Description from YouTube:
How do you become a high-level athlete and when do you realise that it might lead you to the Olympic Games?
Listen to Michael Phelps and his coach tell you all about it.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
InvisiblePeople.tv - Candace and her children
Description from YouTube:
This is the real face of homelessness that is rarely seen. Candace lives in a weekly rate hotel with her four children in Wentzville, Missouri. Even the federal definition of homelessness does not see this family making all the numbers the government publishes on family and child homelessness at best a good guess. The numbers are much, much higher.
Candace had the courage to leave an abusive relationship. Most women stay. But if it wasn't for the help a kind man helping the unseen homeless families in St Charles County, Candace and all of her children would be literally out on the streets.
All the shelters are full. Hopefully, Candace will find an opening soon. But there are far more homeless families than there is help. This is a real crisis.
In a past life I worked for a church in a neighboring community. There are many churches in this area, as there are lots of churches throughout America. Unfortunately, the average church in this country spends more money talking about impact trying to fill seats then actually doing something to help hurting families in their community.
As the economy gets worse we must get better. My prayer is that the faith-based community will wake up and stop wasting money and resources trying to fill buildings, and start working with their communities to solve this social crisis.
The church needs to be more like Paul. Not the Paul in the Bible, but the Paul in St Charles County who has become the real hope to so many. Paul is helping homeless families not because he's trying to get people to go to church or win "souls", Paul is helping simply because it's what we all should be doing - helping our neighbors without an agenda. Please support http://firststepbackhome.net
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal
Have a wonderful day,
R.
This is the real face of homelessness that is rarely seen. Candace lives in a weekly rate hotel with her four children in Wentzville, Missouri. Even the federal definition of homelessness does not see this family making all the numbers the government publishes on family and child homelessness at best a good guess. The numbers are much, much higher.
Candace had the courage to leave an abusive relationship. Most women stay. But if it wasn't for the help a kind man helping the unseen homeless families in St Charles County, Candace and all of her children would be literally out on the streets.
All the shelters are full. Hopefully, Candace will find an opening soon. But there are far more homeless families than there is help. This is a real crisis.
In a past life I worked for a church in a neighboring community. There are many churches in this area, as there are lots of churches throughout America. Unfortunately, the average church in this country spends more money talking about impact trying to fill seats then actually doing something to help hurting families in their community.
As the economy gets worse we must get better. My prayer is that the faith-based community will wake up and stop wasting money and resources trying to fill buildings, and start working with their communities to solve this social crisis.
The church needs to be more like Paul. Not the Paul in the Bible, but the Paul in St Charles County who has become the real hope to so many. Paul is helping homeless families not because he's trying to get people to go to church or win "souls", Paul is helping simply because it's what we all should be doing - helping our neighbors without an agenda. Please support http://firststepbackhome.net
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Friday, August 27, 2010
InvisiblePeople.tv - Cotton
Description from YouTube:
"Brutal and senseless."
This is how Cotton describes homelessness. It might just be the most succinct and heart-breakingly accurate explanation I've heard in a long time.
Cotton is homeless and disabled. She lives in a tent in Greensboro, NC. If that's not bad enough, she has been living this way for over 16 years.
This raw and unedited story makes one thing crystal clear: living on the streets is horrible. Cotton is the real face of homelessness; the face that we need to see and hear and see and hear and see and hear until something changes. From this raw and gritty story, I hope you can find the the will to act. The will to get involved in the fight to make poverty and homelessness unacceptable.
I hope this story inspires you to do something.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal
Have a wonderful day,
R.
"Brutal and senseless."
This is how Cotton describes homelessness. It might just be the most succinct and heart-breakingly accurate explanation I've heard in a long time.
Cotton is homeless and disabled. She lives in a tent in Greensboro, NC. If that's not bad enough, she has been living this way for over 16 years.
This raw and unedited story makes one thing crystal clear: living on the streets is horrible. Cotton is the real face of homelessness; the face that we need to see and hear and see and hear and see and hear until something changes. From this raw and gritty story, I hope you can find the the will to act. The will to get involved in the fight to make poverty and homelessness unacceptable.
I hope this story inspires you to do something.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
InvisiblePeople.tv - Cecilia and Juliana
Description from YouTube:
Forget everything youve ever thought about homeless.
Its not always a guy with a cardboard sign begging for money. Not everyone has a shopping cart. It goes far beyond tent cities. The reality is that families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. The average homeless person is nine years old and in the third grade.
Meet Cecilia and her daughter Juliana, just one of many families without a home in America. I met them at the Prado Day Center in San Luis Obispo. Like most folks without a home, Cecilia never planned to be homeless. But for the past two years she has been living with her three year old daughter and nine year old son in a homeless shelter.
As a mom, Cecilia does her best to stay positive. But this doesnt mean that raising a family without a home is easy. Each morning, Cecilia and her children must vacate the evening-only shelter. Her older son heads off to school. Cecilia and Juliana head to the day center, where they must wait to shower and spend the day. At 3 p.m. the day center closes, so they head to the park before returning to the evening shelter where they must two house in line to get a bed.
If this story effects you like it does me, please dont let it end here. Forward it to a friend, blog about it, scream real loud - do something! Cecilia and Juliana are the new face of homelessness. And if you ask me, children should never be homeless.
(Special thanks to the Prado Day Center for their hospitality.)
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Forget everything youve ever thought about homeless.
Its not always a guy with a cardboard sign begging for money. Not everyone has a shopping cart. It goes far beyond tent cities. The reality is that families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. The average homeless person is nine years old and in the third grade.
Meet Cecilia and her daughter Juliana, just one of many families without a home in America. I met them at the Prado Day Center in San Luis Obispo. Like most folks without a home, Cecilia never planned to be homeless. But for the past two years she has been living with her three year old daughter and nine year old son in a homeless shelter.
As a mom, Cecilia does her best to stay positive. But this doesnt mean that raising a family without a home is easy. Each morning, Cecilia and her children must vacate the evening-only shelter. Her older son heads off to school. Cecilia and Juliana head to the day center, where they must wait to shower and spend the day. At 3 p.m. the day center closes, so they head to the park before returning to the evening shelter where they must two house in line to get a bed.
If this story effects you like it does me, please dont let it end here. Forward it to a friend, blog about it, scream real loud - do something! Cecilia and Juliana are the new face of homelessness. And if you ask me, children should never be homeless.
(Special thanks to the Prado Day Center for their hospitality.)
