This Just In...

I just got word that I have been accepted to attend the CGI U (Clinton Global Initiative University) conference in mid-March. I have been eagerly anticipating this event since it was announced, and my anxiety about hearing if I would be accepted was fairly high. I am very excited to get this opportunity and hopefully some really interesting things will come of it. With any luck I will make some great connections and learn some new things to share with everyone. I will be sure to keep everyone up to date as I hear more about it in the coming weeks. Now I just have to find some money to get down there!

If you are interested in the event and even attending yourself check out the website here.

Beauty in Diversity - Tyler Herman

My classmate sent this poem to my class this weekend and I am going to share it with all of you. It needs to be shared.

BEAUTY IN DIVERSITY

The human family is as diverse and vast as the stars in the sky,
To see the beauty in it all, acceptance is needed, and so each must try.

Each person is their own entity, each has a unique life,
We all share the beauty of existence, we all share the strife.

When we are not accepting, and don't search for the beauty in another,
We fail to see that each human being is our own sister or brother.

We may look different, think different, but at the core are deeply the same,
When we use appearances to discriminate another, are actions are simply a shame.

We must break down the barriers that our own fears use to separate us apart,
We have all been in coexistence on Earth, since creation, since the very start.

Skin colour, hair colour, eye colour, religion, gender, politics, thoughts, dreams,
Sharing and accepting all this diversity is what binds together histories painful seams.

A new light must shine, where the beauty of diversity can radiate through,
With so many colours in the rainbow, we have a choice to not be blue.

For around each corner, under each leaf and stone, there is beauty to be discovered,
But when we discriminate against each other, that beauty inevitably becomes covered.

So loosen the binding shackles that may be subconsciously gripping our point of view,
Looking for the uniqueness and goodness in everyone, for each can teach us something new.

We each contribute to the beautiful palette that paints the larger picture of existence,
Breaking down the barriers of discrimination is no easy task, it takes persistence.

It is the truthful duty of each and every human being to strive to create the unified way,
To look with diligence to find the beauty and diversity in others, each and every day.

We each posses goodness at the core, never forget that when our differences arise,
Our own personal perceptions can create cloudiness, but the beauty in diversity is what clears the skies.

So go now with thoughts of all the beauty of diversity at the forefront of your mind,
We each come from different places, but all share oneness as a citizen of mankind.

Positive and impactful words. Thank you for sharing them Tyler.

Gates and Creative Capitalism

This past week happened to be the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. While I never did figure out (or have the time) to film my idea for the YouTube contest, it was interesting to hear Bill Gates speech about just the idea I had. Although he certainly said it better than I ever could, my thoughts were based on the premise that Social Enterprise business practices needed to be adopted by the global elite corporations. Gates urged those in attendance to start making money AND helping the poorest residents around the world. It is an important premise that is slowing becoming more accepted as a business practice. You can make money and help fill a gap for the disadvantaged. There is not a product or business in the world that does not have something to offer in the process of creating a better world.

Corporate Social Responsibility policies have been all the rage the past few years, as consumers become more interested in where their money is going and what it is doing. The 'Green Movement' has almost every product that now enters the market bearing the term green on the packaging. It makes sense. People are paying for products that do more for the world we live in. It will not stop there and it shouldn't stop there.

Bill Gates and his foundation have begun to make inroads into some of the worlds greatest health crises, and it is a significant move that he begin to pass along the wisdom that he has learned as he makes the move from his corporate chair at Microsoft to the philanthropic chair over at his foundation. It is interesting to see the values he now holds. A man, with all the money in the world, has started to give it out to the those less fortunate and while I don't know personally, I would bet my money on that he sees that the money doesn't make him happier. Having an amount above and beyond what is necessary is useless and it is far better off being used on the people who desperately need it.

This is the message that all businesses need to hear. Money in the end will not keep your business from being a failure. It will not make its stakeholders rest easier. It will not help anyone sleep at night or look themselves in the mirror. The world needs more and deserves more from those who get so much. If you are a business owner think about what your organization can do to make the world a better place.

Night - Elie Wiesel

I just finished this book. Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Night by Elie Wiesel is a truly historical novel. It is a short read but jammed with the first hand recounting of Elie's childhood in Auschwitz, the concentration camp. The story of Auschwitz is one that continues to have significance in our understanding of genocide and the meaning of human rights.

Elie is a true testament of the soul of a human being and the ability to use words to remind the world to value the life of man. When he accepted the Nobel Prize for this work he said some truly resounding things. If you want to read the whole speech do so here, but here are the passages that I found most compelling:

"...now the boy is turning to me. 'Tell me,' he asks, 'what have you done with my future, what have you done with your life?' And I tell him that I have tried. That I have tried to keep memory alive, that I have tried to fight those who would forget. Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices.
And then I explain to him how naive we were, that the world did know and remained silent. And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endured suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must - at that moment- become the center of the universe.

...There is so much to be done, there is so much that can be done. One person - a Raoul Wallenberg, an Albert Schweitzer, a Martin Luther King Jr. - one person of integrity can make a difference, a difference of life and death...

...Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately."

Words have meaning. I say this over and over again in conversation. As a graduate of Communications Studies I could give you all kinds of reason that words mean more than their construction. We need read works such as this to truly grasp the power that words have. Every chance you have and every thing that you say or write has the power to make a difference. It is an unbelievable power to have and for those of us that can use it without fear of persecution, it is our duty to use it to help those that don't.
Speak up.

A Long Way Gone - Ishmael Beah

I read a great book over my holidays and forgot to write a little review about it. One of the best accounts of the tragedy in Sierra Leon and the use of child solidiers, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a boy solider by Ishmael Beah, Beah recounted his time during the war and his recovery from the experience that he endured.

The book jacket has this to say:

This is how wars are fought now: by children, traumatized, hopped-up on drugs, and wielding AK-47s. The UN estimates that there are 300,000 child soldiers fighting in fifty conflicts worldwide. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them.
What does ware look like through the eyes of a child soldier? How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists and novelists, but few who have endured this hell have told their tales. In A Long Way Gone Ishmael Beah, now twenty-six years old, tells a gripping story: At the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. At sixteen, he was rehabilitated by UNICEF, learning how to forgive himself, to regain his humanity and, finally, to heal.
This is an extraordinary and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.

If you have any interest in understanding the effects that wars have on the young then A Long Way Gone should be included in your reading list. I personally was gripped by the story and am in awe of someone who is able to recount it for all to read. It takes an extremely strong person to share such a disparaging story in all its details.

Give this book a read. If I was a critic I would give it a 5 out of 5.

Celebrities and the UN

It has become ALMOST popular culture. Celebrities are increasingly entering the realm of activism. While celebrities such as Bono and Angelina Jolie have taken most of the spotlight for their roles as Co-Founder of DATA (Product Red and ONE) and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, others such as Don Cheadle, in his role as Darfur activist, George Clooney, in the same role, and Brad Pitt with his environmental housing project in New Orleans, have also been making headlines. Most recently, George Clooney was named a UN "Messenger of Peace", a role he will take to help mediate the growing conflict in Nigeria.

A letter from militants in Nigeria shows fears that the escalating conflict could grow to be even worse than what is happening in Darfur.

The blending of celebrity with activist is an important step in the process of raising awareness. While they are often criticized for not doing enough, these celebrities are doing more than most to swing the tide of global degeneration. The fact that it is becoming popular culture means more to make average people aware of the world around them than does the traditional forms of activism. To reach the masses it must come from sources that the masses pay attention to.

The UN is making a bold and important step by associating itself with celebrities. It is averting its nation-to-nation role and entering the global-to-person arena. To do so it is using the celebrity avenue. Sports marketing companies have done this for years with great success. Nike, Reebok, and Adidas, have all made billions by garnering celebrity endorsement.

This video by the ONE organization (Bono's) depicts celebrities asking for the average persons help. It is a powerful message that creates a connection that people can share.



The importance of celebrity activism and popular culture is one that we can all share. You can buy a t-shirt that shows your favorite cause and parade it around for all to see, you can wear a rubber bracelet that has a few words of awareness, you can even post a video to YouTube that puts you alongside these celebrities in a medium that others can share in. The point is in order for awareness and activism to take the next step WE all need to do our part to make it hip and popular. WE need to help them to make it catch on. For it to become a movement WE need to participate.

If the UN can make the steps to start making activism cool, then we too can show others it is cool. It might come at us like a sales pitch, but don't be fooled by the criticism - It still needs to be sold. The world wont change when you purchase a t-shirt, but when you wear it around you open up the chance to change someones mind.

Join George, Brad, Angelina, Don and Bono and help make activism cool.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

I have had this dream of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and it is my goal to do so later this year. I will be doing an internship (although I am not sure where or with who, if anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them!) with any luck in Africa. Once I am over there, which is the expensive part, I want to travel around a little and see some of the continent. My last destination before heading home will be to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Why you ask? I am afraid of heights. I want to test myself on my greatest fear, and push my body to limits it has not seen before because I believe I can. Mt. Kilimanjaro is a mountain in both the physical and mental senses. Getting to the top will show me what I am capable of.

For most people to find this point in their minds it is not a mountain that you ascend. For me it is because of my fear of it. We all have some fear the cripples us. Some people are able to cope with it better than others, and some don't even recognize just how debilitating the fear has actually become. Ask yourself this: "Do I do everything I want or does something stop me?" Now if it is your conscience or morals that stop you then you are probably ok, but if it is this little gut feeling that tells you your goal is something to be scared of or to fear then you have found your mental mountain.

Climbing your mental mountain is about more than just the feeling you will have after you accomplish your feat, it is about showing yourself you can believe in yourself. Everyone thinks that changing the world is about some grand event or large movement. The fact is that changing the world is incremental. Nothing happens overnight, it takes time and energy. The place to start is within ourselves. If we can break down our own barriers and start to live the lives we can imagine and start to see that our dreams can become reality, then we open the world up to the possibility that what is does not have to be. We need to start replacing fear and cynicism with hope and optimism. When we do this then change can begin to be made in leaps and bounds.

