Let us brainstorm another "save the world" website

[Sunnybayes]

So who wants to help me brainstorm another "save the world" website?

There are tones of charities and organizations and other stuff out there.

But to me, it seems the main problem is visibility. All the information is out there on the internet, but its so scattered out there. Or people are just too damned doom and gloomish.

Also another big problem is that there is not really any interaction with the people. It just seems like there are these websites with articles, but then you can't really tell if anyone is doing anything. Motivation is intrinsically tied with people.

There is no clear leader. I don't know. Maybe I don't watch TV enough to know if there is a clear leader.

I'm thinking something like an open source solution.

My main idea, its rough, is that it will be something like Wikipedia, but with a purpose.

-there will be a list of purposes (as a heirarchy, there could well be tens of thousands or millions of actions that people could do)
-all purposes would be linked to the main purpose of "knowing how things are going and that everything is probably cool beans"
-people would be able to volunteer to do a purpose
-people would be able to exactly see how their actions will help us get closer to the goal
-people would be able to see exactly how their money is going to be used, and could see the exact cash flow of the organization
-totally visibility
-anyone who sees any problem at all in their communities, or even personal problems would be able to submit a purpose
-people could see what other people are doing (bandwagon effect)
-The actions of people would be managed by the people
-This could be something like online democracy or something like that. People could make decisions by taking test for basic knowlege, or something like that
-People who know things (like with connections, like with getting in tact with important people) can keep a list of contacts.
-Would be able to easily link in other organizations.
-There would be open discussion of the best actions that could be taken in the most efficient manner, and then the best actions could be voted on. Or something like that.
-people would be anonymous
-people would volunteer to consolidate redundant information, because it seems like everyone has a different language for the exact same things


The real motivation is that it will be an awesomely fun thing to do. People would have fun doing it... and it needs to be fun. It will "give power to the people" again.. and get rid of the helpless feeling.

There would have to be really really strong moderation/b.s. detection.
Why? Because corporations and governments would have their own motives and are likely to throw in their own B.S./confusing arguments to cause confusion and inaction.

I'll have to think about this some more. There could be some huge and obvious faults that I've missed. Anyone else have ideas?

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by Sunnybayes

There are tones of charities and organizations and other stuff out there.

But to me, it seems the main problem is visibility. All the information is out there on the internet, but its so scattered out there.

One of the volunteer organizations I work with focuses on this for the local area:

"Essentially, the Volunteer Center bridges the gap between the nonprofit/public sector and the private community. One of our strengths is our flexibility. We can provide on-going or one-time volunteer opportunities. We partner with large corporations who are looking for community service projects and we work with students who want to spend a weekend or a semester improving their community and building their resume. Busy adults can use our Hands On Durham network to find one-time volunteer opportunities. Whatever your area of interest: children, literacy, the environment, animals, hunger, homelessness... we have meaningful volunteer opportunities."

"Immediate goals for the organization include: strengthen all of our programs, improve our visibility in the community and grow -- in an effort to serve more clients and better meet the needs of the community; the ultimate goal being to help Durham and the surrounding area maximize its potential as a strong, viable and amazing place to live and work."

Untitled document
The Volunteer Center of Durham

Apparently there's a national version as well:

http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/

[Sunnybayes]

Thanks for the links openeyes.

Just wanted to link this post here.

Kelly seems to really know how things work, at least in the charities sense.
Contributing Through Your Career (Blog)

[williamhessian]

i personally really like this idea. i cant imagine how much work it will take to pull off. but if done right, i can see it changing the world. i would be down for getting involved and helping out.

[Brutha]

I have moved the above posts from http://www.stevepavlina.com/forums/s...ave-world.html to this forum because I think that gives them a better chance to be discussed.

[songwriter]

I tried in another board a less serious but experimental thing. "The Jedi council", form one... forget about Star Wars but it's a similar concept.