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
InvisiblePeople.tv - Jean and her children
Description from YouTube:
After walking out of this hotel room I broke down. To be honest, I don't know how Jean does it all. She tries to be a good mother to her five children. Every day, even in the Missouri rain, she rides a bicycle to her minimum wage job. But minimum wage is not enough for the family to break the weekly rate hotel cycle.
This is the invisible people we need to make visible. Luckily, this family and many others found a very kind man in St Charles County that is helping homeless families get back on their feet. I have traveled all over this country visiting people in hotels. Thanks to Paul Kruse [http://firststepbackhome.net] these families are staying in a fairly decent hotel. But it's still not home.
Many of the affordable, weekly rate hotels are run down. Most places are filled with drug dealers, criminal activity and are unfit for children. It's a vicious cycle of homelessness because while paying to stay at these hotels it's nearly impossible to save for first and last months rent to get out of the situation.
Jean once had a home, a car, and a better life for her family. Unfortunately, we are going to see more families losing everything and facing homelessness.
I am glad that we have people like Paul taking real action to help people. We need more to step up. We need you!
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal
Have a wonderful day,
R.
After walking out of this hotel room I broke down. To be honest, I don't know how Jean does it all. She tries to be a good mother to her five children. Every day, even in the Missouri rain, she rides a bicycle to her minimum wage job. But minimum wage is not enough for the family to break the weekly rate hotel cycle.
This is the invisible people we need to make visible. Luckily, this family and many others found a very kind man in St Charles County that is helping homeless families get back on their feet. I have traveled all over this country visiting people in hotels. Thanks to Paul Kruse [http://firststepbackhome.net] these families are staying in a fairly decent hotel. But it's still not home.
Many of the affordable, weekly rate hotels are run down. Most places are filled with drug dealers, criminal activity and are unfit for children. It's a vicious cycle of homelessness because while paying to stay at these hotels it's nearly impossible to save for first and last months rent to get out of the situation.
Jean once had a home, a car, and a better life for her family. Unfortunately, we are going to see more families losing everything and facing homelessness.
I am glad that we have people like Paul taking real action to help people. We need more to step up. We need you!
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
InvisiblePeople.tv - Robert
Description from YouTube:
From Robert simply wishes for friends. To be around people. You can, of course, watch people pass him by again and again in the video. Even on a day as windy as this, the streets of Chicago are full of people. But, like most, they just keep walking, acting as if Robert were invisible.
He tried to find employment with the White Sox or Cubs. But, he'll take any job: a handyman, cutting grass--he says, "anything that will help people."
He sleeps in an alley behind Dunkin Donuts. His biggest worry? All the mice that share his sleeping space. Yet he still prefers his alley to sleeping on the floor of an overcrowding shelter.
Robert's smile is powerful. But if that can't hook you, wait until you hear what his last wish is.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal
Have a wonderful day,
R.
From Robert simply wishes for friends. To be around people. You can, of course, watch people pass him by again and again in the video. Even on a day as windy as this, the streets of Chicago are full of people. But, like most, they just keep walking, acting as if Robert were invisible.
He tried to find employment with the White Sox or Cubs. But, he'll take any job: a handyman, cutting grass--he says, "anything that will help people."
He sleeps in an alley behind Dunkin Donuts. His biggest worry? All the mice that share his sleeping space. Yet he still prefers his alley to sleeping on the floor of an overcrowding shelter.
Robert's smile is powerful. But if that can't hook you, wait until you hear what his last wish is.
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Monday, August 23, 2010
InvisiblePeople.tv - YouTube Fights Homelessness
This week I will be featuring videos from InvisiblePeople.tv to help Mark Horvath spread the word, and to remind ourselves to appreciate what we have in life and to be more humble.
Description from YouTube:
This is the day when the YouTube community spreads the word on what it's like to be homeless -- and how together we can help effect real change for people with no where else to turn.
In this video Mark Horvath, founder of InvisiblePeople.tv rips through the numbers: - 50% of the homeless population are women and children. - 39% are kids under the age of 18 - more than a million foreclosures are expected this year
There is a "perfect storm of homelessness" coming. Soon! So let's start now. Share this video with your friends. Share one or two or ten of the videos on this page with your coworkers and neighbors. Spread the word. Fight poverty. End homelessness. Make the invisible visible.
Everyone on the streets has their own story, some made bad decisions, others were victims, but none of them deserve what they have been left with, and it is a reflection of our own society that we just leave them there.
Please always remember, the homeless people you'll ignore today were much like you not so long ago.
References:
http://homelessness.change.org/blog/v...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100729/a...
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal
// my other blog http://hardlynormal.com
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Description from YouTube:
This is the day when the YouTube community spreads the word on what it's like to be homeless -- and how together we can help effect real change for people with no where else to turn.
In this video Mark Horvath, founder of InvisiblePeople.tv rips through the numbers: - 50% of the homeless population are women and children. - 39% are kids under the age of 18 - more than a million foreclosures are expected this year
There is a "perfect storm of homelessness" coming. Soon! So let's start now. Share this video with your friends. Share one or two or ten of the videos on this page with your coworkers and neighbors. Spread the word. Fight poverty. End homelessness. Make the invisible visible.
Everyone on the streets has their own story, some made bad decisions, others were victims, but none of them deserve what they have been left with, and it is a reflection of our own society that we just leave them there.
Please always remember, the homeless people you'll ignore today were much like you not so long ago.
References:
http://homelessness.change.org/blog/v...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100729/a...
// more stories http://invisiblepeople.tv
// follow http://twitter.com/hardlynormal
// my other blog http://hardlynormal.com
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The 7 Rules For a Healthier Life
Chris Lopez has the following 7 rules to live a healthier life:
1. Eat REAL Food.
2. Live Life Actively.
3. Get outside.
4. Constantly strive to improve in order to see change.
5. Get some sleep.
6. Practice Active Recovery .
7. Use Natural Movements.
I love this rules because they are simple, easy to follow, and just make sense. Read the original post for a description of each rule.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
1. Eat REAL Food.
2. Live Life Actively.
3. Get outside.
4. Constantly strive to improve in order to see change.
5. Get some sleep.
6. Practice Active Recovery .
7. Use Natural Movements.
I love this rules because they are simple, easy to follow, and just make sense. Read the original post for a description of each rule.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Help Pakistan Flood Victims
Pakistan Flood Incident Reporting is a centralized database for gathering information on disaster-related variables. Using Ushahidi platform, PakReport relies on information communicated through SMS, recognizing the wide use of mobile phones throughout Pakistan. With your help, PakReport can ensure the efficient distribution of limited resources through incident reporting. All it takes is a simple text message to 3411 relating your observations of the flood.
