Gaia Community: Peace Through Commerce's Blog

Play a game, build a business.

http://ptc.gaia.com — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 19:27:58 GMT

PBS has a game called "Build A Socially Conscious Business" which enables and inspires you to do just that. Hat tip to Lila Ingram for drawing this to my attention.

This game is part of a bigger series on PBS called "The New Heroes", which highlights and profiles entrepreneurs of all stripes. It's a wonderful respite from the constant whining of the mainstream news media.

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The Peace Through Commerce event in Austin, Texas.

http://ptc.gaia.com — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 18:59:28 GMT

David James posted a thought-provoking blog entry on the Peace Through Commerce event last Saturday in Austin, Texas that inspired me to formulate my own list of questions for personal reflection. Many of my own questions arise when I start to wonder why a government program or restriction created to help people actually turns out to hurt them. So here is a thought scenario followed by a few questions.

Thought Scenario #1: The Unintended Consequences of Good Intentions
All actions have consequences, and the consequences of actions is what we have to deal with and negotiate in everyday life. Sometimes, even actions undertaken with the best intentions- like outlawing child labor- have terrible consequences that end up hurting more than they help. For example, some scholars suggest that in Thailand and India, child labor laws have led to an increase in the number of children being "born into brothels". Both alternatives are horrifying. Good intentions do not determine policy outcomes. Assuming this, think about the following questions and try to identify the "winners", the "losers", the "good intentions", and the actual consequences of the policy in question.

Agricultural subsidies to corn (and ethanol) farmers in America
US Dept. of Homeland Security contracts with airline companies
Environmental regulations requiring use of expensive new cleaners in workplace
Occupational safety regulations in the workplace

Tags: peace through commerce, questions, food for thought, free trade, markets, good intentions, working for good

Airport reading to rock your world.

http://ptc.gaia.com — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 04:48:01 GMT

Having logged some time in airports this weekend, I was surprised to discover how many exciting and inspiring articles graced the covers of mainstream business magazines. A few examples include "The Do-Gooders" (currently gracing the cover of the New Yorker) and this issue of Inc. magazine, devoted to eco-capitalists. Other articles with a similiar, inspiring, cusp-of-the-horizon flavor:

"The Big Disruptors: 11 Companies. 11 Big Ideas That Will Change Everything"
"12 Startups to Launch Now", Business 2.0
"The 20 Smartest Companies to Start Now", Business 2.0
"Companies That Can Change the World", Assure Consulting
"America's Best Young Entrepreneurs", Businessweek
"Help for Young Entrepreneurs", Businessweek- This is a GREAT list of links and resources for the young business entrepreneurs as well as social entrepreneurs.

Tags: business articles, innovators, young entrepreneurs, companies, startups

Visionary Entrepreneur Profile #1 / Thomas R. Clifford

http://ptc.gaia.com — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:50:47 GMT

The first in this series of interviews and conversations with visionary entrepreneurs is one of our very own zaadzters. Thomas R. Clifford, also known as Director Tom, describes himself as a "Corporate Documentary Filmmaker" who is "moving people with moving visions". He is a man who has chased his artistic and professional vision straight to the birth of Spiral Story, his co-creation with Jatin DeSai. How did Director Tom get from being an insurance company employee to managing his own artistic enterprise?

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Alina: How did you come up with your business idea– or how did you discover this niche in the market?

Director Tom: In 1984, I landed in the Television Studio at The Travelers Insurance in Hartford, Connecticut. At that time, the studio was under the Corporate Communications Department. It was a remarkable time for three main reasons: budgets were not an issue, I had three incredible mentors and we had upper management supporting our style of remarkable filmmaking and storytelling. All three elements combined to ignite some of the most interesting video stories for an organization. We literally pioneered employee communications!

Over time, I noticed that my customers actually created my niche. After 10 years as Senior Producer & Director at The Travelers, my style of filmmaking and storytelling was unique…so I capitalized on my strengths and let word-of-mouth marketing do the rest.

Alina: It takes a wise man to see the market, Tom. Speaking of capitalizing, how might young filmmakers and entrepreneurs learn from your experience behind the lens? What is the recipe for a great film?

