customers, business partners and investors.

This mission strengthens the Victorian investment relationship with China significantly and generate substantial new opportunities for both economies, as well as additional exports and jobs for Victoria.

Participants represent industries of strategic importance to both Victoria and China including: automotive, aviation and aerospace, cleantech, education, food and beverage, ICT, life sciences, mining equipment and technology services, professional services (including financial, carbon markets and healthcare), sustainable urban design and tourism.

While I am here for my software business, I also plan to take in the retail situation and learn from the opportunities in this rapidly growing economy.

A like button has been added to the comments facility here enabling readers to like a comment without having to make a comment themselves. To like a comment just click the button, you don’t need an email address or anything.

Click here to get the details of a competition being run here with two year long subscriptions to AFR.COM (worth $680) of offer.

This blog in being preserved as part of the PANDORA project by the National Library. The National Library made the request some considerable time ago in recognition of the cultural value of what is published here.  Here’s an explanation of PANDORA from the website:

PANDORA, Australia’s Web Archive, is a growing collection of Australian online publications, established initially by the National Library of Australia in 1996, and now built in collaboration with nine other Australian libraries and cultural collecting organisations.

The name, PANDORA, is an acronym that encapsulates our mission: Preserving and Accessing Networked Documentary Resources of Australia.

This is pretty cool. I am on a flight from Dallas to New York and have wireless internet access.  It cost me US$9.95 which for a 3 hour and 30 minute flight is good value in my view.  I have caught up on emails for work and news from home.  In the five other seats near mine which I can easily see three others are using the service.

The access speed is excellent.  Indeed, better than I get back in Australia with a wireless card when I am on the road.

The offering of the service speaks to the importance of connectivity in today’s world.  While some near me are using access for entertainment surfing, others, like me, are using it to catch up on business.

To me, this service reinforces the importance of easy access to a fast internet connection right around Australia.

Okay I am off now to catch up on Australian news and to make some scrabble moves.