I ran across a blog post on Twilight Earth a while back, and couldn’t get this topic out of my mind. While I understand the issues surrounding patent protection, and the basic desire/need/right to be compensated for ones work, it would be a shame (criminal?) if the planet suffers because critical technology is being held back.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Posing the Question

Watch the video, then think for a moment about the prospect of being denied a critical technology that could save your life simply because you couldn’t afford to pay for it. This is already the case with health care, where people around the world die every day because they can’t pay for treatment.

But this situation is a bit different.

Now let’s assume that it is you who holds the secret, and the other person can’t afford to pay for it, but if you refuse to share this patented technology, you not only harm the other party, you also harm yourself, and all those around you. Denying treatment to others now impacts you in a very negative way.

Welcome to the global economy, where everything we do affects all of us, where there is no safe place to hide!

The Future of Pollution

Let’s take this concept one step further. As all the world’s pollution (ultimately) spreads to every corner of the earth, what do you think about the prospect of poisoning your own children in order to protect your patent?

If India decides it’s cheaper to dump toxic chemicals into their rivers rather than implement new technology, and that act in turn pollutes the ocean, where the fish swim, and you feed those fish to your kids…what then?

Under the rubric of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was conceived as a vehicle for transferring cleaner technology to developing countries. However, projects implemented through the CDM are too small-scale and the processes too convoluted to deliver technology to the extent required for rapid climate change mitigation. Muthukumara Mani

In the coming decade this topic will become one of the main issues when it comes to mitigating climate change. How well we address the need to distribute advanced technology throughout the world will, to a large degree, determine the health of the planet, and all creatures who live on it.

What are your thoughts with regard to life-saving technology and the fate of the world?

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That the world’s richest nation is dealing with so many health related issues – obesity, heart disease and diabetes to name a few – is perplexing, as is the sad fact that our government, along with the food and health industries themselves, have demonstrated little or no desire to deal with this problem.

It’s a complex situation, as the cause and effect of diet and exercise are difficult to fully understand. Studies have attempted to shed light on the role various foods play in our overall health, yet none take into account the many related factors. One fact now abundantly clear, however, is that the developed world is becoming increasingly overweight as our diet shifts from “real” food – fruits, nuts, vegetables and whole grains – to processed food.

Michael Pollan, who previously wrote The Botany of Desire in 2001 and  The Omivore’s Delemma in 2006, published In Defense of Food in 2008. It’s an in-depth look at how our society has shifted from eating locally grown, seasonal foods to consuming an expanding array of manufactured foods based on nutritional analysis.

By breaking the links among local soils, local foods, and local peoples, the industrial

food system disrupted the circular flow of nutrients through the food chain.

A Troubling Statistic

The book makes for a fascinating, if not depressing, read of how our food supply has changed since WWII, and how the spread of our Western diet is now affecting the rest of the world. Michael covers a lot of territory, and you would be well-served to read all that he has to say, but the following quote caught my eye.

In 1960 Americans spent 17.5% of their income on food and 5.2% of national income on health care. Since then, those numbers have flipped: Spending on food has fallen to 9.9%, while spending on health care has climbed to 16% of national income.

While some would credit the decrease in food expense to the success of modern agriculture, we must also deal with the fact that the higher yields of industrial farming come with a cost – the increased use of fertilizers and pesticides, along with the loss of biodiversity that has occurred as farmers are forced to plant only the most prolific strains.

The more troublesome of the two statistics, however, is the increase in health costs. It would make sense that an increasingly wealthy and intelligent society would possess the ability, and the desire, to become healthier, and thus need less health care. Instead we’ve made the choice to shift from earth-based foods to factory-based foods, and the result has been a corresponding increase our weight.

Tipping The Scales

The World Health Organization

While there are many negative issues with regard to human health, many feel the most pressing issue is body weight, as our shift away from foods that come from the earth toward foods that come from factories is creating a problem that is global in scale and will result in severe health problems in virtually all countries.