Director Tom: Here are the main ingredients when I am cooking up a film:

Story is King- Understand the story and emotional connections that drive the story.
Outcome is Queen- Why is someone making a film? What do you want your audience to do? To think? To feel?
Authentic voices- I use very little narration and allow the people in the documentary to shine brightly with their ideas and emotions.
Tripods are taboo!- Hand-held cinematography creates an engaging and “in-the-moment” feel.
Compelling graphics- Eye-catching motion graphics capture the branding elements of an organization, as well as punctuating ideas.
Comfort Zone- Producing films is one of the most powerful things one can create. Its impact is far-reaching. People need to feel comfortable in front of the camera to enable their ideas effectively.
Awe & Mystery- I have an insatiable appetite to understand the world around me…that helps me to discover what is possible in front of the camera, as well as behind the camera.

Alina: Thanks for sharing your recipe, Tom. I'll be honest- your title as "Corporate Documentary Filmmaker" still intrigues me. I guess this is because I don't associate business management with artistic enterprises like film. Running into the limitations of my own imagination on this one, I'd like to know what challenges or limitations you've confronted as an entrepreneur in this niche? What are the two greatest challenges so far?

Director Tom: Two things.

1. Getting businesses to recognize the power of their own story. We swim in stories all day long, but sometimes getting organizations to capitalize on their authentic brand with film stories is challenging.

2. Great films require great talent. I see poorly made films from organizations that do not inspire action or engage the audience...in fact, it’s hurting their brand. Hire talented people to do the best job possible.

Alina: On the brighter side, can you share any really cool success stories- moments when vision, strategy, art, and enterprise combined seamlessly to form the best possible product or outcome?

Director Tom: Yes! I am producing and directing two national films for the public education system throughout the country. The films target high school teens to help change their attitude towards people with a medical condition.

After filming for two days with one of the “heroes” of the film, I discovered a week later that this person felt that appearing in the film was the most positive and life-turning experience so far in their life. Wow!

Alina: Wow, indeed! So in the process of creating your product (i.e. a film), you actually something very positive in addition to this product- namely, a positive social outcome. A life-chaging experience for an individual. Let's chase this line of thought a bit. Have you created any communities of meaning during your tenure as a film entrepreneur?

Director Tom: I co-created Spiral Story with the CEO of DeSai Learning, Jatin DeSai. DeSai Learning specializes in “creating living organizations.”

Spiral Story is an integrated marketing, communications and storytelling service for individuals and organizations seeking to enhance learning and achieving personal bests. We decided to create a new language to create a new culture of learning. Spiral Story features “Spiral Zoomers” or leading-edge thinkers who challenge our current systems of thought…they inspire us to open our eyes and see the world from a different perspective.

Spiral Story is the continuation of my desire to integrate spirituality and business for organizations.   I am always seeking effective ways to communicate and inspire people to action. Employees everywhere are overloaded with data so it’s time to bring storytelling and film stories to organizations!

Alina: This interview is making me smile from ear-to-ear. It's wonderful to hear how you combine work, play, art, spirituality, vision, and love, rather than shuttling between the compartmentalized sections of your life. On a less exciting note, any advice on good softwate? What software helps you most?

Director Tom: Authenticity!

Honestly…all things Apple. I have production teams responsible for the shows; AVID, Final Cut Pro and After Effects are the tools we use.

Alina: Good to know. What is your greatest personal accomplishment?

Director Tom: “The Men Who Brought the Dawn” is the story about the two atomic missions to Japan. It is a one-hour, world-wide documentary I co-produced and features the surviving airmen who flew those missions. A shorter version of the film featuring the segment on the Enola Gay flight is now part of the permanent collection in The Smithsonian Institution.

Alina: That's incredible! And I love the raw, historical, human nature of the topic. Any personal mantras, mottos, or inspirations that inspire you or keep you going?

Director Tom: Deepak Chopra has deeply influenced me over the past 10 years. I love this quote from Deepak…I try to be mindful of its meaning every day:

“You and I are essentially infinite choice-makers. In every moment of our existence, we are in that field of all possibilities where we have access to an infinity of choices.”

Alina: What would you tell a young entrepreneur who is having a hard time finding an outlet for his vision? Can you provide a list?

Director Tom: Brand yourself! Ask yourself: “How am I differentiating myself from the hundreds of others who do the same thing I do?” There are several great books on personal branding. The one I enjoyed the most and recommend is “Pop: Stand Out in Any Crowd” by Sam Horn.

Sit silently. Find the time to sit quietly to “create your day.” Ask the tough questions very few seem to ask: Why am I here? What do I want? Who am I serving? You will get the answers you are seeking by asking.

