It is an oft overlooked fact, but in today's world it can be so easy to forget about the importance of eating well.
Our generation has inherited a highly disfunctional food system, and along with it, poor diet and a global epidemic of diet-related diseases which has led to 43 million children under the age of 5 being overweight, while millions of others around the world go hungry. There is more than enough food to feed our entire global population, but inequal distrobution in our food systems results in a great divide between those who have enough to eat and those who do not.
We have the opportunity to change this system; creating sustained change is not easy, we need a revolution in the way we think about food in order to empower individuals to understand how food contributes to global challenges like obesity, povery, sustainability and human rights.
Starting with Education to better understand all of the ways food has an impact on us and our world is an important first step towards unleashing the change we wish to see.
It is an oft overlooked fact, but in today's world it can be so easy to forget about the importance of eating well.
Our generation has inherited a highly disfunctional food system, and along with it, poor diet and a global epidemic of diet-related diseases which has led to 43 million children under the age of 5 being overweight, while millions of other around the world go hungry. There is more than enough food to feed our entire global population, but inequal distrobution in our food systems results in a great divide between those who have enough to eat and those who do not.
We have the opportunity to change this system; creating sustained change is not easy, we need a revolution in the way we think about food in order to empower individuals to understand how food contributes to global challenges like obesity, povery, sustainability and human rights.
Starting with Education to better understand all of the ways food has an impact on us and our world is an important first step towards unleashing the change we wish to see.
- Quando a tal Transamazônica chegou arrasando qualquer que fosse o impedimento para sua realização existiam 600 Índios Kreen, depois de pronta, com a violência que é natural aos que mandam executar, sobraram mais ou menos 80. E esses foram levados ao Parque Indígena do Xingu.
- Jânio dizendo à Orlando Villas Bôas que era melhor o parque se chamar Parque Nacional do Xingu, e não Parque Indígena do Xingu, pois nas palavras dele "brasileiro não gosta de Índio". É tão decadente, deprimente, que na mente de muitos seja assim! É de sentir uma vergonha tão horrorosa do homem branco (brasileiro, nesse caso) esse homem que admira e recebe com tantas honras gente estrangeira que chega a ser de um ridículo sem tamanho, antes de reconhecer, valorizar e aplaudir gente que nos defende, que olha por nós, que trabalha com amor por seu local de origem.
- Claudio Villas Bôas ao não querer salvar os Índios Kreen, depois de ajudar tantos de forma apaixonada, porque "Alguma coisa morre para sempre neles assim que a gente encosta", sobre esse povo intocado na época.
Ele tirou Índios que estavam sendo usados da pior forma no Garimpo, no esquema patrão - empregado, e disse: "A gente salva quem já se perdeu!"Mas mesmo assim continuou sua linda luta por eles.
Os detalhes, a riqueza da cultura do Índio, deveriam ser Exemplo a ser seguido pelo homem branco!!
"A agonia dos índios é um 'aviso', anunciando que a sociedade envolvente está podre, na iminência de falir, do ponto de vista ecológico e sociopolítico". José Ribamar Bessa Freire, coordenador do Programa de Estudos dos Povos Indígenas (UERJ) e pesquisa no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Memória Social (UNIRIO)
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been working hard with our friends at Microsoft to prepare for the launch of an exciting new program: Innovate4Good@Microsoft. TakingITGlobal is honoured to have been chosen as the online community partner, building an online community to engage young people around the world in programs and opportunities that support their natural passion for innovation, connecting them to opportunities to realize their potential. We’ll be working to build connections between the TIG and Innovate4Good online community – sharing relevant programs and opportunities in both directions.
The program is kicking off with a series of events Microsoft is holding across the globe, bringing together young people who have been touched by the many programs Microsoft has supported through its Corporate Citizenship focus on Opportunity for Youth. Just last week, Microsoft and the International Youth Foundation released a report framing the global opportunity gap - which provides insightful context on the urgency of the need to invest in youth.
The first event was in Seattle this past Saturday, and brought together nearly 100 young people from across the United States at Microsoft’s campus. Our team arrived last Friday to put the finishing touches on the Innovate4Good@Microsoft online community, and to prepare for Saturday’s event. On Friday night, there was a reception at the Microsoft Store, where the enthusiastic staff provided a comprehensive showcase of a variety of technology scenarios – from a Windows 8 and Microsoft Surface demo, to a look at several productivity products, like the Neatreceipts scanner and an amazing digital pen, which more than one attendee bought to take home with them.
