David Bale's Recent Discussions

Plan B

A thread to discuss a campaign for a successful World Connectory Project partnership between areas 2227 and 8192:

2227 Uganda - Central region: Kampala district (Central division - south of Namirembe Road and Makindye division)

8192 USA - Texas: Harris county (Houston council districts B & H)

Last comment added: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:39:15 PST

Unleashing Ideas

This is for Global Entrepreneurship Week which I didn't know about this morning. There was a forum category on Web Entrepreneurs and Africa so I started a conversation, which may attract attention if others join in.

http://forum.unleashingideas.org /2008/11/19/kayiwa-fred-and-his- computer-club/page1/

Last comment added: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:59:23 PST

Charter For Compasion

Via Emeka Okafor comes news that TED Prize winner Karen Armstrong's campaign to create a Charter For Compassion is entering a phase calling for public participation.

Over the next four weeks, everyone is invited to help write the Charter for Compassion. Please choose the active phase below, read the description, be inspired by the sample text, and share your own words or suggestions for that section of the Charter.

LIVES OF COMPASSION Add your voice. Share your story.

The Charter for Compassion is the concrete document around which a grassroots movement will coalesce. Your personal stories are the life of this movement.

LOL of course this is the part I like very much. So it's worthwhile checking in on the Web site even if you don't plan to contribute jsut to see what people are offering.

I believe this is an important cause. As Armstrong says our task as a generation is to build a world community. That's exactly what we all in our own ways are trying to do.

Last comment added: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:21:39 PST

Brainstorming - the Next Phase for KJT

This is the text of my post Brainstormers needed - enthusiasm guaranteed at my new blog

http://ceris62.wordpress.com/

I'll simply copy and paste it here so Nedders can comment here or there, as they wish!

Primary objective

securing or creating a sustainable source of income for the organisation known as the Kampala Junior Team (KJT), a fledgling sporting academy with big ambitions and an overriding concern for the welfare of it’s members

Primary means

collaborative online pooling of talent

Guiding principle

give what you gain, you’ll gain more then you give

Short term goals

creating and consolidating a network of interested parties and individuals, to include artists, entrepreneurs, PR people, the tech savvy, sports fans, journalists, aid and development workers, the KJT organisers in Kampala, and anyone else who has ideas, experience, or practical help to offer.

Assets

3 successful boys’ football teams and a newly created girls’ team

3 dedicated and hard-working organisers on the ground

a small but supportive network of individuals with varying degrees of experience in the field of international development (to date, soccer boots and kits, 70 GBPounds and 1 computer have been donated thanks to the Facebook groups Boots for a Soccer Team , Kayiwa Fred’s Computer Club and the KJT Wales Supporters Club)

Ambitions

solving the problem of housing and caring for the 20 or so orphaned young team members who currently stay with coach Kabugo (and who do not attend school as they have no means of paying their school fees - education costs in Uganda)

developing and expanding the range of sporting, social and educational opportunities the KJT provides in the community

ultimately enabling the KJT to function successfully as a social business and to manage it’s own structural and financial affairs

The next step I envisage a collaborative blog entitled KJT International.

Interested ? Please leave a comment.

More information on the KJT can be found here :

http://www.onehelpinganother.com /

Last comment added: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:55:48 PST

UNBELIEVABLE DONATIONS 2008

NOW HERE IS HOW IT ALL STARTED ON THE OMIDYAR NETWORK :)

Unbelievable DonationPosted to: Ray B-r-o-s-s-e-u-k (CCAL30) (1414) by Ray B-r-o-s-s-e-u-k (CCAL30) (1414), Fri, 21 Jan 2005 22:00:13 PST Edited: Thu, 04 Jan 2007 08:28:55 PST Feedback score: 2010 (* * * * * * * * * ) Tags: community success Comments: 1356 by 62 members (most recent: 9 weeks ago by Lois *~end all wars~ Brayton (CCAL30) (346)) Viewed: 18672 times by 552 members

Original first Post.

My wife and I were just given two transport truckloads of construction nails, 37 tons, all in 50 lb boxes. We will be shipping them overseas to be used for the rebuilding in the tsunami region and also some into the south pacific for the building of schools and dormitories ect.

I can't tell you how incredible this is. I went home this week to unload all of them into my warehouse; I am a little sore right now. It will take more than five, forty-foot containers this year to get all the nails shipped. We will be able to put roughly 7 or 8 tons per container and the rest will be clothes, shoes, food ect, otherwise the container will be to heavy, maximum weight forty two thousand pounds.

These nails were from Tree Island Nails in Vancouver It just goes to show you that there is really good people out there. All we have to do if we want to make a difference in this world is believe we can and move forward (action) with that belief and commitment and it will happen. I asked the owner why he would give such a large donation and he said he was inspired by what my wife and I are trying to do and just wanted to help. So it just goes to show you that if you just start trying even if the nay sayers say it can’t be done keep on trying

Pictures

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2 005-1/938053/IMG_2608.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2 005-1/938053/IMG_2610.JPG

Thanks again

Ray

Almost 3 years have gone by since this first post on Unbelievable Donations.

Here is the overview of what happened in 2005, 2006 and 2007

January to April 2005 Donated items start to come in.~~ April 2005 tried to send a container to Sri Lanka for Tsunami relieve, unable to, due to political problems in Sri Lanka~~ April 24/2005 Shipped a full 40 ft container to Fiji, with some items going on to Papua New Guinea. Arrived May 27th~~ June 20th/2005 Shipment of items to Tanzania, Toye Wigley’s project~~ September 16th/2005 Shipped computers, clothing and schoolbooks to Belize Central America~~ September 30th/2005 another 40ft container to Fiji, arrived Nov 16th.~~ August 7th/2005 40ft container to Phuket,Thailand, Meron Moroz project~~ October 3rd/2005 40 ft container to Ghana,West Africa.~~ November 2005 Started working on a project with David Bale for Bread Line Africa to ship containers to Africa.~~ December 2005 trying to send items to Moses’ school project in Sudan.~~ December 2005 started working on sending a 40 ft container of dehydrated food, clothes and tents to Gabriel’s Project in Sudan Africa. I think this is the most exciting and meaningful project to date.~~

I want to say that this has been an amazing year and it could not have been done without all of your support.

