Notes From Canada's Young Activists: A Generation Stands Up For Change - Book Review

I read a great book this week called "Notes From Canada's Young Activists: A Generation Stands Up For Change". It was compiled and edited by Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Kris Frederickson, Ahmed Kayssi, Cynthia Mackenzie and Daniel Aldana Cohen. The book is a series of essays by many young people making positive impacts all over the world but, who happen to be Canadian. Without listing everyone who participated in the book, I will say that there are some amazing people with incredible stories within its cover. If you are looking for inspiration on how you can impact the world and how you can find the courage to stand up for what you believe in, then look no further than this book. The twenty-five or so stories explain just how they have done what they do and even give some useful pointers on how you can do the same. I picked up my copy at Chapters but it is available at all major bookstores both online and on the shelf. It is an easy read but full of useful information to follow up on and learn more about. A section at the end gives a listing of websites and books that are very useful, especially here in Canada, for outlets and associations, among other things, that you can get involved with to help you become an activist as well. Maybe even one day in the near future you will be included in the second edition.

Here is a link to the book publisher which has the option to purchase: Notes From Canada's Young Activists: A Generation Stands Up For Change

Diversity in a Puzzle

I wrote a post the other day about how we need to start thinking about the world as a jigsaw puzzle. I haven't stopped thinking about it since. There are some holes in my idea that I want to clear up.

Diversity is a real treasure in this world. It is something that needs to be celebrated. I have an unbelievable gift in that I live in the worlds most multicultural city on the planet. Every day I go to school and my classmates represent the diversity that exists from all over the world. It is a true blessing to be a participant in this kind of society. The jigsaw puzzle also celebrates diversity. Every piece of the puzzle is different. No two alike in shape or in the part of the picture they fulfill. Every piece exists independently from the other pieces but they still coexist and work together for the greater good. The puzzle is accepting of pieces of all shapes, sizes, and colors because that is what makes the puzzle whole. The puzzle exists because of diversity and for diversity.

Every person also has the right to choose their own destiny. There is, I believe, a path on which we travel. However, the path is one we choose. I do believe that we have an innate connection with something and I call it purpose. We all have a purpose in this world - some more glorified than others - but we all have a place in the world. This purpose is what we all search for. Some people spend a lifetime trying to live but they lack the awareness to live a life with and on purpose. We choose which part of the puzzle we are but we are connected to a part of the puzzle. We are not forced into a predetermined size or shape, but we connect with a certain piece. When we find our place in the puzzle, the place we are meant to inhabit, then we exist with purpose and we allow others to follow suit. We represent our purpose and in doing so help others find their purpose. Our passion and belief in our purpose impacts others.

Interconnectedness. Jigsaw puzzle. Enough said? We are all interconnected. We exist in connection with one another. My decisions in life affect the people around me. It is that simple. We must all learn to understand that every action we make has repercussions. Every action has an equal reaction. If I choose to drive a car to school then the effect that has across the world is felt. The family that lives on an yet-to-be-discovered oil patch is in danger of losing their home because the land they live on continues to become more valuable to an oil company. The car manufacturer who employs workers around the world, from the mining that is necessary to produce the parts. It also has huge environmental implications as the car creates biproducts that risk the future of our planet for generations of people to come. A jigsaw puzzle exists with the knowledge that interconnectedness plays an important role. The puzzle is accomplished because of the interconnectedness of its pieces.

The more I think about the world like a jigsaw puzzle the more I think it is a good metaphore. What do you think?

Do You Believe?

It is the fundamental question that you must ask yourself: Do you believe the world can change? OR let me rephrase that: Do you believe YOU can change the world? If you answered no to either phrasing then reading anything I write will be of little use. It is essential for you to believe in both the ability of yourself to create change and the ability of the world to accept change. If you don't believe in either then your cynicism is in the wrong place. This space is reserved for the believers: the ones who wake up every morning ready to make an impact; they may not yet be confident enough to take on the challenge but they genuinely believe that change is possible; they go to sleep at the end of a long day of thinking about what they could do to make the world a better place and they have a sense of optimism that tomorrow may be the day for those ideas to take shape. You need to believe for yourself and the world needs people to believe in it.

