Tonight I joined a dynamic discussion about how to make TheStoreFront Community project self-sustaining...and I couldn’t help but flash back into the early days of when TakingITGlobal was founded and we had our discussions on what future directions we would take and how our ideals and dreams could be transformed into actionable plans. Of course, even after 9 years of having the ‘idea’ of TIG, the essence of having challenging strategic conversations still remains part of my current reality – however the energy in the room this evening reconnected me to the Fall of 2000, when we hosted meetings with invitations sent out to friends, organizations and those who joined our website from Toronto.
The dynamics of the room jolted from cohesive and interconnected to somewhat tense given the financial realities of the project. Earlier this year, a 1000 square foot store front space was established in order to serve as a support and communication network in the context of an urban village. Starting in January, the costs of rent will be doubled and the project in its current state does not generate enough revenue to afford costs of rent or administration. That said, an exciting range of events have taken place in recent months including a documentary with interviews of people in the neighbourhood, the inaugural BIG on Bloor Festival (bigonbloor.com/festival), the “b-l-o-o-o-o-r” design campaign including sales of well designed American Apparel t-shirts and bags, the “Everything Local” silent auction event and hosting of meetings, events and exhibits including the Afri Village Fest front window presence & photo documentation.
The project was made possible through a partnership between ThinkTankToronto, Business Improvement Area Office, and a group of students and faculty at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD).
A key driver and designer of the initiative is a former TakingITGlobal staff member, Ghazaleh Etezal who is currently 21 and worked with us as a graphic designer in 2006. As I connected with Ghazaleh this evening, it was amazing to see her in action in her role as one of the connectors and in hearing people reference her contributions of design, research and coordination for TheStoreFront. It was also great to chat with Ghazaleh this evening and hear her attribute TakingITGlobal as part of her inspiration for the project.
In many ways, the place based goals of creating community for TheStoreFront initiative are aligned with the global online community objectives for TIG. As explained on the website, TheStoreFront aims to be “the common space between two separate disconnected worlds of youth, institutions, neighbourhood NGOs, programs and services available within the BloorCourt and BloorDale Villages (Christie to Lansdowne on Bloor West).” On a conceptual level, it is intriguing for me to observe and be part of a conversation about how to grow and sustain a space that supports vibrant community engagement.
Some of the ideas shared this evening that are most interesting to me include:
- Having a paid membership fee (i.e. $10/month)
- Hosting regular meetings (weekly or monthly) for ‘members’ to attend which would serve as a social space, with topics of discussion
- Utilizing the space to feature the products of local artists (i.e. clothes, jewlery, artwork)
- Having a cafe space with organic chocolate & other organic snacks sold
- Renting out the space to community organizations for events/meetings
- Offering workshops to help meet needs of community members (i.e. English as a second language, or focusing on a particular craft/skill with guest speakers etc).
- Establishing a core base of volunteers (i.e. a partnership with the neighbouring Working Women Community Centre), to offer an experience for newcomers to Canada living in the neighbourhood which would help to ensure that core responsibilities are fulfilled (i.e. keyholders with people who are responsible for opening & closing up the space)
One concern that emerged from the discussions was the issue of timing and how challenging it will be to raise sufficient funds in time for the end of the year. There was some discussion on what the concept or project would be if it did not live in the specific space at 957 Bloor W – however most of the ideas generated were aimed at trying to keep the space alive.
If it ends up not being feasible to maintain the 957 Bloor W StoreFront space due to costs, my recommendation is to develop stronger partnerships with existing places designed for the community (i.e. local community centres, employment centres, libraries etc) and try to help revitalize existing spaces that are supported by the government and that have a history of serving the community. While I love the idea of transforming commercial spaces into being community driven and serving, it may be too challenging to develop a financially sustainable model at this current time due to current economic realities.
On a final note...I do hope that the financial challenges can be overcome and that a proven model can be developed, shared and scaled with other communities!