Ray and Jackie Brosseuk

SUMMARY OF 2006 PROJECTS

Breadline Africa Kids in Cans, thanks goes to David Bale~~ Stop Genocide wristbands Completed, sent the wristbands that we did not sell along with a check to Gabriel.~~ The Sudan & Chad Refugee camps project Completed, all the money was sent to Gabriel.~~ Sudan School project with Moses We raised money and sent it to Moses.~~ Shipment to Fiji in May Completed, A close personal friend donated the funds required, Jackie and I sent cash to help pay for the distribution costs throughout the islands.~~ Shipments to Swaziland Children’s Aids Orphans Two containers a 40ft and a 20ft were sent in Feb.~~ June 25th another 40ft container to Swaziland Arrived, distributed.~~ Kamae Children Money sent to them in August.~~ Oct 15th another 40ft container to Swaziland Arrived Dec 18th, All Paid for and distributed~~ Nov 15th another 40ft container to Swaziland Arrived, all Paid for.~~ Kitchen Building for the kids under the tree Completed, we gave them a container to use, they are trying to sell it and then use the funds to build a block building.~~ Second Life, Better World Island Jackie and I were asked if we would take over Better World Island in 2006, we are thrilled with the potential of this Virtual world and the enormous possiblities that lie ahead.~~

2006 was an amazing year, Thanks to the O-Net community and to all of you who helped make this happen.

Ray

SUMMARY OF 2007 PROJECTS TO DATE

February 2007 Swaziland & Lesotho I flew down to clear the container thru customs and to help distribute both of them. While I was there, I met up with Anna & Beth from Salt Spring Island and Meron Meroz flew down and joined us 2 weeks later. We all helped with the distribution of the items. It was one of the most rewarding and memorable trips (fun too:) Meron and others from her community countinue to support the people in Lesotho and are arranging the shipment of another container this year. Cost of both containers was $17,190~~ May 2007 Fiji A 40 ft container sent, $7,960~~ June 2007 Swaziland a 40 ft container sent, arriving soon cost $8,700. August 2007 sent another container to Swaziland, cost $8,700.~~ October 2007 sent another container to Swaziland, cost $8,200.~~ October 2007 sent another container to Lesotho, cost $8,100.~~

Jackie and I are commited to continue sending containers of much needed items to the unfortunate children of Africa and other parts of the world.

Total expenditures for 2005, 2006, and 2007 to date, were well over $200,000 U.S.

As you can see, it has been an amazing journey over the last three years and it's great to be able to continue sharing the stories with you here at NED.

Thanks again for all the support each one of you have given and most of all I want to say THANK YOU on behalf of all the children you have helped through out the world. I know if they could write to you here, they would say thank you for giving me some clothes and the soup for me to eat and for the toys I play with now and the books I learn to read and most of all, thank you for showing me that you love me

Ray & Jackie Brosseuk

Partners For Others

Looking forward to a great 2008 at NED

Here are some links to videos taken over the past few years

Also here is the link to the stories behind the videos

http://www.ned.com/group/pfo/new s/4/

Lesotho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F wUfwFiNXns

Fiji Boat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6 Vt-3FTTQAc

Swaziland water tank

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=GL iUwDwraLA

Namatakula Fiji

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u y61miKL4Xw

Boy with one leg Fiji

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s w8HS9ReJw4

20 yr School Reunion Fiji

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=IY B5deJZsIo

Last comment added: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:51:30 PST

First allocation of WCP partnerships (to last until 2015)

This thread is for discussions relating to the World Connectory Project allocation process and the partnerships arising from this.

Last comment added: Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:52:36 PST

Life in Ubon - July/Aug 2008

My name is Ekkaluk Nopparat and my nick name is Eric. Now I study at Ubon Rajathanee University. I'm a second year student.

Mark has hired me as the first Ned photographer. I will be posting pictures about Ubon here.

This is my picture.

Today I would like to presenting the photo of Ubon Rajathanee University (UBU) and the Management Faculty.

The Ubon Rajathanee University is the place that I study at BBA program with Ms.Linda Nowakowski.

Next one is Management Faculty, I have to came every day.

Last comment added: Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:52:28 PST

Kampala Kids League

In a Front Porch discussion, Evvy Bryning said:

Just caught up with this. Fred, have you contacted the KKL (Kampala Kids League) yet. You should. They have been in operation since 2003 and now have over 14,000 Ugandan kids playing football. The man who founded it is Trevor Dudley and he could be a great help to you. Christina and I both know him personally and he does really good work and is very dedicated. Check out his website at http://kampalakidsleague.org/_/

I've left a message in that thread to say I've started a discussion about this here in the Kampala Junior Team group.

edited to add link

Last comment added: Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:59:44 PST

Suggestions for New Ned.com Site Features?

Okay, there's a boatload of ideas here to start with, please feel free to add your own to the workspace, or suggest other ideas in this thread.

How can Ned.com site be made better?

What features from other sites do you like, why, and how could they be used for a better exeprience?

If you could add just one thing, what would it be?

Last comment added: Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:24:37 PST

Kayiwa Fred & his new group

Kayiwa asked me to start a new group for him focused on the efforts he and his colleagues are making in Kampala to help poor kids with little going for them except their keenness to participate.

So if you are interested in soccer, poor kids and building a fairer world, please have a look at the new group, Kampala Junior Team

It needs sponsors.