The World is a Giant Jigsaw Puzzle

The world has been seen as a metaphorical pie: each person, country, state, etc, depending on whether we look at it from a micro or macro level, has tried to maximize their slice of the pie. It is no stretch to understand then how so many people live with so little. A pie is finite: If I take more then someone else naturally gets less. This is a classic example of the butterfly effect. For anyone who may not quite understand what this is, it is simply a theory that when a butterfly flaps its wings in one part of the world, a hurricane can occur halfway around the world. As science puts it: every action has a reaction.

Now what if we looked at the world like a giant jigsaw puzzle. A 6.6 billion piece puzzle to be exact. Each piece would represent a person. Each piece adds to the grand scheme of the puzzle that makes up the world. Now to put the puzzle together each piece must be put in its correct place according to the large picture. If one piece doesn't fit, then the whole puzzle cannot be finished. For this reason each puzzle piece has a purpose. Without that piece - no matter which one - the puzzle is incomplete without it.

Now when most people tackle solving a puzzle (although I may be speaking from my own experience) they start with a section - maybe even just a single piece - and they work from that. They may start by putting together the border and then working away, they may pick a distinct part of the puzzle and work from that, but they don't start without a plan in mind. They also have a picture of what the final, completed puzzle, should look like.

What if pieces of the puzzle refused to start fitting together? Wouldn't there be a chain reaction making it nearly impossible for other pieces to fit in their places? What if there was no picture for the finished puzzle? Would you have any clue as to where to start? Remember this isn't just a simple 1000 piece puzzle - we are talking about a 6.6 billion piece puzzle. All the confusion, anger, frustration exists because the pieces just wont work together. They are fighting to make sense of it all.

The picture on the puzzle box has always been my guide when solving the jigsaw puzzle. I need to see where each piece goes relative to the others. Unfortunately, we are trying to solve the puzzle without a picture. Without that picture each piece has trouble understanding what it's purpose is in the grand scheme of the whole thing. This is the way we live. We live without understanding of why or where we fit.

There are some people that exist and know who they are and know what they should do with their lives. These are the people that we look up to, that we choose to follow because when we are with them we have a sense of direction. We feel like we fit, like we are in the right place. When you have a 6.6 billion piece puzzle you need more than a few of these people to start making sense of things.

So the world is like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Without a picture. Without the pieces understanding their purpose. We need the picture on the box. With any luck, one day we can come together to decide what the puzzle will look like. Until that time it is on each of us, each piece, to start making some sense of ourselves. If we can do that then others will naturally start to fit in around us. When we each take it upon ourselves to find our purpose then we allow others to do the same. That is what making the world a better place is all about.

So we can look at the world like a pie, and keep eating as much as we want without any compassion for others who also have to eat the pie. Or, we can look at the world like a puzzle and know that we have a place in a bigger picture, no one piece more important than the other, with no right to more space than another. Both philosophies work, but when you see the world as a puzzle you might just start to think about putting it together instead of tearing it apart. We all exist together and we need to try to recognize that we need each other to finish. We each have a right to exist, and we need to stop acting like we are the only ones invited to desert.

Positive Thoughts

Has anyone heard of the idea that "if you can't say something positive then don't say anything at all"? The world needs people to contribute to making it better, not knock it down. Why do people feel the need to speak up only when something is bad? The world is full of negative thinkers, they react to things that are bad, but do nothing to make things good. We need people to be both proactive and positive. We need people to spend their time looking for and creating positives, not making more negatives. It is an important paradigm shift that is essential to things becoming better. If you spend your time preoccupied by what is wrong in the world than you will have no time left to make it better. Stop knocking other people down for what they say and do and instead start saying and doing things for yourself. If we could all learn to appreciate each other than maybe we wouldn't feel so beaten down all the time. Stop spreading negative thoughts and start giving positive thoughts.

Aligning Who You Are With What You Do

Everyone has probably heard about 6 degrees of separation: the idea that only 6 people separate one person from someone on the opposite side of the world. Well I am going to do something similar with some concepts and show how they all connect.

We are judged by what we do not what we think about doing. No one can read our minds and understand how kind we want to be, or what good deeds we think about doing. People only know what it is that we do or show. In essence what people see is who we actually are.