Alina: Thank you so much for your time, creativity, generosity, and inspiration, Tom! If you've enjoyed this interview, here are a few more butterflies to chase, follow, or ponderize:

Tom's blog
Tom's blog at zaadz.com, where you can learn more about Jihari windows and other cool stuff.
Tom's bookmarks, fascinating links and stories.
Check out a few Stories In Motion.
Learn more about Tom's business, Spiral Story, and its philosophy.
Daniel Pink's Zoomer at Spiral Story.
Join the Spiral Community at Spiral Story.

Tags: director tom, spiral story, desai learning, corporate documentary filmmaking, filmmaking, entrepreneurial visionary profile, flow, peace through commerce, art, visionaries

PTC in business schools?

http://ptc.gaia.com — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:48:43 GMT

"A World of Good: Business, Business Schools, and Peace" is a report of the AACSB International Peace Through Commerce Task Force which delves into the role of businessmen and business schools in facilitating and creating the conditions for peace. A fascinating look at how business schools are engaging the increased drive for social entrepreneurship.

Tags: aacsb, peace through commerce task force, report, business schools, social enteprise, peace through commerce

How cell phones are helping fishermen in India.

http://ptc.gaia.com — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 23:43:30 GMT

It's always exciting to read a story about how technology is shaping the lives of people around the world, from farmers in Alabama to fishermen in Pallipuram, India. Kevin Sullivan's story for The Washington Post reveals what I learned when visiting peasant villages in Romania-- the cell phone is "the poor man's phone". Why does this matter? Well, I'll let one of the fishermen explain:

"The two crucial changes that have happened in my lifetime," said Jayan Kadavunkassery, 37, an Andavan crewman in a pink button-down shirt and a lungi, "are the inboard motor and the mobile phone."

Rajan said that before he got his first cellphone a few years ago, he used to arrive at port with a load of fish and hope for the best. The wholesaler on the dock knew that Rajan's un-iced catch wouldn't last long in the fiery Indian sun. So, Rajan said, he was forced to take whatever price was offered -- without having any idea whether dealers in the next port were offering twice as much.

Now he calls several ports while he's still at sea to find the best prices, playing the dealers against one another to drive up the price.

Tags: india, globalization, mobile technology, indian fishermen, flow

And if you live in Austin, Texas...

http://ptc.gaia.com — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 05:23:50 GMT

Then the sun smiles on you because the next Peace Through Commerce event is going to be in your neck of this wonderful world. Register online here.

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"Entrepreneurs of happiness and well-being."

http://ptc.gaia.com — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 21:58:12 GMT

Michael Strong began his discussion of peace through commerce with a phrase that stuck in my head- "entrepreneurs of happiness and well-being". While Michael was referring specifically to his experience as a charter school entrepreneur, he also encouraged all of us to consider our world-changing dreams in this context.

On that note, I thought it might be fun to explore a few more "entrepreneurs of happiness and well-being" that aim to improve how we feel about ourselves and the world. Let's call them optimism entrepreneurs for now.

Learning to Love You More (LTLYM) is a web site and a series of non-web presentations comprised of work made by the general public in response to assignments given by artists Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher. Patricipants accept an assignment, complete it by following the directions, send in ther required report (photo, text, video, etc.) and see their work posted online. LTLYM also awards grants to top submissions.

Like a recipe, meditation practice, or familiar song, the prescriptive nature of these assignments is intended to guide people towards their own experience. As an educational model which encourages people to draw on their own lives and intuitions as data, there is an enormous potential to broaden our horizons above and beyond our usual perspectives. How many ways we can learn from others! George provides his vision of the ideal government, while Jeff Tuyay shares his picture of the sun (pictured above). In scrolling over all these different interpretations of the same "assignment" (i.e. "take a picture of the sun", for example), I am reminded of how much beauty and freedom there is to be gained from opening my mind, my eyes, and my life to the vision of others.

For more inspirations to do good and aim for happiness, don't miss the Five Minute Action Network or The Good News Network, where you can always find something positive to balance the over-reporting of negative news in our mainstream media.

Thanks to Darlene Charneco for info about LYLYM and Geraldine Weis-Corbley for appreciating Frank Zappa and creating the Good News Network.