Here's a list of who came:
Night at the Indies / Meow Films: Gurbeen
Community Arts Collective / Daily Bread Food Bank: Jim
BIG and BIG Festival: Ann
People Plan Toronto: Ann
DIG IN: Donna / Ann
Torontopedia: Himy
Working Women: Diana / Jessica
BloorCourt BIA: Shelley
IF Theatre: Sara
Supportive, active, creative, engaged dedicated locals: Ryan / Michelle / Phil / Darcy / Leah / Leigh / Chatherine S / Craig / Camilo
Delaware Residents (Street Festival): Rosalie
Delaware Open Space: Darcy
Humanist Movement: Nick / Roberto
Sistering (past Chair): France
Green Party: Steve
Annex Lions Club: Monica
Wireless Toronto: Gabe
Concord Café: Genoveva
Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre: Tim
Dufferin Grove Residents Association: / Rob
Anarchist U: Christian / Maggie
Laidlaw Foundation: Ana
Globe & Mail: Nadja
Property Owner 957: Robert Markovits
Chemistry Branding (consultant and partner): Will
Jim Allen Photo: Jim
TakingITGlobal: Jennifer
[unconfirmed]
Freedom Clothing: Amanda
Parkdale Liberty: Jennifer
ArchiTEXT: Zahra
Long & McQuade: Jon
Toronto Poets: Jason / Hajile
Linux Caffé: David
Art for me
is a journey
into the unspoken, unknown, unwanted and unheard
realities of our shadows
and of our hopes.
We are suspended in time
glimpsing in the mirror
of our future and our past
They flash before us and cause a jolt
of hope, of fear, of want, of release.
Our senses on overload
we admire and adore
our object of fascination
representing the idol we love
and demon we hate.
we forgive
we empathize
we heal
we bathe
in beauty
and bliss.
Mi taller tuvo lugar en la Universidad Abierta Interamericana (gracias Daniel, Román y área de Extensión!) y participaron jóvenes de Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Cuba, México y Panamá.
Durante más de tres horas charlamos sobre el rol que ocupa internet en la vida diaria de las organizaciones, el ciberactivsimo, blogs, fotologs, social bookmarking, rss, wikis, celulares, mapping, etc, etc... y vimos distintas herramientas online, incluyendo, claro, muchas de las herramientas que brinda TIG para jóvenes y organizaciones.
Como hubo tanta buena onda me quedé el resto del día (y de la noche) con l@s chic@s de TUNZA y GEO Juvenil participando del resto de talleres y charlas del encuentro.
Además, en un momento libre, hice un videíto sobre el taller en el que participaron tres delegados de Paraguay, México y Cuba (gracias Jorge, Paulina y Handy!!!). Cuentan qué hacen y su opinión acerca de las TICs en su participación social. El video lo grabé y lo edité íntegramente en mi celular N95.
Já notaram que existe uma maior tolerância com a violência no que diz respeito à censura no cinema, na televisão, etc? Se você compara cenas de sexo com as cenas de violência, a criação que estiver mais carregada de sexo tem maior censura, a faixa etária sobe.
A violência é muito mais chocante, impressiona fácil, desperta agressividade, machuca o nosso olhar, entra mais fácil mesmo sem perceber, você acha que tem domínio e muitas vezes não tem.
O sexo já te deixou impressionado no sentido negativo? É raro, só se for relacionado com violência, caso contrário no máximo nos excita, desperta a vontade de colocar em prática, ensina, é bonito, queremos ver.
Mas eu nunca entendi a censura nesse sentido, quando a criação, a peça de teatro, o filme, a novela, tem nudez, sexo, a faixa etária sobe, se tem violência e não há sexo, ela diminui. Cenas de violência fazem um estrago em nosso ser sem tamanho, claro que depende da sensibilidade de cada um, mas no geral ferem a alma, a mente, as nossas ações, nossos pensamentos, é extremamente negativo.
Ninguém reparou nessa troca de valor ainda? Nossa sociedade vai "muito bem" na violência, na agressividade do cotidiano, mas no sexo ainda precisa descobrir e avançar bastante. Pense bem, se fosse ao contrário nossas vidas seriam muito mais interessantes, intensas, vivas no sentido positivo.
Hace unas semanas mi mamá, Adriana Molinuevo, recibió el "Premio Padre Daniel de la Sierra" por su compromiso solidario en la Villa 21-24 del bajo Barracas :D
Mi mamá, que es mucho más participaholic que yo, creó hace siete años un centro comunitario en la villa, conocido como La Casita de los Niños Augusto Conte, en homenaje a ese militante de derechos humanos.
El premio recuerda al fallecido sacerdote Daniel de la Sierra, que se desempeñó en la parroquia de la villa 21-24, entre Barracas, Pompeya y Parque Patricios.