Our team pulled up to the venue on Saturday just as one of Seattle’s most famous donut trucks was setting up – providing a real treat for attendees who would be arriving shortly. We setup a counter of PCs, where we helped each attendee register for the online community after their registration – and were relieved after our hard work on the site that everything ran smoothly. The attendees provided some great feedback and were quite excited to use the community to follow the activities of future events and stay connected to opportunities for engagement from Microsoft.
The event itself was masterfully facilitated by our friend Allan Gunn (aka “Gunner”) who we’ve had the pleasure of working with in the past at the World Summit on the Information Society. Any “ice” between participants was quickly broken with a fun activity, physically reflecting on perspectives on different issues – from juvenile detention to Internet as a human right.
Then the serious work began – brainstorming issues that participants wanted to solve, and clustering them together. Here are some highlights of the diverse challenges to be tackled:
Before breaking into groups to expand on the ideas, a variety of Microsoft teams hosted a “speed geek” session, showcasing their products and programs: Imagine Cup, MS Research, Kinect for Windows, Windows Phone, Windows 8, Skype, and a new art software preview. Lots of fun! Windows 8 looks pretty cool – especially on some of the powerful new slates (tablets with laptop-like power)
After we all geeked out, a number of participants agreed to act as facilitators, and groups emerged to flesh out potential approaches to addressing the different problems. The day ended with an inspiring go-round of the groups, hearing the amazing ideas that had emerged in just over an hour of work together. Everyone headed down to the Microsoft visitor centre where Kinect Darts and Microsoft Surface Checkers were being enjoyed – with some great music from a local DJ to celebrate a packed day.
We’re excited about supporting the development of this program with Microsoft over the coming weeks, months, and years. Next weekend the event comes to Cairo, followed by other cities including Singapore, Brussels, Mexico City and Beijing. If you’re in Singapore and interested in attending, applications are open!
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been working hard with our friends at Microsoft to prepare for the launch of an exciting new program: Innovate4Good@Microsoft. TakingITGlobal is honoured to have been chosen as the online community partner, building an online community to engage young people around the world in programs and opportunities that support their natural passion for innovation, connecting them to opportunities to realize their potential. We’ll be working to build connections between the TIG and Innovate4Good online community – sharing relevant programs and opportunities in both directions.
The program is kicking off with a series of events Microsoft is holding across the globe, bringing together young people who have been touched by the many programs Microsoft has supported through its Corporate Citizenship focus on Opportunity for Youth. Just last week, Microsoft and the International Youth Foundation released a report framing the global opportunity gap - which provides insightful context on the urgency of the need to invest in youth.
The first event was in Seattle this past Saturday, and brought together nearly 100 young people from across the United States at Microsoft’s campus. Our team arrived last Friday to put the finishing touches on the Innovate4Good@Microsoft online community, and to prepare for Saturday’s event. On Friday night, there was a reception at the Microsoft Store, where the enthusiastic staff provided a comprehensive showcase of a variety of technology scenarios – from a Windows 8 and Microsoft Surface demo, to a look at several productivity products, like the Neatreceipts scanner and an amazing digital pen, which more than one attendee bought to take home with them.
Our team pulled up to the venue on Saturday just as one of Seattle’s most famous donut trucks was setting up – providing a real treat for attendees who would be arriving shortly. We setup a counter of PCs, where we helped each attendee register for the online community after their registration – and were relieved after our hard work on the site that everything ran smoothly. The attendees provided some great feedback and were quite excited to use the community to follow the activities of future events and stay connected to opportunities for engagement from Microsoft.
The event itself was masterfully facilitated by our friend Allan Gunn (aka “Gunner”) who we’ve had the pleasure of working with in the past at the World Summit on the Information Society. Any “ice” between participants was quickly broken with a fun activity, physically reflecting on perspectives on different issues – from juvenile detention to Internet as a human right.
