It was only many years later that we learnt about the atrocities and the inhuman ways the natives of the Amazon Valley were subjected to by the white barons to develop exporting of natural rubber to Europe to provide the main raw material for the automotive tyre industry which was gradually evolving in to a flourishing industry. The inventing of synthetic rubber in the late 1940s and the development of SBR  due to the short supply of natural rubber from the colonies  in the East to cater for the growing demand for tyres used in the military vehicles during the Second World War and the Korean War is another episode of beyond the border commercial endeavours.

Although the word ‘globalisation’ was coined by Theodore Levitt in 1983 through an article ‘Globalisation of Markets’ which appeared in the Harvard Business Review  (May-June 1983), I feel that we should go way back in the annals of history to get an understanding of the term. This knowledge may not look attractive to the modern business world. Nevertheless, the sociologists and others of similar disciplines will certainly find such knowledge useful in comprehending the modern day socio-economic woes.

Origins of globalisation may possibly be traced back to early human migrations, presumably from the Olduvai George Gorge, a site in Tanzania that holds the earliest evidence of human ancestors. Human migration is the movement of people from one place to another, particularly different countries, with the intent of settling temporarily or permanently in the new location. It typically involves movement over long distances. The driving motive, namely seeking dominance over fellow men and exploiting the natural environment to achieve success, does not seem to have changed over the millions of years.

The emergence of the great civilisations, e.g. Indus Valley, Mesopotamia, and their subsequent decline can be attributed to globalisation. Similarly, the invasions and cross-border military conquests of historical fame (or notoriety) such as that of Alexander the Great and colonisation by the West for the exploitation of natural wealth in Asia, Africa and South America reveals an ugly facet of globalisation.

The Silk Route interlinking East Asia and Southeast Asia with South Asia, Persia, the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and Southern Europe, on the other hand, was central to the economic, political, cultural and religious interactions between these regions form 2nd century BCE to the 18th century.

The industrialisation and expansion of business and commerce across countries during the past 300-plus years was fuelled by the four industrial revolutions, or waves as some prefer to identify them, namely steam power, conveyor system, computers and digitalisation. The process is continuing to the unforeseeable future with new knowledge and innovations fuelling the globalisation.

The multifaceted nature of globalisation has commonly been identified into eight types as shown below:

•           Political Globalisation

•           Social Globalisation

•           Economic Globalisation

•           Technological Globalisation

•           Financial Globalisation

•           Cultural Globalisation

•           Economic Globalisation

•           Geographical Globalisation

My intention is not to delve in to a discussion about the pros and cons of globalisation, which has been comprehensively documented, but to highlight on some key aspects from this part of the world, especially of the Asian subcontinent.

Knowledge dissemination across border, in my view, is the single most important factor associated with globalisation. This appears common to all the above types of globalisation. The dissemination of the Buddhist doctrine by the great Emperor Asoka to countries spreading from the far East to the Central Asia and Middle East including the present Sri Lanka during 3rd century BCE is one of the earliest recorded instances of globalisation.

Countries with long histories going back to 3,000 to 4,000-plus years, such as India, China and Sri Lanka, possessed a vast knowledge base ingrained in the social consciousness. This appears to have significantly influenced the philosophical and intellectual thought of the Greek and Persian periods. Unfortunately, a major part of this knowledge has been eroded through the influence of the West, which started around the 16th century. One good example of this knowledge found in the ancient irrigation knowledge of Sri Lanka is the engineering  marvel of a gradient of 1 inch per mile in an ancient canal about 87 km long,  built to connect two man-made reservoirs in the 5th century AD. Similarly, India and Sri Lanka possessed a vast indigenous knowledge base in medicine, astrology, architecture, agriculture, irrigation and astrology, and it is somewhat unfortunate that this knowledge has not been adequately globalised. The only significant inroads are seen in tourism. But that too are based on the western norms.

On the other hand, we have acquired a vast knowledge from the industrialised countries on modern management thoughts and technologies which have enabled industrialisation and improvement in living conditions of the populace. In this era of interdependency, a country cannot afford to ignore the technologies which are necessary to maintain a suitable level of competitiveness internationally. However, if this is accomplished at the expense of ignoring the inherent social and cultural foundations, the long-term adverse consequences would be disastrous and unimaginable.

The adverse long-term consequences of the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and the global addiction to pharmaceuticals are already seen physically and socially in practically all the countries, especially the so called underdeveloped or developing countries.

The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the irreversible effects of global warming are two examples of globalisation which are affecting the mere sustenance  of mankind.

A country can immensely benefit by striving for stars through adopting modern technologies. However, the absolute importance of a strong base cannot be ignored or taken lightly. Back to a strong base and reinforcing the base lies at the core of sustainable development.

The words of Mahatma Gandhi echoing from the past reaffirm this plain truth in no uncertain terms.

“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”

“What's past is prologue," a quote from William Shakespeare's ‘The Tempest’ presumes that though history is written, the future is anyone's to decide – with the knowledge gleaned from the past. (TT)

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The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) has expressed deep frustration over the federal government’s failure to act on bureaucratic relief proposals. Association President Michael Klein noted that over the last three years, German industry has enthusiastically submitted concrete ideas to reduce red tape, including 250 top proposals recently put forward by the Federation of German Industries (BDI). Despite this engagement, the government’s current implementation efforts are more than disappointing.

Klein’s criticism follows a response from the Federal Ministry for the Environment regarding faster permitting procedures under the Federal Immission Control Act. Back in 2023, the BDI had proposed simplifying the legally mandated seven plus three month process for industrial plant permits, specifically by ending the need for continuous updates to application documents. The ministry’s suggestion to introduce inter agency expert opinions as an acceleration measure is seen by Klein as a joke. Under existing law, consulted authorities already have two months to comment; if they fail, the permitting authority can order an expert opinion at the defaulting body’s expense. The ministry claims this 2024 regulation sufficiently addresses the industry’s request.