Posted by Alina / Visionista

Tags: five minute action network, learn to love you more, good news network, flow, happiness entrepreneurs, optimism entrepreneurs

Building a better world, one business at a time.

http://ptc.gaia.com — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 17:51:35 GMT

At last weekend's Peace Through Commerce engagement experience, Mark Frazier and Soleman Idd of OpenWorld.com inspired me with wonderful stories about how globalization and entrepreneurship can make the world a better place. If you are feeling a little skeptical or pessimistic about the power of trade and commerce to assist the poor and oppressed, it might help to see a few stories. Thanks to Mark Frazier for sharing them.

Horizon Lanka Microscholarships: Learn how private vouchers have assisted an entrepreneurial school for the rural poor in Sri Lanka.

ECenters Pilot Project: A recent Openworld-designed, USAID-funded competition to assist communities in Kyrgyzstan with microvouchers, following their land grant commitments to sustain ongoing tech skills development. One of the awesome indirect benefits? Education. Each student learns that the world is so much bigger and brighter than his or her small community, thanks to the enlightening power of the world wide web.

ZonAmerica: Michael Strong shared this example of a green field converted to a business park for knowledge industries on the Openworld free zone model. How cool is that?

The Explorers Foundation announces a new OpenWorld "grassroots land registry initiative" for attracting diaspora investment to rural areas in developing countries.

For information on the Awakening Dormant Assets Toolkit, and how to provide further support, contact Openworld at 202.257.2574 or markf@openworld.com.

Tags: openworld.com, soleman idd, explorers foundation, zonamerica, ecenters, sri lanka, mark frazier

How D.I.Y. culture facilitates entrepreneurship.

http://ptc.gaia.com — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 18:35:31 GMT

One of the greatest "counter-culture" movements to transform the face of the this century is D.I.Y. culture, which stands for Do-It-Yourself. D.I.Y. ethos underlies everything from self-publishing to home improvement. The thinking goes something like this:

Rather than rely on someone else to create what you want, why don't you create it yourself? Rather than expect the bureaucrats in Congress to fix things, why don't you get together a team and try to fix them yourself, since you probably have a better idea of what can be done? Rather than wait for a publisher to appreciate your awesome gardening book, why not publish it yourself? After all, your interests are often not the same.

The politician wants to get re-elected; you want to make the world a better place. The publisher wants to publish a book that will bring back big money; you want to share your gardening knowledge with a few people and make enough money to keep writing. The movie studio wants a blockbuster; you want to make touching, indelible movies based on your values. The public school superintendent wants to please the board; you want your child to gain a life-long love of learning and to fire his intellectual curiosity. And guess what? You can.

Back to D.I.Y. for a minute. Interestingly enough, D.I.Y. was first mainstreamed as a philosophy of action by the early anarchist punk groups, many of whom were involved in the Vietnam war protests and felt strongly about working with recording companies or corporations who did not reflect their values.

A little history from the folks at AllExperts wiki:

Many anarcho-punk bands, especially at the local level of unsigned groups, have taken on what is known as a "DIY" ethic: that is, Doing It Yourself; indeed, a popular Anarcho-punk slogan reads "DIY not EMI", a reference to a conscious rejection of the major record company of that name. Many anarcho-punk bands were showcased on the Bullshit Detector series of LPs released by Crass Records and Resistance Productions Records between 1980 and 1994. There is an argument that despite promoting an anti-capitalist Cassette Culture scene. In this way an attempt was made to bypass the traditional recording and distribution routes, with material often being made available in exchange for "a blank tape plus self-addressed envelope". The anarcho-punk movement also had its own network of fanzines (sometimes called punk-zines) which disseminated news, ideas and artwork from the scene. Again, these were usually very much 'DIY' affairs, tending to be produced in runs of hundreds (at most) rather than thousands (although there were exceptions, such as ideology, these were commodities sold in the market place and thus were inherently contradictory. It is however difficult to see how such groups could otherwise make their music and ideas available, although some anarcho-punk performers were also a part of the Toxic Graffiti), printed on photocopiers or duplicator machines, and distributed by hand at punk gigs.

The punk groups were reacting to the extreme concentration of the recording industry-- before the 1990's, it was extremely difficult for non-mainstream musicians to produce, distribute, or sell an album. With the creative use of the internet and social networks adopted by the indie music movement in the early 1990's, D.I.Y. culture became a matter of course for music artists.