I really think that the best a person can do is to be himself the best he can so... he is more in position to help instead of being helped. For me, the most problem of mine I solve, the best I am to others.

Paul McCartney (yes, the same old guy... wrote some predicting song "C'mon People (1993)"

Well we're going to, yeah we're going to
Get it right this time.
We're going to really going to
Raise it to the sku.
People are ready to forgive a few mistakes
But let's get started, form a party
Don't you know how long it takes!

C'mon people let the fun begin.
We've got a future and it's rushing in.
Call all the minstrels from the ancient shrine.
Pass down the message that it's right this time.

Well I'm trying to, yeah I'm crying to
Lay it on the line.
We're trying to, really dying to
Get it right this time.
So many yearning for the way it's gonna be.
Believe it when you see it happening to you.,
You know it's real.

C'mon people let the world begin.
We've got a future and it's charging in.
We'll make the best of all we have, and more.
We'll do what never has been done before.
Oh yeah.

Well I'm going to, yeah I'm going to
Get it right this time.
I'm going to, really going to
Raise it to the sky.
I must admit I may have made a few mistakes,
But let's get started, from a party
Don't you know how long it takes!

So c'mon people let the fun begin.
We've got a future and it's rushing in.
Call all the minstrels from the ancient shrine.
Pass down the message that it's right this time.
Oh yeah.

C'mon people let the world begin.
We've got a future and it's charging in.

Now C'mon people


and yet another one quite explanatory "Hope of Deliverance (1993)", after his conversation with aliens.



I will allways be hoping, hoping.
You will allways be holding, holding
My heart in your hand.
I will understand

I will understand, some day, one day.
You will understand, allways, allways
From now until then.

When it will be right, I don't know.
What it will be like, I don't know.
We live in hope of deliverence
From the darkness that surrounds us.

Hope of deliverence, hope of deliverence.
Hope of deliverence from the darkness
That surrounds us.

And I wouldn't mind knowing, knowing.
That you wouldn't mind going,
Going along with my plan.

When it will be right, I don't know.
What it will be like, I don't know.
We live in hope of deliverence
From the darkness that surrounds us.

Hope of deliverence, hope of deliverence.
Hope of deliverence from the darkness
That surrounds us.

Hope of deliverence.
Hope of deliverence.
I will understand.

I've got my leader , I don't have a clue of the plan. He always says "Peace and Love" and the end of his speeches.

[Blake30]

Ya know, I've always thought about doing something like this, but never really decided to get started.

I think those are some great ideas, and while eventually all of them could be tackled, perhaps we should focus on a couple of them and see where we can go from there?

Maybe we could have something that people give ideas on what needs to be accomplished, the have something on the site where people can contact each other and collectively work on some type of cause or purpose. There's definitely endless possibilities with this, and if successful, could definitely make an impact.

It's my personal opinion that the world is heading for a path that's never really been seen before. There's got to be something big that can make an impact on the thinking of the people. I think that's the main thing. It's all about changing people's thinking as far as helping and contributing goes.

There's got to be some way to make people realize what's going on in the world, and what they can do to save it.

I'd be willing to help on this in any way, shape, or form. Let the ideas flow!

[soLitude]

Great idea! I too have been thinking about creating a similar large scale project for the benefit of the world. I would love to help out, personally I have been entertaining the idea of an enlightening concept album for quite some time... The Internet is here for a reason - we all are connected and must unite to save ourselves!

[songwriter]

So this is still going... ain't it uthopic, we're just persons. There already a lot of organizations to... shape the world in one way or another. From the United Nations, to the G8, to non-govermental organizations... and alliances of big business corporations.

And of all this are the result of milions of people behind. That believe in those "shapes of the world". Some minority against a vast majority has nothing to do... I'm happy as long as they don't try to change myself instead of me changing anybody... I think of help instead of changing.

may the force be with you anyway...