Carrying extra fat leads to serious health consequences such as cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease and stroke), type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis, and some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon). These conditions cause premature death and substantial disability.

What is not widely known is that the risk of health problems starts when someone is only very slightly overweight, and that the likelihood of problems increases as someone becomes more and more overweight. Many of these conditions cause long-term suffering for individuals and families. In addition, the costs for the health care system can be extremely high.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines “overweight” as a BMI equal to or more than 25, and “obesity” as a BMI equal to or more than 30. These cut-off points provide a benchmark for individual assessment, but there is evidence that risk of chronic disease in populations increases progressively from a BMI of 21.

The chart below, from the World Health Organization, shows the percentage of adults that are now overweight. It’s interesting to note that those countries with greater than 50% of their adult population tipping the scales represent a mix of Western nations, such as UK, Germany, United States, along with some countries who have become increasingly Westernized over the past 20 years – Saudi Arabia, Israel, Czech Republic and Poland.

Percentage of Overweight Adults

Shifting Our Habits

The single most important thing that we can do to reverse this trend is to shift our eating habits, away from processed foods and back to the natural foods that society once ate with abandon.

I’ve often heard the expression, “When shopping at the grocery store, buy 80% of your food from the edges – mainly fruits and vegetables along with a prudent amount of bread, dairy, eggs, meat and fish – while never spending more than 20% in the center isles, which are stuffed with boxed, bagged and canned processed foods.

And don’t forget to read In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan – as there is much more to learn about the current state of food & health beyond the one topic that I chose to highlight in this Global Patriot blog post!

What are your eating habits and what changes are you making to stay healthy?

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Launched by The WILD Foundation in 1977, the World Wilderness Congress (WWC) is now the longest-running, public, international environmental forum. With over 30 years of conservation achievements, the WWC has become a high-profile platform for acting on complex wilderness and wildlands issues. The WWC 2009 forum will be held from November 6th to 13th in Merida, Mexico.

The WILD Foundation Partners With Unidos para la Conservación

Preserving wild nature is essential to maintaining a sustainable human society. With regard to protecting the ecosystem, large expanses of wilderness are vital for the vibrant health of life-support systems that communities depend on – fresh water, clean air, healthy soil, carbon storage, plant and animal diversity.

Degradation of these areas, either through pollution, deforestation, expanding urban populations or over farming, will seriously disturb the delicate balance of such natural systems. In addition, wild ecosystems – both terrestrial and marine — are powerful buffers that mitigate the impact of climate change.

Critical topics discussed during the Wild9 forum will include climate change, fresh water scarcity and the loss of biodiversity. In addition, there will be a series of Tours in to the Wild offered to attendees, providing an opportunity to explore these topics first hand.

Program Overview can be found here.

Social Media Coverage

In keeping with the rapid pace of communication technology, Wild9 will support an impressive array of social media content. The conference will feature live blogging and tweeting from Merida, and will also have a dedicated channel on Qik, enabling delegates in attendance to stream live video from their cell phone.

Similarly, WILD9 will have a dedicated channel on USTREAM which will broadcast sessions from keynote speakers such as Jane Goodall, Pavan Sukhdev, and Stephen Harding, just to name a few. Videos will also be posted on their YouTube Channel.

Lastly, there will be a WILD9 splash page which will serve as a collection of all the live content. A live twitter feed, blog feed, daily schedule, live videos and slideshows will all be posted. For delegates in attendance and those unable to make the trip, the WILD9 LIVE page will be the best place for information during WILD9.