Producing an indie album is now cheaper and faster than getting a music contract from a major record company. Artists also have more freedom to experiment, collaborate, and push the creative envelope. Tons of really cool individuals and teams continue to create this musically-rich and exciting market landscape, including musical artists, bloggers, writers, web designers, corporations, and creative entrepreneurs, to name a few. On that note, a few of the stories that brighten my DIY days:

Unsigned Music Magazine allows artists to celebrate their independent status while tapping into a network that helps connect them to indie musicians and mentors, the best way to an album.
DIY Search Engine allows the indie-oriented to search DIY cultures for anything from clothing to cars.
DIY Audio, billed as "projects for the fanatics by the fanatics".
MySpace.com, which gives even the worst local bands a fan base. And MySpace has done wonders for distribution networks and publicity in the music industry.
Pitchfork Media started as Ryan Scheiber's garage enterprise after high school graduation. It now stands as a sign-post on the indie music scene. Read the wiki version of this story-- it's amazing.

I could keep going, but I'm running out of time and I need to get back to making my wedding invitations. My man and I are doing it ourselves from twine and paper bags and stamps and metal rings. Because we can.

Tags: myspace, unsigned, indie, indie music, d.i.y., anarcho-punk, pitchfork, collectives, counterculture, punk zines

A list of links for peace through commerce and entrepreneurship.

http://ptc.gaia.com — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 20:03:51 GMT

Zero to One Million
Global Text Project
Students in Free Enterprise
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor
Center for Entrepreneurship Education and Development
The Center for Rural Entrepreneurship
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
Global Entrepreneurship Institute
Working for Good Curriculum
Entrepreneurs Rocking This World (MySpace Group)
Bootstrap Roundtable
Radames Soto
The Alliance for Human Empowerment
InfoBase Ventures Blog

Tags: links, entrepreneurship resources, working for good, development, institute, global

Can trade reduce terrorism?

http://ptc.gaia.com — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 19:38:13 GMT

When you read about solutions to the problems posed by terrorism, the mainstream press rarely steps outside of the "security box" known as security strategy, a strategy involving how governments project, maintain, and develop their military power. But is war the only way to "fight" terrorism? Is it event the most effective?

In "A World For Good", Tricia Bisoux outlines an alternate program for terrorism reduction- a program relying on the power of goodness rather than the power of weapons. Bisoux agrees that economics plays a role in terrorism's ability to attract passionate young individuals, though she does not speculate on the extent of this role.

Addressing the economics of terror is something that business schools are particularly well-equipped to do, says David Bornstein, author of How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas. “In business schools, students are taught how to create cultures within companies based on values that create meaning for people, cultures where people strive to behave in a way that is applauded and valued,” says Bornstein. “Ironically, that’s exactly what organizations that spawn terrorists do. So many young people are willing to commit suicide and mass murder for Hamas because there’s a perverse social status reinforcing that kind of behavior. Posters are printed and circulated, their families are compensated, and many are proud to be the mother or brother of a so-called martyr.”

Bisoux goes on to note that "changing that set of values presents no easy task" and the ability to change values might depend on the ability to provide other entrepreneurial opportunities to young people in developing nations. The market for values, much like the market for products, produces better, less stagnant outcomes when competition flourishes.

What might "a business plan for peace" look like? How are entrepreneurs working right now to create a more prosperous, peaceful world in the context of terrorism and the conflicts in the Middle East?

Three Stanford students- Bryan Berkett, Uri Pomerantz, and Hisham Jabi- won the Stanford Social Venture Business Competition a few years ago with their business plan for Jozoor Microfinance. According to the profile in Bisoux's article:

Their ultimate goal was nothing less than to bring an end to violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Jozoor will provide business training and microloans to young Palestinians to help them start their own businesses—and, the three hope, make them less likely to join extremist groups. What makes this collaboration more amazing is that, by all logic, the three should be adversaries, not allies. Berkett is an American Jew from Beverly Hills, California. Pomerantz is an Israeli-American whose aunt was killed in a terrorist attack in Israel. And Jabi is a Palestinian who spent time in an Israeli prison and lost a cousin in an Israeli attack.

These three young men have a great deal of personal and tacit knowledge to apply in their attempts to build peace in the Middle East. What might seem a good reason for emnity-- their different social and ethnic backgrounds- proved to be an asset to them. Make the best of what you are given, and what you give will make the best of you.