Then the serious work began – brainstorming issues that participants wanted to solve, and clustering them together. Here are some highlights of the diverse challenges to be tackled:
Before breaking into groups to expand on the ideas, a variety of Microsoft teams hosted a “speed geek” session, showcasing their products and programs: Imagine Cup, MS Research, Kinect for Windows, Windows Phone, Windows 8, Skype, and a new art software preview. Lots of fun! Windows 8 looks pretty cool – especially on some of the powerful new slates (tablets with laptop-like power)
After we all geeked out, a number of participants agreed to act as facilitators, and groups emerged to flesh out potential approaches to addressing the different problems. The day ended with an inspiring go-round of the groups, hearing the amazing ideas that had emerged in just over an hour of work together. Everyone headed down to the Microsoft visitor centre where Kinect Darts and Microsoft Surface Checkers were being enjoyed – with some great music from a local DJ to celebrate a packed day.
We’re excited about supporting the development of this program with Microsoft over the coming weeks, months, and years. Next weekend the event comes to Cairo, followed by other cities including Singapore, Brussels, Mexico City and Beijing. If you’re in Singapore and interested in attending, applications are open!
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been working hard with our friends at Microsoft to prepare for the launch of an exciting new program: Innovate4Good@Microsoft. TakingITGlobal is honoured to have been chosen as the online community partner, building an online community to engage young people around the world in programs and opportunities that support their natural passion for innovation, connecting them to opportunities to realize their potential. We’ll be working to build connections between the TIG and Innovate4Good online community – sharing relevant programs and opportunities in both directions.
The program is kicking off with a series of events Microsoft is holding across the globe, bringing together young people who have been touched by the many programs Microsoft has supported through its Corporate Citizenship focus on Opportunity for Youth. Just last week, Microsoft and the International Youth Foundation released a report framing the global opportunity gap - which provides insightful context on the urgency of the need to invest in youth.
The first event was in Seattle this past Saturday, and brought together nearly 100 young people from across the United States at Microsoft’s campus. Our team arrived last Friday to put the finishing touches on the Innovate4Good@Microsoft online community, and to prepare for Saturday’s event. On Friday night, there was a reception at the Microsoft Store, where the enthusiastic staff provided a comprehensive showcase of a variety of technology scenarios – from a Windows 8 and Microsoft Surface demo, to a look at several productivity products, like the Neatreceipts scanner and an amazing digital pen, which more than one attendee bought to take home with them.
Our team pulled up to the venue on Saturday just as one of Seattle’s most famous donut trucks was setting up – providing a real treat for attendees who would be arriving shortly. We setup a counter of PCs, where we helped each attendee register for the online community after their registration – and were relieved after our hard work on the site that everything ran smoothly. The attendees provided some great feedback and were quite excited to use the community to follow the activities of future events and stay connected to opportunities for engagement from Microsoft.
The event itself was masterfully facilitated by our friend Allan Gunn (aka “Gunner”) who we’ve had the pleasure of working with in the past at the World Summit on the Information Society. Any “ice” between participants was quickly broken with a fun activity, physically reflecting on perspectives on different issues – from juvenile detention to Internet as a human right.
Then the serious work began – brainstorming issues that participants wanted to solve, and clustering them together. Here are some highlights of the diverse challenges to be tackled:
Before breaking into groups to expand on the ideas, a variety of Microsoft teams hosted a “speed geek” session, showcasing their products and programs: Imagine Cup, MS Research, Kinect for Windows, Windows Phone, Windows 8, Skype, and a new art software preview. Lots of fun! Windows 8 looks pretty cool – especially on some of the powerful new slates (tablets with laptop-like power)
After we all geeked out, a number of participants agreed to act as facilitators, and groups emerged to flesh out potential approaches to addressing the different problems. The day ended with an inspiring go-round of the groups, hearing the amazing ideas that had emerged in just over an hour of work together. Everyone headed down to the Microsoft visitor centre where Kinect Darts and Microsoft Surface Checkers were being enjoyed – with some great music from a local DJ to celebrate a packed day.
We’re excited about supporting the development of this program with Microsoft over the coming weeks, months, and years. Next weekend the event comes to Cairo, followed by other cities including Singapore, Brussels, Mexico City and Beijing. If you’re in Singapore and interested in attending, applications are open!
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been working hard with our friends at Microsoft to prepare for the launch of an exciting new program: Innovate4Good@Microsoft. TakingITGlobal is honoured to have been chosen as the online community partner, building an online community to engage young people around the world in programs and opportunities that support their natural passion for innovation, connecting them to opportunities to realize their potential. We’ll be working to build connections between the TIG and Innovate4Good online community – sharing relevant programs and opportunities in both directions.
