Harriet Green, OneVoice board member and an old friend, was just ranked in the top 50 women in world business in 2011. She is the highest ranking business woman of the UK and that is not for lack of good company!
To see more about this honor, see here!
According to an article in Foreign Policy, Former President Bill Clinton blames PM Netanyahu for the lack of peace process progress. Clinton specifically pointed to Netanyahu’s Administration for failing to accept the Camp David terms, as well as a change in Israeli demographic, making Israeli’s less open to peace. As Clinton argues in this article, the peace process would benefit immensely from Netanyahu’s administration being more amenable to compromise.
Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel
It is something everyone in the corridors of Arab power tends to acknowledge: that the current Iranian regime is a destabilizing apocalyptic messianic cult whose acquisition of nuclear weapons would be an overwhelming threat to the region. But it is never publicly discussed or shared with the masses. Till now. The leaks of diplomatic memos between the US and its foreign allies is a stark affirmation of the danger that Arab – and Israeli – leaders perceive from Iran.
Here is just one summary:
Graphic: Fears of a Nuclear Iran
Middle East leaders speak about their powerful neighbor with a directness seldom, if ever, heard in public.
I just had a great lunch with Jamie Oliver at his restaurant on my recent trip to London. Jamie has done amazing work with his cooking talents and has inspired many, many people to eat healthy and enjoy their food and cooking. We had a great discussion about various ideas for collaboration to fight the obesity epidemic and continue his mission to give back to the food industry. Check out this video below to see just how inspiring Jamie’s mission is to teach every child about food!
As this latest study confirms, obesity rates across America continue to rise to epidemic proportions.
As obesity rises, so does diabetes, and countless other threats to health.
The above study observes the need for more exercise and better eating. But the way our modern lives are structured, people are increasingly consuming junk food on the go.
This is why it is vital to create innovative solutions that provide consumers healthful choices on the move, without sacrificing taste, wholesomeness or convenience.
It is so easy to say it, but as we test at KIND every day, coming up with more solutions that are true to our commitment of using only premium all natural “ingredients you can see and pronounce” that are “KIND to your body, your taste buds and the world” is not that easy. It has taken us years, but beyond our award-winning line of KIND Fruit & Nut bars, we are working on a few very exciting fronts that should not just help counteract these societal problems, but also yield DELICIOUS healthy options!
Further to this post by Adeena regarding the rising attacks against the Mosque being erected in downtown NYC, let me provide some more background to the thousands of people that are attacking this project without taking the time to do a little bit of research about it.
I received this video post by Pat Condell from my sister, attacking the project.
Here was my response to my sister:
The mosque near Ground Zero is being opened by a dear friend and member of the PeaceWorks Foundation’s Honorary Board, and a remarkable human being who our Dad would have loved as much as he loved Rabbi Scheinberg [our Orthodox Rabbi in San Antonio, TX, who we all admire for his deep humility, warmth, and respect of others]. He is a humanist and a pluralist, a tolerant sweet man, and the role model of what we should want EVERY religious leader – Muslim or otherwise – to be like. Please forward back to Oren and anyone else who shared this with you.
To briefly expound on this note, let me respond to some of the assertions made by Mr. Condell.
He attacks the religion of Islam as an ocean of hatred, violence and intolerance. But intolerance and hatred are sadly not exclusive to Islam. All major religions have their regrettable elements of excess.
Incidentally just a couple days ago I saw a fantastic movie - Goya’s Ghosts - starring another PeaceWorks Foundation Honorary Board member, Natalie Portman, as a woman who is jailed, raped, and oppressed by the Spanish Inquisition.
There is no question that there are monstrous people who I call "pseudo-Islamic terrorists" who usurp a religion that can be about love and respect, and hijack it to advocate extremism and hatred. But they do not represent the Islam that many of my friends follow, a religion of humility and striving to be better human beings.
The real challenge is who is going to win - the tolerant and progressive leaders of Islam, or the regressive ones?
It is up to us to uphold the tolerant and enlightened and respectful leaders who dedicate their lives to peace - as is the case with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. Demonizing and isolating and chastising them is not a way to strengthen the moderate voices within Islamic countries!!!
Pat Condell writes about how Islam divides people into us vs. them, but he seems to miss the irony in that this is precisely what he does in his video posting by trying to portray all of Islam as intolerant.
It is true that diversity and tolerance are critical to a functioning democracy. But sermons like the one by Pat Condell are just as offensive to this notion as intolerant Muslims.
Contrast that to Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. Mr. Condell clearly has never met him. But more disturbing, he hasn’t even taken the time to research the Cordoba Initiative. The initiative was conceived by Imam Feisal almost a decade ago to celebrate the CO-EXISTENCE and DIVERSITY that characterized Cordoba during its golden age. Condell claims that the Cordoba Initiative was named that way to emphasize the conquest of Christianity by Islam. He should have started by doing some research!
