Global
Innovators
Making Important and Sustainable
Differences
“We
are determined to take the bold and transformative steps which
are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this collective journey,
we pledge that no one will be left behind.“
Transforming Our World: The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda
we pledge that no one will be left behind.“
Transforming Our World: The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda
(United
Nations, Preamble, 1 August 2015)
(note
that the word “innovation” appears 20 times in this document)
First World Problems, Weird Al Yankovic
Lyrics:
We think that the time
is coming for a diversity of colleagues to come together intentionally,
visibly, and practically on behalf of global integration (GI).
GI put simply is how we skillfully integrate our lives and values on behalf of
the issues facing humanity. Likewise we think that the time is coming for
colleagues to carefully reflect and act on what it means to
be good global learners-practitioners--to seriously consider
what it means to be what we are calling global integrators (GI-People).
*****
This entry highlights the need for important
innovations to really make a sustainable difference in the plethora of the
world’s great problems and the world’s vulnerable people. Specifically, we
offer some ideas on personal qualities that can help people like you and me make
a difference in our world as global
innovators who are helping to build
the future we want and wanting to be the people we need. Many of these
characteristics overlap with the material in previous entries and can also be
understood as commitments. I find them to be especially relevant for the UN’s transformative
agenda for sustainable development, with its five overlapping areas of people,
planet, prosperity, peace, and partnerships—to which I unswervingly add a sixth
crucial area: probity (i.e. virtue,
integrity, adherence to the highest principles). As with many of these entries, this current entry
on global innovators is still a work in progress!
.
Some
Characteristics of Global Innovators
1.
Not content with the status quo--Not business as usual
--Leave no one behind
--Transformation at all levels, from the personal to the macro systemic
**Example: Peoples Health Movement (PHM) http://www.phmovement.org/
“The PHM is a global network bringing together grassroots
health activists, civil society organizations and academic institutions from
around the world, particularly from low and middle income countries...We currently
have a presence in around 70 countries. Guided
by the People’s Charter for Health (PCH), PHM works on various programmes and activities and
is committed to Comprehensive Primary Health Care and addressing the Social,
Environmental and Economic Determinants of Health. The world is facing a global health crisis characterized
by growing inequities within and among nations and millions of preventable deaths,
especially among the poor. These are in large degree due to unfair economic
structures which lock people into poverty and poor health. In 2000, concerned
activists, academics and health workers got together for the first People’s
Health Assembly. The People’s Charter for Health (PCH), our founding document was
developed and PHM was born.”
.
2.
Making a difference
--Low and middle income countries and
colleagues--Vulnerable people
--Focus on the big stuff
**Example: MHIN/Grand Challenges Canada
http://www.grandchallenges.ca/
“What is a Grand Challenge? A grand challenge is a specific critical
barrier that, if removed, would help solve an important health problem in the
developing world, with a high likelihood of global impact through widespread
implementation….Historically, some of the greatest impacts in global
health were from innovators who tried out bold ideas.
The discovery of vaccines over 200 years ago and of antibiotics in the last
century are classic examples of unorthodox thinking that resulted from bold
ideas that have had big impact and saved millions of
lives…”
3.
Awareness of the global context
--Staying current with global events,
issues, reports, etc.--Understanding the multi-faceted nature of most major issues
--Pursuing inter-sectoral involvement
**Example: Understanding the Current Global Context, Global Integration Update, Member Care Associates, April 2015
http://us10.campaign-archive2.com/?u=e83a5528fb81b78be71f78079&id=18cf5092dc
“How are we doing as a world
community? How
can we better understand current efforts to promote wellbeing for all? Here are five
current materials to help us explore these important questions. The first four materials are reports that overview the state of
world's development (items 1-3) and peacebuilding (item 4). We encourage
you to take the time to at least read the overviews/summaries and to make
some notes/applications as you do so. We have gone over these items many
times (and with several colleagues) in order to grasp the content, new
terms, and implications for our world, our work, and our lives…”
.
4.
Ethical Imperatives for the common good
--Personal responsibility with moral courage--Sense of urgency
--Contempt for evil
**Example: Laudato Si’: On the Care of our Common Home, Pope Francis (May 2015) https://laudatosi.com/watch
“158. In the present condition of global
society, where injustices abound and growing numbers of people are deprived of
basic human rights and considered expendable, the principle of the common good
immediately becomes, logically and inevitably, a summons to solidarity and a
preferential option for the poorest of our brothers and sisters. This option
entails recognizing the implications of the universal destination of the
world’s goods, but…it demands before all else an appreciation of the immense
dignity of the poor in the light of our deepest convictions as believers. We
need only look around us to see that, today, this option is in fact an ethical
imperative essential for effectively attaining the common good."
.
5.
Mentality and Lifestyles
--A way of thinking--A way of being
--A way of relating
**Example: See the opening music video, First World Problems…and avoiding consumerism, corruption, complacency, etc.
6.
Working together
--Finding common ground--Building a professional community
--Connecting and contributing
**Example: Mental Health Innovation Network
http://mhinnovation.net/
“We’re a community of mental health innovators - researchers,
practitioners, policy-makers, service user advocates, and donors from around
the world - sharing innovative resources and ideas to promote mental health and
improve the lives of people with mental, neurological and substance use
disorders.”
7. Etc.: funding, organizational and governmental backing, perseverance, creativity....
**Examples: Forces for Good (nonprofit organizations), How to Change the World (social entrepreneurs), A Path Appears...
Finally, and pulling some of these ideas together, watch the trailer for the film A Path Appears:
http://apathappears.org/film/
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