Last comment added: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:52:54 PST

let's report microcredit and microfinance by nation

Increasingly microcredit as a solution to sustaining african communities is not about thinking of microcredit asin a separate specialist box, but linking MC & to a critical community challenge

MC & Health Insurance Jamii Bora, Kenya

MC & Fair Trade, Togo

MC & Intrapreneurial social action projects with youth, virgin-cida, S.Africa

Case queue to mention to yunus team at first opportunity: Nigeria, Caroline Ifeka; Andrew Mugenyi Uganda (near Congo border)

Calendar for Africa From London

*2005 - African Commission Report Published; 7/7 tube bomb attack day G8 leaders ntended to discuss commission report; Blair conceded the year had no direct impact

*2006 - Blair supports formation of Africa Progress Panel http://www.africaprogresspanel.o rg/english/index.php to transparently challenge the G8 to keep on doing stuff for Africa

*2007 - Blair's reign ends; Brown makes his people power speech at the UN http://peoplepower.jp

*2008- April Dr Yunus takes over Downing Street for 2 minutes to Youtube to the world http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k lUu03EMeRs . Brown applauds . Microcredit now establised community-up aid as a different way from global down aid. Help us journalise this magic shift in resoirces as it rolls out community building african country by country

BangladeshInfo.com reports: Yunus proposes coordinated global initiative to contain food price hike...Nobel Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus requested British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to take leadership role within the European community and the G-8 for addressing the extreme difficulties created to the poor by the global rise in prices of essential food items...

Prof. Yunus proposed a coordinated global initiative to redress the immediate pressure, according to a message received from Yunus Secretariat....The pioneer of a an alternative banking system for lending to the poor met the Prime Minister of the UK at 10 Downing Street on Monday-at a time when there has been a brouhaha over food problem in Bangladesh as well as across the globe...The Nobel Peace Prize winner pointed out that a powerful breakthrough is needed in agri-technology to raise the production level in the shortest possible time...Gordon Brown announced that the UK Government would work with the Grameen Group and other partners to give access to and unlock the power of financial services for Africa's poor...The Prime Minister and the Nobel Laureate discussed the public and private sectors’ work to help unlock the power of micro-credit to improve the lives of millions, particularly in Africa, where the world's development emergency hits hardest and nearly 300m people still live on less than $1 a day...With foreign investment into micro- credit across the globe tripling to $4 billion between 2004 and 2006, and through the work of organizations like the Grameen Trust, which reaches over 4.7 million families through 141 partner organizations in 38 countries, the impact of micro-credit is being felt all over the world...Yunus said that there is an urgent need to improve business and management skills in the micro-finance industry in Africa to make sure this money is used to help people from the world's poorest communities...As a first step, the UK Government will provide £500,000, towards bridging the skill gap in the micro-credit industry in Africa, which will be more than matched by the private sector... The initiative will bring together civil-society organizations and the private sector to contribute the funding, knowledge and skills required to bring micro-finance to those who need it most. </font>

I'll put an entry for each country so that comments that follow can be summarised by relevant country

Algeria 114.73 Angola 44.03 Benin 4.78 Botswana 10.33 Burkina Faso 6.21 Burundi 0.81 Cameroon 18.32 Cape Verde 1.14 Central African Republic 1.49 Chad 6.54 Comoros 0.40 Democratic Republic of the Congo 8.54 Congo 7.39 Côte d'Ivoire 17.48 Djibouti 0.76 Egypt 107.48 Equatorial Guinea 8.56 Eritrea 1.09 Ethiopia 13.32 Gabon 9.55 Gambia 0.51 Ghana 12.91 Guinea 3.32 Guinea-Bissau 0.30 Kenya 21.19 Lesotho 1.48 Liberia 0.63 Libya 50.32 Madagascar 5.50 Malawi 2.23 Mali 5.93 Mauritania 2.66 Mauritius 6.45 Morocco 57.31 Mozambique 7.61 Namibia 6.37 Niger 3.54 Nigeria 114.69 Réunion (France) 15.98[43] Rwanda 2.49 São Tomé and Príncipe 0.12 Senegal 8.94 Seychelles 0.75 Sierra Leone 1.44 Somalia 0.06[41] South Africa 254.99 Sudan 37.57 Swaziland 2.65 Tanzania 12.78 Togo 2.21 Tunisia 30.30 Uganda 9.32 Zambia 10.91 Zimbabwe 5.01

a good list of mfi discussion groups and blogs is http://microfinancegateway.org/s ection/discussion_groups

Last comment added: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:45:06 PST

2007/2008 Conferences, Events, BBQ's & Get-togethers

Conferences, Events, BBQ's & Get-togethers

Once we get the formatting "|" issue dealt with this information can be dropped into a workspace.


Social Venture Network 2007
Date: October 11-14, 2007
Location: La Jolla, California 
Theme: Innovation in Action
<Ned> Members Attending:
.. Social Venture Network 2007 : http://www.svn.org/index.cfm?fus eaction=Page.viewPage&pageId =769&parentID=512&nodeID =1

Peacemakers Conference (including Camp Darfur)
Date: 11/8-11/11
Location: Portland, Oregon
Theme:  Sudan, Darfur 
<Ned> Members Attending: Gabriel Staring, Mark Grimes

.. Gabriel Staring : http://www.ned.com/user/u6078654 14/
.. Mark Grimes: http://www.ned.com/user/u5130945 38/

Criterion Convergence V
Date: February 10-12, 2008
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Theme: Structures of Change
<Ned> Members Attending: (invitation only, PM Mark Grimes)
.. Criterion Convergence V : http://www.criterionventures.com /Opportunities.asp

TED2008
Date: February 27 - March 1, 2008
Location: Monterey, California  
Theme: The Big Questions
<Ned> Members Attending: (Sold Out, waiting list only)
.. TED2008 : http://www.ted.com/index.php/pag es/view/id/48