Posted by Alina / Visionista

Tags: stanford social venture business competition, tricia bisoux, david bornstein, jozoor, peace through commerce, terrorism, Middle East conflict, Israeli-Palestinian conflict

American students "make learning a business".

http://ptc.gaia.com — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 22:40:53 GMT

Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) works to encourage, enliven, and reward entrepreneurial visions and projects among high school students. It is a free, non-membership service available to all advocates of education in private and social entrepreneurship. More specifically:

SAGE’s mission is to advance ethical business practices, social responsibility, civic engagement and environmental awareness worldwide through high-school level youth participation in entrepreneurship and community service.

Youth use their school learning to become self-reliant, create wealth, and help others. SAGE provides high-school students from throughout the world with an opportunity to complete business and social ventures to improve their communities and showcase their efforts on the world stage.

To this effect, they held the fourth annual SAGE USA competition this year (see this Inc.com article for details). More S.A.G.E. on the web:

Santa Monica Daily Press reporting on the competition
Interview with the founder of SAGE, Dr. Curtis DeBerg
Resources and manuals on how to host your own SAGE competition or how to start a SAGE program at your educational institution
"Students Make A Business of Learning" article

Posted by Alina / Visionista

Tags: students, entrepreneurship, SAGE, curtis deberg, service, programs, resources, contests

PeaceWorks: An entrepreneurial approach to peace-building.

http://ptc.gaia.com — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 17:47:57 GMT

PeaceWorks "fosters coexistence through business". What does this mean? Talk about innovative business models with an investment in social change! Their mission as a "not-ONLY-for-profit company" is undergirded by the Theory of Economic Cooperation, which assumes:

Profitable economic cooperation initiatives can cement relations between rivals in the same way that common-place business partners profit from exchange in today's market place.
In this manner, business can enable the conditions necessary to achieve long-lasting social understanding and prosperity in conflict regions around the world. PeaceWorks acts at the catalyst for economic interdependence.

Applying their beliefs and values to their business strategy, the vision-driven entrepreneurs at Peaceworks strive for a holistic understanding of their impact on individuals, communities, the environment, and the world at large. Check out their Cooperation Eco-System, which actually deals with one of the main psychological reasons for the prevalence of conflict-- namely, the mental assumption that people in India or Burma or Australia are "other", which then allows us to de-humanize them or to assume they do not want the same things that we want (i.e. friendship, meaning, love, security, freedom, peace, and prosperity, among other things).

Commercial Cooperation
Businesses profiting from joint ventures gain a vested interest in maintaining and cementing these valuable relations.
+
Regional Participation
Peoples and countries prospering under these cooperative activities gain a stake in the system, furthering stability.
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Human Interaction
People working together under conditions of equality learn to shatter cultural stereotypes and humanize their formerly evil enemy
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Job Creation and Export Led Growth
We connect local producers and manufacturers, creating profit opportunities for the region as a whole. The rising volume of exports and the subsequent job creation stimulates local economies and contributes to a rise in the standard of living.
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Employment & Technology
Increasing output through exports generates economies of scale and reduces costs, making ventures in conflict regions more competitive. Export initiatives with overseas partners also benefit from transfer of better systems, enhanced professionalism, technology transfers and technical know-how.
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Peace Building
As groups learn to work together, cultural stereotypes are shattered and the enemy is demystified and humanized.

The Peaceworks Foundation gives a percentage of their profits to OneVoice, a movement to empower Israelis and Palestinians seeking nonviolent solutions to the conflict in the Middle East.

Posted by Visionista

Tags: peaceworks, onevoice, cooperation eco-system, theory of economic cooperation, peacebuilding, not-only-for-profit

Exploring "citizen peacebuilding".

http://ptc.gaia.com — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 17:30:19 GMT

For those wishing to explore the relationship between peace and commerce, the idea of "citizen peacebuilding" is a good place to start. Professor and social entrepreneur John L. Graham discusses how trade promotes peace in "Trade Brings Peace- An Essay About One Kind of Citizen Peacebuilding". He draws on the work of Karl Popper and Mark Granovetter to demonstrate how social networks and entrepreneurship can improve community circumstances and make violent conflict less attractive. We all know that despair and hopelessness make it easier for humans to seek drastic violent "solutions" to their problems. So how do we empower humans to prevent or remedy this despair in their own lives and / or communities?

For those unfamiliar with "citizen peacebuilding", the Center for Citizen Peacebuilding might be illuminating. You can watch a video about CCP here, or take a minute to read the mission statement. Also, cruise over to The Malawi Project, which really illustrates the tasks of citizen peacebuilding on the ground.

Posted by Visionista

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