Our obstacle to a better world lies within us. We have the means to change the world every day and the best place to start is to defeat your fears. Reach the apex and show the world what is possible.

Top 10 Things To Do That Can Change the World

I thought it was about time I create a list of the things that people can do to make the world a better place. This is my list and there are certainly other ways that I will not mention but that could easily be included. I would love to hear what you think should be included on this list.

1. Seek first to understand before being understood.
This one is a no brainer. We live in a world where we expect everyone to see our point of view and unfortunately that just doesn't work. If you want people to hear your point of view then listen to someone else's first. More importantly listen with an open mind and leave your judgement's at home. What is often forgotten is that there are at least '7 different truths' to every question, every situation, and every event. Your viewpoint makes all the difference and it is important to remember that yours is not the only way to look at the answer. Look at the world through another persons eyes and you might learn something both new and beautiful.

2. Start a conversation with a stranger.
Awkward? Maybe. Incredible experience? Definitely. There are exceptions of course, like when the stranger looks at you like you are crazy, or they have nothing to say. But I have an example. This past holiday season I was at the mall and sat down for lunch. It was extremely busy and seats were a luxury. I happened to have an empty seat across from me at my table and noticed a lady looking for a place to sit. I invited her to take a seat and I struck up a conversation. Turns out she was doing jury duty on a rather interesting case, and while she couldn't fill me in on the details she was able to tell me enough that the story was one I will remember. She also gave me some great tips for presents for my mom and sister, AND wished me a merry Christmas. The point, however, was that it was an opportunity to learn something new and we are constantly passing up these opportunities for fear of awkwardness. You never know who you might meet out of sheer accident and if you believe in Karma then I guarantee it will come right back to you.

3. Make an educated donation.
In this day in age it is not enough just to make a donation. You need to know what and who your donation is going to. There are many methods to make your donation or to do the research (many of which I have mentioned over the last 4 months). The important thing about making a donation isn't the money but that you make the effort to put it in the right place. Your values are of as much importance when making a donation as the actual amount. While millions of people give to cancer this doesn't mean it is the best place to put your money (it also doesn't mean it isn't). There are too many valuable causes and far too many non-valuable ones. Take the time to research your cause and you will find that you feel far better about the donation than you normally would.

4. Give your time to your local community organization.
This is an opportunity to do several things. You will have an opportunity to help out an organization that needs the help and skills that you bring to the table. (It is important that you provide your help on a constant basis like once every other week, once a month, or more. Organizations can become taxed by dealing with a nomadic group of volunteers but if you give your continued time then they wont need to train you or watch over you over time.) You will also be able to learn about the problems affecting your community, which may at first not be so apparent. (You would be entirely surprised to see the rate of homelessness or poverty in your community when you give your time to a soup kitchen or shelter.) You will find yourself increasingly appreciative of what you have in life. (While this may sound bad, the truth is we tend to get far too caught up in our own lives and when we are confronted with those who are worse off then we tend to see the value in our own lives a little more.) Finally, you will meet with and work alongside some people in your community you would not normally have a chance to or even think to get to know. (Some of the best people, and the ones I have learned the most from, have come during a volunteer experience. Getting outside your comfort zone and meeting people with different perspectives will only help you to see the world in new ways.)

5. Read a book a month.
Any book will do, but I would suggest something of the non-fiction variety if for nothing else than it will be an opportunity to learn something new and real. Fiction books will also do, so don't be at all scared to read one of those as well. Books have a funny way of helping you expand both your mind and horizons. A nice side effect is an increased vocabulary, and while I am not a particularly good example, your grammar is likely to improve as well. There are all kinds of books about world issues, and biographies of people who have walked the path that we too want to take.

6. Find a new quote every day or week and put it on your bathroom mirror.
The quote should represent something internal to you and specific to how you feel in the moment or would like to feel. Inspiration abounds in the words of others and it can make your day to read it in the morning before you leave for work or school and get you inspired to take on the world.

7. Write down your dreams.
Everyone has dreams. Very few people follow them. Every day you neglect them your cynicism takes a greater hold on your life. Not following our dreams is to avoid our life purpose. There is a reason we dream what we do and it is because that is what will make us happy. You want the world to change then you had better start with yourself and changing how you neglect yourself. Dreams are meant to be achieved, not ignored or chalked up to a casualty of reality. I don't believe for a second that realism needs to exclude idealism. It just means that we have to really try to make our ideal world a reality. Nothing will happen without effort and the first thing to do is write down what you want to put the effort into. Putting it on paper makes it a reality and you are far more likely to pursue what is on paper than what is in your head.