Todos los fines de semana van muchos chicos a La Casita de los Niños para jugar, tomar la leche, comer, hacer los deberes, etc, etc. Mi mamá siempre me pregunta en qué ando para ver si los chicos de La Casita pueden participar en alguno de los proyectos que coordino.
A muchos los conocí chiquitos y ya son adolescentes y siguen yendo a La Casita. El otro día mi mamá me contó que varios están terminando la secundaria y se están anotando en terciarios y en la universidad. Eso no tiene precio...
Como dijo el padre Pepe mientras entregaba el premio: "Chiche Gelblung tendría que venir a mostrar a estas personas solidarias y a estos chicos que están estudiando".
Lo de siempre: lo malo se muestra y lo bueno no. Menos mal que hay blogs para contarlo :)
Os governos estão tomando medidas urgentes para 'salvar os bancos", engraçado, eu nunca vi governo agir tão rapidamente para ajudar a Educação, a Saúde, as pessoas que vivem na miséria, o Meio Ambiente!! Sim, o Meio Ambiente, esse sim, principalmente, precisa de atenção, vivemos sem os bancos, MAS sem a terra, a Natureza, NÃO!!
Os bancos salvam quem? Os próprios. Se é para emprestar dinheiro ou fazer qualquer outro tipo de "ajuda" aos clientes, quem realmente lucrou até hoje, quem ganha no final, quem acumula são os bancos!
Veja se os bancos estão se importando com algum ser nesse Planeta? Outro dia eu escutei que os grandes bancos estão esperando os menores quebrarem para, então, comprá-los a um preço baratinho. Seguem direitinho as regras do esquema do capital até entre eles.
A crise financeira tem um lado interessante, as pessoas param de comprar, de gastar tanto com supérfluos importados desnecessários, trocar e trocar, desistem de fazer a viagem internacional e passam a investir o dinheiro aqui e não fora. Enfim, talvez só a necessidade, a crise faz a civilização aprender! É triste isso.
Help me support the International Youth Climate Movement with a contest that is happening on Facebook.
The Facebook For Good contest is offering 3,000 euros to the grand prize winner who is using the Facebook platform for the best submitted story for creating good.
The title of my story is "Engaging Youth To Take Action To Address Climate Change" and here is the story;
I have spent the last year volunteering on an United Nations Development Programme youth climate change project. The job wasn’t easy to create a youth summary of the United Nations Human Development Report 2007/2008 but with the use of social networking which allowed me to contact people from all over the world to share their views on climate change a publication was created. I also have been using Facebook to distribute the publication online in English, French, and Spanish.
With my passion for new media I also created 7 videos which have been distributed online through sharing of those who also want to educate their peers.
I also had the chance to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia in December of 2007. Through the Facebook platform you can keep in touch with all of the other youth who are working on climate change in their own regions of the world.
I will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference again this year in Poznan, Poland and have been using the Causes feature to help fundraise to attend since I do not have an income from volunteering on the United Nations Development Programme youth climate change project.
I share my interests in a better world with everyone of my contacts hoping that they will pass along the information to others.
Facebook has allowed a large network to create the social change I want to see in the world.
If I was to actually win the Grand Prize I would be donating it back to support other youth delegates to attend future United Nations Climate Change negotiations and to further strengthen the international youth climate movement. The contest ends on December 15, 2008 at 11:59 pm (EST) so please help me support youth in keeping our governments accountable on reducing carbon emissions.
Facebook For Good Contest Deatails
Grand Prize
Each Grand Prize Winner can elect to either: i) accept 1,000 Euros or equivalent in local currency as of date of award, or ii) designate to award 3,000 Euros or equivalent in local currency to one recognized charity or non-profit organization operating in the winner’s country on his / her behalf.
1st Prize
Up to five (5) Finalists per country will each receive a Flip Ultra Camcorder from Flip Video, a pocket-sized camcorder with one-touch recording and 2x digital zoom.
Prize Eligibility
Wales participó en la Academia de Wikipedia, organizada por sus representantes locales, la Asociación Wikimedia Argentina.
"Jimbo" explicó las razones del éxito de su creación: “La gente participa como un hobby y se divierte haciéndolo”, afirmó. Y destacó: “Que una comunidad se reúna para hacer algo útil es una idea interesante”. También adelantó lo que se viene: la competencia con Google.
