World Vision and Kinnovation Partnership Announcement
September 16, 2008 by markhsmith · 1 Comment
Bill Kliewer announes partnership between Kinnovation & World Vision from Mark Smith on Vimeo.
The PEACE Plan
April 6, 2008 by markhsmith · Leave a Comment
On October 29, 2007 I heard Pastor Rick Warren speak about the P.E.A.C.E. plan. Pastor Rick states that the church is the world’s largest organization with over 2.8 billion members, the only organization large enough and growing fast enough to combat the effects spiritual emptiness, poverty, disease, illiteracy, and corrupt leadership.
However the church can’t do it alone. Rick believes it will take a partnership of the Church, business and government to make a dent on the problem. Rick feels called to release the pent-up, latent energy in the church–to turn spectators into participators. To make a lasting difference in the world.
The P.E.A.C.E. acronym stands for Promoting reconciliation, Equipping servant-leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick, and Educating the next generation. Rick believes it’s the same plan Jesus used, so it’s time tested. I believe it’s a good framework and the kind of vision that will spark the imagination of Christian leaders worldwide. It’s the kind of idea that can get people out of their comfortable pew and look outward to see how they might make a real difference in the lives of others outside of their comfort zone.
I’m working with another organization, Halftime, founded by Bob Buford. Like Rick Warren, Bob is called to awaken the latent energy in Christianity, especially those that have had a measure of success in corporate America. If Rick represents a catalyst in the Church, Bob represents the catalyst in the business community. I have personally seen many people experience a Halftime and are actively pursuing Life 2.0 with a renewed and passionate vision to change the world in some way. Lloyd Reeb, one of the leaders of Halftime says, “One of my jobs is to rescue people from the golf course.” There’s a truth to that statement.
The PEACE plan is a logical next step from his popular book, Purpose Driven Life. First, you need to realize you have a unique purpose. Once you figure out your unique purpose, you need to go do it. If your purpose involves solving one of the BIG problems in the world, it would be nice to not have to go it alone. If your church is doing PEACE, you can surround yourself with some expertise and experience, multiplying your efforts. If this happens on a global scale, we might make a dent in the world’s problems.
I believe the major purpose of PEACE is to equip the church to become the efficient distribution network for the world’s philanthropy. If even a fraction of the 2+ billion Christians got involved in this effort, it would be the largest distribution network in the world.
2008 WEF Faith Panel
March 8, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Watch the above 2008 World Economic Forum (WEF) video to see Rick Warren (starts at 40:13) and others discussing how religious institutions can address the world’s problems. The audience was given an opportunity to ask question. There were two Muslims, a Catholic, a Rabbi, and a evangelical Christian (Rick Warren). It was apparent that the Catholics have done the most humanitarian work at this point in time. A representative from Catholic Relief Society in the audience pointed out that Catholics take care of 20% of all Aids patients, but receive only 3% of USAID money.
Some good points:
- Rick Warren: “I don’t care why you do good, just do good. We do good because we believe in Jesus Christ as our savior and HE told us to take care of our neighbor.”
- Rabbi: “Deeds, not words. If Jews & Germans can come together to save Muslim refugees from Kosovo, then there is hope.”
- Imam: “The root of problems is extremism..the rational side should control the issues.”
- Rick Warren: “I’m not interested in Interfaith dialog, I’m interested in Interfaith projects, like solving Aids.”
Creative Capitism
March 6, 2008 by markhsmith · Leave a Comment
Bill Gates at WEF 2008
Bill Gates talks about Halftime, the pause between his Life 1.0 (Microsoft) and Life 2.0 (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). He starts full time at Gates Foundation in July 2008.
His talk is the role of the Corporation in the World.
Some points:
The world is getting better, but it’s not getting better fast enough and it’s not getting better for everyone. There are a billion people that live on less than $1 day. Why do people benefit in inverse proportion to their need. Capitalism needs to be refined so that it benefits everyone. Capitalism harnesses self-interest in a for those that can pay, philanthropy benefits the poor who cannot pay.
Recognition is an added incentive to for-profit companies in lieu of payment–the market will reward companies that are recognized for doing good. This is creative capitalism. Profit for self-interest + recognition for corporate philanthropy = creative capitalism.
Examples:
- President Bush signed the Priority Review. For those drug companies that come up with a solution for a “forgotten” disease, will get a priority review. Getting their state-of-the-art drug first priority in the FDA approval process. This could be a $100M
- Get African coffee farmers the right market for their product.
- Bono’s Red campaign was born in Davos, which has generated $50M for Aids in Africa.
Bill Gates encouraged all corporation to use Creative Capitalism–give their top thinkers a percentage of their time & talent. He says this is better than cash, because it taps into the brain power. Glaxo-Smith Klien & Sumocomo are example. If companies in a sector simply matched what the leader in that
NGO’s can create measurable s to measure & recognize non-profit organizations. By recognizing non-profits, we can encourage the creative capitalism movement.
The largest companies can have the biggest impact. It’s engineering your product so that the product can reach the lowest 1/3 of the population. It has to be promoted by the CEO and become part of the DNA. When it becomes part of the DNA, it will drive itself within a company. “A computer for everyone.” Microsoft’s slogan drives innovation.
A company should stick to what it knows well. The company’s mission and philanthropy should be tied together.
The idea of NGO’s getting cash directly from corporations is not the best solution. NGO’s need to ask for innovation, something that goes with their core products & services. Also, NGO’s have traditionally suspected that for-profit companies need to do everything for free, when in fact, it’s OK for them to make money somehow in the process.
Bill Gates would like to see his legacy be: Within 15 years, I would like to see 15 diseases wiped out. Huge changes in the mortality rates, which changes the birth rate and makes education possible. We’re spending $3B/year.
Bono on the UN Millennium Goals
March 6, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
The UN has developed the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Monitor website. Whatever measurement systems we develop should incorporate their measures. MDG has measurements by country.
As I understand it, funding can be cut off for any country that is not meeting the MDG goals, so the monitor report is key.
The burning questions: If the UN would be unwilling to give development money to a country that is not meeting its MDG goals, would PEACE or World Vision give that country money anyway?
Bono took the WEF to task for NOT meeting the goals.