8. Love someone or something.
I wish I could say that everyone will find their true love and that person will love them that way back. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Love is a funny thing because it isn't something you can control. It is important, however, to let yourself love someone or something with all your heart. We are conditioned over time, by being rejected, and getting hurt, to put walls to protect ourselves from the hurt and pain - these same walls, though, prevent us from feeling love. Love is the most powerful, and often times painful, emotion someone can have. I will tell you this, however, when you love someone or something there is nothing else like it in life. It will bring you the highest of highs in life, and even the lowest of lows - but you can't have one without the other. Love will take you where you never expected to go but when you get there you will feel as though you were meant to be there all along. The world needs more people to love, and take down the walls that prevent it from occurring. Rejecting love out of fear is the worlds greatest problem. We put up walls (both metaphorically and in reality) to stop ourselves from connecting and when we take them down we will open up the world to a whole new outlook and a world of new possibilities.

9. Say thank you, sorry, excuse me, pardon, open the door for someone, etc.
It is simple but lacking on so many levels. It used to be that manners were a valued quality and implied good character. While the former still holds true, the reality is that we as a world have collectively lost our manners. I don't know how many times I have witnessed someone bypass their manners for reasons that are so obviously as a result of no one appreciating them. The cool factor seems to be that for those who have manners are the ones who are seen as strange and uncool. Manners are a good thing and meant to be used. They imply that you appreciate someone and that you respect them as a person. They may not be your closest friend and are often times a stranger or someone you may never meet again, but they are human and should be treated as such. The point is that manners are learned and we learn them from people who give us the respect, such as friends, family, or even strangers. The world would be a far better place if people would simply use our manners.

10. Smile.
By far greatest lesson I was ever taught in life was to smile. A smile has the greatest power of any outward display or gesture. It has the ability to brighten anyones day and instantly make the world a better place. It is like a burst of sunshine on even the cloudiest of days. If there was one thing that anyone has the power to do it is smile more. If Everyone smiled could you imagine how much happier everyone would be? There are some people I know that when they smile it just makes my day - I keep reminding them to do it more often (selfishly for sure) because it is the greatest pick-me-up.

Everything on this list is something within your power to begin doing right now. It requires very little resources on your part, just your energy and passion for making the world a better place. While the world could use a few big gestures to make it better, it is the simple and small things that will have the greatest impact. Try them and tell me what you think.

Earth Hour

I was sent this video about Earth Hour which started in Australia and is now spreading all over the world. It can have a huge impact and I implore you to take part. Check out the video.

Imagine - By John Lennon

I wanted to share the words of a visionary after my own heart. This was John Lennon's Ideal World and I think it is a good one.



Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Fear of Failure

If there is one thing that gets me riled up it is the talk of failure. It seems that no matter who I talk to the mention of failure seems to scare people into a frenzy. I can't stand it when people speak as if failure is bad. It is my estimation that very little in the world would get done if people stopped at the thought of failing.

Talk of biting off more than you can chew, or not being ready, or "lets play this safe" - it is all just talk of people who have lost the will to succeed. JFK once stood in front of the world and said, and I am paraphrasing, "We choose to go to the moon. Not because it is easy but because it is hard." The biggest and best things in life happen because someone saw the impossible and made it possible.

I put a quote by Nelson Mandela at the bottom of my email, and have had it there for months, because I think it is my single greatest value. The quote reads, "It always seems impossible until it is done." It is true to the Nth degree.

I hold nothing against the people who play it safe and who heed advice, play the odds, and wait for the stars to align. It isn't for me though and if there is one piece of advice I could give anyone it would be to just go for it. Jump with both feet in and chase a dream. Call it the Maverick mentality (always love to throw in a Top Gun reference), bull headed, or even living with reckless abandon, but I can't wait to fail. Failure for me just represents a stepping stone in the right direction - and it also represents the creation of a path for the next person to succeed. For every success was built on the failure of many before.

If I fail in life it will be because I went for it and it didn't quite work out, it wont be because I just didn't try. That would be real failure. Dreams are meant to be achieved and whoever tells you they can't be is just someone who has been caught up in the trap of mediocrity. I wont go there, I wont join them. I will embrace my failures and enjoy them. The next time you hear someone tell you it can't be done, or it is impossible, tell them, "so what? I guess we should have given up on going to the moon too." Failure is the last thing that should be feared.

Q & A on the Ideal World Book

So I have been able to have a couple of conversations about my idea and a couple of criticisms have been brought up that I would like to address.

1. There isn't one Ideal World, but several based on many factors including geography, ethnicity, language, religion etc.

Rebuttal: There is only ONE WORLD, and I can't begin to speak for all 6.6 billion people that we can't come to a consensus on what that looks like. Yes, we do live in a world divided by our differences; and Yes, the idea of an ideal world is both philosophically opposed to the world we live in and it is currently nothing but a pipe dream. However, the point isn't to highlight why we are all different and why we can never live harmoniously, the point is to find out where we are similar and really to find out what direction that might take us. How we can orient ourselves to not only embrace our likeness with one another but to begin to create the Ideal World through these similarities.

2. It will create conflict, particularly when we can decide who's ideas are good and who's are bad.

Rebuttal: Conflict is always seen as a negative, whereas I tend to think controlled, non-violent conflict can be rather productive. We are looking at a world where wars and arguments are started over differences. How many conflicts start because someone was trying to show how they were similar? Granted, there is potential to start an argument over whos ideas are best, but if its starts a dialogue then it would be a success. I am asking that people look at their world and lives differently then they do now. We make sense of our world by what we are not, and what others are and it is about time we start to think about why we both are and where we want to go. If it starts an argument then all the better. I would rather it happen over an internet connection with words then face-to-face with a gun. Understanding one another sometimes may just take an argument or two, but in the end if something positive comes then it was worth it.