Seguí leyendo sobre la visita de Jimmy Wales en el artículo que escribí para ElArgentino.com
Y en exclusiva para el blog, posteo un videíto que grabé y edité íntegramente desde mi N95 :)
Congratulations to Mali Bickley, Grade 5 teacher at W. H. Day Elementary School, Bradford, Ontario who wins over $10,000 in classroom technology and thanks for the mention of TakingITGlobal in your video! We are so thrilled that you are using TIGed.org in your classroom.
So. It’s over. It is really over; and there are no riots in the streets of Chicago and LA, no disappointed citizens packing their belongings together to leave this country for good, no thoughts of anger, of despair. No. Instead there is hope. A light at the end of a long and dark tunnel; after eight years of disappointments, of embarrassments, of failed policies, and of a divided country, there is suddenly a future again that people are willing to fight for, that they are excited to fight for.
It is amazing for me to think about the journey this country has traveled over the past two years. Since I moved to New York, and probably long before, no other topic has been discussed as much as the presidential election. What a long journey it must have been for Barack Obama. From campaigning for the first primaries, to his victory over Hillary Clinton and winning the Democratic Presidential Nomination, to this day of his election and his speech at Grant Park in Chicago tonight.
While I was watching the results come this evening, I couldn’t help but wonder what he must have felt during those last hours of this two year long process. Where was he? What was he doing? New Hampshire. Pennsylvania. Ohio! What went through his head when he saw these election results come in, like we did? Relief? Joy? Pride? Did he possibly even cry when the news channels announced him to be president-elect of the United States of America? All this stress and tension falling off him for a few moments and making room for emotions to take control. Even if just for a split second maybe?
I can only imagine his thoughts and his feelings in those moments. A whole country, the entire world is now looking up to this man. What a responsibility! And how courageous to take on such kind of responsibility, not to shy away from it. What kind of character does it take for someone to endure a two year long campaign, to be scrutinized by the media – every single sentence you say, to be followed wherever you go, and wherever you have gone in your past?
Being an aspiring leader myself, I look up to this man today and bow before him in awe and respect for what he has achieved. For making history. For bringing back hope to this country, and to the world. For standing firm in his beliefs against all odds. For showing strength, courage and fearlessness, when I know that no man or woman, facing the enormous challenges that he will face as the next President of the United States, no man or woman will not also at times feel week, dispirited and fearful during difficult times like these.
But today is not only the day of Barack Obama. Today is the day of the American people. In the past couple of years, Americans I met were embarrassed for their President Bush, for the politics of their country. They apologized for what their country has done to the world. But after eight long years, Americans can finally be proud again; proud to have now an incredibly intelligent, inspiring, and humble man as their leader. I am proud of Obama, and I am happy for all of my American friends who don’t need to feel ashamed anymore, but who can be proud, too. Proud of their new President, and proud of their country, which is no doubt capable of doing much good in this world.
Today, the United States has become a better place. Today, the world has become a better place.
Richard Stallman, fundador del movimiento de software libre, ofreció ayer una conferencia en la Cámara de Diputados de la Nación. Invitado por la Fundación Vía Libre, estuvo acompañado por legisladores que están trabajando en proyectos que regulan el uso de programas informáticos en el Estado.
Lo bueno de ser periodista es que pude estar entre los primeros en ingresar a la sala y acomodarme cerca de Stallman. Saqué un montón de fotos con mi flamante N95 y grabé un videíto que publico más abajo.
El auditorio estuvo compuesto predominantemente por gran cantidad de estudiantes universitarios y jóvenes interesados en la temática.
Stallman, notoriamente cansado, ofreció una disertación de más de dos horas, en un buen castellano y con un sorprendente sentido del humor, especialmente al referirse a Microsoft y al presidente estadounidense George W. Bush. Habló de libertades, desarrollo, economía y voto electrónico, entre otros temas.
Seguir leyendo mi artículo sobre la conferencia de Richard Stallman en ElArgentino.com
Mi videíto en el que Stallman hace una introducción al software libre:
Eu estava lendo um desses sites antenados com a Transformação do Planeta, a Mudança de Consciência da Humanidade, enfim sobre espiritualidade e achei uma mensagem que uma pessoa enviou para o site e as pessoas responsáveis por esse projeto resolveram destacar pois iria servir de exemplo para outras pessoas.