The program is kicking off with a series of events Microsoft is holding across the globe, bringing together young people who have been touched by the many programs Microsoft has supported through its Corporate Citizenship focus on Opportunity for Youth. Just last week, Microsoft and the International Youth Foundation released a report framing the global opportunity gap - which provides insightful context on the urgency of the need to invest in youth.
The first event was in Seattle this past Saturday, and brought together nearly 100 young people from across the United States at Microsoft’s campus. Our team arrived last Friday to put the finishing touches on the Innovate4Good@Microsoft online community, and to prepare for Saturday’s event. On Friday night, there was a reception at the Microsoft Store, where the enthusiastic staff provided a comprehensive showcase of a variety of technology scenarios – from a Windows 8 and Microsoft Surface demo, to a look at several productivity products, like the Neatreceipts scanner and an amazing digital pen, which more than one attendee bought to take home with them.
Our team pulled up to the venue on Saturday just as one of Seattle’s most famous donut trucks was setting up – providing a real treat for attendees who would be arriving shortly. We setup a counter of PCs, where we helped each attendee register for the online community after their registration – and were relieved after our hard work on the site that everything ran smoothly. The attendees provided some great feedback and were quite excited to use the community to follow the activities of future events and stay connected to opportunities for engagement from Microsoft.
The event itself was masterfully facilitated by our friend Allan Gunn (aka “Gunner”) who we’ve had the pleasure of working with in the past at the World Summit on the Information Society. Any “ice” between participants was quickly broken with a fun activity, physically reflecting on perspectives on different issues – from juvenile detention to Internet as a human right.
Then the serious work began – brainstorming issues that participants wanted to solve, and clustering them together. Here are some highlights of the diverse challenges to be tackled:
Before breaking into groups to expand on the ideas, a variety of Microsoft teams hosted a “speed geek” session, showcasing their products and programs: Imagine Cup, MS Research, Kinect for Windows, Windows Phone, Windows 8, Skype, and a new art software preview. Lots of fun! Windows 8 looks pretty cool – especially on some of the powerful new slates (tablets with laptop-like power)
After we all geeked out, a number of participants agreed to act as facilitators, and groups emerged to flesh out potential approaches to addressing the different problems. The day ended with an inspiring go-round of the groups, hearing the amazing ideas that had emerged in just over an hour of work together. Everyone headed down to the Microsoft visitor centre where Kinect Darts and Microsoft Surface Checkers were being enjoyed – with some great music from a local DJ to celebrate a packed day.
We’re excited about supporting the development of this program with Microsoft over the coming weeks, months, and years. Next weekend the event comes to Cairo, followed by other cities including Singapore, Brussels, Mexico City and Beijing. If you’re in Singapore and interested in attending, applications are open!
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been working hard with our friends at Microsoft to prepare for the launch of an exciting new program: Innovate4Good@Microsoft. TakingITGlobal is honoured to have been chosen as the online community partner, building an online community to engage young people around the world in programs and opportunities that support their natural passion for innovation, connecting them to opportunities to realize their potential. We’ll be working to build connections between the TIG and Innovate4Good online community – sharing relevant programs and opportunities in both directions.
The program is kicking off with a series of events Microsoft is holding across the globe, bringing together young people who have been touched by the many programs Microsoft has supported through its Corporate Citizenship focus on Opportunity for Youth. Just last week, Microsoft and the International Youth Foundation released a report framing the global opportunity gap - which provides insightful context on the urgency of the need to invest in youth.
The first event was in Seattle this past Saturday, and brought together nearly 100 young people from across the United States at Microsoft’s campus. Our team arrived last Friday to put the finishing touches on the Innovate4Good@Microsoft online community, and to prepare for Saturday’s event. On Friday night, there was a reception at the Microsoft Store, where the enthusiastic staff provided a comprehensive showcase of a variety of technology scenarios – from a Windows 8 and Microsoft Surface demo, to a look at several productivity products, like the Neatreceipts scanner and an amazing digital pen, which more than one attendee bought to take home with them.
Our team pulled up to the venue on Saturday just as one of Seattle’s most famous donut trucks was setting up – providing a real treat for attendees who would be arriving shortly. We setup a counter of PCs, where we helped each attendee register for the online community after their registration – and were relieved after our hard work on the site that everything ran smoothly. The attendees provided some great feedback and were quite excited to use the community to follow the activities of future events and stay connected to opportunities for engagement from Microsoft.
