World AIDS Day

Tomorrow happens to be World AIDS Day. A day of awareness on the health emergency that threatens to take the lives of millions around the world. It is interesting that the day receives so very little attention. Over at the ONE campaign they recently posted on their blog the up-to-date figures on the AIDS pandemic. According to the statistics 33.2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS globally; 2.5 million new infections occurred in 2007; and 2.1 million people died, or 5 700 people per day from HIV/AIDS in 2007. The sheer scale of these figures is enough to make a grown man cry.

I have now wrote a couple of posts on AIDS and a couple of books I have found that really create some perspective on this problem. In our increasingly interdependent state on one another it is entirely surprising that we don't have more dialogue and conversation going. Where are the news stories? Where are the public service announcements? It needs to be talked about, it needs to be HEARD. Our silence only increases the stigma placed upon the disease.

Just this past week an article in the Toronto Star broke the news that the Canadian government was diverting funds from community AIDS programs to help boost its AIDS medication program announced earlier in the year in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. How about they just increase funding altogether instead of shuffling it around? Of all the surplus that has been announced why can't we afford to spend a little extra on AIDS programs? As one of the G8, or wealthiest nations in the world, it is our responsibility to take this emergency seriously!

While it isn't all bad, and we have certainly made strides over the last few years, we have to realize this isn't going away. The current campaign circuit for the Democratic nominations down in the U.S. has yet to address where the candidates stand on AIDS research, poverty reduction, global debt relief. This requires a grassroots conversation. It requires that we force it onto the agenda. We need more than a few celebrities to take notice and create groundswell action. It requires that you and I participate. It starts with a few and the few bring with them many. Instead of waiting to join the fray how about we start the fray? Ask your teacher if you can start the conversation in your class, bring it up at the water cooler at work, send an email to your friends and family, not to ask for money but to ask for comments, to ask for actions.

We have the snowball rolling, but it needs to pick up speed. Give it a push.

Passion's Purpose

Here is another great post by Brad Williamson over at Small Business Branding. Check it out here.

Passion’s Purpose

Listen to the Soul, let it guide you towards the highest vision you have for yourself, and live a Life you can Love. You know who you are and who you want to be, so let your spirit be shown through the progress of your purpose. This energy that drives your dream’s desires, to turn being-ness into experience, is called passion.

The Soul presents you with its purpose through feelings of passion. It is an energy that drives you to push aside that which does not reflect your being, in favor of pursuits that mirror your inner-motivations. The experience of passion is so profound that you Lovingly cry years of dedication into crafts that represent who you are; and when your creations consume you, know that the Soul is living its dream.

The pulse of passion feels like pure Peace. Pure Peace that provides unconditional comfort without corruption, because conflict cannot possibly cross the Love of your Life. Every breath is beautiful as your spirit shouts the energy of affectionate addiction. …Your Love is alive.

Passion has no expectations. Its desires are fulfilled with or without awards or accomplishment, and simply strives for the Soul to see them survive. Passion must be given creative freedom if it wants to truly experience itself; and the distractions expectations inflict can restrict the liberty that is needed to transform dreams into Life.

Passion is purpose; and without passion, Life has no purpose. Thanks to Love, your passions are made obvious to you in every moment. All you must do to find your guiding light is hear the sincere shouts of the Soul that serve to remind you of who you are. Every moment reveals reasons to pursue the progress of passion, so never push away its promises.

Your passion can fashion a Life of Love; so embrace your motivations, both modest and magnificent. Present every moment with your purpose and prepare to be amazed by the presents you persuade Life to shower upon you.

How to Live Your Dream

I came across this great post on a blog and I wanted to share it with all of you. The author is Sean M Kelly and the link to the post is here

Is living your dream only for a select few or can we all realise our dreams? Here’s six tips to help you live yours.

1. Create a Great Purpose - The greater the reason you have to live your dream the greater your motivation. Think of those who have achieved greatly in their lives. Their purpose wasn’t limited by a personal agenda but by a purpose which was far greater than themselves. A few years ago I had the honour to musically lead Sir Bob Geldof into a conference. During his keynote speech he spoke about how “Live Aid” began. He said, “…our goal was to raise $75,000 to help feed people in Africa. Now millions and millions of dollars later we’re still doing it.” Create a great purpose for your dream - world abundance, world peace, feed the world, make poverty history or whatever resonates deep within you, almost as if you were born for this purpose to be realised.

