What difference can I make?

Dear all,

We always think that what one person decides does not really make a whole lot of difference to others in the world.

Since I can think, I have always been taking a different stand motivating others to use their voice and let the world know and felt very frustrated that it was not really inspiring people to do so.

Doing this in a not-so-digital world, before our current times, was not that easy, because the person who stands out and up for what he or she believes in was often alone against the crowd. Swimming against the current.

I am so glad that these times are over.

The voices and weights of all the one persons are now coming together. Like this we can change the world.

Yes, we can.

I just received a letter from Ricken Patel. He is the founder of http://www.Avaaz.org – my deepest respect and honor for your work, Ricken.

Avaaz is a 44-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people shape global decision-making. (“Avaaz” means “voice” or “song” in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 18 countries on 6 continents and operates in 17 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz’s biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

There are no better words to explain everyone of YOU the weight of YOUR VOICE.

Inspirational regards

Jutta

 

Dear Avaaz movement,

I have a crazy confession to make. I started Avaaz, and I don’t sign many petitions.

I always think, “yeah, but what difference is my one extra signature going to make?” I feel like I have more important things to do, like making sure our petitions are powerfully delivered.

But wow, am I glad the rest of us don’t think this way. Because while it’s true that the 1,137,540th signature doesn’t by itself change the game, the whole million of them absolutely can. And the whole million is just a million individual people hoping, believing and acting. Doing *their* part, however small, to make a better world. Without people who make that individual choice, our movement would not exist.

So much of life is like this. Any one of us could be the one person to skip the line, or not vote, or lie on our taxes, or turn away from a neighbour in need. But we don’t. Why?

Because it’s who we are. Because it’s the right thing to do. Because we were raised to love and serve. Because we know what a dark world it would be if everyone failed to do their part.

I’ve always been awed by the decency of the people in this movement. You teach me again and again. And in reflecting on this question of why we sign, I come back to my own behaviour. And I pledge to sign more. To be part of that simple act of connection to others, in hope, service, and that precious kind of strength that we can only find together.

Click below to see and join a global, multilingual live chat of our movement about why each of us sign (and message, share, call, lobby, donate, march). These times call for all of us to step up to the needs of our communities and our world – let’s inspire each other to service:

Why we sign

I know many of us are moved by seeing the list of names of others who have signed scroll by on the petition page. I am too. Look for my name there.

With gratitude for this stunningly beautiful movement,

Ricken and the team

PS – Of course, our petitions are just the beginning of our campaigns — and Avaaz runs some of the most effective, strategic, don’t take no for an answer, never say die campaigns in the world! I know many of us only see a campaign at its beginning. See our victories page to see what it looks like at the end.

LINKS

Avaaz Victories Page

JOIN the Avaaz Community

Advertisement

Narendra Modi – The Robin Hood of our times

Crowd Funding the Poor

I want to start this Year 2017 with sharing a story that I have been following for a couple of weeks.

A news story that did not get the visibility it deserves.
A story that was not told properly.
The best news I ever heard.

On the 8th of November a history changing event happened. No, it is not the result of the US elections I am referring to. It is much more important than that.

It is the announcement of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to demonetize 500 and 1000 rupee notes. The banknotes were declared illegal tender at 11 pm that day representing more than 86% of cash in circulation. New 2000 rupee notes have been introduced instead. This initiative is an attempt to fight corruption and tax evasion.

The context

India is a country where many (rich) people keep (a lot of) money outside the tax system, stacked away in cash. A World Bank estimate puts the size of the black economy at 23.2% of India’s total economy in 2007. India is still largely a cash-driven economy and this money plays a key role in many different areas: the real estate market, fueling terrorist activities, financing elections, … . I am sure that creative minds can think of many other areas where black money is handy to have.

When something like this happens (and it can happen from one day to the other), there is a lot at stake. Thinking of the consequences by taking a snapshot from all 360 degree viewpoints will impress you.

You might have heard or read about this seemingly unpopular move of Modi. You might think that this is not relevant for you, because you have nothing to do with India.