The event itself was masterfully facilitated by our friend Allan Gunn (aka “Gunner”) who we’ve had the pleasure of working with in the past at the World Summit on the Information Society. Any “ice” between participants was quickly broken with a fun activity, physically reflecting on perspectives on different issues – from juvenile detention to Internet as a human right.
Then the serious work began – brainstorming issues that participants wanted to solve, and clustering them together. Here are some highlights of the diverse challenges to be tackled:
Before breaking into groups to expand on the ideas, a variety of Microsoft teams hosted a “speed geek” session, showcasing their products and programs: Imagine Cup, MS Research, Kinect for Windows, Windows Phone, Windows 8, Skype, and a new art software preview. Lots of fun! Windows 8 looks pretty cool – especially on some of the powerful new slates (tablets with laptop-like power)
After we all geeked out, a number of participants agreed to act as facilitators, and groups emerged to flesh out potential approaches to addressing the different problems. The day ended with an inspiring go-round of the groups, hearing the amazing ideas that had emerged in just over an hour of work together. Everyone headed down to the Microsoft visitor centre where Kinect Darts and Microsoft Surface Checkers were being enjoyed – with some great music from a local DJ to celebrate a packed day.
We’re excited about supporting the development of this program with Microsoft over the coming weeks, months, and years. Next weekend the event comes to Cairo, followed by other cities including Singapore, Brussels, Mexico City and Beijing. If you’re in Singapore and interested in attending, applications are open!
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been working hard with our friends at Microsoft to prepare for the launch of an exciting new program: Innovate4Good@Microsoft. TakingITGlobal is honoured to have been chosen as the online community partner, building an online community to engage young people around the world in programs and opportunities that support their natural passion for innovation, connecting them to opportunities to realize their potential. We’ll be working to build connections between the TIG and Innovate4Good online community – sharing relevant programs and opportunities in both directions.
The program is kicking off with a series of events Microsoft is holding across the globe, bringing together young people who have been touched by the many programs Microsoft has supported through its Corporate Citizenship focus on Opportunity for Youth. Just last week, Microsoft and the International Youth Foundation released a report framing the global opportunity gap - which provides insightful context on the urgency of the need to invest in youth.
The first event was in Seattle this past Saturday, and brought together nearly 100 young people from across the United States at Microsoft’s campus. Our team arrived last Friday to put the finishing touches on the Innovate4Good@Microsoft online community, and to prepare for Saturday’s event. On Friday night, there was a reception at the Microsoft Store, where the enthusiastic staff provided a comprehensive showcase of a variety of technology scenarios – from a Windows 8 and Microsoft Surface demo, to a look at several productivity products, like the Neatreceipts scanner and an amazing digital pen, which more than one attendee bought to take home with them.
Our team pulled up to the venue on Saturday just as one of Seattle’s most famous donut trucks was setting up – providing a real treat for attendees who would be arriving shortly. We setup a counter of PCs, where we helped each attendee register for the online community after their registration – and were relieved after our hard work on the site that everything ran smoothly. The attendees provided some great feedback and were quite excited to use the community to follow the activities of future events and stay connected to opportunities for engagement from Microsoft.
The event itself was masterfully facilitated by our friend Allan Gunn (aka “Gunner”) who we’ve had the pleasure of working with in the past at the World Summit on the Information Society. Any “ice” between participants was quickly broken with a fun activity, physically reflecting on perspectives on different issues – from juvenile detention to Internet as a human right.
Then the serious work began – brainstorming issues that participants wanted to solve, and clustering them together. Here are some highlights of the diverse challenges to be tackled:
Before breaking into groups to expand on the ideas, a variety of Microsoft teams hosted a “speed geek” session, showcasing their products and programs: Imagine Cup, MS Research, Kinect for Windows, Windows Phone, Windows 8, Skype, and a new art software preview. Lots of fun! Windows 8 looks pretty cool – especially on some of the powerful new slates (tablets with laptop-like power)
After we all geeked out, a number of participants agreed to act as facilitators, and groups emerged to flesh out potential approaches to addressing the different problems. The day ended with an inspiring go-round of the groups, hearing the amazing ideas that had emerged in just over an hour of work together. Everyone headed down to the Microsoft visitor centre where Kinect Darts and Microsoft Surface Checkers were being enjoyed – with some great music from a local DJ to celebrate a packed day.
