Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future (Times Books, 2007, $25) by Bill McKibben. To purchase this book, visit the online book store.
Friday, May 11, 2007
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Wednesday, May 09, 2007
If you would like to help fulfill our winners' wishes, please use our Contact Form and select "TED Prize."
JAMES NACHTWEY'S WISH:
- I'm working on a story that the world needs to know about. I wish for you to help me break it in a way that provides spectacular proof of the power of news photography in the digital age.
Plan of Execution:
- Gain access to a place in the world where a critical situation is occurring and fully document it with photography.
- Set a date to unveil the pictures and find a series of innovative ways to create powerful impact with them, using novel display technologies and the power of the Internet as well as media.
- Use the campaign to generate resources for organizations that are working to address and transform the situation.
We Are Looking For:
- Diplomatic and logistics help in order to get James to the story location (potential contributors will be given confidential access to the story being contemplated).
- An advisory team of creative mavericks to help conceive the strongest ways of making an impact.
- Offers of large public space worldwide that can be used to display the images.
- Help with plastering the story online with media impressions.
- A partner to provide a solution to project images digitally outdoors.
- A PR and communications partner.
- Media partners.
Questions we're still asking:
- What are creative ways to make the biggest impact in a way that others could use in future?
- How do we best ensure that this effort leads to action to solve the problem?
EO WILSON'S WISH:
I wish that we will work together to help create the key tool that we need to inspire preservation of Earth's biodiversity: the Encyclopedia of Life.
Plan of Execution:
- Join the efforts of key institutions around the world who have begun building momentum to make this happen.
- Build an encyclopedia that lives on the Internet, with an ever-evolving page for every species.
- Ensure that its content does not duplicate existing efforts, but instead incorporates them through linking.
- Open the encyclopedia to allow the contribution of thousands of scientists and free access to anyone.
- Make the world aware of the importance of this initiative to inspire preservation of earth's bio-diversity.
We Are Looking For:
- A major web design effort, to create a powerful, flexible, scientifically credible web environment with a user interface that will appeal to a wide-ranging audience.
- A search technology that can aggregate existing biological information and make it easily accessible.
- Creation of a sustainability model that could invite individuals to "adopt a species" in return for a fee, as a possible funding mechanism.
- Leading scientists to offer their moral and practical support for the project.
- Universities, Museums and other Scientific Institutions, worldwide, to become partners and make available their biological databases.
- Educators who can help use the project to inspire a new generation of biologists globally.
- Photographers, animators, and film-makers willing to contribute work to the project.
- Funders.
- A PR and communications partner capable of telling this story in many countries.
- Media Partners, online and offline, who can get behind this effort.
- Your unique idea on how to realize this vision.
Questions we're still asking:
- How do we persuade the many existing owners of valuable biological databases to get involved?
- How do we inspire the public to really participate in this initiative?
- How do we ensure that underdeveloped countries, where many undiscovered species lie, get involved?
- What are creative funding solutions?
BILL CLINTON'S WISH:
I wish you to help create a better future for Rwanda by assisting my foundation, in partnership with the Rwandan Government, to build a sustainable, high quality rural health system for the whole country.
Plan of Execution:
- Support the Clinton Foundation and Paul Farmer's Partners in Health organization who are both already on the ground in Rwanda.
- Take the lessons learned from the early successes of Partners in Health work and roll it out into a nationwide program.
- Provide free primary health care access and education for the poor, including AIDS prevention and treatment.
- Create community partnerships with the goal of caring for patients and alleviating the root causes of disease in their communities.
- Work alongside the Rwandan Government with the goal of passing over full management of the system within five years.
- Involve the TED community by organizing a special trip to Rwanda ahead of TED Global for those serious about getting involved.
We Are Looking For:
- Philanthropists and corporations willing to consider major involvement, including the Rwandan trip.
- Funding. The plan may cost $4m/year for the next five years.
- Transport solutions: 4x4s, motorcycles, bicycles.
- Site needs: Generators, Solar Panels and Rainwater collection systems.
- Communications: Satellites, cell phones, videoconferencing setup.
- Medical equipment: Lab and operating room equipment, Anesthesia machines, Centrifuges, Ultrasounds, scales, etc.
- Hospital equipment: beds, exam tables, cribs, wheelchairs, linens, industrial food prep equipment and laundry machines, mosquito nets.
- IT equipment: desktops, printers, laptops, networking hardware, touch screens, projectors.
- Services: Satellite internet, cell phone, x-ray, journal subscriptions, recruiting support, financial management system.
- Commodities/ consumables: Food, fuel, medication, infant formula, medical and surgical consumables.
Questions we're still asking:
- What is the most effective way of doing this as a major collaborative exercise involving multiple TED companies and individuals?
- How do we make sure we avoid the mistakes of past assistance projects?
...like anyone read this...