But let me share 3 reasons why this is relevant to all of us.

 

1. The value of money

What does money mean to you?

From one day to the other the money in your hand can just become paper. The value we attribute to it is suddenly gone.

The effect of the Modi’s announcement was that stacks of money were found on the streets of India. Everyone could pick up the money and deposit it in his or her bank account.

Yes. You are reading correctly.

Thinking ahead, the first question coming to one’s mind is:
Does everyone have a bank account in India?

Yes, with the Jan Dhan Yojana Scheme, which Modi started in August 2014, he made sure that every Indian family got enrolled in a bank and opened a zero balance account. He wanted to make certain that every Indian family could deposit money into a bank account.

Just to say that again:

Lots of Money was found in the streets of India that people could pick up and deposit in their bank accounts.

This news touched my heart – Robin Hood at work.

The biggest crowd funding I ever heard of, no platform needed.

I wanted to know more about it and started to read all the news I could get. Surprisingly there was not a lot of noise about it. I asked myself why. I asked family and friends in India and here is what I learned:

The value of the money is not lost. The obsolete notes just need to be deposited into a bank account within the deadline (30 of Dec 2016). No problem for everyone paying taxes. Go to the bank and deposit your money.

 

2. Changing our economic systems

Have you ever personally felt that our economic system favors certain groups of people?

This question is becoming a topic in an increasing number of discussions, fueled by the growing transparency as a consequence of digitalization – spoken in specific terms: the horizontal and vertical integration is breaking down silo mentality.

This excites me and make me feel like a fish in water – seeing the chance to change our systems in a way that our societies can favor sustainable, fair and mutually beneficial solutions.

Luckily I am not the only one who thinks that “Our economic system favors the wealthy and powerful.” and many people ask themselves “Why do powerful leaders not do more good”

Modi managed to implement a very simple yet impressively effective measure which had a huge impact and benefited the majority of people in his country. I salute him.

He is driven to ensure the long-term welfare of the people of India. Having only this goal in mind (rather than his own personal benefit), he laid the foundation for removing injustice in the distribution of wealth.

It is not a political trick and not a change in the economic or financial system. It is “just” the replacement of two banknotes with new ones.

His example is the proof to me that it is possible to find ways within a current system to benefit the majority of people again.

His example is the proof to me that one person can make a huge difference in the world.

 

3. Complexity

Did you think about the consequences of Modi’s initiative in your own terms?

If so, you certainly understood very quickly that the complexity of effects and consequences of this one step are huge. I spent hours and hours reading articles, watching speeches and interviewing people. It is certainly possible that I misinterpreted or misunderstood. This is simply my impression of the effects and consequences this measure has already had and will continue to have in the future.

On the 9th of November those people with black money were facing following options:

1. Exchange it for the new notes through buying something.
2. Come clean and use one of the Black Money Window Schemes opened by the Indian Income Tax Department.
3. Accept that the cash is merely a piece of paper and get rid of it.

I heard that many people chose option 1 and 3. It led to small business owners like the tea-stand fellow on the corner or the fruit farmer coming every morning receiving huge tips. Or stacks of money floating in the river Ganga. There were also other escape routes tried, such as:

• Sending money to relatives working abroad to exchange the money,
• Buying railway and airline tickets, cancel them, and ask for a refund.

Modi’s government instantly observed all channels of financial movements in a very smart way allowing them to introduce road blocks very quickly for anyone trying to get around the rules. These observations included statistics about all financial activities to identify > from whom > how much > from where and > to what destination the money started to flow.

Lets take a look at the positive effects for the economy. I would really like to know if they were actually foreseen beforehand: It might impact the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of India negatively in the short term, yet, with positive long term consequences. It will help to bring down inflation. Not to mention about upcoming elections (black money being no more available).

Where was the media?

International media reports focused only on the Indian public standing in queues in front of the banks. They did not report on Modi’s initiative in full. I would have expected more media attention, with a more detailed analyses on effects and consequences of his initiative.