Major Themes

Wilderness, wild lands and seas will be addressed presenting models and solutions in six major theme areas:

• Freshwater
• Climate Change
• Fire
• Transboundary and Connectivity Issues
• Large Landscapes and Seascapes
• Human Communities in Transition

Topics Within Themes

• Law and Policy
• Science and Research
• Management Training
• Capacity Building
• Economic and Corporate Sustainability
• Constituency Building (Communications for Conservation)
• Social and Tourism benefits of Wilderness
• Arts and Culture in Service to Conservation
• Indigenous Wisdom and Practice
• Religion and Spirit

Wild9 Personalities

• Tim Kelly – President and CEO of National Geographic Global Media Group
• Jane Smart – Director of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group
• Luis Alberto Ferrate – Guatemala Minister of Environment and Natural Resources
• Russ Mittermeier – President, Conservation International
• Ghana Gurung – World Wildlife Federation Nepal
• Brian Smith – CEO, Coca-Cola Mexico
• Juan Elvira – Mexico Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources

The Wild9 World Wilderness Congress represents the type of thinking, action and education that lies at the core of the Global Patriot movement. Reshaping our lives and societies in a way that supports sustainable practices is essential for returning our planet to a state of maximum health!

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While it would be nice if our governments and corporations would recognize the need to address climate change, and do something about it. But the sad truth is that they often consider Profits & Power to be far more important than People & Planet. Which is why it’s time for us to raise our voices and be heard.

Bloggers Speak Out

Held each year on October 15th, the purpose of Blog Action Day is to create a discussion by enlisting bloggers around the world to unite on one day and focus on a single important issue.  At last count 13,000 bloggers had registered for the 2009 event, representing 140 countries and reaching 17.9 million readers.

As you might have guessed from the introductory paragraph, this year’s topic is Climate Change. A complex topic to be sure, full of heated controversy and differing viewpoints, but the reality is that we’re already seeing the effects.

Polar Ice Cap - 20% Reduction in 30 Years

If ice caps and glaciers continue to melt, the rise in sea level could be devastating to many areas.

Potential Effect of Rising Sea Level on Florida

The Approach of 350.org

Founded by Bill McKibben, 350.org is focused on raising awareness of the CO2 level in the atmosphere, and many scientists say that 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity.

Our mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis,

to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet.

Two years ago, after leading climatologists observed rapid ice melt in the Arctic and other frightening signs of climate change, they issued a series of studies showing that the planet faced both human and natural disaster if atmospheric concentrations of CO2 remained above 350 parts per million.

Click here to view the embedded video.

While bloggers are making their voices heard on Blog Action Day, on October 24th everyone is encouraged to lend their voice to the cause and let our corporations and governments know that change needs to happen now!

International Day of Climate Action will cover almost every country on earth,

the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet’s history.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Climate change will affect everyone on this planet, and the only way we can effect positive change in the race to reverse these damaging trends is if everyone works together, in Global Patriot fashion.

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While there is much discussion about the dwindling supply of oil, and the degree of price rise that will occur in the next 20 years, a more critical problem is present in the world today – the limited supply of fresh drinking water – a situation with dire consequences.

Exploring the Issue

The topic of fresh water came up recently during a discussion with a close friend, and the following day he sent me his copy of Blue Plane Run: the Race to Provide Safe Drinking Water to the World.

Book Cover

It’s an amazing book, one that I couldn’t put down. Stunning photographs accompany stories of how water issues are affecting people’s lives on a daily basis. As tragic as some of the stories were, what struck me most was the difficulty of comprehending the overall statistics.

• 1.1 billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water.
• 2.2 million people in developing countries, most of them children, die every year from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.
• Half of the world’s hospital beds are filled with people suffereing from water related illnesses.
• Some 6,000 children die every day from disease associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene – equal to 20 jumbo jets crashing each day.
• The average distance that women in Africa and Asia walk to collect water is six kilometers.

Two thousand years ago there were 300 million people on the plant. Within the next 50 years demographers expect that number to grow to at least 8 billion – the majority of whom will live in developing countries – yet the amount of water we all share and depend upon remains a constant.

Water Usage Rates

Much has been written about the discrepancy between per capita energy consumption in developed countries vs. developing nations, and that same paradigm exists when it comes to water usage.

• The average person in the developing world uses 2.64 gallons of water a day.
• The average person in the United Kingdom uses 35.66 gallons of water per day.
• The average person in the United States uses 132.50 gallons per day.