Watch the video to learn more about Ushahidi:
What is the Ushahidi Platform? from Ushahidi on Vimeo.
Keep track of their efforts by visiting the blog http://pakreport.org/blog.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Fear.less August 2010 Released!
Issue Featuring:
John Fulbrook: How to Excel Despite Insecurity
Joseph LeDoux: What's The Biology Behind Our Fear?
Geeta Citygirl: Acting Like a Leader Means You Are One
Marshall Goldsmith: You're Just As Smart as Everyone Else
Thich Nhat Hanh: Be Mindful, Not Afraid Of Your Fear.
Karen Armstrong: How Compassion Changed My Life.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Bertrand Piccard's solar-powered adventure
About this talk
For the dawn of a new decade, adventurer Bertrand Piccard offers us a challenge: Find motivation in what seems impossible. He shares his own plans to do what many say can't be done -- to fly around the world, day and night, in a solar-powered aircraft.
Why you should listen to him
Bertrand Piccard was born in a family of firsts. His father, Jacques, together with Dan Walsh of the US, was the first man to reach the deepest point of the world's oceans, the Mariana Trench, in 1960. Almost 30 years earlier, his grandfather, Auguste, first ballooned into the stratosphere. While they went up and down, Bertrand went horizontal and in 1999, together with Brian Jones of Britain, completed the first-ever nonstop balloon circumnavigation of the globe, flying more than 45,000 km in 20 days.
Now, in a hangar near Zurich, a team of scientists and engineers around Piccard and co-pilot André Borschberg is building Solar Impulse, an unconventional aircraft designed to circumnavigate the Earth powered by solar energy, flying day and night (yes, when the Sun is "off"). The just-unveiled prototype has the weight of a car but the wingspan of an Airbus. Piccard hopes for test flights in the first half of 2010, and possibly a long flight in 2011, before attempting to fly around the Earth.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
For the dawn of a new decade, adventurer Bertrand Piccard offers us a challenge: Find motivation in what seems impossible. He shares his own plans to do what many say can't be done -- to fly around the world, day and night, in a solar-powered aircraft.
Why you should listen to him
Bertrand Piccard was born in a family of firsts. His father, Jacques, together with Dan Walsh of the US, was the first man to reach the deepest point of the world's oceans, the Mariana Trench, in 1960. Almost 30 years earlier, his grandfather, Auguste, first ballooned into the stratosphere. While they went up and down, Bertrand went horizontal and in 1999, together with Brian Jones of Britain, completed the first-ever nonstop balloon circumnavigation of the globe, flying more than 45,000 km in 20 days.
Now, in a hangar near Zurich, a team of scientists and engineers around Piccard and co-pilot André Borschberg is building Solar Impulse, an unconventional aircraft designed to circumnavigate the Earth powered by solar energy, flying day and night (yes, when the Sun is "off"). The just-unveiled prototype has the weight of a car but the wingspan of an Airbus. Piccard hopes for test flights in the first half of 2010, and possibly a long flight in 2011, before attempting to fly around the Earth.
"How far can you go with no fuel? If aeronautical adventurer Bertrand Piccard has any influence, the answer will be: all the way around the world."Jeff Wise, Popular Mechanics
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
James Cameron: Before Avatar ... a curious boy
About this talk
James Cameron's big-budget (and even bigger-grossing) films create unreal worlds all their own. In this personal talk, he reveals his childhood fascination with the fantastic -- from reading science fiction to deep-sea diving -- and how it ultimately drove the success of his blockbuster hits "Aliens," "The Terminator," "Titanic" and "Avatar."
Why you should listen to him
James Cameron has written and directed some of the largest blockbuster movies of the last 20 years, including The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Titanic, and Avatar. His films pushed the limits of special effects, and his fascination with technical developments led him to co-create the 3-D Fusion Camera System. He has also contributed to new techniques in underwater filming and remote vehicle technology.
Although now a major filmmaker, Cameron's first job was as a truck driver and he wrote only in his spare time. After seeing Star Wars, he quit that job and wrote his first science fiction script for a ten-minute short called Xenogenesis. Soon after, he began working with special effects, and by 1984 he had written and directed the movie that would change his life -- The Terminator. Today, he has received three Academy Awards, two honorary doctorates and sits on the NASA Advisory Council.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
James Cameron's big-budget (and even bigger-grossing) films create unreal worlds all their own. In this personal talk, he reveals his childhood fascination with the fantastic -- from reading science fiction to deep-sea diving -- and how it ultimately drove the success of his blockbuster hits "Aliens," "The Terminator," "Titanic" and "Avatar."
Why you should listen to him
James Cameron has written and directed some of the largest blockbuster movies of the last 20 years, including The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Titanic, and Avatar. His films pushed the limits of special effects, and his fascination with technical developments led him to co-create the 3-D Fusion Camera System. He has also contributed to new techniques in underwater filming and remote vehicle technology.
Although now a major filmmaker, Cameron's first job was as a truck driver and he wrote only in his spare time. After seeing Star Wars, he quit that job and wrote his first science fiction script for a ten-minute short called Xenogenesis. Soon after, he began working with special effects, and by 1984 he had written and directed the movie that would change his life -- The Terminator. Today, he has received three Academy Awards, two honorary doctorates and sits on the NASA Advisory Council.
"He really does want us to risk our lives and limbs for the shot, but he doesn't mind risking his own."Sigourney Weaver
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Ben Dunlap talks about a passionate life
About this talk
Wofford College president Ben Dunlap tells the story of Sandor Teszler, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who taught him about passionate living and lifelong learning.
Why you should listen to him
Ben Dunlap was a dancer for four years with the Columbia City Ballet, kicking off a life of artistic and cultural exploration. A Rhodes Scholar, he did his PhD in English literature at Harvard, and is now the president of Wofford College, a small liberal arts school in South Carolina. He has taught classes on a wide variety of subjects, from Asian history to creative writing.
He's also a writer-producer for television, and his 19-part series The Renaissance has been adopted for use by more than 100 colleges. He has been a Senior Fulbright Lecturer in Thailand and a moderator at the Aspen Institute.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Wofford College president Ben Dunlap tells the story of Sandor Teszler, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who taught him about passionate living and lifelong learning.
Why you should listen to him
Ben Dunlap was a dancer for four years with the Columbia City Ballet, kicking off a life of artistic and cultural exploration. A Rhodes Scholar, he did his PhD in English literature at Harvard, and is now the president of Wofford College, a small liberal arts school in South Carolina. He has taught classes on a wide variety of subjects, from Asian history to creative writing.
