Cyan Banister: Value and Job Creation = World Change
Tiara the Merch Girl
· 11 months ago
I see TechCrunch's point - $6000 is a LOT, and it ends up outpricing people in developing countries & low-income situations who could really benefit from the connections and knowledge at TED (not to mention the opportunity to PRESENT!). Even the "non-profit" price is rather steep. (My rant: http://is.gd/hk7G)
You may be interested in social enterprises - for-profit businesses with a strong (if not main) focus on doing social good. Read "The End of Charity" for a great intro to them.
Cyan
· 11 months ago
All of the TED talks are available to the public and as for speaking, I'm sure they'd welcome speakers from developing countries and maybe they already do.
However, having me there paying my way with my own money and thinking about the world and what to do with my money seems like a positive thing.
I agree, I'm much more intersted in social enterprises. I'll look into reading that for sure, thank you!
Peter Kevin Reeves
· 11 months ago
For the most part, I agree with you.
Every member of my immediate family (Mom, Dad and Brother) was in the military. As such, I try to donate to causes that help and respect those who've served their country.
There are many, many charities for this cause, but I've been horribly disappointed by the vast sums of money most spend on fundraising, without much proof they help the veterans I want to support. The noted exception being the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) who do amazing work, and make good use of my donations.
One out of dozens. It's incredibly frustrating.
The sad byproduct is that people either feel vindicated by writing a check, or just stop caring. Neither solves the problem. It's almost like we need a Consumer Reports for Charities.
I love the concept that jobs are a better investment. Indeed, I think in many cases they are. Like everything else in life, I suspect that the world needs both sides. Employment, as well as useful, well run charities.
That said, $6,000 still strikes me as an awful lot for a conference. ;)
Aumie
· 11 months ago
Don't you think you're making a lot of presumptions to claim that greenpeace creates very little social change based on your experience with them as a 16yo call center employee? I'm not implying that they have in fact created monumental social change, but it seems odd to make such a claim based on a very low level job within the org.
Also: Hell yes to Kiva. I was actually offered a job with them recently as their IT Manager, but the pay was very low, and I couldn't justify the move from Portland. But still; they are awesome and kudos for donating to them.
Cyan
· 11 months ago
@Aumie, first off, I wasn't your ordinary 16 year old. I did a lot of research after this and figured out exactly how much money goes into activism and how much is spent on general operations of the company (aka headcount, office space, goods). Guess what? Most of the money you give to Greenpeace goes into employing their employees, office space and paper (that shit they send you in the mail begging for more money). Prove me wrong, find examples of where Greenpeace has created more social change than Kiva with the hundreds of millions of dollars they have received over the years.
Awesome! I absolutely love Kiva.
Cyan
· 11 months ago
@pkreeves 6k is a lot of money, I agree, but I think if you have it to spend and you want to, it is all relative.
Aumie
· 11 months ago
Yea. I'm not arguing with you at all. I think the Greenpeace of today is a questionable org, and I don't really think comparing them to Kiva is an apples to apples comparison.
Honestly, I think a lot of the social impacts that Greenpeace has aren't within the realm of measurement being that IMO their big accomplishments usually revolve around keeping certain issues (whaling, for example) in the media. Despite that I may not always agree with what they do, I appreciate that they are able (even through controversy) to maintain a certain level of visibility within current dialog on social / environmental issues, and I think that's really one of their larger accomplishments.
Peter Kevin Reeves
· 11 months ago
Very true.
I got an email from someone on Zivity today, incredulous that I've voted 2,500 times, and wondering how it was possible.
I told them the math was easy. That $150 a month over a year-and-a-half would easily buy 2,500 votes.
I had it to spend, and I wanted to. Besides, I'm employing photographers and models! ;)
Cyan
· 11 months ago
@pkreeves people don't believe that i actually buy my votes on zivity. i've never been comped a vote ever.
you know you have reached some point of success when people start coming up with conspiracy theories.
Rosalyn Fay
· 11 months ago
"Most charities are bullshit" is a ridiculous claim, esp. given that you've only worked in three, and unless your making site visits and doing extensive research on the thousands of charities out there, you should be more cautious about making such broad claims. This world would look a lot different if it weren't for churches and charities that do the work that governments are incapable of any business don't find profitable. Now, what is bullshit is the idea that business can solve all social ills.
It's true that many charities are ineffective and their administrative budgets are bloated, but I can't help but think about the hundreds of CEO's who are buying corp. jets and getting massive bonuses right now while they lay off tens of thousands of workers. If anything, now is the time to increase one's donations to charities and churches who are going to be picking up the social bill while everyone's taxes are going to bail out those poor corporations whose pure greed has destroyed our economy.
Cyan
· 11 months ago
Speaking of broad claims, have you studied economics at all?
Pure greed. Now, that's funny.
For the record, I don't support bailouts of any kind.
All Comments
You may be interested in social enterprises - for-profit businesses with a strong (if not main) focus on doing social good. Read "The End of Charity" for a great intro to them.
However, having me there paying my way with my own money and thinking about the world and what to do with my money seems like a positive thing.
I agree, I'm much more intersted in social enterprises. I'll look into reading that for sure, thank you!
Every member of my immediate family (Mom, Dad and Brother) was in the military. As such, I try to donate to causes that help and respect those who've served their country.
There are many, many charities for this cause, but I've been horribly disappointed by the vast sums of money most spend on fundraising, without much proof they help the veterans I want to support. The noted exception being the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) who do amazing work, and make good use of my donations.
One out of dozens. It's incredibly frustrating.
The sad byproduct is that people either feel vindicated by writing a check, or just stop caring. Neither solves the problem. It's almost like we need a Consumer Reports for Charities.
I love the concept that jobs are a better investment. Indeed, I think in many cases they are. Like everything else in life, I suspect that the world needs both sides. Employment, as well as useful, well run charities.
That said, $6,000 still strikes me as an awful lot for a conference. ;)
Also: Hell yes to Kiva. I was actually offered a job with them recently as their IT Manager, but the pay was very low, and I couldn't justify the move from Portland. But still; they are awesome and kudos for donating to them.
Awesome! I absolutely love Kiva.
Honestly, I think a lot of the social impacts that Greenpeace has aren't within the realm of measurement being that IMO their big accomplishments usually revolve around keeping certain issues (whaling, for example) in the media. Despite that I may not always agree with what they do, I appreciate that they are able (even through controversy) to maintain a certain level of visibility within current dialog on social / environmental issues, and I think that's really one of their larger accomplishments.
I got an email from someone on Zivity today, incredulous that I've voted 2,500 times, and wondering how it was possible.
I told them the math was easy. That $150 a month over a year-and-a-half would easily buy 2,500 votes.
I had it to spend, and I wanted to. Besides, I'm employing photographers and models! ;)
you know you have reached some point of success when people start coming up with conspiracy theories.
It's true that many charities are ineffective and their administrative budgets are bloated, but I can't help but think about the hundreds of CEO's who are buying corp. jets and getting massive bonuses right now while they lay off tens of thousands of workers. If anything, now is the time to increase one's donations to charities and churches who are going to be picking up the social bill while everyone's taxes are going to bail out those poor corporations whose pure greed has destroyed our economy.
Pure greed. Now, that's funny.
For the record, I don't support bailouts of any kind.