TED Talks: Rich, poor and the $100 laptop

Paul Collier: 4 ways to improve the lives of the "bottom billion" Around the world right now, one billion people live in poverty because of a simple piece of bad luck: they were born in a poor or failing country. What can be done? Economist Paul Collier lays out a bold, compassionate plan for closing the gap between rich and poor -- and makes the case that we must. Watch this talk >>   Seyi Oyesola: Rich hospital, poor hospital Dr. Seyi Oyesola takes a searing look at health care in underdeveloped countries. His photo tour of a Nigerian teaching hospital -- all low-tech hacks and donated supplies -- drives home the challenge of doing basic health care in poor countries. Watch this talk >>   Arthur Ganson: Sculpture that's truly moving Sculptor and engineer Arthur Ganson talks about his work -- kinetic art that explores deep philosophical ideas and is also gee-whiz fun to look at. A fascinating glimpse into the creative mind. Watch this talk >>   Yves Behar: Designing objects that tell stories Designer Yves Behar digs up his creative roots to discuss some of the iconic objects he's created (the Leaf lamp, the Jawbone headset). Then he turns to the witty, surprising, elegant objects he's working on now -- including the "$100 laptop." Watch this talk >>   Robert Ballard: Exploring the ocean's hidden worlds Ocean explorer Robert Ballard takes us on a mindbending trip to hidden worlds underwater, where he and other researchers are finding unexpected life, resources, even new mountains. He makes a case for serious exploration and mapping. Google Ocean, anyone? Watch this talk >>

TiE-ISB Connect 2008 Business Plan Showcase

The Wadhwani Centre of Entrepreneurial Development (WCED) at the Indian School of Business is pleased to invite you to the India’s largest networking event TiE-ISB Connect 2008 Business Plan Showcase.

The purpose of TiE-ISB Connect is to bring together all the elements necessary for real venture creation. TiE-ISB Connect 2008
• Provides a platform, together with important tools, resources and networking opportunities, to assist all aspiring entrepreneurs, in taking their first steps on their entrepreneurial journey
• Facilitates the creation of new ventures with potential for high growth and a global mindset
• Generates a positive economic impact by encouraging and nurturing high potential entrepreneurship together with a vibrant private equity market.

The Tie-ISB Connect 2008 is organized by the Indian School of Business in partnership with TiE Hyderabad Chapter. Each year, entrant teams from around the country present their plans to the potential investors to get their advice, support and professional feedback on their ventures. All competing teams must fall into one the categories.

Bright Ideas : For those bright ideas which are waiting to take off
Cool Start Ups : For startups that need a boost

Calendar for TiE-ISB Connect2008
Jun 15, 2008 Executive summaries due
Aug, Oct 2008 Workshops & mentoring Sessions
Oct 15, 2008 Business plans due from selected Teams
Nov 5 , 2008 TiE-ISB Connect 2008 Business Plan Presentations

For Registrations & Submission Guidelines, please visit www.tie-isbconnect.com, or contact us at tie_isbconnect08@isb.edu or 040-23187125. Please note that the Executive Summaries are due by June 15, 2008.

The Praxis Workshop 2008

On behalf of Praxis, we invite you to attend TheWorkshop'08 - the 12th international commune on participatory development.

This year the event will be be held in Thrissur, Kerala (India) in August, 2008.

 

Ours is a self funded, not for profit organisation that undertakes research, social development consultancies and training for NGOs, INGOs, governments and funding agencies across the world, besides engaging in several internal initiatives to promote participation in all forms of human development.

 

TheWorkshop is one such event. It provides a forum for development workers from across the world to come together to share information and experiences and also keep abreast of the latest in the field of participatory development. In the eleven years of its existence, 1100 participants from 30 countries have by their own admission, benefitted from this event and gone back better equipped to handle their work. We are sure you will too.

We have attached a detailed brochure for your perusal. If there is any other information that you need, please visit our website (www.theworkshop.in) or email us at info@theworkshop.in

We look forward to having you with us.

Regards,

Raffaella and Sowmyaa
TheWorkshop'08 Coordination Team

 

Praxis Institute for Participatory Practices
C-75 NDSE Part 2
New Delhi 110049
Ph: +91(0)1141642348/49/50/51
Email: info@theworkshop.in

Website: www.theworkshop.in

 

OLPC XO Laptop 2.0 has Dual Touchscreens and Looks Amazing

Just a few months after shipping the first laptops, the One Laptop Per Child project (OLPC) is getting ready for round two. Chairman Nicholas Negroponte just unveiled the second generation laptop, going by the name XO-2 or XOXO. Due in 2010, they're aiming for $75 and one-watt power consumption laptop.

The new generation is roughly half the size of the current version (or rather: the whole new machine seems to fit into the foldout screen of XO-1), and it features a dual touchscreen. Basically, it just consists of a dual touchscreen. So it's a premium e-book, or a dual Pong screen, or half keyboard, half screen. Either way, it looks like the future is now. Think Minority Report meets International Aid.

Negroponte ended his speech by announcing that the Give 1, Get 1 program, which allows consumers to give one laptop to a child in the developing world and get a low-cost laptop for themselves, will start up again in August or September 2008.

Gizmodo has a picture gallery and video. More coverage available directly from OLPC.