3. It may just become a book of cliches and it wont be empirical enough.

Rebuttal: In a world with very little hope, and a great deal of fear if this book is a cliche and even just one person can look at it and see a better future then that is its purpose. Empirical facts and ideas mean nothing if the person reading them has lost all hope of a better future. Hope brings action, and words can provide hope. When I look to the Millennium Development Goals, which are rather factual (although vague), they don't inspire me to do anything. They don't provide me any hope that the world will look better in the end. Sometimes people just need a message of encouragement and that is this books purpose. It can't be everything to everybody and I welcome anyone who wants to create something that has hard information for people to go ahead and create it - I will be the first to read it.

4. It needs to have ideas for people to do, not just have the vision of a better world but the practical ways to create it.

Rebuttal: I agree, it would be amazing to hear how we can make it come true. The second part of the question is, "...how do we make it so?" This would be the opportunity for people to provide their ideas for making it a reality. I can't control whether people will include this part of the answer, and I certainly can't provide all the answers myself. The book becomes what the community puts into it, and my hope would be that people will put in every effort possible to make it the best they can.

5. How do you get the message to those without an internet connection and how do they participate?

Rebuttal: It is the biggest and hardest reality of this idea that it will not reach 6.6 billion people around the world. I cannot predict how many people will participate but I can do everything in my power to spread the word to those who can hopefully disseminate it to more people, who will pass it along to more people and so on and so forth. I have ideas on how to get it to people but it does not mean that I will be able to control it. I have the passion and ambition to try but it does not mean that I will not fail.

Which brings me to criticism 6. This is a big idea that is likely to fail.

Rebuttal: I may fail but at least I tried. Failure is a stepping stone, it is just a stone on the path to success. I do not fear my chances of success, knowing how small they may be. What I do fear is that it will never be tried. I won't stop until I succeed. It may not happen in a year or even 5 but maybe it will happen in 6 or 10, I have no idea but I am starting now and have every expectation that it will be a success. Dreaming big is the only way to go.

If you have other criticisms or dislike my answers I would appreciate hearing them. Either give me a shout through email or post your comments here for me to take aim at. I will not take anything personally.

First Big Project of 2008

The cat is out of the bag. I have been working on this idea, mainly in my head, for a couple of years now. Over the holidays I finally put it down on paper and had a few friends and family take a look. It is a doozy of an idea and still very flawed but I am excited to see where it leads. I am putting it out there for you readers to give me your honest and critical feedback. If you like it tell me why, if you don't like it tell me why. The more input and perspective I get on this the better as it will allow me to really see the flaws and more importantly how I can possibly fix them. So here goes.

Ideal World Book:

I think we can all agree that the world, in its current incarnation, is not a world that we would call ‘ideal’ (and if you can make a valid argument against this statement, I would love to hear it!). If you are like me, you dream of a world where everyone has access to basic needs, there is equality for all and peace across the globe. However, what does the ideal world really look like? Where a world with a population of 6.6 billion, all have different dreams and aspirations, how can we ever come to a consensus on the question, “What does the ideal world look like and how do we make it so?”

What if we could ask the world to share their vision? Not just politicians and the rich and famous, but everyone. What if we could get men, women, and children of all ages, ethnicities, geographical locations, religions, and sexualities to shape a global, collaborative vision of what an ideal world would look like?

The Ideal World Book is a global community of people looking to shape this vision. The Ideal World Book is the accumulation of thoughts and ideas, of essays and poems, of art and science that shape a vision of an ideal world.

We are at an apex, the tipping point, in both our lifetime and the lifetimes of future generations. If we are going to affect positive change in our own lives and the lives of those to come, then we must make the conscious effort to do so now, here, in this moment. I can’t do it alone; you can’t do it alone. But WE – a community of people with a collaborative goal, a goal with substance and vision – WE together can make it happen.

I don’t have the answer to this important question. I have ideas and passion. You can’t answer the question, but you can provide your insight and assistance. I am asking for your help to shape this vision, to join a community of people who want to voice their opinions, to assist in starting, here and now, to make the ideal world a reality and not just a daydream.

This is a project that I have dreamt of for years, but I need help! I have the passion to make this project happen, but I don’t have all the necessary skills. If you would like to join me in making the Ideal World Book a reality, I would be indebted to you. I have no money to offer, but at the completion of the Book, you would be able to say you were a vital part of creating it – and that is far more valuable than money.

How it Works:

The Ideal World Book will start as a community where people will answer the question, “What does the ideal world look like and how do we make it so?” Members will post their thoughts, ideas, poems, essays, photographs, drawings, and anything else that can be printed, to a website for all to see. The material posted on the website will then be graded by the whole community on a scale of 1-10. The top-rated material that will fit into a 200-page book, along with a chapter crafted by the Ideal World Book committee, a group of global leaders, will then be printed to form the Ideal World Book – a manifesto of an ideal world. From there, we as a community can decide how to start making it happen! At the conclusion of its creation the proceeds from the sale of the book will be put towards further projects that make the Ideal World a reality (the community will decide how this is done). This is the basic idea - it sounds simple but I know it is far more complicated.