2. Explore Your Dreams - What are your talents and gifts? What are you deeply passionate about? What do you love? Everyone has talents and gifts. Everyone has unique contributions to make to our world. However if we just follow everyone elses lead hoping to be liked and approved of, we may miss our calling. Ask yourself - what do you truly love doing? Do you lose track of time when you’re doing this? Would you do it even if you never got paid?

3. Create a Vision - Get a blank sheet of paper and markers. Now imagine anything is possible. Then draw a vision for your ultimate dream, one that feels absolutely fantastic! It’s the feelings that will energise your vision into reality, so let them soar! Put the vision somewhere you will see it daily and reconnect with those feelings as if your dream is already true.

4. Take guided action - There is an intelligence within the universe that keeps the planets in their orbits, ensures the sun rises daily and can also manifest your dreams. What do you need to do? Let go of the need to figure “how” your dream will happen, trust the infinite intelligence of the universe and watch for opportunites that arise. These opportunities may come to you, or your intuition may urge you to take guided action. Whichever way they arise, gently seize these opportunies!

5. Give Thanks - A thirteenth century philosopher, Meister Eckhart once said - if the only prayer we ever said in our lives was “thankyou” it would be enough. Never cease to feel gratitude for the manifestion of your dreams. Your feelings of gratitude is the energy which fuels the magical manifestation of your dreams. No matter how slow or fast the progress, celebrate every step of the way!

6. Your Greatest Gift - Finally and most importantly remember even if your dream doesn’t come true, be forever grateful for the greatest gift of all - the gift of your precious and unique life. And know that this world is a better place because … You have dared to live your dream!

World Changing

I received a book last year for Christmas and because I have let them stack up I have not had a chance to read it. The book sounded quite interesting but I have a book addiction and I think too many books sound good. The title for this particular book though was World Changing: A User's Guide For The 21st Century. Profound. Well lately as I have scoured the internet I keep linking back to this one particular website; World Changing. What is even more odd is that a friend of mine has been working with this new organization called REBEARTH and they just happened to be a headline article on the website today. Well my curiosity had me and so I started poking around the REBEARTH website. The tag line for the website "Growing a world 6.6 billion people would want to live in". It is exactly the kind of tag line I have been batting around in my head. It makes you day dream of the possibilities. So I ask this question: What would this world look like? What would the world look like if all 6.6 billion of us could be proud of it? What do you dream of? If REBEARTH can't make it happen then I want to try so please share.

Canadian Conference on Student Leadership

What a weekend! After co-founding the Canadian Conference on Student Leadership last year I was extremely excited to be able to partake in the event again this year in a minor capacity. This time around I was able to take in the experience and absorb so much more because I was able to be in the moment. Last year I was always worried about what I was going to have to do next, what problem I was going to have to help solve, and especially when I was going to get my next wink of sleep. This year was the exact opposite. I was able to attend sessions and listen to both the speakers and the participants as they conversed on the gamut of ideas and information. I found myself lost in their words and being touched at my core. The reasons we had started the conference, namely to network with our fellow peers, to gain experience from professionals, and to learn from our peers, was exactly what was occurring on both a micro and a macro level here this year and I was able to witness it without clouded eyes.

This year saw about 175 delegates attend and last year saw 150. That is about 325 leaders that have walked into the conference with open eyes and minds and left with an abundance of new ideas, inspirations and friends. Watching participants who, before the first day had never met, were now able to hug and cry, share their dreams and aspirations, and laugh with complete strangers, was one of the most memorable experiences I could have hoped to experience.

The conference came from an experience that me and 4 other fellow students when we had the privilege, as leadership mentors at Wilfrid Laurier University, to be sent down to Florida to attend the American National Conference on Student Leadership. The last speaker at this conference was Troy Stende, with his wife Karen. It was a dream come true to have Troy come to our conference and present both a keynote and workshop this year. It was at his keynote to close the American conference that our delegation left so utterly inspired that I think that momentum was exactly why we were moved to create our version here in Canada. It is a truly remarkable character that is able to have people laughing, crying, and sharing and believing in complete strangers, and more importantly with themselves. Just an absolutely genuine person, and someone I am very proud to call a friend. 4 years ago I left a conference by telling Troy you made a difference for me. His vision is to send a ripple of difference throughout the world and I don’t know that he will ever understand just how much he has done to accomplish this goal. 325 amazing young leaders have his inspiration to thank for their individual experiences these past two years and he can feel comfortable knowing that the conference will continue on into the future to affect many more young adults.

