News and Views - Related Items
Every day, only about six people get to see the broad spectrum of human and other physical connections across our planet from a unique viewpoint: the International Space Station. As they orbit the earth every 90 minutes, they get to watch evolving weather systems, document humans actively changing the planet's surface, and to observe that the Earth is one system. As big as all of us think it is, the view from space shows us how interconnected all of us really are.
From the good folks at UEnd.org comes a revitalized site and focus on helping to end extreme poverty. Started in Calgary, their presence is Canada-wide (and more), and their efforts are based around taking just 5% of our gift-giving dollars and devoting that to helping end extreme poverty wherever it happens. And here we thought we had a lofty objective!
They've got hearts like lions, and the talented team to match their passion for taking on big issues. From founder Jay Baydala (see his TEDxCalgary talk here) to their cross-sectoral board of directors, they're making things happen. Drop in for a visit, and consider them the next time you're looking to buy something for that hard to buy for person in your life... or just everyone in your life!
Sadly, we join the global community in mourning the passing of Ray Anderson, a true societal leader.
As head of Interface Inc., Anderson became an unlikely but powerful champion of corporate environmental responsibility and sustainability, speaking out about the way business must operate if we are to rebuild and maintain a balance with our natural systems. As an exemplary societal leader, he championed the cause of sustainability in the face of ridicule and scorn from other corporate leaders, and at personal expense.
The world needs more corporate leaders to follow his example. Read the full tribute at WorldWatch...
From the recent TEDGlobal 2011 event comes this talk by author and consultant Julian Treasure, on how we're losing our ability to listen to one another, and what we can do to change the trend...
From the 2011 TEDxCalgary event comes this lively and far-reaching talk by Satya Das, an Alberta-based journalist and policy analyst. It is a passionate plea for many of the perspectives behind societal leadership, most particularly that Canada (and Alberta within it) has a moral and ethical responsibility to the world given our wealth of natural resources, including oil.
Instead of simply spending that wealth with little societal gain, Das calls for us to look at the resource differently, and to use it to help make Canada and Alberta the best FOR the world, not just within it. The talk also looks at what is wrong with today's empty consumer society. It's not a new phenomenon, and he talks about several ways we can individually and collectively do something about it.
The LeadWell Foundation is pleased to be an active sponsor and promoter of TEDxCalgary, and assisted the 2011 event by acting as event secretariat.
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