Am on my way back from DC to NYC after a briefing with Paul McCartney on behalf of OneVoice (on whose Honorary Board he sits). Earlier during rehearsals, I was struck at the beautiful simplicity and deep truth of the lyrics of Ebony and Ivory:
EBONY AND IVORY,
LIVE TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY,
SIDE BY SIDE ON MY PIANO KEYBOARD,
OH, LORD, WHY DON’T WE?WE ALL KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE THE SAME WHEREVER YOU GO,
THERE IS GOOD AND BAD IN EV’RYONE.
AND WE LEARN TO LIVE, WE LEARN TO GIVE EACH OTHER
WHAT WE NEED TO SURVIVE, TOGETHER ALIVE.….
- Sir Paul McCartney (c)
Later this week, Sir Paul is receiving the Gershwin Prize from President Obama.
by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky
In her opening speech of Parliament, the Queen of England articulated that her “government will continue working towards a two-state solution that sees a viable Palestinian state existing in peace and security alongside Israel.” This is an important because her words are intended to set the government’s priorities for the next year and a half.
Uri Avnery is in his 80s. The wisdom of his years - and his fascinating journey - shows in the articles below, but he retains a youthful optimism and a crisp analytical mind that are much needed in today’s world.
Below are two very solid articles on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - the latter being extraordinarily depressing but obligatory reading. For those who don’t know Uri Avnery, he is very much a man from the left, but he is intellectually rigorous always and thus worthwhile reading even (and particularly) for those from opposite sides of the spectrum.
As we made our way from London to Madrid to escape the volcanic ash clouds and fly back to the US last month (see twitter journey report starting here, and see pictures here), and drawing from experiences when setting up PeaceWorks ventures and traveling through undeveloped parts of the globe, here are 10 tips for emergency travel:
1. Think Outside the Box: The irony of the volcanic eruption in Iceland is that while most of Europe was enveloped by the ashes – the one airport that continued working at full force was…in Iceland!
2. Research and Plan up front: Careful evaluation of options can save time down the road. Since getting a head start is of the essence during crises, try to parallel process – search on the web while on hold with airlines, ask family, friends or team members to research a particular leg of the trek or travel option. Paul and Allison researched ferries while Ian helped find car, and Adeena booked air reservations. Rely on network knowledge: Skoll entrepreneurs exchanged info via email. Search twitter, facebook, primary sources on web and news sites. Don’t assume one website is definitive. A lot of misinformation also abounds (see below).
3. Just Do It: don’t be paralyzed by options or by the possibility of a wrong decision. You lose much more from total inaction. Like in real life, you can be lucky, but you can also make your luck by just showing up. We feared the ferries and the trains would be so overbooked and we wouldn’t find a spot (because websites and news reports warned all were sold out). We showed up and they were 50% empty!
4. Prepare for Bad Scenarios: Write essential info like key contact #s or confirmations on paper – in case your pda or phone runs out of battery. Carry always essentials with you – such as a mini-first-aid-kit, even if just a couple of pills for each ailment. Carry emergency cash in some secret compartment. Some tissues or toilet paper in your back pocket…
5. Carry Alternative Electric/Web Connection Options: at a minimum this should mean a multi-purpose electric outlet converter; some car chargers can be life-savers and don’t add much space; an unlocked phone with refillable sim cards for the countries you visit can be very useful – not so much for outgoing calls because the rates are almost as exorbitant as if roaming from the US, but because they allow free incoming calls. A US phone with international service for back up is also critical. A wi-fi ready device is the minimum you need; an ethernet cable can be useful; a Verizon-type internet source from phone network can be handy.
6. Travel flexibly/lightly: A carry-on suitcase multiplies the flexibility for flight changes. Layers of clothes allow you to be comfortable in changing temperatures. A sweater for the plane can be very handy. Phone cos can change plan as you travel.
7. Nice to haves can make a difference: noise canceling headphones, extra pair of warm socks. Take off your shoes on long rides. Pack an Eye mask always - make all the fun you want, but when you are stuck at 6am traveling on car and sleepy, it is an awesome savior.
8. Charge Up When You Can - maximize your staying power - Juice up your computer and phone/pda whenever possible – you never know when you’ll be stuck without electricity. An extra battery is useful, and you should work on power-saving mode when traveling. Also rest your body well and sleep as much as possible before a long journey. Take a nice good shower and a healthy hearty meal before long travel.
9. Carry something to KIND others: Being able to give a little treat to strangers can make a big difference. I bring KIND bars with me, not just to snack for myself but as a way to give out to people stranded also, or to people that can give you a hand - at the checkout counter of an airline, etc.
10. Deploy Alliances - Traveling with someone is not just more pleasant; pairing up can help you coordinate - one watches bags while other searches for option, or one buys food while other gets tickets, and is more likely to yield support from others who won’t think you are a stalker; while most people can’t control the passport they carry, not all passports are created equal - and the ones from nations with most pre-cleared no-visa-requirement access can be huge assets. Develop a bond and loyalty with your preferred airline – loyalty programs come very handy in times of crisis - they set up emergency hotlines and will try to help their passengers find alt. routes. And get local tel #s from your airline so you are not calling long-distance (toll-free #s from abroad are treated as long-distance calls).
More ideas? Post them in comments…
