One of the key tenets behind my quest to change the world is this: help people connect to each other and in so doing create a web of instant awareness … almost like a nerve that runs across the entire world. When even a tiny pin touches the nerve anywhere in the world, the collective human concience can feel it immediately. My quest is focused on ingraining that mentality as kids grow up and hopefully make this second nature to a new generation. Is it conceivable that such an indirect quest could change the world? I don’t know … at least it can change the world for some people and each of those individuals can virally impact others which could lead to a tipping point.
There are many other indirect methods that are focused simply on awareness using media. One was Pangea Day last may (http://www.pangeaday.org/ ). It focused on film as a method to help people realize we are all the same and hopefully drive us towards empathy. That event changed me and caused me to rethink my entrepreneurial mission. Another was a initiative that involved Peter Gabriel and was focused on getting cameras into the hands of people in areas where major atrocities were taking place so that the reality of the situation could be shared with the world (see video below).
This leads me to the last major initiative focused on photography. James Nachtwey, a photographer, made a TED wish during his presentation in 2007. He wanted assistance to help him use photography in order to create awareness on a global scale . This culminated in a worldwide event taking place across the world that includes showing a series of photographs on large screens in major cities across the world (including Toronto). The website will be launched on October 3rd and we’ll know more. In the meantime, check out the videos below on James Nachtwey. Please let me know what you think can change the world and point me and readers of this blog to major initiatives under way.
Kids Can Change the World 