Freedom

Harrasment? Fear? Mistrust? Political populism? Well, the meaning has become so complex with all the distortions and prejudices created by our political affairs, social disconnectedness, and their consequential mistrust and fears, that a kiss is not a kiss anymore.  Where did we leave compassion? love? solidarity? gratefulness? human empathy?

There's been a recent hype around the use of mobile technologies to "empower" people to submit reports "from the field", take action and change the course of society...

Somehow, just like we were promised that TV would educate people and that the Internet would free us all, we've heard it all before, yet we have to see it happen.

First, I would like to express my sorrow for what you are going through. You both feel hurt. I am sorry for your families in pain. My condolences and thoughts are with you.

I have been engaged reading the stories, looking at the heart-breaking images, reading the discussions in online fora, news media and blogs. Some people justify war in the name of honor, faith or national pride and interests. I respect their position. However, in my core, I cannot justify war.

I believe that life is our utmost precious right and our source of joy. The life of a Lebanese or an Israeli girl could be the life of my children. For me, every girl counts. Every life is sacred. I cannot justify the stabbing of any single life.

In the previous times of history, signed by the lack of understanding and means of communications, many were the myths, many the misunderstandings, many the misconceptions, many the fears of the unknown. War was a human reaction to secure the life of the closest ones.

Last week, there were many criticisms about Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft, and other technology companies’ submission to the Chinese government’s request to censor the information on the Internet. It has become a public concern that these companies are doing business there at the peril of human rights.

A bee takes the wealth from flowers and transforms it into honey for its community.

I am in Camden, Maine this week for the annual PopTech Conference - 'The Impact of Technology on People.' Sam will also be here.

The conference website is http://www.poptech.org/index.cfm

The conference is interesting in and of itself, but I thought the following subprogram particularly interesting...Robert, maybe we should hook you up with these fellows and Karen, they may be worth reaching out to...I know Andrew Zoli, the conference curator and am going to try to attend the fellows meeting on Sunday to jumpstart any possible collaboration.