As I am preparing myself for entering the working world in the not so distant future, I have been reading a lot about personal branding and career advancement. What is interesting to me about the topic is the idea of formulating brand recognition for who I am. We want to be known for being good then we need to make sure that is the image we portray. Not unlike Nike, who we are means something. People who meet us, or see us, instantly form an opinion of us. We need to act how it is that we want people to see us. We can't expect them to think we are kind unless we do infact act kind.

I have discussed the topic of Individual Social Responsibility, the idea that, not unlike a corporation, we affect our environment and community and it is up to the individual to do their role to make the whole system better off. A person would take a concept such as human rights and incorporate it into their entire life. From making sure that the breakfast cereal they eat in the morning, to the car they drive to work, to the job they do once they get there, that all of these take into account basic human rights.

Dreams are another favorite topic of mine. If you are reading this blog you probably dream about changing the world in some way. We often say things like, "That would be a really good idea", or, "One day I will have to try that." However, rarely do people act on these intentions. For some reason the connection between a dream and real life has been disconnected. We separate the our two worlds into fantasy and reality and for some reason we decided that dreams fit into the world of fantasy rather than reality.

Effort and persistence are two very redeemable characteristics. They separate those people who accomplish great things from those that wish they could accomplish great things. We get in the habit of waiting for life to help us instead of helping ourselves. We give up on ourselves. Sometimes it doesn't feel like it but when we fail to go after our desires we are giving up on ourselves. We are convincing ourselves that we aren't worth it, or we are incapable of achieving it. Life requires effort if it is to be what we wish it to be. There are a few exceptions, people who are born with a gift that requires very little water to bloom, but they are the exception not the rule. Life also requires persistence. When we get knocked down we need to get back up. When we fail we need to continue trying. Great lives are defined by these qualities.

Goals allow us to plan. They make us sort out the steps we will need to take to accomplish whatever it is that we want to. They provide milestones to tell us we are on track, and to give us stars to shoot for. Thats what a goal is - a star in the sky - and when we get there we are able to realize that we can aim high and still succeed. Those that lack goals lack the will for something great.

Authenticity is truth. It is something that most people judge people on. Are you genuinely a good person or only pretending to be one. If you are not authentic then people will know. You can't pretend to be someone you are not because you are doing everyone a disservice. People are turned off by a fake. Be true to yourself and others will trust you. They will follow you.

All of these things are internal to us but they manifest outside of us. They are things that happen inside our mind, heart, and soul, but when present, are there for all to see. We need to align who it is that we want to be with what we do. We need to align who we are with what we do. To change the world, to live a life that most only dream of, we need to be the change. We need to internalize before we can start to externalize. Decide who you are and then how that fits in with what you want for your life - What you want for the world. We need to BE authentic, goal oriented, put in effort and persistence, and dream. We need to align our brand and our individual social responsibility with the world we want. Becoming the person that changes the world is a prerequisite for actually changing the world. It wont happen unless you are in fact representative of the world you want to create. You can't tell someone to be something and expect them to become it unless you model it. We want a better world but we have to be willing to be that better world. Everything is related, including who you are with the world you wish to see.

Make The Impossible Possible - Bill Strickland

I mentioned this book in a previous post or two before I even read it. The title was like an omen - maktub - it was like destiny. I can say, beyond a shadow of a doubt that this book is exactly what people NEED to read. It is truly that powerful.

Bill Strickland grew up in inner-city Pittsburgh. His story of triumph, taking his passion for making clay items into a multi million dollar job skills and arts training center, is a thing of beauty. It is remarkable because he knew his passion and he made it a truly successful enterprise. The center takes in convicts, homeless/near-homeless, kids from gangs, and overall those who are down on life, and turns them into successful graduates who are hired all over the city. They are able to escape lives that frankly were going nowhere and make successes of themselves. That was Bill's vision and he made it a reality.

He had no idea when he started that it would become what it has - and have such a remarkable future ahead. He did it with little experience, no money, and not quite even a college degree. But he was able to believe in himself and as a result help others do the same. He took his passion and made it into a source for others to craft a future for themselves. The center is called Manchester Bidwell and today it is being copied all over the continent. A friend of mine who works for a similar organization in Kitchener actually went down last week to see whether they could import some of the success to their organization.

I don't want to tell all there is to his story because I can't tell it nearly as well. You just need to read it for yourselves. I mean this in all sincerity, GET THIS BOOK!