[madgeylou]

a great place to start is with WiserEarth.

it's the world's largest database of citizen groups working for change in environmental issues, social justice, and rights of indigenous people (all connected of course).

paul hawken started it -- he's the founder of smith & hawken, and author/co-author of the ecology of commerce, natural capitalism, and most recently, blessed unrest, which i just finished this morning. blessed unrest's subtitle is "how the largest movement in the world came into being, and why no one saw it coming."

excellent stuff to get you fired up!!!

[robertanthony]

Check out the National Wellness Institute - they have some inspiring podcasts. Also the New Economics Foundation. There are people out their trying to save the world and links are being made by like minded people.

[Nelson]

Personally, I don't think the world needs more save-the-world groups, I think it's better to love those who are close to you or at least in your own neighborhood.

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start. - Mother Theresa

[Sunnybayes]

Originally Posted by Nelson

Personally, I don't think the world needs more save-the-world groups, I think it's better to love those who are close to you or at least in your own neighborhood.

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start. - Mother Theresa

Actually, this is what I was thinking.... something like what local neighborhoods can do... And stuff would just organize itself...

I wish I had more time to this about this, but I'm caught up in my own little obligations.

[marissa]

"It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start. - Mother Theresa"

Thank you for that quote. Although she says "must start", and it doesn't end there. To do both is OK too.

[alpha372]

well,

If we're going to get started, We need to pick a subject to get started on. And then set up models, as the first thing gets developed.

Trouble is, nothing locally or nationally is bothering me. On a personal level, my husband is lazy. Somebody tell me how to change my husband.

[m18pak]

Something like this already exists: it's called the UN.

[m18pak]

Originally Posted by alpha372

well,

If we're going to get started, We need to pick a subject to get started on. And then set up models, as the first thing gets developed.

Trouble is, nothing locally or nationally is bothering me. On a personal level, my husband is lazy. Somebody tell me how to change my husband.

For starters, I'm guessing that you should try not nagging him.

[alpha372]

Originally Posted by m18pak

For starters, I'm guessing that you should try not nagging him.

Lol. I don't know how to respond to that. It's very funny because I've tried and am currently trying to let him be responsible for himself. I haven't been nagging him. It's just nagging me that he won't do anything that he tells me he's going to do.

He just randomly tells me things like, "I'm going to work on my invention this weekend." And then he sits in the basement and watches movies all weekend long. He's done this so many times I bet him that he wouldn't work on his invention, and I won.

I don't really care what he does. It's just he complains to me that he never has time to work on his inventions and that he really wants to, and then tells me the only way he'll do it is if I "encourage" him. I don't want to be responsible for his actions. It makes me angry that he puts it on me when he doesn't do what he thinks he should be doing.

[Gerto]

Actually, a while ago, I was thinking about something like this as well.
Like a website where people from all over the world could come and join forces and help charities. Also, everyone has different connections that could help certain charities.

I was thinking of something a bit like Sourceforge for those who know that, but for charities.

Charities could then post pictures of the results of the donations they receive, and could really give people the option to donate for specific things. So that people really know where their money is going.

I think a lot of people would be much more willing to donate if they specifically know where their money is going and could maybe even see pictures of the causes they're helping. This could both be for local projects or projects far away.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Nelson

Personally, I don't think the world needs more save-the-world groups, I think it's better to love those who are close to you or at least in your own neighborhood.
It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start. - Mother Theresa

Like Marissa says, why not do both? "Think global, act local". Local actions are empowered by being part of a global network. There's also power in information and idea sharing. I reckon SunnyBayes is onto something with the eDemocracy thing. Can you imagine what a resource "the Wikipedia of charities" could be?

Also like Marissa says, thanks for that quote.

[EDIT] Belated thought: Actually, a lot of the world's problems stem with a lack of empathy and familiarity with people far away. If we were personally familiar with the individual lives of people in Afghanistan would we have been so collectively eager to clusterbomb innocent families? Would we be so eager to tar entire peoples with the same simplified brush if we actually got to know the individuals?