Eu realmente acho que faz o maior sentido, afinal tantos por aí andam vivendo como robôs, presos ao triste sistema, como escravos das mais diversas formas, doentes por isso e precisam se libertar!
Não deixem de ler e refletir, se você acredita ou não, isso não importa, leia com o coração aberto e veja se tem a ver com você ou com alguém ao seu redor! Vou colocar como aparece no site - "Uma Decisão Exemplar":
"Leia com atenção esta mensagem, que uma amiga nos enviou por e-mail. Talvez estas considerações ajudem o leitor a decidir que, para si, o «jogo» acabou.
Olá Amigos (apetece-me dizer assim), estão bons? Tenho andado meia desaparecida a "digerir" algumas coisitas minhas e, por isso, com alguns "problemas de saúde" que já passaram. Fiquei uns tempos sem Net e perdi alguns dos vossos trabalhos. Acabei de tomar uma decisão muito importante: vou deixar a escola depois de 28 anos. Vou puramente rescindir o contrato e vir embora sem nada, porque já não dá para ficar à espera do que quer que seja. Todos dizem que estou maluca, mas digo-vos que, neste momento e desde há algum tempo, que me sinto "uma mercenária": só lá estou pelo dinheiro que vem no fim do mês e isso não tem que ver com o que eu defendo e muito menos com o que eu sou. Por isso estou ainda a tratar dos papéis, essas burocracias...
Sinto que preciso, neste momento, de uma ajudinha vossa (pois sei que me entendem e não vão dizer, como os outros, que estou doida) e daí o quer fazer os vossos seminários rapidamente. É curioso - e não seria de esperar outra coisa – que, quando tomei a decisão, a saúde melhorou. Desde o verão que tenho andado doente com uma coisa ou outra. Mas agora estou tranquila, sabendo que, no momento certo, alguma porta se vai abrir. Qual? Não faço a mais pequena ideia. Também é curioso não ter nada à frente, pois também fechei o espaço de terapias há uns meses atrás.
É isto sinal de entrega? Não sei. Só sei que quero viver um dia de cada vez, aproveitando, aprendendo e ficando grata por tudo o que esse dia me der. Também sei que sou feliz no meio da natureza e que estou cada vez mais conectada com a Mãe Terra. "Disseram-me" para me manter assim, sem fazer projectos, nem tomar decisões (excepto as que têm que ver com a saída de escola), pois, na devida altura, tudo se há-de abrir. E cá estou, doida varrida, sem futuro nem expectativas, nem nada, mas, se calhar, perto do Tudo.
Peço desculpa de me ter entusiasmado com a conversa.
Um abraço de luz e Amor para os dois."
Publico este "paso a paso" de la manera en que publicamos los programas de nuestro programa de radio "Al Fondo Hay Lugar" porque varios amigos con programas quieren también tener algo como lo que tenemos nosotros y no saben bien cómo.
Por supuesto que debe haber maneras mejores... pero esta fue la que me dio mejores resultados. Si conocés otra forma, contalo en los comentarios!
Ir a www.archive.org y registrarse. En este sitio cargaremos el archivo de audio en formato mp3
Una vez registrados, nos logueamos con usuario y contraseña.
Clickeamos en el botón "upload"
Te pide poner un título del material que vas a subir. Poné el que te parezca.
En descripción, ídem anterior.
Cargar el archivo y esperar sin cerrar la ventana/pestaña del navegador.
En ese sitio vamos a referenciar el archivo de audio una vez que esté subido a archive.org y obtendremos dos reproductores: uno que irá conformando el archivo cronológico de programas y otro reproductor individual de cada programa.
Ingresás con tu flamante usuario y contraseña.
Vas a "create a new channel". En la nueva página dejás marcado "standard channel". Ponés la descripción del canal (sería la del programa) y en location elegís un nombre del canal tipo "alfondohaylugar". Marcás "I have read and agree to the terms of service" y le das al botón "create my channel".
clickeas "My channels" en la parte de abajo de la página, bajo el título "Publish"
Clickeas en el canal que acabás de crear
En post title, poné el nombre del programa seguido del número de edición y la fecha de emisión (o lo que quieras como título)
En descripción, ponés lo que quieras sobre ese programa que vas a publicar.
Clickeás: ADD AUDIO y donde dice Audio for iPods, iTunes, Feed
Players, PSP, some phones and more MP3 Url * ponés el link del audio que cargaste en archive.org.
