Net Impact

I've been busy helping to plan the first Net Impact Europe Conference that the program is hosting with INSEAD and Nottingham Business School June 12-14th. It's going to be a great event for those interested in creating positive social, environmental and economic impact through business.

We'll have keynotes from Mel Young, President of Homeless World Cup and Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, as well as a keynote panel featuring CSR leaders from Toyota and KPMG. Their are over 20 panels on CSR and sustainable development with featured speakers like Simon Zadek, Chief Executive of AccountAbility, and Tamsin Smith, President of (PRODUCT) Red.

So come visit Geneva June 12-14th - you can check out the conference AND the Euro 2008 Cup. Woohoo.

Pangea Perspectives

Saturday we celebrated Pangea Day along with thousands of others around the world. It was 4 hours of film broadcasted via satellite, internet and mobile phones - with the intention of seeing the world from another person's viewpoint. It all came together thanks to a filmmaker with a little wish and a little grant from TED. Watch some excerpts if you get a chance. It's like when "We are the World" came out but way better. I joke (mainly because of the dramatic drum circle at the end), but in all seriousness there are some very moving and inspirational perspectives as well as some lighthearted laughs. In particular, for the DC crowd riding the metro everyday, check out this little number. I hope it takes off and becomes an annual event. Enjoy the perspective.

A strange little land

Back in the fall, elections were held in Switzerland and news was made with an ad campaign involving a little black sheep. Look closely below and you will see the little guy is getting kicked out of the land of cheese and chocolates. It doesn't take a translation to get the gist, but it says "to create security."



In recent weeks, a new version has appeared - perhaps a little more subtle, but still quite offensive. It's as if those hands are reaching into a candy jar of Swiss ID cards and are about to be slapped by the candy monitor. I have spotted at least 5 of these billboards in the area -- just blocks from the UN and what is suppose to be the heart of peace, neutrality and tolerance...Interesting.