We’re excited about supporting the development of this program with Microsoft over the coming weeks, months, and years. Next weekend the event comes to Cairo, followed by other cities including Singapore, Brussels, Mexico City and Beijing. If you’re in Singapore and interested in attending, applications are open!
Just after launching YouthMovements.org at Times Square in New York, Francisco and myself journeyed to Miami, Florida for The 2012 Knight Media and Learning Seminar.
This event enabled us to meet and learn from other Knight grantees and to engage with a network of community foundations from across the USA. In addition, we had the opportunity to connect with innovative projects such as Code for America, YouthMovements.org partners like DoSomething.org, cutting edge social technology projects, and mobilization projects like Turbovoteto better understand how new media technologies are transforming the media landscape and our society.
The hashtag to follow the action is #infoneeds which speaks to the Knight Foundations goals of creating democratic, informed and engaged societies. Without access to up to date and relevant information about our social and physical environments, our communities will not flourish.
Three of the take away talks for me were from Eli Perisser – who spoke about the filter bubble and how the internet is becoming an increasingly personalized place, where our search results and friend feeds are tailored (without our implicit knowledge or consent) to display results which are more likely to be clicked on.
Amy web detailed big data, mobile data and how new technologies such as facial recognition, social networking and massive databases of information can be combined to discover potentially way more information about our communities than we would have thought possible. Amy demonstrated how apps like Banjo allow us to glimpse into the shared lives of those around us and gave a few tips about how gamification can be used to incentivise and reinforce processes, education and behaviour change.
I was also very interested in enabling communities to evaluate and map their own information environment through the Community Information Toolkit – a tool which helps community leaders harness the power of information to advance their goals for a better community.
Finally, the event was rounded out by an address by Ethan Zuckerman, Director of the MIT Center for Civic Media. He advanced the proposition that the Internet is the most powerful tool humans have to understand our differences. But we’ve yet to tap this potential, partially due to homophily — the tendency to gravitate toward people with similar traits to our own— which also governs our Web habits and online conversations.
His work with the Center for Civic Media centers on how to map, contextualize and amplify global voices with tools that, he says, can be applied to any community through Zuckerman’s four-step approach :
His four step approach to map, contextualize and amplify global voices are:
1.) Assess your audience.
Figure out who you're hearing from and who you're not hearing.
2.) Learn where people are communicating and what tools they are using.
Use the tools which work for the group you are trying to engage.
3.) Use curation, translation and context to effectively compile what people are saying.
4.) Love makes it go.
People who are successful at engaging their communities using love do it because they love three things: The communities they’re representing, the online medium, and their ability to say, “I can tell you what's going on in my community and I can get heard all over the world.”
It was a super exciting series of meetings and chats, which left us with loads of ideas about how to connect YouthMovements.org to the overall community it serves.
Recently, YouthMovements.org launched to more efficiently amplify the role of young people in creating positive social change.
“The new site will aggregate and coalesce youth-led movements around the world to share data and to collaborate more effectively. But it will also inspire new youth to become more involved in what matters to them,” Jeff Coates, strategic initiatives associate at Knight Foundation, said.
The video above explores Knight’s support for the site and shares what kinds of information it makes available to users. The interview also provides tips on how young people can draw inspiration from successful projects and provides resources that helps them replicate these projects in their own communities.
The video features key members of the team behind the site, including Jennifer Corriero,co-founder and executive director of TakingITGlobal, which hosts the site. Corriero describes how it allows young people to discover more about opportunities to get involved in issues that matter to them, both in their own communities and globally.
You’ll also hear insights into the role that technology plays in facilitating youth organized coalitions: “It provides opportunities for information to be synthesized faster and shared more quickly. The real value of this technology is the capacity to share inspiration and to connect it to more efficient models to do more with less,” says Sean Keith, operations manager TakingITGlobal.
YouthMovements.org features a map to display events, organizations and projects across global issues areas allowing young people to discover more about the opportunities to get involved in their own communities or about global developments across the issues that matter to them.
The knowledge hub collects information tool kits and best practices to allow new projects to benefit from the successes and lessons learned from previous efforts of youth organizers.
The new site will also help organizations effectively share information about their projects, to promote projects and initiatives collaboratively, and to help track and celebrate the collective progress being made worldwide to tackle the world's most challenging issues.