Not only do we use 50 times the amount of water per person per day compared to the developing world, but our answer to continued economic growth at home is to encourage those same countries to expand their economies, which further increases overall usage.

The Foundation

But beyond the pages of this unique book exists a unique organization. In 2002 industrialist and philanthropist Jin Zidell created the Blue Planet Run Foundation. His vision was to provide safe drinking water to 200 million people for the rest of their lives by 2027. Ambitious for any one individual, this is a project that no country has ever undertaken.

Since 2004 the foundation has funded 18 non-governmental organizations worldwide which have in turn implemented 142 sustainable water projects in 14 countries impacting 137 thousand lives. The Foundation’s signature awareness and fundraising event, the Blue Planet Run 2007, was the first-ever around-the-world relay run.

Sean in Big Sur

The Blue Planet Run 2007

On June 1, 2007, on the steps of the United Nations in New York City, the Blue Planet Run 2007 team of 20 elite runners from 13 nations set off on a non-stop relay around the world through the U.S., Ireland, the U.K., France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Mongolia, China, Japan and Canada. Over the next 95 days these runners covered 15,200 miles through 16 countries. The Baton was passed and their message was read at more than 1,500 exchange points along the way.

2007 Planet Run Route Map

The video below is an edited version of the film by Polly Green documenting Blue Planet Run 2007.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Blue Plane Run book can be ordered online. One hundred percent of the royalties from this book will be used to provide clean drinking water to people around the world who desperately need it. You can also join their Facebook group.

The topic of fresh water constitutes one of our most significant and complex global challenges, and Global Patriot will be devoting more time and energy in the months ahead highlighting the issues, as well as the many individuals, organizations and governments around the globe who are working on solutions.

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The inaugural Music as Medicine concert took place in San Diego on September 3, 2009. Sponsored by the 12for12k Challenge and Global Patriot, the evening featured the sounds of The Alphonse Mouzon Jazz Project in support of Doctors Without Borders.

This beautiful montage was filmed and edited by Ricardo Villarreal (@skovi) and highlights the message of why we were all there – to celebrate the unique ability of music and art to transcend borders, just as Doctors Without Borders is dedicated to providing medical attention to those in need, regardless of nationality, politics or religion.

The crowd was amazed to see renowned artist Michael Flohr up on stage painting while the band jammed the night away. In the video you see him w0rking on a portrait of Eric Marienthal (sax). Musical notes also include John Beasley (keyboards), Byron Miller (bass), Dean Brown (guitar) and, of course, Alphonse Mouzon (drums).

Of special note was the presentation given by Sandra Freiwald, a local surgeon who had served with Doctors Without Borders. She brought the cause home, describing her experience in Aftrica and the humanitarian successes that were achieved in difficult situations.

The Twitteratti were out in force that night to support the cause, again proving the power of social media to spread the message and create a community of people dedicated to improving our society. That’s the goal of Global Patriot, and the reason for the 12for12k Challenge!

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Stockholm was host to the second stop on the Music as Medicine concert tour in support of Doctors Without Borders. For this event the partnership between Global Patriot and the 12for12k Challenge expanded to include a new organization entitled Concerts for Change.

Johan Burell, Renee Viterstedt, Anders Sporring

This collaboration began with an initial Tweetup meeting in Stockholm during which I explained that Danny Brown (founder of 12for12k.org) and I (founder of Global Patriot) had chosen the month of September to combine forces in an effort to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders.

Inspired by the cause, and recognizing the power of music to change the world, Renee Viterstedt, Anders Sporring and Johan Burell decided to create their own organization, and in the process, have laid the groundwork for producing future concerts throughout Europe.

Johan and Renee Interviewed

Thomas Bjelkeman was in attendance and shot this very cool interview with Johan and Renee. (Thomas is doing incredible things as founder of Akvo – expect to see a future collaboration.)