Ojo,Archive te da varios links, tenés que usar el que está bajo el título:VBR MP3 cuyo link termina en .mp3
En is this a song, dejás marcado el NO
En audio title poné: título del programa y opcionalmente fecha y número de programa
En tags: ponés palabras claves relacionadas con tu programa, separadas por comas
En rights: dejás marcado "share it" (o el que quieras)
Le das a "publish".
En ese momento, vas a http://bigcontact.com/reemplazarpornombredetuprograma
Vas a ver el reproductor individual del programa. Clickeá el botón "share" que tiene
el reproductor hacia la punta derecha. Ahí, clickeá COPY TO CLIPBOARD
(clickeás y listo, no esperes que pase nada)
Ahora, tenés que ir al blog de tu programa.
En el blog en Blogger clickeás "nueva entrada"
En título ponés: lo que quieras de título del posteo
En el cuerpo del posteo: lo que quieras poner.
Clickeas la pestaña "Edición de HTML"
Pegás el código que habías copiado del reproductor de BigContact
Aqui está um resumo do pouco que encontrei e li até agora sobre Slow Life, um conceito de vida que tem o intuito de divulgar o "devagar", tudo que rema contra a maré, a Simplicidade. Eu realmente acredito que esse é o caminho, ou um dos caminhos, para uma humanidade diferente, unida e positiva.
Amor, trabalho, comida, relacionamentos, prazer...tudo lento. Que seja lento e intenso!
"Roma, 1986. A rede McDonald’s anuncia a abertura de uma loja perto de Piazza di Spagna. Em protesto, Carlo Petrini lidera um grupo de manifestantes que usam tigelas de penne como armas. Estava dado o primeiro passo para a fundação, pouco tempo depois, do Movimento Internacional Slow Food, contra as redes de fast food e a produção insustentável de alimentos. Comida rápida que custa caro à saúde, ao meio ambiente e à economia local.
Da Itália para o mundo foi um pulo. Não demorou muito para que os adeptos da comida lenta começassem a despontar nos quatro cantos do planeta, em 42 países. Mais ainda: a fama do manifesto deu nova dimensão ao movimento, com mais gente buscando desacelerar não só a alimentação, mas também os deslocamentos (mais caminhadas e menos carros), a produção de bens (consumir menos para preservar mais), as roupas, as casas e até a educação (mais atenção às vivências artísticas e saberes artesanais e menos foco nas conquistas acadêmicas).
Slow Life, em resumo, é isso. Desacelerar para se reconectar a si mesmo, às pessoas e ao lugar em que se vive. Talvez não exista nada mais contracultural hoje em dia do que desacelerar o passo. Sim, porque vivemos na era da velocidade, em que consumir a última geração de eletrônicos, a mais recente moda e a mais nova dieta para emagrecer é uma luta diária sem fim – e sem sentido.
Tudo parece mudar em segundos. O tempo escapa dos nossos dedos e deixa a respiração curta, ofegante. Isso lá é vida boa? Isso lá é “avanço”? Quanto, de fato, essas invenções do tipo mais-do-mesmo melhoraram nossas vidas? Temos mais tempo livre hoje? E o que fazemos com ele? Vamos às compras? Freqüentamos cursos de reciclagem para não perder o emprego?..."
( "Gaiatos e Gaianos" Por Giuliana Capello) http://planetasustentavel.abril.com.br/blog/gaiatos/109647_post.shtml
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"Não existem fórmulas ou receitas prontas. E simplificar não significa privar-se de coisas importantes. Mas fazer escolhas mais conscientes e criteriosas. Uma vida mais simples tende a ser mais prazerosa, plena, cheia de sentido. Leonardo da Vinci dizia que “a simplicidade é o mais alto grau da sofisticação”. Não tenho dúvida disso.
Tornar-se adepto da simplicidade voluntária requer clareza de intenções, desapego e não-violência. E não há nada mais ecológico hoje em dia do que buscar uma vida mais simples. Será que você precisa trocar de carro a cada dois anos? Comprar um celular a cada três meses? Estar na moda o ano inteiro? Almoçar e jantar comida industrializada a seemana inteira? Enfim, consumir sempre mais e mais e mais?...