Here is a link to Bill's website and about the book: Make the Impossible Possible

Valentines Day (a day late)

I wrote this one but neglected to post it in time. I thought I would share it anyways (a day late) since it may still be useful.

Growing up I never understood Valentines Day. When I was little we would all swap valentines cards with each other. Sometimes I would get lots, and other times not so many. I never cared much though, to me it was just another day. I had the odd crush when I was little but it never occupied much of my mind. I remember thinking, "shouldn't I show the people I love that I love them all the time?"

It is crazy to think we fabricated a day to celebrate love. Then again it wasn't until I was in love that I understood. I have a sad record when it comes to relationships. If I have one fatal flaw (although I certainly have many) it would be that I am a man with a huge heart and never anyone to share it with. However, a few years ago I was lucky enough to celebrate a Valentines Day with someone special (yes, that is right, I have only ever had one girlfriend on Valentines) and I figured out why it was so special. It was a moment you could both share that represented the two of you. While every other day of the year was about others and the travails of life, this day was about just the two of you.

I remember being so blissful. I loved her with all my heart and soul and I had an excuse to share it with her. Not that I needed it, in fact in hindsight I showed it far too much, but the day was fun. We didn't do much, I made her dinner and we watched a movie - things we did all the time - but something about marking the occasion made it special.

Unfortunately, right before we would celebrate a second Valentines Day together the relationship ended. I don't know that I will ever understand why, I suppose I am not meant to. My love for her didn't die, I was more in love with her the day it ended than I was when it began, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. The time we spent together was the happiest on memory and that Valentines Day was our day (on top of our anniversary). But it shows up on a calendar even. We continue to be friends and it makes me happy to know that she has found someone new who makes her happy.

Love needs to be celebrated - even when it is lost. It is the unique emotion that while doesn't make the world go round, it makes the ride worthwhile (that is a quote from someone but I am not sure who). Don't take any day with the love of your life for granted but make sure you don't dismiss the Hallmark/Hershey day because while it may seem cheesy it is a good cheesy. If you can't express yourself on the day when it is set aside for you to, then your not making the most of life or the most of the time you have. We are born with a fatal flaw and it is death (another quote that I don't know where came from), so take the time that you have with the people you love and take advantage of it. Coming from someone who doesn't currently have that opportunity believe me when I say that it is a bummer when it is gone.

The Ocean

Today marks the first day of reading week at my college. As I left class yesterday various people were in discussion about where they would be headed off to; the beaches of Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic. The ski hills of Northern Ontario, Montreal, and Vancouver. Some people, including myself, were staying home to catch up on life and soak up the rest this week will provide. In celebration of my lack of travels I thought I would share my ideal place to be.

My favorite place to be is near an ocean. It seems odd since I am not much for swimming or even most water sports. However, looking out at the vast body of water is awe inspiring. I feel like anything in the world is possible, like there are no walls or boundaries to stop anything from happening. I like to think that when I am looking out at the horizon, someone else on the opposite side is doing the same. We can't see each other, but in that moment we are sharing something truly magical.

The sound of the waves as they crash the beach, the smell of salt in the air, the sun beating down; it all warms my soul. I feel free, like my mind is limitless. When I breath I feel fresh and exhilarated. I let my feet sink into the wet sand and squeeze up between my toes. I let the water sweep up into me and I listen to the sounds of the birds chirping. It is all so beautiful. There is no other place where I feel this way.

If I could live on the ocean I would. To wake up to his feeling everyday would be my own piece of heaven. To sit on my deck with a fresh glass of orange juice and the daily paper, before the chaos of the day begins, and soak up this feeling would be nothing but inspiration. That would be my sweet spot. That would be home.

I think about it constantly; when will I get back? How long will I be able to stay? Who will I be with? I live for that moment. I wait for that moment. I live my life everyday to the fullest I can and I enjoy every second of it. Those moments though I feel transcended by. I escape to a place that is beyond the physical and exists in a place that is beyond explanation.

Where is your sweet spot?

Backlash on Paul

I have received a few comments regarding Paul Rusesabagina over the past couple of days. It would certainly appear he is a polarizing figure. While I don't want to discount the point of view of those that dislike him, I want to address this as best I can.

