Jamie Oliver’s TED prize talk, makes the case for an all-out assault on our ignorance of food. Jamie spoke at TED2010 this February in Long Beach, CA for 22 minutes, about the state of world health, or rather the lack of it. Jamie is reaching out globally, with courage and passion.
Remember the shaggy-haired “Naked Chef” of late-’90s? One of my favorite cooking shows back then. Jamie was courageous, raw, and was passionate about food. I became a fan. He has built a worldwide media conglomerate of TV shows, books, cookware and magazines. His idea of sharing unpretentious food with friends and family, was refreshing to me. Everyone gets to play in the kitchen.
Jamie now has Fifteen Foundation’s. He has trained young chefs from challenged backgrounds to run four of his restaurants. He visits schools to teach children to grow organic gardens of their own, and for their school time meals. Jamie’s School Dinner, Ministry of Food and Food Revolution USA combine Oliver’s culinary tools, cookbooks and television, with serious activism and community organizing — to create change on both the individual and governmental level.
The Charter for Compassion is the result of Karen Armstrong’s 2008 TED Prize wish, made possible by the generous support of the Fetzer Institute. It will be unveiled to the world on November 12, 2009.
You may wonder what Charter for Compassion is all about. Their Golden Rule is to put themselves in the shoes of others. How do you want others to act toward you? Do the same for them. Harmlessness. This is a group of multi-faith, multi-national council of thinkers and leaders. Charter for Compassion seeks to change the conversation around compassion, so it becomes a key word in public and private discourse, bringing clarity that any ideology breeding hatred or contempt, be it religious or secular, has failed the test of our time. To show that in our divided world, compassion finds a common voice. May we all Live in Courage and Compassion.
The wonderful video below is of Karen Armstrong as she accepts her 2008 TED Prize and asks the TED community to help her build a Charter for Compassion — to help restore the Golden Rule as the central global religious doctrine.
TED talks is a gathering of some of the greatest minds, mathematicians, and action oriented people from around the globe. Each speaker gives a 20 minute talk or presentation. I find TED talks insightful, courageous, full of wit and inspiration. Visit the TED website to watch archived videos.
In late 2006, a Malawian newspaper first wrote about a remarkable young man William Kamkwamba. Being from a remote rural village north of the capital city makes his story even more amazing. This is the story of a young student turned inventor. A true story of Living in Courage. William will be one of the speakers at TEDGlobal this year. I quote “TEDGlobal is TED’s twin annual conference. It will feature four days of provocative talks, relevant discussions, technological boldness and amazing performances that will take us beyond the obvious. The program is designed to explore and make visible “The Substance of Things Not Seen” — this year’s theme.
Watch the video below (click on Read More) to see William Kamkwamba’s story of courage in action.
This video is exceptional. The story at the end says it all. I hope you enjoy this video, it is a education in itself, as well as a comedy routine. Education Guru Sir Ken Robinson spoke at the “TED” convention, where 1000 great minds meet once a year in Monterey, California. I quote Sir Ken Robinson:
If you are not prepared to be wrong – you will not come up with anything original. People are being educated out of their creative capacity. We do not grow into creativity, we grow out of it. As far as education for children, we need to educate their whole being. Picasso said ” All children are born artists.” How do we remain artists as we grow up?
You have probably heard about Jill Bolte Taylor who was a neuroscientist working at Harvard’s brain research center. Dr. Taylor experienced Nirvana, by having a stroke. This stroke happened Dec 10th 1996, when she was 37. You will find the video of Dr. Taylor explaining the entire experience on stage at Ted Talks on this website as a video post in the Living in Courage archives. Imagine seeing that the atoms and molecules making up your body are blending with the space around you. Everything made up of the same energy. Dr.Taylor did just that. My Stroke of Insight is Jill Bolte Taylor’s new book about this experience, published by Viking. Jill went through 8 years of rehab and recovery. This experience has changed Jill’s life dramatically. Dr. Taylor can step into the consciousness of her right hemisphere at her own command, and be one with all. Imagine the bliss and joy of this. Dr. Taylor believes that in our choice to run the deep inner peace circuitry of our right hemisphere, the more peace we will project into the world. I highly recommend this book. Your perception of the brain and how it works will expand, opening your mind to new possibilities.
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