The Next Step From You:

Email me with feedback, ideas, what you would like to contribute. Tell me why this could work, tell me why it can’t, what needs to be thought about in order to move forward. I emphasize again that I have the passion to make this happen, but I don’t claim to have all the skills or answers required. In the end I’m not looking for money, (although I certainly don’t want to lose any!), but my goal is to have as many people as possible participate in the creation of this Book. I will measure success not by profit, but by knowing that the vision that comes out of this will be shared by the world over. Let people know about this; start a conversation; invite me to a conversation or a presentation to a group of people; let us start a dialogue and get things moving.

I am on the record now. Dreaming is not a bad thing. Dreaming without taking action is just disappointing. This is my dream, what is yours?

Holidays are Over

It was my first day back to college today. I was completely ready to get back and get moving on the new semester, as well as all the fun things I have planned. Seeing everyone again was a really enjoyable, but a little overwhelming. So much coming all at once: where everyone was, what they did, who they saw - I try to listen but eventually it just gets to be too much for me. Life does that sometimes. It can be completely overwhelming. My example while not nearly as bad as how some people have it was actually quite hard for me. The important thing - and what I did - was to step away and regroup. Our mind, body and spirit can only take so much before it starts to break down. This is the point where we cease to feel balanced and it is important to listen to what our mind and body is saying to us, instead of forcing it. Think of a time when you have felt overwhelmed, what did you do? I would love to hear your answers.

Katrina Cleanup

About 2 years ago this date I was down in Biloxi, Mississippi helping with Hurricane Katrina cleanup. The trip would change my life. Upon my return from Biloxi everything around me seemed different. I remember the drive home and I kept waiting to see a house strewn across the road or a blue tarped roof. I wrote a reflection not long after the trip to help me summarize the experience and remember the trip. I want to share that with you because I think it still has and affect on me.


The experience of going to Biloxi, Mississippi will stay with me forever. When I first heard of the opportunity to go, I immediately filled with excitement. I had never been on a trip that could potentially have such an impact on somebody other than myself. I expected to go to a place that I had heard was severely damaged, but because it was four months after the fact, I assumed that the worst would have been cleared up. The best way to describe what I expected is a habitat for humanity project, only on a larger scale.
I couldn’t have been anymore wrong. It was beyond anything that I could have conjured up, even if Id expected the worst. Pictures do this place no justice, and even if you take the worst picture imaginable, it is that times 80 miles. Unfathomable. Fortunately, my experience was shaped more by what was behind the damage and debris. The initial trauma, and even the lasting impact of the damage, pales in comparison to what I learned, and what will stay with me long after I forget what it looked like.
I had the privilege of meeting and working with some of the most fantastic people. Our team leaders, Joan, Howard, and Chuck were some of the most sincerely nice people one could ever meet. They were caring and fun, and most importantly for me, very comforting. They made the experience positive, when it could have easily been negative. Beyond our group leaders, the team was wonderful. The group was diverse in age and experience, but we all worked well together.
The people we met while down in Biloxi taught me a valuable experience about life: It is the most precious thing we have. The loss of every worldly possession means nothing in the grand scheme. Happiness can and will prevail as long as we remember that life is all we need. Two of the victims, who’s houses we worked on, were perfect examples of the triumph of the human spirit. Ms. Daisy, who’s house filled with water to a height of nearly 8 feet, lost almost everything. But her smile and thankfulness were contagious. She shared her story with whoever wanted to listen, she thanked everyone in her presence, and her smile warmed up even the coldest days – and it sure did get cold! We left her house unfinished, but she was just glad we came.
The most profound impact on me was given by a gentleman, Steve, who again lost everything. He had just moved to Biloxi two months prior from Texas. He moved to Biloxi to start his own consulting business, which he had put all that he had into. Both his house and business were destroyed in the hurricane. He had a collection of some forty thousand records, all scattered and destroyed on his lawn. He had prepared for the worst, putting sand bags around all the doors and windows, but a piece of the pier went through his front window, allowing all the water to enter, and basically fill his house. The day we went to help him clean up was the first day he had been back since the storm. I was working with him to comb through his belongings in the kitchen. In one cupboard, filled with a variety of molds, I pulled out a package, sent to him by his grandmother many years previous. It was a hand made lace table cloth she had made for him. The water and mold had all but destroyed, however I convinced him to send it to a dry cleaner. In the same cabinet I pulled out a camera bag, with what he said was about $3000 dollars worth of camera equipment – all destroyed. His exact words were: “I wish I hadn’t of found that. Sometimes I wish the storm had just taken it all so I wouldn’t have had to come back and experience this”. But later, after working along with him, we took a break, and he looked across the street at his neighbors house which had a large X spray painted on the siding, and again his words will stick with me forever: “I was lucky. Some lost everything, even lives, family members, pets. All I lost was my house and some of the things I collected along the way. It can be replaced. My neighbors life can’t be”. Those words frame this experience for me. I am lucky. I am lucky because when I arrived home, life was “normal”, and I didn’t have to see the damage day in and day out. I don’t have to live with lost family members or pets. Not even my consumer possessions. But that’s not why I feel lucky. I feel lucky because I got to meet wonderful people, and learn at such an early age that living is our most precious gift, and the rest is just icing.
I can’t really say anything to someone who is thinking about going on a similar trip. It would do it no justice. It is an experience unlike anything else and no words can explain it. All I would say is you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain by going. You may go with the lofty goals, and the ‘I can save the world’ mentality, but when you come back you will understand it isn’t you who is doing the saving. You will bear witness to the triumph of the spirit, and you will feel like the one who was saved. Someone just like Ms. Daisy will smile at you, and you will understand.