SXSWeek 2008
Date: March 7-16, 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Theme: TBD
<Ned> Members Attending:
.. SXSWeek 2008 : http://2008.sxsw.com/

The Social Enterprise Summit
Date: March 9-11, 2008
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Theme: Building Networks - Forming Partnerships - Accessing Capital
<Ned> Members Attending:
.. The Social Enterprise Summit : http://www.se-alliance.org/summi t.cfm

NTEN: 2008 Nonprofit Technology Conference
Date: March 19-21, 2008
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana 
Theme: TBD
<Ned> Members Attending:
.. NTEN: 2008 Nonprofit Technology Conference : http://www.nten.org/ntc

2008 Skoll World Forum 
Date: March 26-28, 2008
Location: Oxford, UK
Theme: TBD
<Ned> Members Attending:

Council on Foundations 2008
Date: May 4-7, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Theme: Philanthropy's Vision: A Leadership Summit
<Ned> Members Attending:
.. Council on Foundations 2008 : http://www.cof.org/Network/conte nt.cfm?ItemNumber=4010&navIt emNumber=1970

Burning Man
Date: August 25 - September 1, 2008
Location: Black Rock City, Nevada
Theme: American Dream
<Ned> Members Attending:
.. Burning Man : http://www.burningman.com/art_of _burningman/bm08_theme.html



- Craig's List Boot Camp 2008
- Web of Change 2008
- BALLE 2008
- Portland to Africa:  Grassroots Efforts & Sharing What Works

Last comment added: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:32:21 PDT

Google Submission

John posted this in the Plan B thread:

Google has a great way to celebrate their existence 10 to the 100. The deadline for submissions is October 20, 2008. I plan to submit an idea. I think there's something to my idea, but I hardly imagine it will be selected. I hate writing proposals! Still there's something really wonderfully spare about Google's application form. The questions to answer provide focus.

Not trying to add more work to the pile. But I would participate in a collaborative effort to submit the WWC to the Google project. I think the process might help us all to be better able to talk about the WWC to others.

Please use this thread to discuss anything and everything to do this proposal!

Last comment added: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:02:59 PDT

Newbie

Looks great! Can you tell me about anything Ugandan related?

Cheers Sara

Last comment added: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:54:30 PDT

Kiva Team Invitation (beta)

Kiva (http://www.kiva.org/) is starting beta testing on a new feature on their site called Kiva Teams. Lenders are now allowed to be on teams together, and their total loans, from here forward) can be applied toward a team total...though the loan is still managed and owned by each lender. Social microcredit lending teams, kinda.

I spent some time (pro bono) a couple weeks ago with a Kiva staffer going over UI, strategy and other ideas for Kiva after which she insisted I be a captain of a beta Kiva Team.

Well, Kiva Teams is less than a week old, so just starting to get the ideas of what some benefits might be. One positive benefit may well be group members seeing others loans and joining one another on those loans.

I noticed both Don and Bob in the Kiva Team Ned group loaned to three of the women I'd already loaned to. I hope the ned.com Kiva Team is the first to loan $1,000,000 ... but as the groups start to grow in numbers, the race to be one of the top groups will become more and more competitive, and competition for good is a good thing.

Other benefits will emerge too.

If you would like to join the Ned Kiva Team, please just send me a private message with your email, and I'll send you an invitation to the private beta.

Last comment added: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:07:55 PDT

Site Improvements

How can we improve ned?

Want to abolish all negative feedback? Make things more like Razoo?

Start your ideas here! Ideas that catch probably deserve their own discussions eventually.

This site does not have full time support personnel, but changes will be made as people agree on good ideas, and time permits. Larger features may require raising money and hiring programmers, but that's not out of the question!

Last comment added: Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:39:10 PDT

The Ned.com Five Minute Action Tool

I've been thinking about how ned.com is great for shooting the breeze, getting to know one another, reporting, documentation, even collaboration on shared documents from time to time. But there isn't a framework for actions yet, which is why I think we find ourselves 1) spread out across other "action" platforms and 2) without a "history" building tool to record actions.

So I've been thinking about a possible build that could help change this situation, if it seems sufficiently worthwhile to other members. Here's the idea:

Within the "Groups" feature of ned.com, create an "Actions" tab that reads alongside "home," "discussions," workspace, etc.
When clicked, the "action" tab bring the visitor to a "landing" page not unlike discussions, with the exception that I reads as "Actions":
- Top 5 actions
- Most recent actions
- etc
There several options a visitor can consider/take:
- Browse "current" actions
- Browse "completed" actions
- Start and action
- Join an action

Browse actions

Purpose: Enable visitors and members alike to connect with, support and record member-initiated actions Like all ned.com "browse" tools, a simple way to get a high-level grasp of what's taking place around ned.com.

Key features:

Actions in a group

Actions in related groups

Actions by members (with a way to browse members by number of actions/completed actions/current actions as well)

All actions

Start an action

Purpose: Enable members to create time-driven action campaigns to which they can recruit internal (ned.com) and external (facebook etc) support to carry out some activity.

Key features:

Create site-wide visibility and some action

Categorize the action by type (ie entrepreneurship, art, tech, human rights, etc), geography, need (donation, sign a petition, etc)

Establish goals and targets ie number of members engaged, amount raised, etc

Time sensitive ie beginning and end dates

Build in links to a handful of simple, related tools, such as dropcash, pledgebank etc so that it is easy to support an action with external tools

"Lock" mode (like "workspaces") so that basic description and parameters of the action can be enforced it has been initiated

Recruitment tools, for example notify group members that a new action has been created

Comment thread so that people who have joined the action can provide feedback, etc

"Freeze" mode once action has been completed ie no more open comments, etc

Join an action

Purpose: Enable ned.com members to become a part of and support clearly defined, trustworthy actions initiated by fellow members.