I want to thank Pat Alain and Melissa Steadman for continuing Kathryn and my legacy and for stepping it up and making it even better. The two of them did a truly remarkable job with the conference and it is due to their diligence and hard work that the conference ran so smoothly and was such a success. Congratulations to the both of them on what they have achieved as I know that it is a long and difficult task to accomplish with many barriers to overcome, but you did it while making it look easy.

I would also like to thank Melanie Will, Leanne Holland-Brown and Drew Piticco for their continued help in making the conference happen. Without their strong passion for student involvement and hard work the conference simply would not be possible. They are remarkable people and I am constantly blown away by their kindness and sincerity. The world is a better place with them in it.

I am not sure I can even remotely describe how amazing the weekend really was. It is one of those experiences where you leave with this feeling in your stomach like things have changed but your not sure just how yet. I saw innumerable instances where students were obviously affected by what they were experiencing. The thanks that students passed along to me (as I happened to be around) for having started the conference was extremely moving. It made me feel proud that I had even an iota of reason for their learning and growing. I would like to say one thing about this, however. I had very little to do with any of their experience. The conference is what it is and participants take what they do because of the people they are and the character they possess. The conference is nothing if not for their passion and involvement. I am thankful for the praise but certainly not deserving of it.

The leaders of both tomorrow and today are people just like the students who attend conferences such as the CCSL. If we have any chance of seeing a significant positive change within this lifetime, it will come from people such as these, who gather to grow and learn from one another how best to make it happen. We need more people in the world to be leaders. We need more people to stand up for what they believe in and help to influence and pass along the leader disposition to other open minded people.

Freedom Writers and a Rant to boot

I was watching the movie Freedom Writers this morning and a few things hit me.
1. There are some incredible quotes/excerpts in the movie that really hit me (I will share those in a second)
2. Real life is good enough to be made into a movie
and, 3. I have a lot of growing to do.

There are a couple of scenes in the movie that made me get a little teary eyed, moved, etc. I have watched it twice now and both times it really impacted me, but for different reasons. My favorite scene is the 'Toast for Change' scene where Hillary Swanks character asks the students to say what they are going to change over the upcoming semester. The passage goes like this:

HS: "Make a toast...We are each going to make a toast for change...and what that means is from this moment on every voice that told you you can't is silenced...every reason that tells you things will never change disappears...and the person you were before this moment - that persons time is over."

The second scene I was struck by was the one where the class brings in the woman who hid Anne Frank during the holocaust. Her character speaks to the class about her experience and then one of the students calls her his hero. This is her reply:

"I am not a hero... I did what I had to do because it was the right thing to do...that is all...we are all ordinary people....even an ordinary secretary or housewife or teenager can within their own small ways turn on a small light in a dark room."

This is the stuff a life of value is created with; Empowered with change, and the realization that it is the ordinary people in this world that are everyday heroes, we can all accomplish the goal of leaving a lasting, positive impact on the world. I decided after watching the movie that I was going to do two things tomorrow. 1. When I have my daily glass of OJ in the morning I am going to make a toast to change (most likely not out loud) to what I want to change about myself and my surrounding environment for the day, and I am going to repeat this every day for the next month and, 2. I am going to try and recognize my everyday heroes in my own little way.

The third thing I learned today during the movie, namely that I have a lot of growing to do, is not just because of something I saw in the movie but as a result of days of thinking about some of the things in my life that I have hated, and which I have taken for granted, but that truly make me me (that was totally a run on sentence).

