dispatches from the new world of work

Pop!Tech 2005

Just got back from my first Pop!Tech Conference in Camden, Maine. And still feel overwhelmed by what I encountered. The reason for the event is to explore how new ideas and new technologies can make a better future for all the citizens of Planet Earth. And while I'm not going to try to review all of the speakers, I might blog occasionally about those I thought were particularly powerful. Also, you can go here to check out what other bloggers are saying about the conference.

In a section of the conference called "Big Fixes" Cameron Sinclair, a Scottish architect spoke about Architecture for Humanity, a non-profit organization he founded that promotes architecture and design solutions to humanitarian crises around the world. Powerful speaker, and unlike a number of the speakers before him, he had really good slides. But we don't have access to them. One thing I'm going to suggest is that speakers' slides be made available to the audience. (Hey! That's what we do here at tp.com, right?) The current project he spoke about is the Siyathemba Soccer Club project.

The challenge is to create the "perfect pitch," a soccer field/outreach center for the youth of Somkhele, South Africa, who are three times more likely to become HIV positive than youth in other parts of the world. The field will be home to the area's first girls' football league.

Talk about passion. The way this guy talks about the projects they're doing around the world makes you want to drop everything you're doing to volunteer to work on one of these life-saving projects.

Erik Hansen posted this on 10/24/05.

Comments

Sounds fascinating Erik - isn't it just wonderful how some people's passion can motivate us to get that mind set to want to throw in everything we are currently doing to take up the cause? That is not about 'blindly' following in my opinion - it is motivated by genuine desire to make a difference to our world and our fellow human beings. I visited South Africa two years ago and it was an awesome education. They are really trying to get education into schools about HIV. I can understand your thoughts of wishing to get involved in helping. These examples are where we find true leaders.

Posted by Trevor Gay at October 25, 2005 2:59 AM

From Core 77 comes this blurb: "Ivan Marovic on overthrowing governments using video games and coherent design language." That sounds interesting. Nerve-controlled bionic limbs, the Saturn fly-by, Chinese censorship, and revolution through video games. Cool stuff, that.

Posted by Mike at October 25, 2005 6:29 AM

Cameron Sinclair was recently named as one of the three winners of the TEDPrize in which three visionaries are granted a wish ($100,000) to change the world: http://www.ted.com/tedprize/index.cfm?flashEnabled=1

Posted by Jeffrey at October 25, 2005 6:52 AM

"People - we must totally abstain and get this under control..." - Kenya president Kabaki on their HIV/AIDS epidemic - rather than a vision need - a need to change African culture. Mother nature 1st, new tech 2nd re: STDs.

Posted by Sean at October 25, 2005 7:56 AM

Sean, check out my new Comment on Charleston Redux, a 10.14 post. I think you'll be amused.

Posted by tom peters at October 25, 2005 8:30 AM