...fiz uma listinha de atitudes simples que encontrei nesses sites:
NOTA PESSOAL: Preste atenção nessas Dicas:
- veja menos TV;
- cultive o silêncio e a solidão;
- aprenda a diferenciar as viagens significativas das desnecessárias;
- alimente-se mais lentamente e menos industrialmente;
- evite atendentes de telemarketing (essa é ótima!);
- durma até mais tarde às vezes e acorde cedo sempre que possível;
- cultive a arte, a música, a natureza e os amigos;
- compre pela utilidade e não por status;
- adote uma atividade física saudável, como caminhar, nadar e andar de bicicleta;
- reserve tempo para vizinhos, família e amigos;
- priorize a qualidade de vida sempre. "
In a day and age when most do not agree on anything, from east and west, to conservative and liberal politics, to issues of race and geography, and amongst differing religions and faiths, I believe, along with the founders of Global Dignity, that dignity is the one thing that everyone in the world wants equally. Dignity can be the unifying force that brings us all together at a time when the world needs this more than ever.
On Monday, October 20th 2008, I, in concert with the co-founders of Global Dignity (www.globaldignity.org), His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Professor Pekka Himanen and John Hope Bryant, and several other Young Global Leaders (as associated with the World Economic Forum) conducted our first ever GLOBAL DIGNITY DAY 2008 in 30 countries, inclusive of every continent.
In this blog, I am sharing an update on Global Dignity Day in Canada. I have taken part in other Dignity Day events including one in Vancouver and another in Jordan that involved Her Majesty Queen Rania in Jordan. I am pleased to report back on Global Dignity Day in Toronto, Canada on October 20th, 2008! We reached 40 grade 9 students (14 years old) in a Leadership Course at Greenwood College (http://www.greenwoodcollege.com/)
I had about an hour to deliver the course for each of the two classes. We kicked off with having the students write what Dignity means to them on a sheet of paper that I handed out, and then it led into a group discussion and a brief presentation on the Dignity Principles. I found that most of the initial definitions people wrote down on defining dignity related to self-respect. My co-facilitator was a grade 11 student (Celine Caira) from the school who helped me to prepare for the event. Celine shared a story about what dignity means to her based on a recent encounter with a 14 year old girl that she met in a recent trip to India with her family. I shared a few personal stories and gave context on the work of TakingITGlobal.org and how we are growing a global community of youth making a difference. I connected the mandate of our website to the dignity principles. In helping the students further understand the meaning of dignity, I asked them to share their own examples of increasing or even decreasing the dignity of others. They were able to generate many strong examples of what dignity is NOT - which actually transformed the energy in the room to be more supportive (for example after talking about the negative impact of making fun of someone for who they are).
As a process note, it was very helpful to have the students read each of the dignity principles out loud and talk about what that particular principle means to them. There were certain words that they did not understand - such as interdependent - so I took time to explain the meaning behind the word.
The bulk of the interactive time was when I had the students break out into groups of 4-5 and develop their own ABC’s of Dignity. They had about 6-7 minutes and I was amazed to see how our their depth of understanding about dignity had significantly increased since I first entered the class. At first, in doing the ABCs, we started out as a full class discussion, but I quickly realized that it would be better to have them work in teams - and this was a very smart decision. Each of the group then had a representative read out their ABCs of Dignity to the class and they were all eager to hear about the different impressions and interpretations.
At the end of the class, I unveiled the ‘Dignity Flag’ which I prepared (a huge canvas with bright colours) with Celine and Caitlin (another student) prior to Dignity Day. The Flag stated ‘We Pledge to DIGNITY’ and the students were invited to put their name on the flag, along with a word that relates to dignity starting with the first letter of their name (i.e. Jennifer - Justice). They were eager to make their pledge and I noted that many of the words were difficult for the students to spell (which could lead to future vocabulary activities in their studies). The Dignity Flag is now being hung in the school and I am hoping that at the next school wide assembly, it will be shared by some student representatives with the entire school!
Thanks for the opportunity to work together!
Special appreciation goes out to Kim Samuel-Johnson who is part of the World Economic Forum community and was a former Global Leader for Tomorrow. Kim helped bridge the connection with Greenwood College and hosted the Dignity Day planning meetings. I would also like to thank Caitlin Samuel-Johnson and Celine Caira, who are the Grade 11 students that helped me in preparing for Dignity Day. Here is our team photo taken at one of our planning sessions! Also, closing reflection from Celine, “Seeing the way Greenwood students responded to Dignity Day gives me hope that one day we will live peacefully with global dignity”.