Amazing Performances

While I intended to use footage from the concert, the videos below do far more justice to the talents of Sofia Talvik and Tom Levin. It was an honor to have them support the Music as Medicine tour. Assuming you love great music, you would be well served to buy their albums!

The success of this event was gratifying, but the unexpected benefit was to see others inspired to create their own vehicle for making a positive difference in the world – the true spirit of being a Global Patriot – look for future events sponsored by Global Patriot and Concerts for Change!

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I had an amazing time on the Music as Medicine tour benefiting Doctors Without Borders. After the kickoff event in San Diego on September 3rd, the series moved on to Stockholm for a second concert on September 9th. The third event occurred on September 15th at Kettner’s in Soho and was produced by the Leap Anywhere team.

Music as Medicine from Leap Anywhere TV on Vimeo.

Featured on Leap Anywhere TV, the clip above highlights the purpose of the event, the selfless work of Doctors Without Borders and the reaction of guests who attended in support of this international humanitarian group – they all had a good time while doing good!

Global Patriot is proud to work with 12for12k in support of this dedicated organization, and our deepest thanks go out to Malcolm Scovil and his crew at Leap Anywhere for the work they did to make this event such a success!

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In support of Doctors Without Borders, the 12for12k Challenge & Global Patriot kicked off the Music as Medicine concert series in San Diego on September 3rd. The second concert, held in Stockholm on September 9th, was equally amazing.  The third event, being held in London on September 15th, has been organized by Leap Anywhere.

The Support of Many

These three events were made possible by the efforts of many individuals who have stepped forward and volunteered their time, resources and networks. That has been a wonderful process to witness, and speaks  to the fact that there are countless big hearts in this world with a desire for change.

In this case, my dear friend Shanna Trenholm electronically introduced me to Steve Bridger. Once Steve heard what 12for12k and Global Patriot were up to he immediately agreed to lend his support and quickly introduced me to Malcolm Scovil and his new organization, Leap Anywhere.

Leap Anywhere Launches

The moment I saw their website I knew that Leap Anywhere was the perfect partner for this project.

Leap Anywhere was set up to publicise the things that people do, that do good, and to make it easier by listing these in one place. It is also a social platform that enables you to share past, present and future Leap experiences with other users for free.

Headquarted in the heart of London’s Soho, over 130 people work either full-time or part-time as a part of the Leap Anywhere team to help inspire the world to get leaping.

Prior to Leap Anywhere Malcolm was in London for several years helping high growth internet and technology companies expand, most recently at venture capital firm Summit Partners. He now leads the team in the London HQ and is passionate about ways that will get more people off their sofas and out benefitting good causes.

The Evening’s Talent

Within days Malcolm had secured Kettner’s in Soho as our venue and lined up the evening’s talent. Performances by the renowned Ed Roughton of The Neon Empire and DJ Sam Young will entertain the crowd gathered to support Doctors Without Borders.

Formed in 2007, The Neon Empire has created an addictive blend of alternative rock, funk, and progressive rock, which is incredibly popular in both the UK and abroad. Compared to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and even Kings of Leon, Ed Roughton handles lead vocals and guitar for TNE and we’re all quite curious as to what he has in store for this event.

The Evening’s Venue

Entered via a secret door on Greek Street, the highly original new space on the first floor draws its inspiration from a French film director’s lair. It comes complete with casting couches, a drinks cabinet, music system, WIFI and a grand piano.

The Apartment at Kettner's

The Apartment at Kettner’s can accommodate 100+ patrons in an elegant yet intimate space. The management has graciously offered the room for this fundraising event, which is set to last until midnight. This will be an opportunity to learn more about the efforts of Doctors Without Borders in the UK, as well as network with a broad range of people dedicated to doing good in the world.

From a personal perspective, it’s been a great honor to work with such amazing people in San Diego, Stockholm, and now London in support of Danny Brown’s 12for12k Challenge!

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In partnership with Global Patriot, the 12for12k Challenge is focused on raising funds in support of Doctors Without Borders during the month of September 2009. The first event in the Music as Medicine series was held in San Diego on September 3rd at Anthology and featured music from The Alphonse Mouzon Jazz Project and the art of Michael Flohr.

