"I love that you've brought this to attention. An extensive database of uncommon but resistant and hardy plants/foods could be developed and organized by climate. Ease of growth and processing should also be taken in to account. I will try to…"
A crash course in changing the world.
LEARN 1: A Walk In Your Shoes.
"Problems are not always obvious from afar (You really have to live for
a while in a society where no one has currency larger than a $1 bill to
understand the importance of money via mobile phones.)"
You never really know what someone's life is like until you have
experienced it for yourself. As Americans, most of us have grown up with our basic needs met along with thousands of luxuries that make our lives easier. Since we are raised with objects such as microwaves, washer/dryer, dishwasher, indoor plumbing, air conditioning, etc; we take these things for granted. Until we get older we never learn about "Third World Countries" where people can go all their lives without ever owning or even using one of these items.
I think the people in our country are extremely spoiled. We sit here and spend billions of dollars downloading mp3s or movies and going out to eat or buying other frivolous things while human beings in another country are starving and dying of diseases that could have been prevented. Its not until there is a natural disaster where thousands of lives are lost at once will people offer aid to these countries in need. What about the hundreds of thousands of people dying everyday from preventable or treatable diseases such as AIDS and Malaria?
I can't say that I am innocent in this game of selfishness. I constantly make use of technology to make my life easier. Although I have come to realize that compared to developing countries, my life was never hard. I've finally come to the realization that I need to stop this game of selfishness and begin a new game of selflessness. One person can make a difference in the world. Take Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela. Maybe EVOKE will help at least one person rise up and make a difference in the world and earn their own spot in history books.
--Brandon
a while in a society where no one has currency larger than a $1 bill to
understand the importance of money via mobile phones.)"
You never really know what someone's life is like until you have
experienced it for yourself. As Americans, most of us have grown up with our basic needs met along with thousands of luxuries that make our lives easier. Since we are raised with objects such as microwaves, washer/dryer, dishwasher, indoor plumbing, air conditioning, etc; we take these things for granted. Until we get older we never learn about "Third World Countries" where people can go all their lives without ever owning or even using one of these items.
I think the people in our country are extremely spoiled. We sit here and spend billions of dollars downloading mp3s or movies and going out to eat or buying other frivolous things while human beings in another country are starving and dying of diseases that could have been prevented. Its not until there is a natural disaster where thousands of lives are lost at once will people offer aid to these countries in need. What about the hundreds of thousands of people dying everyday from preventable or treatable diseases such as AIDS and Malaria?
I can't say that I am innocent in this game of selfishness. I constantly make use of technology to make my life easier. Although I have come to realize that compared to developing countries, my life was never hard. I've finally come to the realization that I need to stop this game of selfishness and begin a new game of selflessness. One person can make a difference in the world. Take Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela. Maybe EVOKE will help at least one person rise up and make a difference in the world and earn their own spot in history books.
--Brandon
Views: 21
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Comment by Yemisi Ajumobi on March 3, 2010 at 9:25am
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Wow, great post Brandon! I must admit that it takes a lot of courage to actually realize these issues you've raised and to face the challenge of a living a new life of selflessness. I hope that the EVOKE adventure would empower many of us with the ability to positively impact the world we live in. Here's +1 power vote for courage.
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Comment by Gene Becker on March 3, 2010 at 9:27am
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Well said, Brandon. Personal transformation happens one step at a time, glad you are here taking the next step with us.
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Comment by Brandon Spearman on March 3, 2010 at 9:29am
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Thanks Yemisi! I think EVOKE is an amazing game since it inspires us to actually get out into the world and make a difference. Hopefully EVOKE and my blog post can get more people to take action.
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Thanks Gene. I think EVOKE will be the one thing that can get people, especially youth, to realize we can make a difference in the world. We just need to find out how to start.
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Comment by Lauren Soffer on March 3, 2010 at 9:36am
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I also gave you a +1 courage for you honesty and willingness to look at some difficult issues. Well done and welcome to the EVOKE network!
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Thanks Lauren!
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Comment by Simon Brookes on March 3, 2010 at 2:19pm
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Yes a great post Brandon. The first step on a journey to make great things happen is often this period of self reflection, followed by the swift reality check, followed by action. Your reflection on your life and the realisation of how lucky you are should give you the energy and drive to start to think about how you might make positive changes to help other people less fortunate than yourself.
You might consider your "American" life in a more positive light though. For example just think of all of that technology you (and I) are lucky enough to surround ourselves with - the computers, the internet, the mobile phones, TV, MP3 players etc. Today, all over the world, many people in developing nations are also benefiting from these technological innovations.
Have a look at this amazing TED talk from a guy called Hans Rosling who shows how the rate of development in poor nations has been accelerated due to globalisation and the proliferation of "western" technologies (health, agriculture, manufacture, education etc).
http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_reveals_new_insights_on_pover...
Technology is helping people in developing countries in other ways. Have you heard of the amazing example of the Grameen Phone? You can listen to Iqbal Quadir, who set it up, here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/iqbal_quadir_says_mobiles_fight_poverty.html
Over the coming weeks maybe you can think of innovative ways in which you might use your experience and knowledge to "transplant" some of these technologies into areas which will benefit the lives of those who have non.
A fabulous start - thanks for inspiring me!
Simon
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Comment by Robert Hawkins on March 3, 2010 at 2:43pm
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Great self -reflection. Understanding yourself, what movitvates you and what your heart is telling you to do....listening is an incredible first step.
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Comment by Greg Stevenson on March 4, 2010 at 2:39am
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I'm not a religious person so I relate walking in anothers shoes as a secular derivation of the Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself". i.e. When making a decision of what action to take you imagine yourself to be in the shoes of the people your decision effects.
If you haven't already have a look at the charter for compassion
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Thanks Greg. I looked into the Charter for Compassion and it seems like a great campaign. I'm also not a religious person but I think people should use whatever motivates them to get them out and helping others. Learn what the people you are trying to help REALLY need instead of forcing new technologies on them that they can't afford or desire.
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