You wouldn't know it to talk to me, or at least not likely, but I am a fairly emotional person - eternally optimistic, yet, and this is my gemini personality, I am constantly feeling beaten down. I know I am not alone on this, as I have heard from others time and time again how the world gets them down and that realistically an everyday person can't change the world. Back to the emotional thing for a second. I am a hopeless romantic, I keep trying to fight it and hide it, because I feel as though it isn't well received. But, like my optimism, it makes me me. I can fight it all I want but it is my heart, which certainly gets me into trouble, which allows me to say no to all the naysayers and the pessimists, and beat back the negatives and rejections, and push on.

This isn't unrelated and I am going to try and tie this all together.

Like the Freedom Writers, who were in the worst of situations, when we learn to accept that the outside world can be as nasty as it wants, and that we - those optimistic, romantic, heart following individuals - can find it within ourselves to continue on and push through the hurt and the pain and find that place deep down inside where we know, without hesitation, that we are good enough, that we are strong enough, and that we will become who we wish to be and leave this world better than when we came.

So while I don't expect everyone to like me, listen to what I say, or even believe me, I do believe enough in myself enough to not care about all the reasons I can't, and know that for all the cants there is an equal amount of cans.

So let us take a toast to change. Open your hearts, look within, and see that you CAN be an everyday hero.

A lot on my mind

2 Posts in one day, but I have a lot I would like to talk about. I have received a few emails and facebook messages from you wonderful readers and I really appreciate your thoughts and ideas. Some of you are doing some truly remarkable things and should be very proud of yourselves. I hope that in some way my writing is able to help you in any way.

Ally Pintucci, who recently messaged me about her ambitious project of raising $10 000 for Free the Childrens Brick by Brick campaign is looking for some help. While she has certainly got the ambition to attain her goals, working with some of you other remarkable people out there is sure to make doing so a lot easier. If anyone out there would like to help out with this initiative or has some fundraising ideas, please either email me or look her up on facebook and send her the ideas directly. I think this would be a wonderful discussion for everyone who, like Ally, would like to do some fundraising but need some fresh ideas on how to, so please do not hesitate to post your comments and ideas here on my blog. To learn more about the Brick by Brick campaign through Free the Children click here.

This weekend I will be traveling back to my former university, where I will be helping out with an initiative I co-founded last year. The Canadian Conference on Student Leadership was a dream of mine and another former students, Kathryn McIntosh. We had the privilege of traveling down to Disney World about 3 years ago to attend the US equivalent conference and were inspired to start our own here in Canada. It took us a year to plan and get the funding but last year was the inaugural conference which had 150 students from across Canada attend. It was an incredible weekend where we were all inspired by fellow students and professionals. I am truly excited to see this years conference and see some people from last year as well as some new faces. To see this conference grow is a dream of mine and I can't wait to see where it goes from here. Please check out the website, and if you get a chance I highly recommend you try and attend next years event.

One last thought. I find all your ideas, comments, and emails extremely inspiring. I hope that you continue to update me on what you are up to. Even I, the eternal optimist, needs a little pick-me-up, and your actions provide just that.

Ambition: One Laptop Per Child

A lot has been said about the One Laptor Per Child program that has been in development for seemingly years. The founder, Nicholas Negroponte, thought up the idea while teaching at MIT. The program went live as of today. Right now you can log on and purchase a computer, the XO as it has been affectionately called, for yourself while simultaneously purchasing one for a child in the developing world. The idea originally was to design a computer that could be used by a child in the developing world at a cost of $100 per computer. While they didn't quite make it for a $100 they did manage to create one for about $188. The goal, according to their website at ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD is:
"To provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment, and express themselves."

Now, while their are many flaws with this idea - one major one being instead of spending a $188 on a laptop how about giving them food, water, and sending them to school - the idea is still quite remarkable. A child with a computer, unlike any other way possible, will be able to connect with the outside world and explore their abilities to grow. A computer can provide education, which will help their ability to get a well paying job, which will hopefully help them break the continuing cycle of poverty within their families.

The computer itself is a master of both form and function. A child in the developing world is able to charge the computer by hand. The screen is able to reduce glare and work even in the most auspicious circumstances. The user interface allows each recipient of a laptop to instantly connect with others and share information, and even an internet connection. It is truly a remarkable piece of machinery that is sure to make learning both easier and fun for a deserving group of young people.