Always Looking for Inspiration

I look for inspiration all the time. Things that make me think, things that make me feel, things that give me hope. My sisters friends had a baby not to long ago and since I just love kids they let me hold onto her for a few minutes. They took a picture and I thought nothing of it at the time until they posted it on Facebook. It is funny how the simple picture of a child can inspire your thoughts. She is too cute!

The point is that inspiration can come from the oddest of places. Sometimes we get so focused that we don't take the time to really breath in and absorb everything around us. I happened to read a great blog post about the difference between choosing a path and choosing a goal. Jason, at A Miracle A Day, distinguishes the two by saying that when we focus too much on a goal we get trapped by it, whereas if we choose a path we can travel it at our own pace and in any way we so choose.

The metaphore of life as a path holds true. Things happen all around us, all the time, and the more we take notice and heed our true calling the more we can enjoy all that comes our way. If you, like myself, want to change the world, start with yourself. Find the inspiration all around you, in the eyes of a baby, or the writing of a two-bit blogger like myself.

Walk the path of your choosing, and take it all in, every second, because unfortunately at some point that path will end and life will be the sum of all the steps you took to get there. If you don't enjoy each step then what is the point of taking any?

Social Websites for People Interested in Changing the World

The more and more I get into this blogging thing, and get connected with other people who are doing the same thing or interested in doing the same thing, the more I am getting turned on to new or different social networking websites for people who are interested in doing something to improve the world. I came across this great blog post, Networks for Change, by Jason Diceman over at WorldChanging. He outlines and gives a general overview of what each has to offer. I have profiles on a number of them now, but it is difficult to keep up with them as they pop up. I just joined a new one in its BETA phase called UnltdWorld. I am new to all of them and couldn't give an honest opinion one way or the other on which ones I like best and why. If you have any feedback please pass it along.

The great thing about social network websites is that you are able to connect with people from all around the world who you share some sort of interest with. The important thing, though, is to take advantage of your ability to network and take action. It is not enough to add someone to your friend list and watch your number of friends rise. What is important is to take the connection and make a difference with it. How many of your friends on these websites have you talked to since they were added. I know this because I am probably the most guilty of all. There is no substitute for creating actual friendships and making real connections. They are possible over the internet but they don't magically exist because you "agree to being their friend". Make the most of the opportunity that sights like Facebook provide. Post your new project, or idea and let others take an interest, ask opinions, hear advice. Make use of this 'Flat World' instead of taking it for granted.

Obama takes Iowa

The Iowa primary was held today and, what is sure to be a tight race for the Democratic party nomination, Barack Obama came out on top. I am not leaning one way or the other at the moment when it comes to the race between Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards. I think whatever candidate comes out of the Democratic election should be considered the favorite to win the Presidency and I think any of them would make a great President in their own ways.

I must admit I am an Obama fan, if for nothing more than the way in which he is able to paint a new vision for the U.S. in the coming years. He is young, ambitious, and highly likable.

However, Hilary Clinton also has some very good ideas, and a great support in her husband. I think if I could vote for both I would. Just a thought but could they both share the Presidency/Vice Presidency? If they could agree to work together they could potentially be in power for the next 16 years. That would make plenty of time to make some dramatic changes throughout the world - and this time they don't have to come at the end of a gun.

Whatever happens I am just glad that we won't have to go through 4 more years of President Bush. I am Canadian and while I have no say or vote for the U.S. election I can voice my opinion. Let's go Democrats!

As an aside: I said this to a friend the other day, State elections (ie. Canada, US) should have an international component. For example, 15% of votes should be determined by the rest of the world. Why? Because no longer are States solitary. Every decision has repercussions around the world, so it makes sense that the world should have some say in who is governing another country. Think about it, if Presidential hopefuls had to answer to the rest of the world, don't you think that part of their election platform would be to help the rest of the world in some way? I think it is a great way to make politicians more accountable for their decisions that affect people half way around the world. Would they be so quick to start a war in the Middle East, or deny funding for AIDS, Malaria, and TB - I think not. Just a thought though.