He's also a writer-producer for television, and his 19-part series The Renaissance has been adopted for use by more than 100 colleges. He has been a Senior Fulbright Lecturer in Thailand and a moderator at the Aspen Institute.
"Dunlap's Wikipedia entry is the stuff of legend."GoUpstate.com
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Kiran Bir Sethi teaches kids to take charge
About this talk
Kiran Bir Sethi shows how her groundbreaking Riverside School in India teaches kids life's most valuable lesson: "I can." Watch her students take local issues into their own hands, lead other young people, even educate their parents.
Why you should listen to her
Kiran Bir Sethi's early training as a designer is clear in her work as an educator -- she looks beyond what exists, to ask, "could we do this a better way?" In 2001, she founded the Riverside School in Ahmedabad, designing the primary school's curriculum (and its building) from the ground up. Based around six "Beacons of Learning," the school's lesson plan focuses on creating curious, competent future citizens. The school now enrolls almost 300 children and has franchised its curriculum widely.
Sethi's latest project, inspired by dialogue with the children of Riverside, is called AProCh -- which stands for "A Protagonist in every Child." Fighting the stereotype of modern kids as rude and delinquent, AProCh looks for ways to engage Ahmedabad's children in modern city life, and to revamp our cities to make room for kids to learn, both actively and by example.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Kiran Bir Sethi shows how her groundbreaking Riverside School in India teaches kids life's most valuable lesson: "I can." Watch her students take local issues into their own hands, lead other young people, even educate their parents.
Why you should listen to her
Kiran Bir Sethi's early training as a designer is clear in her work as an educator -- she looks beyond what exists, to ask, "could we do this a better way?" In 2001, she founded the Riverside School in Ahmedabad, designing the primary school's curriculum (and its building) from the ground up. Based around six "Beacons of Learning," the school's lesson plan focuses on creating curious, competent future citizens. The school now enrolls almost 300 children and has franchised its curriculum widely.
Sethi's latest project, inspired by dialogue with the children of Riverside, is called AProCh -- which stands for "A Protagonist in every Child." Fighting the stereotype of modern kids as rude and delinquent, AProCh looks for ways to engage Ahmedabad's children in modern city life, and to revamp our cities to make room for kids to learn, both actively and by example.
"It is possible to organize cities to teach usefulness, social responsibility, ecological skill, the values of good work, and the higher possibilities of adulthood."aproch.org
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Chip Conley: Measuring what makes life worthwhile
About this talk
When the dotcom bubble burst, hotelier Chip Conley went in search of a business model based on happiness. In an old friendship with an employee and in the wisdom of a Buddhist king, he learned that success comes from what you count.
Why you should listen to him
In 1987, at the age of 26 and seeking a little "joy of life," Chip Conley founded Joie de Vivre Hospitality by transforming a small motel in San Francisco’s seedy Tenderloin district into the now-legendary Phoenix. Today, Joie de Vivre operates nearly 40 unique hotels across California, each built on an innovative design formula that inspires guests to experience an "identity refreshment" during their visits.
During the dotcom bust in 2001, Conley found himself in the self-help section of the bookstore, where he became reacquainted with one of the most famous theories of human behavior -- Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which separates human desires into five ascending levels, from base needs such as eating to the highest goal of self-actualization, characterized by the full realization and achievement of one’s potential. Influenced by Maslow's pyramid, Conley revamped his business model to focus on the intangible, higher needs of his company's three main constituencies -- employees, customers and investors. He credits this shift for helping Joie de Vivre triple its annual revenues between 2001 and 2008.
Conley has written three books, including his most recent, PEAK: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow, and is at work on two new ones, Emotional Equations and PEAK Leadership. He consults widely on transformative enterprises, corporate social responsibility and creative business development. He traveled to Bhutan last year to study its Gross National Happiness index, the country's unique method of measuring success and its citizens' quality of life.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
When the dotcom bubble burst, hotelier Chip Conley went in search of a business model based on happiness. In an old friendship with an employee and in the wisdom of a Buddhist king, he learned that success comes from what you count.
Why you should listen to him
In 1987, at the age of 26 and seeking a little "joy of life," Chip Conley founded Joie de Vivre Hospitality by transforming a small motel in San Francisco’s seedy Tenderloin district into the now-legendary Phoenix. Today, Joie de Vivre operates nearly 40 unique hotels across California, each built on an innovative design formula that inspires guests to experience an "identity refreshment" during their visits.
During the dotcom bust in 2001, Conley found himself in the self-help section of the bookstore, where he became reacquainted with one of the most famous theories of human behavior -- Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which separates human desires into five ascending levels, from base needs such as eating to the highest goal of self-actualization, characterized by the full realization and achievement of one’s potential. Influenced by Maslow's pyramid, Conley revamped his business model to focus on the intangible, higher needs of his company's three main constituencies -- employees, customers and investors. He credits this shift for helping Joie de Vivre triple its annual revenues between 2001 and 2008.
Conley has written three books, including his most recent, PEAK: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow, and is at work on two new ones, Emotional Equations and PEAK Leadership. He consults widely on transformative enterprises, corporate social responsibility and creative business development. He traveled to Bhutan last year to study its Gross National Happiness index, the country's unique method of measuring success and its citizens' quality of life.
"Chip Conley is that rare breed of CEO who possesses both a brilliant business mind and a very big heart. He’s a true role model for anyone who wants to lead."Gavin Newsom, Mayor of San Francisco
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Viktor Frankl: Why to believe in others
About this talk
In this rare clip from 1972, legendary psychiatrist and Holocaust-survivor Viktor Frankl delivers a powerful message about the human search for meaning -- and the most important gift we can give others.
Why you should listen to him
Viktor E. Frankl was Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of Vienna Medical School. He spent three years during World War II in concentration camps, including Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, and Dachau, where he formulated many of his key ideas. Logotherapy, his psychotherapeutic school, is founded on the belief that striving to find meaning in life is the most powerful motivation for human beings.
Frankl wrote 39 books, which were published in 38 languages. His best-known, Man's Search for Meaning, gives a firsthand account of his experiences during the Holocaust, and describes the psychotherapeutic method he pioneered. The Library of Congress called it one of "the ten most influential books in America." Frankl lectured on five continents.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
In this rare clip from 1972, legendary psychiatrist and Holocaust-survivor Viktor Frankl delivers a powerful message about the human search for meaning -- and the most important gift we can give others.
Why you should listen to him
Viktor E. Frankl was Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of Vienna Medical School. He spent three years during World War II in concentration camps, including Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, and Dachau, where he formulated many of his key ideas. Logotherapy, his psychotherapeutic school, is founded on the belief that striving to find meaning in life is the most powerful motivation for human beings.