Ref: The Waving Cat

Skoll Foundation: Uncommon Heroes

These Uncommon Heroes films are premiered each year at the Skoll World Forum in Oxford as part of our annual award ceremony. They are distributed via Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/skollfoundation

The purpose of these films is to provide a practical tool for social entrepreneurs, offer compelling examples of social entrepreneurship for the field and inspire others with stories of how one person can change the world at scale.

Amitabha Sadangi, an uncommon hero tackling poverty in India

Microsoft Joins One Laptop per Child

The nonprofit organization's alliance with Microsoft will bring Windows XP to the poorest children, and could give OLPC a much-needed boost

Just four months after a messy breakup with tech giant Intel, the One Laptop per Child organization on May 15 announced an alliance with another tech behemoth—Microsoft. The two will make Microsoft's Windows XP operating system available on OLPC's XO laptop, which was designed to help educate the world's poorest children.

The tieup was no surprise. OLPC has long talked about putting a Microsoft operating system on its little green-and-white machine. With Microsoft on board, tens of thousands of educational software applications designed to run on Windows can now be used on the XO, making it more useful in schools and acceptable to government ministries. "This will have a huge impact on the psychology of OLPC. It brings us more into the mainstream of people's minds," says Nicholas Negroponte, OLPC's founder and chairman.

Microsoft says it got involved in the project partly at the urging of education officials in several countries. "A lot of people would like to see Windows running on that cute little green-and-white laptop," says James Utzschneider, general manager of marketing at the Microsoft division that promotes affordable computing in developing nations. He listed Egypt, Guatemala, Romania, and Russia.

Ref: Businessweek

CNN's "Be The Change" Program

CNN has equipped a group of volunteers with cameras, laptops and a brand new Web site. They will blog and post videos of their lives and new jobs as they fan out across three continents for the next 12 months.



The participants in this ground-breaking program come from different backgrounds (India, Tanzania, Combodia, Ghana, South Africa, and Thailand), but hold common values, beliefs and goals. They all want to effect change in our world by helping others.

Check out CNN's Be the Change Website and thier Video Archive.

Ashoka's Human Trafficking & Modern Day Slavery Competition

I got this through a friend Gargi working with Ashoka. The competetion is open to all. Last Date: 18th June'08

Any queries can be emailed to Gargi Saha - gsaha[at]ashoka.org



Ashoka's Changemakers and Humanity United are launching a global online competition to identify innovative approaches to exposing, confronting and ending modern-day slavery. "Ending Global Slavery: Everyday Heroes Leading the Way" aims to find holistic solutions to modern-day slavery by recognizing individuals and organizations that raise awareness of the issue's root causes, liberate those in bonded labor, and reintegrate former slaves into their communities.

The "Ending Global Slavery" competition will award $5000 for the three most innovative approaches to exposing, confronting and ending modern-day slavery around the world. A "Change Summit" will be hosted for all of the finalists. Through the competition you will have the opportunity to profile you work to a broader audience, our panel of judges, our marketing partners and potential investors.

The competition is open until June 18th. We would love to have you involved! Please go to http://www.changemakers.net to create a profile and enter the competition.

Youth Venture "Action Kit" for Social Entrepreneurs

Check out an amazing "Action Kit" for Social Entrepreneurs on the Youth Venture website. Divided into sections like Dream-It, Do-It and Grow-It, the kit discusses some of the most intriguing issues faced by Social Entrepreneurs these days.

1) Dream It - Learn how to find an idea for a Venture, form a team, complete an action plan, and succeed in the selection panel process.

2) Do It - Find info on how to successfully launch a Youth Venture.

3) Grow It - Explore how to make your Venture succeed in the long-run.

Jim Schorr Interview on Juma Ventures

As part of the Ashoka-Berkeley Social Entrepreneurship Digital Library Project, Annie Yeh interviews Jim Schorr, Executive Director of Juma Ventures.
Juma Ventures is an innovative nonprofit organization that has developed a unique and highly effective approach to youth development: Juma develops and operates businesses – known as “social enterprises” – for the purpose of providing job opportunities to economically disadvantaged teens. “Juma” translates to “work” in Swahili.

May 10th Pangea Day: Can Your Film Change the World?

Pangea Day is a global event bringing the world together through film.

In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common. Pangea Day seeks to overcome that — to help people see themselves in others — through the power of film.

On May 10, 2008 — Pangea Day — sites in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked live to produce a program of powerful films, visionary speakers, and uplifting music.

Check this introductory video about Pangea day here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl3xHIsvF9o 

and as part of the promotions some filmmakers around the world have filmed people from different countries to sing national anthem of another nation.

Kenya sings India's National anthem: http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=uAWarHi0OgE

Pangea Day is being celebrated at Thoughtworks office in Bangalore.

• Its a 4 hour event.
• 24 films will be screened.
• It starts at 11.30 PM IST and lasts till 3.30 AM IST.

Location:
ThoughtWorks Technologies (India) Pvt Ltd.
2nd Floor, Tower C, Corporate Block, Diamond District view map
Airport Road, Bangalore - 560 008, India
t: +91 80 2508 9572
f: +91 80 2508 9584

Thanks to Praneet for forwarding this.

If You Think ...

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The Story of Stuff

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns.

The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. See it here.

Local Indian Innovations - Discovery Channel Video

More on Intrapreneurship

In continuation to my earlier post on Social Intrapreneurs, I suggest to go through these really nice posts on Intrapreneurship:

1) The Art of Intrapreneurship - by Guy Kawasaki

2) Intrapreneur or Entrepreneur? Should I Stay or Should I Go? - by Andrew J. Birol

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