Key features:

"Join" the action and see basic data about the action ie number of members, who they are, etc

"Support" the action by stating the nature and level of support members commit to

"Rate" the action by level of enjoyment, etc derived from participation in the action

Provide feedback via comment board on action experience

Be rewarded with reputation points for joining the action and support by recruiting others etc

That's the basic idea - what do others think? For the programmers and technically savvy, does this seem doable within the existing ned.com framework?

Last comment added: Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:17:02 PDT

Michezo Afrika International Cup

Kampala Junior Team are keenly looking forward to taking part in the Michezo Afrika International Cup tournament in Nairobi, Kenya this August.

This thread is to discuss everything to do with KJT's Michezo ambitions!

Last comment added: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:58:09 PDT

Teaching Ethics

Some of you know that I have been fighting a long term battle with cheating in my classes. It's not just me. All of the foreign teachers have had problems with it. And it's not just that the students only cheat in classes taught by foreigners. It is a complex cultural issue. In many ways, the children are taught to cheat from the day they are born.

Thailand is well known for her corruption and general lack of respect for intellectual property rights. Just about every computer in Thailand has a windows operating system but I would be surprised if there were more than 1% that were legitimate. They even sell fake certification stickers. DVDs are pirated, bribes are paid to every level of public official and much of it quite out in the open. In all of the current political turmoil in the country, cheating and vote buying is at the center. The people do not see the connection between the case where they are stopped by a police officer and pay him a bribe and the politician who wants to get elected paying a farmer for his vote.

Cheating is defined by wikipedia as

Cheating (also called gulling) is an act of lying, deception, fraud, trickery, imposture, or imposition. Cheating characteristically is employed to create an unfair advantage, usually in one's own interest, and often at the expense of others. Cheating implies the breaking of rules. The term "cheating" is less applicable to the breaking of laws, as illegal activities are referred to by specific legal terminology such as fraud or corruption. Cheating is a primordial economic act: getting more for less

In a culture where there is little value placed on creativity and ingenuity, advancement is dependent on position and getting the position is dependent on either a hierarchical advantage or cheating.

If you combine this with the normal competition of succeeding in University, regardless of what culture, and the fact that these students are studying in a second language that they are not good in, you might be able to start to appreciate the problem we are facing.

As we look to establish a program preparing undergraduates to deal in the area of international business we are challenged with the task of teaching them how to look at other cultures and the differences that exist. The task of preparing them to be able to interact with people who are different than they are and who work under different rules is important. There are countries that will not work in Thailand because of the corruption problems. When you are in a country where a bribe is considered a requirement and you are from a country that views that act as an indictable offense, there is a tension that arises. Our task is to prepare these students to work with international companies in a way that does not put the international businessman at risk.

Last year an Academic Misconduct Policy was written, evaluated and translated into Thai. At the beginning of this academic year, the faculty in our program were told that it was the driving policy. There were fliers distributed declaring the faculty a "cheat free zone". The students were all presented with the policy on the first day of class and it was explained and discussed.

To make a long story short, I have had a serious problem with students violating the Academic Misconduct Policy. And I have had problems with the Thai faculty members supporting the policy. I have promised to resign. I have had students ask me not to.

I have thought about all of it. I said that I would resign because I really didn't want to be associated with a faculty that did not support ethics. I still don't.

I want to see these young adults grow.

I was afraid that I was imposing a culture that was not theirs. I didn't really know how to proceed. So yesterday I went to visit Shikamat Jinda, my Buddhist nun friend at Srisa Asoke.

Results?

My ethical expectations are no different than hers. Christian - Buddhist, both find this behavior objectionable. We share the same desire to see the students rise above this aberration of their culture.

I did not feel comfortable with the "Academic Misconduct Policy" because it is negative. It is nothing but punishment of behavior. In this case it also happens to be quick, drastic punishment of behavior that they have for more than 15 years of their short lives been taught is acceptable.

I will be proposing to the International BBA program faculty a new approach.

The Mission, Vision and Philosophy of the faculty lifts up that we graduate students who have good business basics and are diligent, ethical and socially responsible. We have a way to evaluate academics. This year we instituted a way to evaluate diligence. There is really no current program for social responsibility or way to evaluate it. I will propose that we institute a recommendation of community service and a special certificate for a minimum participation in community service projects either those organized by the university or even better, ones that the students or program come up with on their own. Then, regarding the ethics....

The University and the Faculty academic affairs committee are willing to fail a student for cheating on an in-class exam. (That is the only think they consider cheating.) I say, OK. Work with that. Then, in addition, in our program, we continue to cite and document ethics violations. If the student goes a semester without an ethics violation, one of the violation citations disappears. Two semesters free of violations and 2 more disappear. Etc. At the end of their academic career, we look at their progress in all of the areas. In ethics, if there remain no or some minimal number of violations, we issue a citation that the student has demonstrated an understanding of ethical behavior....in some suitably dignified language. Then, we look at all four areas and one student is selected as the best over-all graduate weighing all areas. Maybe it won't be the student with the highest GPA. But it will be a huge honor. Maybe we can even find a sponsor for it who will provide an award.

I have already set in motion a class next semester in Buddhism for the first year students (the ones who are studying only English, remedial maths and study skills) so that they can at the get-go understand the basis for what we are trying to do. Following that with a course in their first academic year on business ethics and 3 consecutive semesters in "ethical" economics.... Maybe instead of axing students who just haven't had the opportunity to learn to be ethical, we can provide the opportunity and incentive for them to change.

Where we start in life isn't nearly as important as where we land up.

Last comment added: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:15:51 PDT

Minciu Sodas

Should we be entering into a dialogue with Minciu Sodas to see if there might be ways to work together?

edited to add link

Last comment added: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:25:34 PDT

Progress with Apportionment & the Nonprofitslist

With the completion of the apportionment earlier this year of all the poorer countries to be included in the first allocation of the World Connectory Project, the task of apportionment that was begun in 2005 was then at the halfway point.

