And The Good News Is...

And The Good News Is...: Democracy, Technology and People - Where Are We He... : Last week I had the opportunity to participate on the opening panel of Club de Madrid’s 10th annual conference, held in NYC. This is an ama...

Last week I had the opportunity to participate on the opening panel of Club de Madrid’s 10th annual conference, held in NYC. This is an amazing group of former respected Presidents and Prime Ministers. Club De Madrid’s Mission - “The Club de Madrid is an independent non-profit organization composed of 80 democratic former Presidents and Prime Ministers from 56 different countries, constituting the world’s largest forum of former Heads of State and Government, who have come together to respond to a growing demand for support among leaders in two key areas: democratic leadership and governance; and response to crisis and post-crisis situations. Both lines of work share the common goal of addressing the challenge of democratic governance and political conflict as well as that of building functional and inclusive societies, where the leadership experience of our Members is most valuable”. Wim KOK , former Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1994-2002)
 and President, Club de Madrid, ...

And The Good News Is...: Images & Voices of Hope - Media as an Agent for Wo... : I just came back from experiencing four days at the Images and Voices of Hope (IVOH), World Media Summit - Mind Full Media, in the Cats...

I just came back from experiencing four days at the Images and Voices of Hope (IVOH), World Media Summit - Mind Full Media, in the Catskills of New York. This was an amazing group of about 50 people that included – broadcast, print, photo and digital journalist; artist - musicians, singers, poets and writers. There were people from other walks of life – students, educators – people concerned about the adverse impact the media is having on people all over the world. This eclectic group of people are committed to IVOH’s Mission - " To expand awareness of the choices those in media make that raise public trust, generate constructive meaning and amplify human hope, enhancing humanity’s capacity for life-promoting action". Anyone who knows me or is exposed to my work knows I am an unapologetic, unwavering optimist – so I thought. Recently events around the world have influenced me – I let what I perceived to be  “reality”, based on what I was seeing, reading and hearing fr...

And The Good News Is...: And The Good News Is...: And the Good News is, the... : And The Good News Is...: And the Good News is, the World Has Ended, As We K... : "Something deeply profound is happening. Everywhere I go ar...

As I sit here watching the memorials on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, I have a strange mixture of feelings running through me. I have feelings of deep sadness and frustration stirred by the scenes and memories of this horrific act. My heart hurts for everyone who lost someone – and for all of us because we were all affected. At the same time I am feeling hopeful and a sense of community. I am reminded that millions of people put their differences aside on that day and came together in love and support. I was living in Manhattan on the 38 th floor of an apartment building in midtown during September 11. I was busy going about my day when the phone rang and Jan, my sister-in-law, told me that a small plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers. I ran to my balcony, which faced the Twin Towers and saw volumes of smoke pouring out of the North Tower. I stood there frozen for what seemed to be just a couple of seconds and then a huge jet hit the second tower; I immediately thought...

And The Good News Is...: And the Good News is, the World Has Ended, As We K... : "Something deeply profound is happening. Everywhere I go around the world I see profound change and transformation. From the poorest among ..."