Supported by Knight Foundation, YouthMovements.org is a project of TakingITGlobal, the largest online community of young people interested in global issues and creating positive change. TakingITGlobal uses the power of online community to facilitate global education, social entrepreneurship and civic engagement for millions of youth worldwide.
The launch of the site coincides with a YouthMovements Summit in New York City, exploring the past, present and future of the youth engagement sector to find ways to amplify its impact.
During the two days, youth engagement leaders will share, learn and gain insight as they work together to shape the future of the sector as part of a learning community and collaborative network.
"A explosão arrasou o Edifício A5 numa tarde de maio do ano passado. Uma erupção de chamas torceu os tubos de metal como se fossem canudos jogados fora. Quando os operários na lanchonete correram para fora, viram uma fumaça negra saindo das janelas - era a área onde os empregados poliam milhares de estojos de iPads por dia.
Duas pessoas morreram na hora e mais dez se feriram. Quando os feridos eram levados às pressas para as ambulâncias, um em particular chamava atenção. O rosto lambuzado, atingido pelo calor e a violência da explosão, deu lugar a uma pasta preta e vermelha no lugar da boca e nariz.
"Você é o pai de Lai Xiaodong?", alguém perguntou, quando o telefone tocou na casa de Lai. Seis meses antes, o jovem de 22 anos havia se mudado para Chengdu, sudoeste da China, para se tornar mais uma das milhões de peças humanas da engrenagem que move o maior, mais rápido e mais sofisticado sistema de manufatura no globo. "Ele está com problemas", disse a pessoa do outro lado da linha ao pai de Lai, que não resistiu aos ferimentos.
Na última década, a Apple tornou-se uma das mais poderosas e bem sucedidas empresas do mundo. A Apple e suas congêneres do setor de alta tecnologia alcançaram um ritmo de inovação jamais observado na história moderna.
Contudo, os operários encarregados da montagem dos iPhones, iPads e outros aparelhos com frequência trabalham em condições terríveis, de acordo com empregados das fábricas, grupos de defesa dos trabalhadores e relatórios publicados pelas próprias companhias. Os problemas são tão variados quanto os ambientes de trabalho e os problemas de segurança - alguns mortais - são graves.
Os operários fazem horas extras excessivas, em alguns casos trabalham sete dias por semana e vivem em dormitórios superlotados. Alguns trabalham em pé por tanto tempo que suas pernas incham a ponto de quase não conseguirem andar. Empregados menores de idade ajudaram a fabricar produtos da Apple, fornecedores da companhia armazenaram inadequadamente lixo tóxico e falsificaram registros, segundo dados da empresa e grupos de defesa do trabalhador que, dentro da China, são considerados monitores independentes e confiáveis.
Mais preocupante ainda é o desprezo de alguns fornecedores pela saúde do trabalhador. Há dois anos, 137 funcionários de uma fornecedora da Apple a leste da China foram intoxicados depois de receber ordens para usar uma substância química venenosa para limpar as telas do iPhone. No ano passado, houve duas explosões em fábricas de iPad mataram quatro pessoas e deixaram 77 feridas. Antes mesmo destas explosões, a Apple havia sido alertada para as condições perigosas na fábrica de Chengdu.
A Apple não é a única empresa de produtos eletrônicos que opera dentro de um sistema de suprimento preocupante. Condições terríveis de trabalho foram documentadas em fábricas de manufatura de produtos para a Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Lenovo, Motorola, Nokia, Sony, Toshiba e outras.
Executivos da Apple dizem que a companhia adotou medidas importantes para melhorar as fábricas nos últimos anos. A empresa criou um código de conduta para seus fornecedores, detalhando os critérios a serem obedecidos em termos de trabalho e segurança. A empresa organizou uma campanha de auditoria. Abusos foram descobertos e correções foram exigidas.
Mas os problemas importantes continuam. Mais da metade das fornecedoras inspecionadas pela Apple violaram pelo menos uma norma do código de conduta a cada ano desde 2007, de acordo com relatórios da Apple.
"A Apple nunca se preocupou com qualquer outra coisa a não ser melhorar a qualidade do produto e reduzir os custos de produção", disse Li Mingqi, que trabalhou até abril na administração na Foxconn, uma das mais importantes parceiras da Apple na China. Li, que está processando a Foxconn por ter sido despedido, trabalhava na fábrica de Chengdu quando ocorreu a explosão.