With the completion today of the 120 partner areas from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, that together make up the Eastern Europe world zone, the task is now five-eighths completed.

Another milestone - just fifteen more world zones to be done!

Last comment added: Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:26:59 PDT

Mindfulness

DISCLAIMER This is rambling. This is thinking. Call it (at this point) individual brainstorming. I have posted this here because I want to work with each of you and share these ideas to build an organized vision and maybe lead to an insight in a positive forward direction. I speak of Buddhism not being a Buddhist but admiring much of what I see. I am not an expert.

I believe deep in my heart that every person on the globe wants to move their life forward toward something better.

The problem is figuring out the direction. We wander. We look around us to see what others are doing and kind of figure the direction most people is going is the right direction.

Some of us travel that path and find that it really isn't going anywhere that we want to go and screw up enough courage to try to swim upstream.

I guess I feel like I have always been swimming upstream. I mean I gave my first doom and gloom speech on the environment to a large church group in 1966. (About the same time I was protesting the war in Vietnam.)

I got into this mode of thinking by the constant comments when I speak about Sufficiency Economy here in Thailand (remember, this is a philosophy developed by the King of Thailand) that I must be crazy. How could I get into the Sufficiency Economy thing when I am an American?

People in Thailand and much of the rest of the world, believe that the west (most visibly and audibly America) has the answers to happiness and well being. They don't have a clue. But why should I be surprised that Thais and Africans don't understand that the western goal of mindless consumerism and endless accumulation is not the answer when those who are living in the middle of that and know that it is not really the answer keep chasing it?

When I came to first learn about Buddhist Economics, it grabbed me. Most simply stated it is economics where ethics matter. Where people are central. Where having a job is more than making money; it is honing a skill and having pride in your work and knowing that you are contributing to society with your work. It is an economics where the focus is not on the accumulation of wealth but rather a measure of how you distribute your wealth.

One of the biggest problems with it is that it is still, in many ways, a regional, cultural concept that is fully shrouded in Buddhism. That is not to say that there is anything wrong with that. It is to say that it is my belief that as long as it wears that outer layer, not many people will look at the beauty inside it. I have more than once joked with Aj. Apichai that I thought I was called to take the Buddhism out of Buddhist Economics. I am just not sure how to do that so that it can speak to millions of people in the west who I believe are searching for the answers it points to.

The hub in Buddhist Economics is the Buddhist concept of relieving suffering. Relieving suffering for oneself and for all those around us. The goals of the Buddhist Philosophy are to examine (in your own life) the causes of suffering. The central cause of suffering is identified as attachment. Attachment to things and people and ideas - attachment to anything - limits our satisfaction.

Buddhism seems to be focused on awareness: self awareness, awareness of others and awareness of our actions and their effects....looking for causes.

Mindfulness.

It is a term that was focused into my vision last year when I went to the conference in Budapest. There was another conference participant, Joel Magnuson who is from Portland. He is an economist who teaches at Portland State University and Portland Community College. He has written a great textbook "Mindful Economics".

mindfulness
thinking about what you are doing
thinking about why you are doing it
thinking about what the effects of doing it are going to be

Mindfulness.... It makes me think of all the times I would get in hot water with my mother and would land up saying "... but I didn't think it would matter" or "I didn't think you would care" and she would come back with "That is precisely the point: you didn't think." She used that phrase often. I hope she knows that now I at least try to think.

Your turn...

Last comment added: Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:30:11 PDT

Great Profiles!

With 1,096 members now on Ned (when I last looked), it is inevitable that we are all going to miss things that we would really not have wanted to miss, and wouldn't have missed, had we just known about them.

With the "what's new" function, it is relatively easy to keep an eye on all the discussions here and read just those that are of particular interest to us.

We are less likely to see the updates in people's profiles. Usually I take a look when someone first joins - and then it is usually either blank, almost blank or cut and pasted from Facebook or the person's CV.

I miss the more considered versions that follow.

This thread is a place to share Great Profiles we have discovered and which we think deserve a wider audience.

Last comment added: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:10:16 PDT

Mark's Birthday :)

It is Mark Grimes' birthday either today (10th), tomorrow (11th) or on Friday the 12th.

Meron has been comprehensively useless (hehehe) in helping to nail down the correct date but I will not be deterred by a lack of accurate information. (yeah, yeah - it's easy for you all to be funny when I give you GOLD like that to work with!!)

So............

Last comment added: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:04:02 PDT

Busoga Shining Light Association

It has been long without writting but following the discussions at Ned. I found out that all what has been taking place are constructive if done practically.

I take up this opportunity to introduce all the members of Ned to Busoga Shinig Light Association blog http://busoga.blogspot.com/

All ideas are welcome to make the project a success.

Last comment added: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:21:10 PDT

TEN makes changemakers/ashoka finalists - we now need help driving votes!

Im happy to say that The Emancipation Network has made the finals of the recent Changemakers competition - Ending Global Slavery.

This now become a get out the vote campain and any help you can give us at driving votes on any social network you belong to.

The vote should be for "A Business Solution to Fighting Slavery"

The link is here http://www.changemakers.net/en-u s/competition/freedom

Here is the script for a vote button:

<a href="http://www.changemakers.net/competition/freedom" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.changemakers.net/file s/HU_button_vert.gif" width="100" height="160" border="0"></a

Ill be creating some emails and text as well

Thanks in advance for your help. If we win all of the $5000 will be used in the Destiny profram to buy sewing machines and pay wages to the survivors in the new center we have opened.

Last comment added: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:02:22 PDT

Meet and Greet New NED Members - July-August 2008

Welcome to Ned. Please tell other members what you do, what your passion is, how you found Ned, and even what you like to do to make the world a better place (if you wish). Simply just introduce yourself and say howdy to other members as they do the same.