Frankl wrote 39 books, which were published in 38 languages. His best-known, Man's Search for Meaning, gives a firsthand account of his experiences during the Holocaust, and describes the psychotherapeutic method he pioneered. The Library of Congress called it one of "the ten most influential books in America." Frankl lectured on five continents.
"Challenging the meaning of life is the truest expression of the state of being human. "Viktor Frankl
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Jacqueline Novogratz on escaping poverty
About this talk
Jacqueline Novogratz tells a moving story of an encounter in a Nairobi slum with Jane, a former prostitute, whose dreams of escaping poverty, of becoming a doctor and of getting married were fulfilled in an unexpected way.
Why you should listen to her
One of the most innovative players shaping philanthropy today, Jacqueline Novogratz is redefining the way problems of poverty can be solved around the world. Drawing on her past experience in banking, microfinance and traditional philanthropy, Novogratz has become a leading proponent for financing entrepreneurs and enterprises that can bring affordable clean water, housing and healthcare to poor people so that they no longer have to depend on the disappointing results and lack of accountability seen in traditional charity and old-fashioned aid.
The Acumen Fund, which she founded in 2001, has an ambitious plan: to create a blueprint for alleviating poverty using market-oriented approaches. Indeed, Acumen has more in common with a venture capital fund than a typical nonprofit. Rather than handing out grants, Acumen invests in fledgling companies and organizations that bring critical -- often life-altering -- products and services to the world's poor. Like VCs, Acumen offers not just money, but also infrastructure and management expertise. From drip-irrigation systems in India to malaria-preventing bed nets in Tanzania to a low-cost mortgage program in Pakistan, Acumen's portfolio offers important case studies for entrepreneurial efforts aimed at the vastly underserved market of those making less than $4/day.
It's a fascinating model that's shaken up philanthropy and investment communities alike. Acumen Fund manages more than $20 million in investments aimed at serving the poor. And most of their projects deliver stunning, inspiring results. Their success can be traced back to Novogratz herself, who possesses that rarest combination of business savvy and cultural sensitivity. In addition to seeking out sound business models, she places great importance on identifying solutions from within communities rather than imposing them from the outside. “People don't want handouts," Novogratz said at TEDGlobal 2005. "They want to make their own decisions, to solve their own problems.”
In her new book, The Blue Sweater, she tells stories from the new philanthropy, which emphasizes sustainable bottom-up solutions over traditional top-down aid.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Jacqueline Novogratz tells a moving story of an encounter in a Nairobi slum with Jane, a former prostitute, whose dreams of escaping poverty, of becoming a doctor and of getting married were fulfilled in an unexpected way.
Why you should listen to her
One of the most innovative players shaping philanthropy today, Jacqueline Novogratz is redefining the way problems of poverty can be solved around the world. Drawing on her past experience in banking, microfinance and traditional philanthropy, Novogratz has become a leading proponent for financing entrepreneurs and enterprises that can bring affordable clean water, housing and healthcare to poor people so that they no longer have to depend on the disappointing results and lack of accountability seen in traditional charity and old-fashioned aid.
The Acumen Fund, which she founded in 2001, has an ambitious plan: to create a blueprint for alleviating poverty using market-oriented approaches. Indeed, Acumen has more in common with a venture capital fund than a typical nonprofit. Rather than handing out grants, Acumen invests in fledgling companies and organizations that bring critical -- often life-altering -- products and services to the world's poor. Like VCs, Acumen offers not just money, but also infrastructure and management expertise. From drip-irrigation systems in India to malaria-preventing bed nets in Tanzania to a low-cost mortgage program in Pakistan, Acumen's portfolio offers important case studies for entrepreneurial efforts aimed at the vastly underserved market of those making less than $4/day.
It's a fascinating model that's shaken up philanthropy and investment communities alike. Acumen Fund manages more than $20 million in investments aimed at serving the poor. And most of their projects deliver stunning, inspiring results. Their success can be traced back to Novogratz herself, who possesses that rarest combination of business savvy and cultural sensitivity. In addition to seeking out sound business models, she places great importance on identifying solutions from within communities rather than imposing them from the outside. “People don't want handouts," Novogratz said at TEDGlobal 2005. "They want to make their own decisions, to solve their own problems.”
In her new book, The Blue Sweater, she tells stories from the new philanthropy, which emphasizes sustainable bottom-up solutions over traditional top-down aid.
"Acumen Fund is a not-for-profit group (but not a charity) that is supported by investors (not donors) who want a good “social return” on their capital."Fortune
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Steve Jobs: How to live before you die
About this talk
At his Stanford University commencement speech, Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple and Pixar, urges us to pursue our dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks -- including death itself.
Why you should listen to him
The pundits of Silicon Valley have a term for Steve Jobs' charisma: the reality distortion field. But the truth is, most of us like living in Jobs' reality, where exquisite design and sheer utility make for some addictively usable tools.
Jobs' famous persuasive power is equalled by his creativity and business brilliance -- apparent in legendary hardware and software achievements across three decades of work. The Macintosh computer (which brought the mouse-driven, graphical user interface to prominence), Pixar Animation Studios (which produced Toy Story, the first fully-3D-animated feature film), the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad (and who knows what's next?) all owe credit to Jobs' leadership and invention.
In recent years, Jobs has battled with a rare form of pancreatic cancer -- adding to an epic life story that mirrors the story of Apple itself: ever the underdog, ever the spectacular success.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
At his Stanford University commencement speech, Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple and Pixar, urges us to pursue our dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks -- including death itself.
Why you should listen to him
The pundits of Silicon Valley have a term for Steve Jobs' charisma: the reality distortion field. But the truth is, most of us like living in Jobs' reality, where exquisite design and sheer utility make for some addictively usable tools.
Jobs' famous persuasive power is equalled by his creativity and business brilliance -- apparent in legendary hardware and software achievements across three decades of work. The Macintosh computer (which brought the mouse-driven, graphical user interface to prominence), Pixar Animation Studios (which produced Toy Story, the first fully-3D-animated feature film), the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad (and who knows what's next?) all owe credit to Jobs' leadership and invention.
In recent years, Jobs has battled with a rare form of pancreatic cancer -- adding to an epic life story that mirrors the story of Apple itself: ever the underdog, ever the spectacular success.
"The past decade in business belongs to Jobs."Fortune Magazine
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Shukla Bose: Teaching one child at a time
About this talk
Educating the poor is more than just a numbers game, says Shukla Bose. She tells the story of her groundbreaking Parikrma Humanity Foundation, which brings hope to India's slums by looking past the daunting statistics and focusing on treating each child as an individual.
