To Blackberry or not to Blackberry?

As they say, change is coming to America.

But can that change be more emblematic than the fact that our President-elect desperately wants to keep his Blackberry? Finally - a President who understands the applications of technology to basic communication. True - President Clinton did order a ham on-line, but I would argue that the business populace was far advanced beyond his knowledge and use of communication technology.

What are the benefits of having a President who "gets it"? He knows how Americans consume and share information and can harness that power, as he already has. I would even argue that his ability to create an e-based grassroots support base was one of the most important elements of his victory.

If you haven't already, visit http://www.change.gov/ to contribute your "story" and tell the Obama administration what you'd like to see in terms of how they can involve you in the new administration.

I guess I'll never be President. I'd never be willing to give up MY Blackberry...

the event of the century

Full disclosure: I just came from a client dinner, and I'm slightly inebriated. But can you blame me? When faced with a full dining room of people from all over the world that you don't know but are supposed to entertain, what would you do? Anyway...

I can't wait until January 20. I am so friggin' excited, I can hardly stand it. Not just because that's the day when I can stop speaking with a Canadian accent when I leave the country, but because I've decided that I need to be there and I actually found a hotel! Yes, it's in Richmond. A few hours away from D.C.. But does the monotonous drive in a horribly overpriced Yugo in the middle of winter really matter in the scheme of such an historic event?

I never explained the name of this blog and now might be a good time. Pangea, as most of you know, was the blob of land on the earth before the continents split apart. My hope for the future and for our generation is that we can work to bring the people of the various continents closer together through cross-cultural understanding, education, and community volunteerism. To me, Obama's background in community organizing (yes - the same background that Guiliani and Palin mocked and threw out as red meat at the Republican convention) and his success in mobilizing grassroots support from all over the world gives me hope that the next generation will grow up with volunteerism as a core value.

So, does anyone have tickets to the inauguration? If so, I've got a pull-out couch in a killer Comfort Inn in Richmond with your name on it...

A new day

Well, I've finally gone and done it. So many people have been encouraging my blogging for so long, but it hasn't been a priority until now.

Why now? What is this blog about? Why should anyone bother to engage with it?

The election of Barack Obama is the reason why I've decided to start. Frankly, I'm inspired. His ability to create a grassroots movement that put him in the White House and, I believe, start our country on the road to our desired future demonstrated that people can and should be the change they want to see. I have always believed that if you aren't contributing to the solution, you are part of the problem.

This blog is my little corner of global advocacy in the areas where I am passionate: mainly global citizenship/sustainability, animal and child welfare, healthy living, and building cross-cultural bridges that help those who don't have a voice.

Why should you visit this blog and read my posts? Because if you care about the above issues as passionately as I do, I hope this can be a forum for information and idea exchange. Now is a great time for opportunity in this country, and I hope those of us who want to be the change we seek will continue to stand up and be heard - let's keep that post-election momentum going, and leave a world for our children of which we can be proud.

A great book that illustrates the forks in the road that will determine our global future:
http://www.gbn.com/ArticleDisplayServlet.srv?aid=31432

Until next time...