Music As Medicine Continues

The second concert in the series is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9th in Stockholm and will feature a combination of live music from Sofia Talvik and Tom Levin along with the vibrant work of DJ Monica Bergmark. As with the San Diego event, the artists are donating their time in support of this international humanitarian organization.

Hilton Stockholm Slussen

The Hilton Hotel has also offered the use of their Eken Bar to host the concert. This intimate venue, with scenic views of the harbor, is ideal for both live music and DJs with indoor & patio seating for patrons and includes a dance floor – guaranteed this place will be hoppin’ till midnight!

The Musicians

Sofia Talvik

“Soft, airy, and graceful, Sweden’s sweet Sofia Talvik sings songs touching on themes of love and heartbreak, as well as a healthy dose of anecdotal stories from her own life.”

Sofia Talvik was born on an island just off the west coast of Sweden, an in 2005 she released her debut album, Blue Moon, to much critical acclaim, followed by 2007’s Street of Dreams, on which she sings, “it’s just love, how hard can it be“, in a beautiful duet with veteran British performer, Bernard Butler.

Fresh from a powerful performance at 2008’s Lollapalooza festival, Sofia is now poised to conquer the States with the release of her devastatingly beautiful third album. It’s a record of staggering elegance, with the faintest trace of Scandinavian twee and youthful exuberance.

Tom Levin

Tom Levin’s teenage years brought him to Alaska, where he lived as an exchange student. It was here that his vocal talents were first discovered. Urged on by his host family’s belief in his abilities, Tom made his debut as a soloist in the school choir. But it wasn’t until 2001 that he finally decided to produce a solo album.

In 2006 Tom launched his second solo album. The music is rife with influences from rock and bluegrass to big band jazz, pop, country and gospel. In November of that year he won the award for “AC Male Artist of the Year” (New Music Weekly Awards 2006) in the USA. His song “Just” reached #1 on US radio on the 12 th of December 2006 an it stayed as # 1 for four weeks.

Monica Bergmark

Monica Bergmark has been a Dj since 1983 and loves Hip Hop – R&B – Funk – Soul – Electro – House – Disco. She’s also been a Sound Engineer & Producer for Swedish National Radio P3, Swedish TV 2 & TV 24 since 1996 and Dj:ed for the Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf’s at his 40th birthday bash at the Drottningholm Castle! She then interviewed and hung out with George Clinton, who is as good as royalty!

“If u can..t dance 2 it – don..t do it”

Monica’s spin list includes: Ryan Leslie, DMX, Snoop, Prince, Alicia Keys, Cassie, Missy, Dr.Dre, Gang Starr, Guru, Mob Deep, Xzibit, Raw Fusion, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Ludacris, Ashante, 2 Pac, John Legend, Diddy, Monica, Brandy, Ice Cube, Rihanna, Anthony Hamilton, Keisha Cole, Black Eyed Peas, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Notorious Big, Mos Def, Salem al Fakir, Fergie, Jay Z, Kanye West, Chris Brown, Beyonce, Usher, 50 Cent, Faith Evans, Avant, Mary J Blige, Eminem…

Highly Appreciated

As a final note, this event would not have been possible without the efforts of Renee Viterstedt, Anders Sporring and Johan Burell. After expressing my desire to create a second benefit concert for Doctors Without Borders, these three individuals took charge and spent countless hours finding a venue and securing the artists.  I am truly grateful for making my dream a reality!

From the Stockholm office of Doctors Without Borders, Marita Fernstedt, Kristina Boberg and Johan Pettersson provided invaluable support, while at the Hilton Slussen, Viktoria Györi, Maria Nystedt and Jonathan Lallemand helped at every turn.

Part three in the Music as Medicine series will take place in London on Tuesday, September 15th at Kettner’s in SoHo. This will be a fabulous evening in support of Doctors Without Borders.

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