Klein argues that bringing in third party experts instead of making timely decisions creates new delays and uncertainty over costs. Even if the negligent authority is meant to pay, taxpayers ultimately foot the bill. This single issue, while seemingly minor in the broader struggle against bureaucracy, reveals the authorities’ mindset and a profound administrative lack of understanding. Since the BDI’s 2023 proposals, German industry has had to hire 325,000 additional employees just to cope with new bureaucratic demands from Brussels and Berlin.

Klein concluded that these figures speak for themselves, calling on Merz to take immediate action. He also warned that further burdening struggling companies and industrial peace with a half-baked proposal for a voluntary energy bonus is definitely not helpful. The message is clear: bureaucratic overload threatens industry survival, and real relief cannot wait.

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, is reinforcing a crucial message as UK police intensify enforcement under the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Operation Spotlight. While the campaign rightly targets seatbelt offences as one of the ‘Fatal Four’, TyreSafe says both seatbelts and tyres play critical roles in road safety – one protects people during a crash, while the other helps prevent the crash from happening at all. The organisation urges drivers to see these safety features as complementary, not interchangeable.

Seatbelts remain among the most effective lifesaving devices, cutting a driver’s death risk by roughly half. Yet dangerous habits persist, especially among younger users. In 2022, four unbelted young people were killed or seriously injured every week, and nearly a third of car occupant fatalities aged 17 to 29 involved no seatbelt. Those aged 17 to 34 have the lowest wearing rates and highest accident risk, with young men most likely to forego a belt on short or familiar night journeys.

A similar neglect appears in tyre safety, particularly among younger drivers. While most motorists prioritise safety when choosing tyres, younger drivers are significantly drawn to performance. Over a third have never heard of the 20p coin test, and despite 72 percent knowing a legal tread depth exists, nearly 3 in 10 cannot name it. Only 40 percent check tyre pressure monthly, and 10 percent admit they never check tread depth.

Younger drivers also face greater risk through part-worn tyres, with more than one in five buying them, rising to 27 percent among under 30s. Worn tyres at 70 mph add 27 metres to stopping distance. In wet motorway conditions, worn tyres affect stopping distance seven times more than alcohol. On average, 153 people are killed or seriously injured annually in defective tyre incidents, with 172 such casualties in 2024.

Forensic investigations reveal that 75 percent of tyre defects linked to fatal crashes stem from poor maintenance, making most preventable. Surviving a crash should never be the first line of defence. Properly maintained tyres provide grip in emergency braking, while seatbelts offer protection when prevention fails. TyreSafe reminds every driver that road safety begins before the crash, not after it.

TyreSafe urges road users to embrace the simple ACT protocol: regular checks of air pressure, condition and tread depth.

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “Operation Spotlight highlights the importance of wearing a seatbelt, and rightly so – seatbelts save lives. But road safety also depends on preventing collisions in the first place. Tyres are the only part of the vehicle that touches the road, and their condition determines braking, grip and control. Checking your tyres once a month using the ACT method is a simple step that could make the difference between a near miss and a serious collision.”

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) recently hosted a significant courtesy visit from Izal Nazrin, Head of the Corporate Communication Unit at the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB), at its Secretariat. This meeting served as an important opportunity to deepen ties between the two organisations.

Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in media engagement and joint publication efforts concerning the natural rubber industry. Both sides stressed that strategic communication plays a vital role in raising the sector’s visibility and public awareness, particularly regarding upstream activities such as production and raw material management.

This exchange highlights a mutual dedication to advancing the natural rubber sector through effective partnerships and coordinated outreach. By working together, ANRPC and MRB aim to strengthen industry communication and support sustainable growth across the supply chain.

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Road Ready Foundation, a nonprofit focused on tyre safety and roadside education, has entered a new collaboration with Anyline, a company known for artificial intelligence driven mobile tyre inspections. By joining forces, they plan to use Anyline’s TireBuddy system during live events to show how technology can bring more honesty and uniformity to checking tyre health. Their shared goal is to make safety lessons more hands on and widely available.

The TireBuddy tool is not meant for everyday drivers but rather for service centres and dealerships looking for consistent data and digital records. Trained personnel can measure tread depth using only a smartphone, avoiding the need for special equipment. Major names like Discount Tire, EchoPark and Michelin already use this technology. Road Ready will adapt it as a teaching aid during community outreach, proving that business focused solutions can also serve the public good.

Throughout the coming year, Road Ready will feature TireBuddy in its national roadshows to offer live insights into tyre conditions and dangers. Alex Bebiak, who leads the foundation, will present these demonstrations at the upcoming Lifesavers Conference in Baltimore from 19 to 21 April. Anyline’s co-founder Lukas Kinigadner, who recently joined the Safe Tread Alliance board, believes this partnership shows how corporate tools can reduce preventable roadway harm.

Bebiak helped create the Safe Tread Alliance in 2025, a coalition pushing to modernise American tyre safety rules and phase out outdated habits linked to traffic deaths. This new partnership expands tyre safety education and highlights what industry and nonprofits can achieve together. By blending advanced software with real world demonstrations, Road Ready and Anyline hope to change how tyre safety is taught and understood.

Bebiak said, “For too long, tyre safety has been overlooked in driver education, despite being something every driver can control. This partnership is about using technology for good – taking industry-grade tools and turning them into powerful educational moments that help drivers make safer decisions and prevent tragedies.”

Kinigadner said, “When technology is built responsibly, its impact can extend well beyond its original use case. By partnering with Road Ready Foundation, we are using our technology to support safety education, raise awareness and help drivers better understand the importance of tyre safety.”

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