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MAIN FEATURE
Global Knowledge for a Better World
"Through the tears of sadness,
I see an opportunity to do generations a favor."
- President George W. Bush (13 Sept 2001)
Last week we were all deeply shocked by the terrorist events that we saw on
our television screens. Below are the messages I sent to the ENTOVATION 100
Knowledge Leadership and the GKD (Global Knowledge Discussion - see
Knowledge Digest below) list immediately following. A summary of some of
the replies follows my messages.
Out of The Depths of Destruction
(Message to ENTOVATION 100)
Dear ENTOVATION 100,
Although I have heard individually from many of you, I wanted to send a
note to all who are represented on our Global Knowledge Leadership Map
in hopes that we might be
able to put this recent terrorist disaster into
perspective and use it as an impetus to further our collective work.
I received the call at 9:05 am from Gerardo Calderon Malagamba (Mexico
City) inquiring whether I was safe. Gerardo, who is responsible for the
Spanish translation of my book and much of the ENTOVATION visibility
throughout Mexico, has been to my home and knows the degree of
international travel out of Boston that fills my schedule. I was deeply
touched by his call.
Moreover, while we were speaking, the second Tower of the NY World Trade
Center was hit, and also the Pentagon. He urged that I watch the television;
and I did...the rest of the day, and in shock.
The next day, I tried to put these events into perspective. I decided to
make a posting on the Global Knowledge Development (GKD) electronic
dialogue of which many of you are familiar.
Message to GKD
There are many of us that are still trying to fathom the depths of what has
happened with such terrorist acts - physical, social, political, financial
and military.
I've given thought to what we do...or what might we offer.
There are nations all over the world who are daily suffering casualties of
catastrophic impact. Rarely has such devastation reached the shores of the
United States. Today, reality changed...forever. I watched the television
recounting of the explosions, which - with few exceptions - had usually
been documentation of bombings in other cities...other countries. It's sad
that things must be brought so close to home to fathom the travesty. Today,
this happened for Americans around the world; and I believe that what
happens in the future will be viewed differently...by us all.
My own career has been blessed with visits to so many cultures that are
embracing the values of the new Knowledge Economy. This assumes a world of
collaborative advantage, one of unprecedented knowledge-sharing, a society
in which we can build a better standard of living for industrialized and
developing nations alike.
Such euphemism amidst such destruction...
Today's actions are a call to action...for each of us individually and as
nations. I pledge to do what I can personally to help influence future
policies and decision-making of our leaders; and I hope that you will do
the same. I am seeking the documentation from every Head of State in the
World - at least those who are not condoning terrorist acts and harboring
their 'leaders' - to step up to the world table and articulate a statement
of their support for the core values that support our humanity and rights
to freedom.
There are many of you who are listeners/participants in the GLD who may not
believe me. The focus on knowledge strategy is not a consulting fad or a
short-term fix for enterprise productivity. It is not a function of
information and technology. It is an human and humane agenda with economic
implications at all levels of our society. It is a platform for world
peace...nothing less.
And the time is now...
Debra
ENTOVATION Colleagues Respond
During the latter part of last week - and continuing this week - I have
been touched by the many replies from ENTOVATION colleagues. Wherever they
live around the world, there are several common threads:
- deep shock at such outrages
- the hope that friends and colleagues in the US were safe
- sympathies to the bereaved and injured
- that the world will never be the same again
- that we all have a duty to strive to make the world a safer place.
Many of the replies were quite lengthy, so what follows is a few selected
phrases that illustrate these sentiments.
"Just a note to let you know that our thoughts are with you and all friends
and colleagues in the US. The images of the unspeakable horror perpetuated
just days ago are still in my mind. The world will never be the same again.
Our prayers go out to all who have been affected by this." (Hock Meng,
Singapore)
"The dimension of this terrible event has echoed deep inside the hearts and
minds of many people whose lives are far
away from America and I hope, that this will bring many positive changes in
our lives and around the world for the rest of this century." (Paulo C. G.
de Miranda, Brazil)
"We have learned a great deal about our own responses to such human
tragedy. I think that we have also learned that together we share the same
planet on the universe and share the same fear and loathing of those
amongst us who could dare to perpetrate such an act of violence. (Michael
Kelleher, Wales)
"And I guess it showed not only the American people but the whole world
that something has to be DONE to bring wealth, peace and
freedom to all the suffering and poor. We have to share our dream, our
wealth, our knowledge...Show SOLIDARITY. At the moment all Poles are with
you, mourning." (Tomasz Rudolf, Poland)
"I want to think and pray hard about the loss of people in New York and
Washington at the moment ..... but when the immediate crisis is past, and
it is possible to think more clearly, I would like to address the WHY of
terrorism ...... and the issue of failed development and global justice
..... and a way forward that brings opportunity to all" (Peter Burgess, Africa)
"Let us look behind the screens. We all believe in the same single God who
does not give us any right to kill any ( innocent or guilty) any human
being. But let us unify our forces and knowledge to find all the terrorist
groups in the world and try to destroy them by avoiding the reasons causing
them to become terrorists." (Gulgun Kayakutlu, Turkey)
"What we need is to articulate a clearer vision and clearer explanation how
the modern knowledge strategy can achieve its social objectives." (Chin Hu
Lau, Malaysia)
"Please, have peace and hope for a better future." (Luis Ovidio Galvis,
Columbia)
The full replies will be posted shortly on a Reflections page at the
(KnowMap website).
In the meantime it is up to all of us to use our global knowledge and our
global network to help create a better world.
Debra
Email: Debra M. Amidon
© Copyright, 2001. David Skyrme Associates Limited and Authors - All rights reserved.
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