I can not, and will not, post others heresay on my blog. If someone wishes to leave a comment then they are welcome to, but if it is to be in opposition to something I say then I will require a name and email so that we may discuss the problem. I do not want to discount others differing opinions, I do however want people to stand by their remarks. I put my name behind my words and I ask that others do as well.

If something is fact then the writer of this fact should be mentioned. I received a couple of "articles" that did not have a author, just a general location from which it came. This does not, in my opinion, constitute truth. It is opinion, just as what is on here is my opinion. While the information provided was certainly intriguing it was by no means indicative of fact. From what I can tell the writers merely took the opposite point of view of what is on record and spun it as being the only point of view - the truth. Unfortunately, I do not know exactly what happened and I probably never will. I can however, read what is available, watch and listen to what is available, and form my opinion. This is what I did and this is what I wrote.

I strongly urge those that do not like my comments to start writing their own blogs. I think it is highly valuable for people to share their opinions in order for others to form their own. But I want you to ask yourselves this question: Do I know the truth or do I know my truth? If you believe that you have the only truth than I beg you to reconsider.

Not every hero is perfect, infact they are always flawed. I have not, nor would I ever, claim that Paul is the perfect man. The world is not always a pretty place and sometime we need to celebrate the idea of a man even more than we need to celebrate the real man. The Paul Rusesabagina that I am comfortable arguing over is the idea and until someone can provide overwhelming evidence that the man is all the things the idea is not I will continue to believe in him.

I have kept all your comments and they are not deleted. If you wish to send me your names and emails then we can start a dialogue. Until then I ask that you let me have my own opinions and I will do the same for you.

Meeting Paul Rusesabagina

I had the privilege of meeting Paul Rusesabagina today when he made a speech for my college. As an added bonus I was asked to say a few words to thank him for coming and for this I was given a seat beside him before he went on stage so that I could ask him a few questions. Afterwards, a few students and myself got to have lunch with him. The whole occasion was an amazing experience.

I wanted to post the few words I said in my thanks. So here they are:

"On behalf of the students here, as well as Humber College, we would like to thank you very much for joining us today and sharing your story Mr. Rusesabagina. Despite the title of your autobiography you are more than an ‘ordinary man’. You may be uncomfortable with being labeled a hero but what you did was beyond heroic.

In your autobiography you discuss the power of words and their role in the genocide. You say, “words are the most effective weapons of death in man’s arsenal. But they can also be powerful tools of life.” You used your words to save 1,268 people, but maybe just as importantly your sharing your words here today, and the many other speeches you do, will continue to impact the way we live our lives. Your words do have power and I am very honored that you shared them with us here today. Maybe WE can begin to reclaim those two words, “Never” , and, “Again”.

Paul, we here at Humber thank you once again, and might I add that there will always be a metaphorical banana beer here for you if and when you choose to return."

When I get a copy of the question and answer transcripts from the lunch I will post that as well. He was a very interesting man with a story that needs to be heard. "We have not yet learned from our past," he said, "and because of this we can not hope to change our future." It is on us, the people who wish to see a better future, to learn from the mistakes that have been made and do our best to rectify them for the sake of our collective future. Too much is at stake.

Learning to Dream

I have said it before, I am a dreamer. I see nothing wrong with this fact. Somewhere along the way, probably from years of not having dreams come true, we find that dreams are not achievable. As children we dream of being a fire fighter, a movie star, a world famous ballerina, or a cowboy, but as we grow older and it looks less and less likely that it will in fact come true, we give up dreaming. We push it off to the side, or we discount its realness, and we continue on with our days as if nothing is wrong.

The problem is there is something wrong. Deep inside where we forced our dreams to hide, they are waiting to burst out and waiting to be believed in once again. You see, achieving your dreams gives life its purpose. Accomplishing that which is difficult or impossible gives us gratification. It opens up our whole world to a new paradigm in which we see a world for what can be done and not what can't be done.

Dreams are not the result of the thoughts and fantasies of a child. Dreams are your brain telling you what you can accomplish if you believe in yourself enough. There is no impossible in this world. Learn to dream again, let yourself free, open up the flood gates and let yourself out.