Ultimately whether you spend 15 minutes at Ned a month or 2-3 hours a day, each Ned member needs to find their own Ned Muse to let the Ned community become a meaningful part of their lives. Human beings connecting.

This is your community, your ideas, your time, your efforts, and your actions. This is a community of real people, using real names, working in the real world (well, and at Ned)...taking real actions to make the world a better place. Really.

We are fortunate enough to enjoy incredible members from many countries around the world, and we all work together in a community of mutual respect and humor with an eye towards doing real world things and making the world a better place. Have fun, and please if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask a question here, Nedsters tend to be a very friendly sort. Many of us have met face-to-face at various events around the world during the last three years.

Okay, introductions...I started the thread going...so having drawn the short straw, I'll go first.

I am Linda Nowakowski. I am an American ex-pat living in the Issan region of northeastern Thailand. I teach mainly Economics in the Faculty of Management Science at Ubon Ratchathani University. I am also a graduate student in the Integral Development Studies Program doing research in Heterodox Economics and the development of metrics for measuring development in non-monetary communities primarily focusing on children.

I love learning, discovering how people learn and helping other people learn. I knew I would be a teacher in the 3rd grade!

I believe that ethics is important. Maybe more important than anything else. It is the foundation of trust, society AND economics no matter what anyone tells you. :-)

Ugly things happening to children from bad teaching in Thailand to disenfranchised Karen refugee families to disease and starvation in Uganda to psychological abuse in the US to genocide in Darfur fire me to action.

Meeting people from this network face-to-face refreshes and enlivens me!

Your turn....

(EDIT grammar - shame on me!)

Last comment added: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:46:37 PDT

Kindling enthusiasm for the Worldwide Connectory

Originally I gave this thread the title of "Selling the Worldwide Connectory" pointing out that I wasn't talking about a commercial sale but how best to "sell" the idea of the World Connectory Project? John Powers has alerted me to the misunderstanding that could arise from the original title and, thanks to his good advice, I've re-named it. His continually helpful ideas have also prompted me to gather some of his ideas and others into a Kindling workspace.

I'm still as enthused as ever with the prospect of every district in every developed country in the world having the responsibility for working with a district in one of the world's most poverty-stricken countries. By including ALL of the wealthiest and ALL of the poorest areas in the world, the Worldwide Connectory offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives.

People in poor countries have seen little benefit from top-down aid - either because promises of aid have not be kept or have been scaled down or else because corrupt practices have siphoned off the benefits intended for the poor. In contrast, the WWC will offer poor people direct access to potential allies in developed countries who have a capacity to offer real help through local projects based in the actual communities where poor people live.

Many of these local projects are already operative. The Worldwide Connectory has the potential both to recruit new supporters for existing projects and also to help develop and support new projects chosen by the very people most in need of the resources to build themselves new and sustainable livelihoods. But recruitment won’t just happen. The project will need the oxygen of publicity if it is to take on a sustainable life of its own.

Hence this thread.

I feel as if I’m sitting in the middle of a coalfield with stacks of coal all around me and with the WWC idea like a lighter in my hands. There is a capacity here to harness a huge stock of energy to warm communities across the globe.

But actually to ignite the coal will require some kindling. And that kindling will involve a range of practical publicity techniques or strategies. Among those that I think need to be recruited to the cause are the following:

International development non-profits
National & local media in over a hundred countries
Translation services
Geography teachers
Organisations with a worldwide membership

Others whose support could be invaluable might include

Celebrities
TV programme makers
Producers of a best-selling (or top-rated) video, book or film
Award panels for best new ideas

So, what is it that can ensure that the WWC idea most easily catches fire and burns ever more warmly and brightly?

Last comment added: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:17:57 PDT

How Could/Should Ned.com Measure Its Success Over 12 Months?

This is Luke, acting as Mark's proxy, since he didn't have enough points to start a discussion. Oh the poverty of it all!

I would think that ned.com's success will need to be measured on collective goals -- unless ned.com is an entity unto itself. This is a real consideration, and something someone mentioned in another thread. Is there a difference between ned.com-the community and ned.com? I'd say that's a question for Mark to answer, since he does own this domain. It's not unlike omidyar network vs. omidyar.net.

So, Mark, is ned.com a different entity than this community? If that's the case, then I think that we have two discussions on our hands.

Last comment added: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:34:34 PDT

Oxfam and social enterprise

I was interested to learn recently that Oxfam is contemplating an increase of activity in Russia in the area of social enterprise development.

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/resource s/countries/russia.html

So, representing an organisation who was able to initiate a pioneering social enterprise development project there 9 years ago, I made contact with their sponsor section.

I emailed, explaining that as a small scale social enterprise, we had no large funds to donate, but could offer the social capital of our own research and progress in this area.

They declined my offer by return of mail. I wrote back, explaining that this was free to for them to use, as anyone else having been made publicly accessible via the web and that ignoring what had already been established might incur spending more donations than needed on this research.

The response to that was that they would forward the information to the Russian office. No response from them since in the last week.

Should I be disappointed in this? As a social enterprise we have commercial interest in being recognised for our efforts, but so often it seems that we're in competition and in this case with a major organisation with large amounts of public donations available to diminish our contribution.

Jeff

Last comment added: Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:22:07 PDT

So You Think You're Connected?

I have a friend who lives 2 minute's walk away from me, close to the center of the village. He's lived here for at least 10 years. The Development Trust I work for has had a permanent presence here (an office and a cafe) for over 7 years, situated at the upper end of the High Street and opposite the Village Hall and Community Center. Until I started working there just over a year ago he had never heard of the Trust or the Cafe - the question is, why not? Two reasons - Firstly he doesn't need to walk that far (not far at all!) to do his shopping, or to visit friends ( by his own admission he is socially isolated, having been restricted by the demands of bringing up his severely autistic son who needs at least 2 carers with him wherever he goes, and not being a "native"); Secondly, the Trust has failed to make it's presence and the opportunities it offers known to him.