Why you should listen to her
The word "Parikrma" implies a full revolution, a complete path around -- and Shukla Bose's Parikrma Humanity Foundation offers literally that to kids in poor urban areas around Bangalore. Parikrma's four Schools of Hope teach the full, standard Indian curriculum to children who might not otherwise see the inside of a classroom, with impressive results. Equally important, the schools build an "end-to-end" environment that supports learning -- offering lunch every day, health-care and family support. Beyond these schools, Parikrma has inaugurated several afterschool programs and has plans for setting up a central teacher-training hub.
Bose left behind a corporate career in 1992 to found Parikrma with a small group of friends. The nonprofit holds itself to formal business goals and strict accountability, and has developed some clever fundraising and marketing campaigns. As Bose puts it, the goal of Parikrma is to help build a better India by tapping its greatest strength: the vitality and potential of its people.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Educating the poor is more than just a numbers game, says Shukla Bose. She tells the story of her groundbreaking Parikrma Humanity Foundation, which brings hope to India's slums by looking past the daunting statistics and focusing on treating each child as an individual.
Why you should listen to her
The word "Parikrma" implies a full revolution, a complete path around -- and Shukla Bose's Parikrma Humanity Foundation offers literally that to kids in poor urban areas around Bangalore. Parikrma's four Schools of Hope teach the full, standard Indian curriculum to children who might not otherwise see the inside of a classroom, with impressive results. Equally important, the schools build an "end-to-end" environment that supports learning -- offering lunch every day, health-care and family support. Beyond these schools, Parikrma has inaugurated several afterschool programs and has plans for setting up a central teacher-training hub.
Bose left behind a corporate career in 1992 to found Parikrma with a small group of friends. The nonprofit holds itself to formal business goals and strict accountability, and has developed some clever fundraising and marketing campaigns. As Bose puts it, the goal of Parikrma is to help build a better India by tapping its greatest strength: the vitality and potential of its people.
"Education of children is at the core of our aim to transform poor communities into self-sustaining, contributing communities. "Shukla Bose
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Jeff Bezos: What matters more than your talents
About this talk
In this Princeton University graduation address, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos makes the case that our character is reflected not in the gifts we're endowed with at birth, but by the choices we make over the course of a lifetime.
Why you should listen to him
Jeff Bezos didn't invent online shopping, but he almost single-handedly turned it into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. His Amazon.com began as a bookstore in 1994, and quickly expanded into dozens of product categories, forcing the world's biggest retailers to rethink their business models, and ultimately changing the way people shop.
But Amazon.com isn't just an internet success story. It's the standard by which all web businesses are now judged -- if not by their shareholders, then by their customers. Amazon set a high bar for reliability and customer service, and also introduced a wide range of online retail conventions -- from user reviews and one-click shopping to the tab interface and shopping cart icon -- so commonplace we no longer think of them as once having been innovations.
When the Internet bubble burst, Amazon.com took a hit with the other e-commerce pioneers, but the fundamentally sound company hung tough. It now sells more than $10 billion a year of goods, profitably, and its technology will influence the changes to business and media that will come next. Amazon recently released Kindle, a wireless digital reading device, giving the term "page turning" a completely new definition. Bezos, meanwhile, is one of the few early Web CEOs who still run the companies they founded. Outside of his work with Amazon, he recently founded Blue Origin, a space-flight startup.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
In this Princeton University graduation address, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos makes the case that our character is reflected not in the gifts we're endowed with at birth, but by the choices we make over the course of a lifetime.
Why you should listen to him
Jeff Bezos didn't invent online shopping, but he almost single-handedly turned it into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. His Amazon.com began as a bookstore in 1994, and quickly expanded into dozens of product categories, forcing the world's biggest retailers to rethink their business models, and ultimately changing the way people shop.
But Amazon.com isn't just an internet success story. It's the standard by which all web businesses are now judged -- if not by their shareholders, then by their customers. Amazon set a high bar for reliability and customer service, and also introduced a wide range of online retail conventions -- from user reviews and one-click shopping to the tab interface and shopping cart icon -- so commonplace we no longer think of them as once having been innovations.
When the Internet bubble burst, Amazon.com took a hit with the other e-commerce pioneers, but the fundamentally sound company hung tough. It now sells more than $10 billion a year of goods, profitably, and its technology will influence the changes to business and media that will come next. Amazon recently released Kindle, a wireless digital reading device, giving the term "page turning" a completely new definition. Bezos, meanwhile, is one of the few early Web CEOs who still run the companies they founded. Outside of his work with Amazon, he recently founded Blue Origin, a space-flight startup.
"If the Internet was the new rock and roll, Jeff Bezos…was its Elvis … [Today he’s] the ultimate dotcom survivor. "BBCNews.com
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Isabel Allende tells tales of passion
About this talk
Author and activist Isabel Allende discusses women, creativity, the definition of feminism -- and, of course, passion -- in this talk.
Why you should listen to her
As a novelist and memoirist, Isabel Allende writes of passionate lives, including her own. Born into a Chilean family with political ties, she went into exile in the United States in the 1970s -- an event that, she believes, created her as a writer. Her voice blends sweeping narrative with touches of magical realism; her stories are romantic, in the very best sense of the word. Her novels include The House of the Spirits, Eva Luna and The Stories of Eva Luna, and her latest, Ines of My Soul and La Suma de los Dias (The Sum of Our Days). And don't forget her adventure trilogy for young readers -- City of the Beasts, Kingdom of the Golden Dragon and Forest of the Pygmies.
As a memoirist, she has written about her vision of her lost Chile, in My Invented Country, and movingly tells the story of her life to her own daughter, in Paula. Her book Aphrodite: A Memoir of the Senses memorably linked two sections of the bookstore that don't see much crossover: Erotica and Cookbooks. Just as vital is her community work: The Isabel Allende Foundation works with nonprofits in the SF Bay Area and Chile to empower and protect women and girls -- understanding that empowering women is the only true route to social and economic justice.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Author and activist Isabel Allende discusses women, creativity, the definition of feminism -- and, of course, passion -- in this talk.
Why you should listen to her
As a novelist and memoirist, Isabel Allende writes of passionate lives, including her own. Born into a Chilean family with political ties, she went into exile in the United States in the 1970s -- an event that, she believes, created her as a writer. Her voice blends sweeping narrative with touches of magical realism; her stories are romantic, in the very best sense of the word. Her novels include The House of the Spirits, Eva Luna and The Stories of Eva Luna, and her latest, Ines of My Soul and La Suma de los Dias (The Sum of Our Days). And don't forget her adventure trilogy for young readers -- City of the Beasts, Kingdom of the Golden Dragon and Forest of the Pygmies.