Granted dreams take work. The nature of a dream is that it is out there in the distance. It is something that almost seems foreign to us because it has not yet entered our reality. It is still just a thought. This is where most of us give up. We don't take the next steps, we don't take action. Nothing in this world was ever done with out the hard work of someone. Making a dream become reality takes hard work and dedication. Most people are unwilling to commit to putting in the effort because they lack the belief in themselves to make things happen. They see all the obstacles and the hardships and they give up.

Dreams are funny though, despite our giving up on them they don't give up on us. They live on inside us just waiting for the day when you will learn to dream again. They wait deep inside you waiting for you to believe once again, as you did when you were a child. Let go of the inadequacies which you cling to and use as a gate to living the life you want. Open the door, invite your dreams to meet with reality, and if you put in the effort I guarantee the two will merry.

Leading Is About The Small Things

I brought my friend Drew Dudley, who is the Coordinator Leadership Development at U of T Scarborough, in to do a leadership workshop with some of my classmates. I think understanding the different facets of leadership is an important step in growth no matter what field of work or life you aim to enter.

While he put us through an exercise on understanding social styles and the role that plays in how the team dynamic forms and performs, the end of his workshop came to the same point I came to in my studies of leadership: leadership is about being genuine and the best person you can be no matter what your strengths happen to be. You don't need to be the best at directing people, or the best public speaker, or the highest scorer on a team. Leadership happens in the small, more meaningful, encounters that happen every day, all around you.

Leadership is about being a beacon for being yourself and being comfortable and confident in that fact. People will follow you where you lead them if they can trust you, and trust is built from being true to yourself and true to others. We are not all born with the gifts of a Ghandi, or Martin Luther King Jr., or Bill Clinton, or any other famous leader that comes to your mind. In Drews estimation only about 1% of the entire world is born with that ability, in my estimation is probably far less than even that. However, that does not mean you can not be a leader, it just may mean that you wont be leading entire nations or droves of people.

Leadership happens most often, and within most of our realms of control, in the one-on-one encounters that happen everyday. We can be a leader to our friends, our family, our colleagues - this is where impact happens. We all dream of being the face of the biggest movement or the best business, but these instances will not happen if we can't first learn to lead from within our immediate environments. We must be a beacon.

Drew had one last point, which was this: If after years of being out of someones presence the mere mention of your name brings a smile to their face, a story to mind, or good laugh, and they have nothing but good things to say, then you made an impact - you were a leader. That is the point of real leadership and a lesson we all must come to terms with. We will not likely change the world for millions or billions of people, but we can change the world for the few people we come in contact with everyday. That is where you start. That is where you need to be.

Paul Rusesabagina

On Monday my college will be welcoming Mr. Paul Rusesabagina, the inspiration for the movie Hotel Rwanda, where he will do a speech about his experience. I have the pleasure of thanking him for coming and imparting his story of heroism upon us. After Monday I will post what I have to say, as I have been thinking about it quite diligently. It is a real honor to be able to meet him and listen to his tragic story. His story, unfortunately, is one that continues to have significance around the world, as similar conflicts are carried out all over. I also get the opportunity to have lunch with him and a select few other students where I have a few questions for him. Hopefully I will be able to post them as well as his answers afterwards.

If you want to learn more about Paul he has an autobiography out called An Ordinary Man that is available at all your major book retailers. I am about 50 pages in and I have already made mental notes of many things he says that I think are of significance. I am very excited for this opportunity.

A World Of Peace

This might become a regular post if Tyler can keep coming up with these great poems. This one is titled A World of Peace by Tyler Herman.

A World Of Peace

A world of peace comes when we each shed the light,
fueled by love as a weapon, no longer a need to fight

The bombs can stop dropping, but for that unity must exist,
without global unity, war and strife wont fail to persist.

Its fueled by greed, with competition, hatred and fear,
drop the mass consumerism and there's enough resources for everyone here.

When did the value of one life become more important then another?
testing new pharmaceuticals on africans when we all share the same eternal mother?

Our priorities are out of line, instead of making change, we're digging our graves,
A Modern world, with laws shaping equality, yet there still exists slaves?

Polluting mother nature, reaping her of her bountiful grace,
even with us as the protestors, our own foolish actions are the authorities mase.

We're blinded, not by the truthful light, but by the veil that covers our eyes,
the false fabrication of life in this system, it only contributes to our demise.