So how connected are we in this interconnected age? Are we becoming complacent and too dependent on telephones (my friend has 3), mass media (he has 2 TVs), the Internet (he has broadband) ? Are we losing our will and ability to interact with and within our own communities? Are we failing to develop our communication technologies to meet our community needs, or are we forgetting how to build and maintain social bonds by more traditional means ? I suspect both.

Then I look around at reports from struggling groups and communities in Africa and elsewhere and there too I see huge holes in the communication infrastructures - the girls at Project Mae Usu have no contact with their families; communities devastated by AIDS struggle to circulate vital health information; desperate people miss out on Aid because they didn't find out about it in time; local groups such as Kayiwa Fred and his Football Club make valuable connections across the Globe but struggle to get information about meetings and events to their members.

I wonder if we are connected in ways we do not realise - circumstances and environments differ hugely, but our basic human needs are the same. We would all benefit from better communication with our immediate neighbours - that's what makes a community a Community, and more than just the place where fate decrees you must live.

Edited to remove back ticks from failed links (please be patient!)

Please see the sample workspace I created, `QuarryVillages`_ , any suggestions on improving the format etc would be appreciated

Last comment added: Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:36:53 PDT

Beyond Angel Funding

Great information and ideas beyond traditional angel funding for new startup biz models.

http://www.socialedge.org/discus sions/funding/new-model-for-ange l-investment

Last comment added: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:48:14 PDT

Digital Money

Dear NEDsters

I am wondering who among you has thought about Digital Money as a solution to the problems that 'casino capitalism' has created?

I am looking for Ebay / PayPal dreamers and doers to make it happen the sustainable way - especially after I read the entry in Wikipedia. I imagine that these entrepreneurs who operate 'within the system' don't know how they could use their power to make a huge difference 'from without'.

Any suggestions?

Yours gratefully in advance,

Sabine

PS. In the UK, I started an on-line petition as a 'political tool' appealing to officials to prove Yunus wrong: that institutions can deliver what they are set up to deliver.

Would you click through to http://www.gopetition.co.uk/peti tions/stop-the-cash-crumble-to-e qualize-the-credit-crunch.html?

Last comment added: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:35:49 PDT

Picture Piecing

I thought of Peace Tiles the moment I saw this -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales /north_west/7521914.stm

I like it! I'm going to see it next week :)

Last comment added: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:31:17 PDT

From the mouths of children

embed

Last comment added: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:11:20 PDT

Depression

Depression is a confusing condition for doctors as well as people who suffer with it and their families. There are still arguments that rage over whether it is a disease or a disorder. There are still people who believe that people who are suffering with depression are just sad, or lazy or emotionally, psychologically weak.

I struggle with all of those things but I just don't care what it is called. I know it is real. I know it is devastating. I know that it strains and even destroys families and friendships. Been there and done that. I am also pretty much convinced that unless you have suffered with this condition yourself, you will never really be convinced that it is real.

I have been an over-achiever and a work-aholic all of my life. I no longer make either of those confessions with any pride. I have no scientific evidence to back me up but I believe that they are (at least in my case) coping mechanisms or maybe better, coping avoidance mechanisms.

I was first diagnosed with clinical depression some 12 years ago when I was still married and living a "normal" family life. At that time, I was working full time, doing about 40 hours a week of volunteer work, and still running a household, doing hobbies like gardening and embroidery and lots of reading as well as making all of or my own clothes and doing lots of entertaining.

Then one day I found myself sitting in the center of the floor in the bathroom unable to clean it. I was paralyzed. At that point I sought medical/psychiatric help. I then went through the anti-depressant drug therapy and psychiatric counseling routine.

I know that the drugs helped. To a point. I hated being on them. I couldn't think clearly. arggghhh.... I don't even want to think about those times.

I was on drugs for about 2 years. I finally went to my psychologist and told him that there had to be another way. I had read all of the statistics that once you were diagnosed with depression the chances of recurrence increased and the period of time between episodes decreased. I told him that I needed something other than drugs to cope. I needed to know how to recognize the early symptoms and have some coping mechanisms in place so that I could actively help myself not to get in the hole. He smiled and took on the challenge. Within a couple of months I was off of drugs and feeling better than I had in years. I was strong again and was able to endure the agony of a divorce, the failure of a business and a move to Thailand.

I will be the last person to tell you that the last 10 years have been depression free. I have had episodes but I really do recognize the symptoms and have been able to deal with it all amazingly well.

The reason this is coming out here now is that I am in the middle of the biggest battle I have faced in that time and I am trying to negotiate my way through it. One of the biggest problems I face is that I am isolated here. This is term break through the end of the month and almost all of the 9,000 students on campus and most of the faculty members are gone. I have virtually no one to interact with and everyday is filled with frustration as I deal with the typical daily problems I face here - no transportation, the library is closed, the internet goes down, no one understands my English and my Thai is not sophisticated enough to communicate what I want to communicate.

Last night I found myself sitting staring out the dark window into the night and trying to pull my thoughts out of a downward spiral and I couldn't find a single good thing that happened yesterday to grab on to...I have things to do and I can not do them.

I am writing this not because I want any sympathy. I am writing it for much more selfish reasons. I need to focus on something and feel like I have accomplished some small thing.

Please, if you have someone in your life who is suffering like this, don't minimize it. Hold on to them and help them focus on the little good things in their life that they just can't see at the moment. It's not going to bring world peace or end world poverty or feed children who are starving but then again....if they come out of it stronger than they were before, maybe it will help all of those things.

Last comment added: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:16:56 PDT