As a memoirist, she has written about her vision of her lost Chile, in My Invented Country, and movingly tells the story of her life to her own daughter, in Paula. Her book Aphrodite: A Memoir of the Senses memorably linked two sections of the bookstore that don't see much crossover: Erotica and Cookbooks. Just as vital is her community work: The Isabel Allende Foundation works with nonprofits in the SF Bay Area and Chile to empower and protect women and girls -- understanding that empowering women is the only true route to social and economic justice.
"Allende can spin a funny, sensual yarn, but she can also use her narrative skills to remind us that parallel to our placid and comfortable existence is another, invisible universe, one where poverty, misery and torture are all too real."Patricia Hart, The Nation
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Majora Carter's tale of urban renewal
About this talk
In an emotionally charged talk, MacArthur-winning activist Majora Carter details her fight for environmental justice in the South Bronx -- and shows how minority neighborhoods suffer most from flawed urban policy.
Why you should listen to her
Majora Carter is a visionary voice in city planning who views urban renewal through an environmental lens. The South Bronx native draws a direct connection between ecological, economic and social degradation. Hence her motto: "Green the ghetto!"
With her inspired ideas and fierce persistence, Carter managed to bring the South Bronx its first open-waterfront park in 60 years, Hunts Point Riverside Park. Then she scored $1.25 million in federal funds for a greenway along the South Bronx waterfront, bringing the neighborhood open space, pedestrian and bike paths, and space for mixed-use economic development.
Her success is no surprise to anyone who's seen her speak; Carter's confidence, energy and intensely emotional delivery make her talks themselves a force of nature. (The release of her TEDTalk in 2006 prompted Guy Kawasaki to wonder on his blog whether she wasn't "every bit as good as [Apple CEO] Steve Jobs," a legendary presenter.)
Carter, who was awarded a 2005 MacArthur "genius" grant, served as executive director of Sustainable South Bronx for 7 years, where she pushed both for eco-friendly practices (such as green and cool roofs) and, equally important, job training and green-related economic development for her vibrant neighborhood on the rise. Since leaving SSBx in 2008, Carter has formed the economic consulting and planning firm the Majora Carter Group, to bring her pioneering approach to communities far outside the South Bronx. Carter is working within the cities of New Orleans, Detroit and the small coastal towns of Northeastern North Carolina. The Majora Carter Group is putting the green economy and green economic tools to use, unlocking the potential of every place -- from urban cities and rural communities, to universities, government projects, businesses and corporations -- and everywhere else in between.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
In an emotionally charged talk, MacArthur-winning activist Majora Carter details her fight for environmental justice in the South Bronx -- and shows how minority neighborhoods suffer most from flawed urban policy.
Why you should listen to her
Majora Carter is a visionary voice in city planning who views urban renewal through an environmental lens. The South Bronx native draws a direct connection between ecological, economic and social degradation. Hence her motto: "Green the ghetto!"
With her inspired ideas and fierce persistence, Carter managed to bring the South Bronx its first open-waterfront park in 60 years, Hunts Point Riverside Park. Then she scored $1.25 million in federal funds for a greenway along the South Bronx waterfront, bringing the neighborhood open space, pedestrian and bike paths, and space for mixed-use economic development.
Her success is no surprise to anyone who's seen her speak; Carter's confidence, energy and intensely emotional delivery make her talks themselves a force of nature. (The release of her TEDTalk in 2006 prompted Guy Kawasaki to wonder on his blog whether she wasn't "every bit as good as [Apple CEO] Steve Jobs," a legendary presenter.)
Carter, who was awarded a 2005 MacArthur "genius" grant, served as executive director of Sustainable South Bronx for 7 years, where she pushed both for eco-friendly practices (such as green and cool roofs) and, equally important, job training and green-related economic development for her vibrant neighborhood on the rise. Since leaving SSBx in 2008, Carter has formed the economic consulting and planning firm the Majora Carter Group, to bring her pioneering approach to communities far outside the South Bronx. Carter is working within the cities of New Orleans, Detroit and the small coastal towns of Northeastern North Carolina. The Majora Carter Group is putting the green economy and green economic tools to use, unlocking the potential of every place -- from urban cities and rural communities, to universities, government projects, businesses and corporations -- and everywhere else in between.
"We could not fail to be inspired by Majora Carter's efforts to bring green space for exercise to the South Bronx. We need more ideas like these to bring solutions to minority communities."Time
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Bill Strickland makes change with a slide show
About this talk
Bill Strickland tells a quiet and astonishing tale of redemption through arts, music, and unlikely partnerships.
Why you should listen to him
Bill Strickland's journey from at-risk youth to 1996 MacArthur "Genius" grant recipient would be remarkable in itself, if it were not overshadowed by the staggering breadth of his vision. While moonlighting as an airline pilot, Strickland founded Manchester Bidwell, a world-class institute in his native Pittsburgh devoted to vocational instruction in partnership with big business -- and, almost incidentally, home to a Grammy-winning record label and a world-class jazz performance series. Yet its emphasis on the arts is no accident, as it embodies Strickland's conviction that an atmosphere of high culture and respect will energize even the most troubled students.
With job placement rates that rival most universities, Manchester Bidwell's success has attracted the attention of everyone from George Bush, Sr. (who appointed Strickland to a six-year term on the board of the NEA) to Fred Rogers (who invited Strickland to demonstrate pot throwing on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood). And though cumbersome slide trays have been replaced by PowerPoint, the inspirational power of his speeches and slide shows are the stuff of lecture circuit legend.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Bill Strickland tells a quiet and astonishing tale of redemption through arts, music, and unlikely partnerships.
Why you should listen to him
Bill Strickland's journey from at-risk youth to 1996 MacArthur "Genius" grant recipient would be remarkable in itself, if it were not overshadowed by the staggering breadth of his vision. While moonlighting as an airline pilot, Strickland founded Manchester Bidwell, a world-class institute in his native Pittsburgh devoted to vocational instruction in partnership with big business -- and, almost incidentally, home to a Grammy-winning record label and a world-class jazz performance series. Yet its emphasis on the arts is no accident, as it embodies Strickland's conviction that an atmosphere of high culture and respect will energize even the most troubled students.
With job placement rates that rival most universities, Manchester Bidwell's success has attracted the attention of everyone from George Bush, Sr. (who appointed Strickland to a six-year term on the board of the NEA) to Fred Rogers (who invited Strickland to demonstrate pot throwing on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood). And though cumbersome slide trays have been replaced by PowerPoint, the inspirational power of his speeches and slide shows are the stuff of lecture circuit legend.