What's needed now is for us all to open our eyes and see the guiding light,
To always be consciously aware and make the truthful choice in what's wrong and right.

To view our own lives and choices from an outsiders lens,
to share peace, spread love, give generously, and make amends.

if you don't believe in religion or God, know that the true religion of God is love,
With love as the true compass of your life, all your trials and tribulations can be risen above.

let that love foster, reach unimaginable heights and spread it in humble ways,
Let it bright light to any darkness, bring beauty to all of your days.

Now sit back and think about peace, and ask yourself how you can contribute to the path,
Peace is inevitable, add a bunch of positives to a negative;you do the math.

So go now, shed the light, and spread the peaceful way,
peace is coming in the future, but we must start building peace today.

International Development Week

I wanted to just briefly mention that this coming week is International Development Week all around the world. Check it out online and see what events are being held in your area to commemorate the occasion. At Humber we are holding a different event every day of the week to highlight different areas of need. Monday is Feast for Famine, Tuesday is refugee awareness day which includes the screening of a movie, Wednesday is HIV/AIDS day which includes a guest speaker, Thursday is Fair Trade Day where Ten Thousand Villages will be on hand to sell some of their products, and Friday will be Environment/Conservation day which includes some carbon footprint games and activities. Now would be the perfect time to learn more about an issue around the world that you have an interest in.

Yes We Can

Great new YouTube video by Will I Am of the Black Eyed Peas. Based on Barack Obama's speech this star studded video is awesome. Inspiration for a better world is all around us, we just need to be open to it.

Check it out

State of the Planet '08

A classmate of mine passed along a notice for a great conference at the end of March (March 27-28 to be exact). It is called State of the Planet, and it is held at Columbia University in New York. There is a fabulous list of speakers and presenters taking part, and it is free to register. Here is a brief description of what the conference is about:

State of the Planet Mission
The State of the Planet Conference, held every two years by the Earth Institute at Columbia University, assesses the state of global natural and human systems in order to identify those factors central to achieving sustainable development. The conference brings together insights from the world's most influential and innovative thinkers in a wide range of academic fields, including the earth sciences, engineering sciences, biological sciences, health sciences, and social sciences, with those from opinion leaders in the media, government and the policy community.

Participants explore and debate in depth, on a global scale, the current condition of natural and human systems from the perspectives of both the natural and social sciences. In fostering constructive relations between these scientific communities and government leaders, international organizations, individuals and others, the conference promotes policy designed to reach the goals of sustainable development.

To secure our future as a species we must first understand what impact we have on the planet we inhabit. Getting to that understanding - and framing viable solutions for our future - is what this conference is all about.

Individual Social Responsibility

I read this interesting tidbit in my 365 Ways newsletter I received today and I think it is something worth exploring. While I have written a number of times about Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Enterprises what might be more important is Individual Social Responsibility. In other words, what is it that you do, the little things, to make the world a better place? What is it that you stand for? What are YOU doing to ensure that you are making a contribution to a better world, not just the status quo? We can look at it like the chicken and the egg argument, the 'it starts at the top and will filter down to the bottom' approach, or you can just step up.

Start by making a list of the things for which you believe in. Do you stand for animal rights, human rights, the environment, etc. Then decide what you can do through your purchasing behavior, your actions, your conversations, to start making it a part of your character - about making it a part of your life. When we individually decide to do something it will start to create a ripple for others to follow.

You don't notice it right away but you plant seeds with every interaction you make. It is like marketing, the more people see and hear something, the more they start to adopt it - this is the way successful brands have done it for years. Think about how you can market animal rights, you could buy only brands such as The Body Shop, wear a PETA T-shirt to a party, or become a vegetarian/part-time vegetarian (my friend Kylie has one day a week where she is a vegan, the rest of the week she is a vegetarian). You don't have to be an advocate, although it would certainly help, but sometimes the more subtle approach with people has a more profound and lasting effect. If you can get other people to ask you about your vegetarianism, instead of telling them outright, people are more likely to listen and take interest than if you are pushing pamphlets on them.

Be a pillar for your values, model them for all to see. Think about how you can market your better lifestyle. Think about other ways you can do your part to make the world a better place. This is your individual social responsibility - you are a business, you are a brand. Now is the time to 'sell' it.