A Apple recebeu um resumo deste artigo, mas não quis comentá-lo. A reportagem foi baseada em entrevistas com mais de 30 funcionários, antigos e atuais, e contratantes, incluindo alguns executivos com conhecimento do grupo de responsabilidade do fornecedor da Apple.
Emprego. Quando conseguiu o emprego na Foxconn, Lai Xiaodong sabia que a fábrica em Chengdu era especial. Os trabalhadores estavam produzindo o mais recente produto da Apple: o iPad.
Lai, que consertava máquinas da fábrica, logo de início notou as luzes quase ofuscantes. Os turnos eram de até 24 horas e a unidade estava sempre iluminada. A qualquer momento, havia milhares de operários em pé nas linhas de montagem, agachados perto das grandes máquinas ou correndo entre as plataformas de carga. As pernas de alguns estavam inchadas.
Cartazes nas paredes alertavam os 120 mil empregados: "Trabalhe com afinco no seu emprego hoje ou vai ter que trabalhar duro para encontrar um emprego amanha". O código de conduta da Apple estabelece que, salvo em circunstâncias excepcionais, os operários não devem trabalhar mais de 60 horas por semana. Mas na Foxconn, alguns trabalhavam bem mais, segundo entrevistas, holerites e investigações de grupos independentes.
Lai logo passou a trabalhar 12 horas por dia, seis dias na semana. Havia "turnos contínuos" e então os operários recebiam ordens para trabalhar 24 horas seguidas. O grau universitário permitiu que o jovem ganhasse um salário de US$ 22 por dia, incluindo horas extras. Ao sair do trabalho, ele se recolhia num pequeno aposento, suficiente para abrigar um colchão, um guarda-roupa e uma mesa....
OBS. pessoal: Isso é revolução tecnológica??!! Enquanto uns aproveitam outros são esmagados? As fábricas são assim desde sempre, só muda o que se monta, o que se produz. Sem evolução em Direitos Humanos, Justiça, Valores Essenciais, Igualdade, nada pode ser chamado de Revolução! Desculpe, mas eu posso falar, eu não faço nem tenho a maioria das coisas que a humanidade acha que deve fazer ou comprar para seguir seus dias. Eu vou atrás do que verdadeiramente necessito para levar adiante o contrato terreno e, mesmo com o pouco que tenho me sinto mal, muitas vezes, pois nunca se sabe a real carga de sofrimento humano e ambiental que cada produto que adquiri carrega.
Ever wonder what the world would be like if everyone was willing to share - information, expertise, and even failures? How would the processes of international development change if this were possible? Well, over the past few weeks working on the YouthMovements program at TIG, I’ve come to understand that the barrier to this ideal picture isn’t necessarily a willingness to share, but simply the ability to do so.
So far, we’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response from organizations and individuals whom we’ve approached to partner with us - and I bet you’re interested in hearing more about who we’ve been talking to...
But first, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Daphne, the new YouthMovements program assistant here at TIG. A recent university graduate, I’m very excited to be able to work in a diverse and internationally-engaged workplace - I love that I have to check which time zone our meetings are scheduled in!
This morning, Liam and I started the day with a call to Louisville, Kentucky to speak with Njideka from the Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF). Founded in Nigeria nearly 12 years ago, YTF works to sustainably integrate the use of technology into disadvantaged communities throughout Africa. In addition to providing programming for youths, YTF has responded to the desires and wishes of their participants’ mothers and friends by establishing an economic empowerment program for women. It was great to see such a significant overlap in the values and approaches of TIG and YTF, particularly on the nascent power of technology in social engagement amongst youth.
We then said ‘good evening’ to Philip in Accra, Ghana at 11am EST. Representing the Alliance For African Women Initiative (AFAWI), Philip explained the range of issues and ages that their programming addresses. In addition to women’s empowerment, AFAWI is heavily involved in HIV/AIDS awareness and youth development initiatives across Ghana. He mentioned that securing financial support was something that AFAWI sometimes struggles with - By mapping their various projects on YouthMovements.org, AFAWI will be able to increase their profile amongst international sponsors and establish new, financially sustainable partnerships.
Later this week, we’ll be meeting with Jacque from the Pacific Youth Council to find out more about the projects they operate in the South Pacific, as well as Judith from Leaders of Tomorrow in Lebanon. Its great to see so many organizations from all over the world willing to get on board, and be able to work together towards our common goals. Imagine how much more effective our sector could be if sharing became the normal way we operate...