The laptop project is ambitious and it has yet to really catch on with governments, who the product is meant to be sold to en mass. However, mark my words: The XO will revolutionize the practice of development. It is a step towards using our collective abilities to create a product that reaches a root problem, instead of just a band-aid fix. We need more Nicholas Negropontes in the world who are willing to look past profit and see that their talents can do so much more good in the world. We need ambitious people with hearts of gold to take it upon themselves to level the status quo. You can be that person. I hope you will think about what you can offer the world and then go out and give it.

Millennium Development Tracker

I came across this great new website about the Millennium Development Goals. You can look at specific countries or the entire world to track the progress being made on the specific goals. Check it out and play around with it.
MDG Tracker

Shall We Wake Up?

I have largely avoided speaking out about some recent global events, not because I am afraid to, but because I have trouble gathering my thoughts into a coherent paragraph not laced with profanity. Why you might ask? Because I just can't get over how lackadaisical we have been in addressing them.
My frustration grows daily about the crisis in Darfur. This area in Sudan has been labeled a genocide, crimes against humanity, the worlds worst current crisis, and many other horrible descriptors. What I find frustrating, however, is that I have not seen nor heard a single moment of news on the issue in mainstream media. What I know of the crisis is what I have gone looking for. This to me is absolutely despicable. This isn't an event that we are far removed from, and in fact we could be considered a catalyst for the problems. It is our ignorance that allows the conflict to continue. While there are many factors involved in this complex crisis, a large factor is about securing natural resources which bring in a great deal of money to those who control it. These same natural resources are the ones we pine for here in the Western world, and will allow anything to happen in order to receive them at a cost effective rate.
The conflict has been occurring for many years now and we have turned the blind cheek too long. These women, children and innocent people are forced to flea their homes, to bury their loved ones, or watch them needlessly whither away due to the lack of nutrition, all because we wish to remain ignorant. We deny any wrong doing in order to make ourselves feel better and comfortable with ourselves and what is happening, and we deny any part in perpetuating it.
This is why I am not only angry with the media, but also myself. I have not spoken up about the problems and have allowed my incoherent thoughts to fester in the back of my mind.
I remain positive that we can do something and that that something is not difficult, nor out of the realm of our abilities. It simply requires that we no longer claim ignorance and begin asking questions. It means we mail our local/provincial/regional politicians asking that we do something to stop this conflict from continuing. These are not difficult things, they are just things that up until now most, including myself, have been unwilling to attempt.
I urge each and every person, whether you feel apart of the crisis or not, to speak up, because it is a life or death matter. You speak up means saving lives - its as simple as that. I know that in every persons heart they care about life, whether it is their own or someone else, so prove you cherish life and use your own to make a difference for someone else.

Agent of Change

"A change agent, or agent of change, is someone who intentionally or indirectly causes or accelerates social, cultural, or behavioral change."
Wikipedia

I aspire to be an agent of change.

The Question

The question that I have heard numerous times lately is "where, or who deserves my donation? How do I know that the charity is a worthy cause?" The answer: Like any investment it requires some research. You wouldn't put your money just anywhere would you? Not long ago one of the most respected and successful investors of all time, Warren Buffet, donated a rather large sum of money to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. When quized as to why, he replied: they would spend it better than he ever could. There is no magical answer to where/who you should donate. Like any investment it must meet you personal values, beliefs, and vision for how you want your money to be used. The good news is that it is getting a lot easier by the day to find out more about where your money is going.
The micro-credit craze has caught on to unprecedented levels, to the point that you or I could log onto the internet and immediately loan an entrepreneur millions of km away the necessary funding to get their business going. You can read about the business, the entrepreneur, and find our just what your money will be doing. The best part? When the entrepreneur is capable of paying you back, they will so that you can then turn around and loan it to another worthy entrepreneur. All from a seat at your desk. Check out Kiva.org in my links section to find out more about this exciting new system.
It is important for you not to feel compelled to donate based on the name of the organization, the cause to which it 'says' that it is trying to fix, or to the initial sales pitch. Making a donation should be done with care and due diligence. Take your time and make sure that you know exactly who and what your money will be going towards and doing. Unfortunately, there are a lot of organizations that claim to be something they are not, and do things that they don't. It is up to us as donors to weed out these malicious organizations and place our money where we know it will accomplish the greatest amount of good.