Facebook Page for Balance On Earth

I created a Facebook page under the name Balance on Earth, for anyone to access and add input. I hope that anyone who reads this and has a Facebook profile will join and start to share ideas for how to make the world a better place. Another blogger, Katie Orlemanski, who is travelling around the world and writing about the areas and events she encounters along the way will also be posting to the page. You can read up about her experiences at Change the World.

For those of you who are interested in learning more about environmental comings and goings, I know that I don't post nearly enough on the topic, there is a great blog that is separated for both boys and girls called Green Guys Global and Green Girls Global. Both blogs have great ideas and information for those of you looking to lead a greener life, so I would recommend checking both out regardless of your gender. I especially like that at the end of each post they provide a few links to other material on the subject so that you can learn more if you so wish.

It is a wonderful feeling knowing there are so many wonderful people trying to make the world a better place in their own ways. Please continue to contact me with your ideas and websites.

NABUUR.com

Many thanks and appreciation to Michael Norton of The 365 Ways Blog for putting me in his newsletter. It is always exciting to be included in something that you look up to, and The 365 Ways Blog is a wonderful inspiration for me - take a moment and look it over.

Almost immediately today I received an email about a great website, NABUUR.com, that links people with access to a computer and a passion for volunteering with opportunities to volunteer your computer skills around the world. Many organizations can use help, and you don't need to leave the comfort of your house. While I haven't yet offered my services it looks to be a really useful website which could use as much help as possible. If you or anyone you know has time and knows their way around a computer please pass the website along. Here is a video of a man who volunteers for the organization.

What 2008 Will Bring

Happy New Year to All! My how fast time flies when you enjoy yourself. I can't believe that A)It is 2008; and B)I am 24 years old. It just doesn't seem right.

My holidays were about as relaxing and productive as I could have hoped for. While I didn't finish much of anything I set out to, I have never done as much quality thinking as I did during this break.

In looking back at these first few months of blogging I have come to a few conclusions.
1)I am going to try writing more about global activities. While I will stick to my guns and continue writing about ways people can change the world, I think it is important for people to know more about what is going on so they can consciously try to fix it.

2)I am going to comment more on philanthropic and social enterprise news. These are two major factors in the movement towards a better world and I don't comment on them enough.

3)I want to post more often. I feel as though too much time passes between postings as I am sure you also do. I have far more to say than I am saying.

4)There needs to be more dialogue. I would like to hear more from everyone, whether you agree or more importantly if you disagree.

I have taken a few moments to think about my predictions for the coming year around the world and what ground we will make on creating a better world.

1)The creation of the Bali Action Plan for reversing climate change will start a larger dialogue on how to meet new standards for emissions and green house gases. 2008 will be the year when we see new alignment on a global vision for how to curb global warming.

2)Social Enterprise and triple bottom line business models will see an explosion of new organizations and products entering the marketplace. More choice of products of this ilk will allow consumers more choice and likely lower costs. These are good things as they will likely face greater scrutiny. Transparency will be the key. If these businesses adopt policies of transparency and releasing more figures to consumers on exactly where money is going (like not-for-profits do) then consumers will be less hesitant and more accepting of spending their money on goods that do good.

3)A new AIDS vaccine will enter into trials and produce better results than the first version which was abandoned this past year. It may not work, but it will bring scientists closer than they have been to finding a preventative measure that will stop the spread of the worlds most deadly virus.

4)More billionaires will follow the likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and most recently Barron Hilton (Hilton Hotels) into the world of philanthropy. Those with money will begin to realize that having so much of it doesn't guarantee happiness and in fact giving it away does.

5)Generation Y and younger people around the world will begin to make their mark on the world. This age range is already being described as unaccepting of the current state of the world, and willing to dedicate their lives to changing it. Young people will be seen as having more power than ever before to change the world, and older generations will start to look up to them instead of looking down. My friend Kevin has said to me (and in his blog) that young people are successful precisely because they don't know any better. They have yet to let cynicism take hold, or to learn what is impossible, so they are willing to try. It is no mistake that the people who have been so successful as of late are of this generation.

6)Social media such as Facebook and MySpace will continue to grow in popularity only to be questioned for what is missing. A new social media will rise which brings back the component of human interaction. People will begin to understand that while it is wonderful to make the connection it means nothing if action isn't to follow. These websites are useful so long as we recognize their limits. Websites like change.org will grow into a much larger hub of charitable activity and wiserearth.org will become a meeting and congregating place for Agents of Change.

7)Collaboration will become the next wave of not-for-profit activity. While charities, not-for-profits and NGO's currently resist working together they will begin to recognize that working as a team will be necessary to make any headway. Each and every problem has become so interconnected and intertwined with the next that it will become impossible for any one organization to make a difference. A comprehensive approach which relies on collaboration will be the only way for organizations specializing in particular areas to truly address their specialization. As I said in a conversation I had the other day, "You can't fix one thing and hope it fixes all the others. You have to try to fix all of them together in order to fix the one thing."

I will leave you with this thought. It is a new year, with new opportunities, new relationships, new everything. Embrace this chance to start fresh, to bring about change, and to live the life you dream of. It is never too late.