"With his potter's hands, Bill Strickland is reshaping the business of social change. His Pittsburgh-based program offers a national model for education, training and hope."Fast Company
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Corneille Ewango is a hero of the Congo forest
About this talk
Botanist Corneille Ewango talks about his work at the Okapi Faunal Reserve in the Congo Basin -- and his heroic work protecting it from poachers, miners and raging civil wars.
Why you should listen to him
Corneille Ewango grew up in a family of poachers and hunters -- it was simply a way of life in his village. But when he got the chance to go to school, he found a new mission -- to study and preserve the flora and fauna of his region, the Congo Basin forest. In his passion for the forest, Ewango found himself an unwitting hero, taking bold steps to secure its resources and convince warring parties to leave it in peace.
The Congo Basin's great forests are under pressure from many angles. Settlers look here for fresh farmland; miners look for deposits of valuable col-tan; and soldiers fight over the forests both as territory to be won and as a resource for bush meat (from the threatened okapi) and cooking charcoal. It's home to families of pygmies and herds of okapi -- and a treasure house of green, growing things.
Ewango won the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2005 for his work at the Okapi Faunal Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a World Heritage Site. He's now studying in the United States.
"A man who’s seen more hardship and done more hard work that most of us could ever imagine."Ethan Zuckerman, My Heart's in Accra
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Patrick Awuah on educating leaders
About this talk
Patrick Awuah makes the case that a liberal arts education is critical to forming true leaders.
Why you should listen to Patrick Awuah
Patrick Awuah left Ghana as a teenager to attend Swarthmore College in the United States, then stayed on to build a career at Microsoft in Seattle. In returning to his home country, he has made a commitment to educating young people in critical thinking and ethical service, values he believes are crucial for the nation-building that lies ahead.
Founded in 2002, his Ashesi University is already charting a new course in African education, with its high-tech facilities, innovative academic program and emphasis on leadership. It seems more than fitting that ashesi means "beginning" in Akan, one of Ghana's native languages.
Patrikc Awuah is an alumnus of the TED Fellows program, having attended TEDGlobal 2007 in Arusha, Tanzania, and TED2009 in Long Beach, California. Find out more about the TED Fellows program.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Patrick Awuah makes the case that a liberal arts education is critical to forming true leaders.
Why you should listen to Patrick Awuah
Patrick Awuah left Ghana as a teenager to attend Swarthmore College in the United States, then stayed on to build a career at Microsoft in Seattle. In returning to his home country, he has made a commitment to educating young people in critical thinking and ethical service, values he believes are crucial for the nation-building that lies ahead.
Founded in 2002, his Ashesi University is already charting a new course in African education, with its high-tech facilities, innovative academic program and emphasis on leadership. It seems more than fitting that ashesi means "beginning" in Akan, one of Ghana's native languages.
Patrikc Awuah is an alumnus of the TED Fellows program, having attended TEDGlobal 2007 in Arusha, Tanzania, and TED2009 in Long Beach, California. Find out more about the TED Fellows program.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
William Kamkwamba on building a windmill
About this talk
When he was just 14 years old, Malawian inventor William Kamkwamba built his family an electricity-generating windmill from spare parts, working from rough plans he found in a library book.
Why you should listen to William Kamkwamba
William Kamkwamba, from Malawi, is a born inventor. When he was 14, he built an electricity-producing windmill from spare parts and scrap, working from rough plans he found in a library book called Using Energy and modifying them to fit his needs. The windmill he built powers four lights and two radios in his family home.
After reading about Kamkwamba on Mike McKay's blog Hactivate (which picked up the story from a local Malawi newspaper), TEDGlobal Conference Director Emeka Okafor spent several weeks tracking him down at his home in Masitala Village, Wimbe, and invited him to attend TEDGlobal on a fellowship. Onstage, Kamkwamba talked about his invention and shared his dreams: to build a larger windmill to help with irrigation for his entire village, and to go back to school.
Following Kamkwamba's moving talk, there was an outpouring of support for him and his promising work. Members of the TED community got together to help him improve his power system (by incorporating solar energy), and further his education through school and mentorships. Subsequent projects have included clean water, malaria prevention, solar power and lighting for the six homes in his family compound; a deep-water well with a solar-powered pump for clean water; and a drip irrigation system. Kamkwamba himself returned to school, and is now attending the African Leadership Academy, a new pan-African prep school outside Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kamkwamba's story is documented in his autobiography, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope. A short documentary about Kamkwamba, called Moving Windmills, won several awards last year; Kamkwamba and friends are now working on a full-length film. You can read the ongoing details on his blog (which he keeps with help from his mentor), and support his work and other young inventors at MovingWindmills.org.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Related posts:
William Kamkwamba: How I harnessed the wind
When he was just 14 years old, Malawian inventor William Kamkwamba built his family an electricity-generating windmill from spare parts, working from rough plans he found in a library book.
Why you should listen to William Kamkwamba
William Kamkwamba, from Malawi, is a born inventor. When he was 14, he built an electricity-producing windmill from spare parts and scrap, working from rough plans he found in a library book called Using Energy and modifying them to fit his needs. The windmill he built powers four lights and two radios in his family home.
After reading about Kamkwamba on Mike McKay's blog Hactivate (which picked up the story from a local Malawi newspaper), TEDGlobal Conference Director Emeka Okafor spent several weeks tracking him down at his home in Masitala Village, Wimbe, and invited him to attend TEDGlobal on a fellowship. Onstage, Kamkwamba talked about his invention and shared his dreams: to build a larger windmill to help with irrigation for his entire village, and to go back to school.
Following Kamkwamba's moving talk, there was an outpouring of support for him and his promising work. Members of the TED community got together to help him improve his power system (by incorporating solar energy), and further his education through school and mentorships. Subsequent projects have included clean water, malaria prevention, solar power and lighting for the six homes in his family compound; a deep-water well with a solar-powered pump for clean water; and a drip irrigation system. Kamkwamba himself returned to school, and is now attending the African Leadership Academy, a new pan-African prep school outside Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kamkwamba's story is documented in his autobiography, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope. A short documentary about Kamkwamba, called Moving Windmills, won several awards last year; Kamkwamba and friends are now working on a full-length film. You can read the ongoing details on his blog (which he keeps with help from his mentor), and support his work and other young inventors at MovingWindmills.org.
Have a wonderful day,
R.
Related posts:
William Kamkwamba: How I harnessed the wind