But looking at the facts it seems as if Modi intentionally chose this date (same day as US elections).  Even now, 2 days post deadline, I still do not find many articles about it. I guess, the complexity of this topic probably led news journalists to step back, and not take up the subject.

Following the conversations and voices on social media, many people shared their various opinions, discussed issues, and conducted polls within their networks…, getting involved on Twitter, Quora, Facebook and alike. Even well known people, such as the author Chetan Bhagat took part in it.

Yet, lacking the appropriate attention of international journalism brings the risk that an important topic such as this, is not seen in the right light.

 

Conclusion

We have to get used to the fact that more such complex topics will pop up in the future and that we shall have to form our own opinion or get swept away by social media waves. I believe that it will become increasingly difficult – even impossible – to identify the real facts.

Initiatives, companies and organizations which want to play an active role in our fast changing times need to become visible, open and transparent on a global digital stage. They have to ensure that their topic is seen in the right light.

Everything has a local and global aspect. In the end it is about people and their realities affecting them in their own countries (which is difficult to understand for outsiders). And the realities being relevant to all of us on this globe.

 

My contacts in India say that everyone they know are very happy about this initiative, everything is good, the new notes are in circulation.

2017 started without any problems.

Happy New Year 2017

Jutta

 

It is my mission to inspire and connect people to use their potential as problem solvers, entrepreneurs and leaders for a sustainable society with a place for everyone.

#demonetization @narendramodi

 

LINKS

Won’t stop, even if burnt alive: PM Narendra Modi on fight against black money

What are the positive effects of demonetization?

7 Reasons why demonetization is a masterstroke by Modi

Arvind Panagariya sees minimal impact of note ban on growth

Challenge for eCommerce

Why do powerful leaders not do more good?

Our monetary system favors rich and hurts poor

 

 

Nicht ausgedrückte Wut und Dankbarkeit

Seit 90 Jahren bewegt sich ganz Japan morgens zur Radiogymnastik.
Wenn nicht selbst erlebt, hätte ich dies nicht als reale Wirklichkeit empfinden können. Gefühlsmäßig erzeugt der Anblick großer Menschengruppen, die den Aufforderungen einer einzigen Stimme folgen, die Einnerung an ähnliche Bilder aus dem Geschichtsunterricht vom Mitmachen ab.

Die Zeit meines Lebens, die ich in Japan verbracht habe, wird mich immer mit dem Land und den Menschen, den Freunden und Kontakten verbinden.
Was ich dort gelernt habe, wird mich immer begleiten.
Was mich dort frustriert hat und zuinnerst verstummen hat lassen, wird mich immer sehr traurig stimmen.

Es wird mich antreiben und erinnern, dass ich mich weiter Veränderungen und Verbesserungen einsetzen werde, die soviele Leben wie nur möglich berühren.

Arte Doku: Der Bauch von Tokio
Filmtipp – Wie Tokyo mit Lebensmitteln und Wasser versorgt wird. Interviews mit Leuten vor und nach 3-2011. JapanerInnen, die vor der Radioaktivitaet Angst haben, berichten über Ihr Leben davor und danach. Ein Thema, das in den japanischen Medien totgeschwiegen wird.

Aus Unwissen: Im Frühjahr 2011 tranken 2,5 Millionen Menschen 8 Tage lang Wasser, dass mit radioaktivem Jod belastet war. Bis heute hat die Anlage Probleme mit radioaktivem Cäsium.

Zwei Sätze für 300 Tonnen radioaktives Wasser
Japans Regierung gab offiziell bekannt, dass bei Fukushima ein gigantisches Verseuchungsproblem besteht. Kaum eine Meldung wert?!

LINKS

Nuclear Energy in Japan von Tabea Sano, Autauschstudentin in Japan
In Erinnerung an Fukushima Frischer denn je
To be in the spotlight for a cause Eine Meinung bilden und vertreten muss gelernt sein

In Erinnerung an Fukushima …

Fukushima in Japan persönlich miterlebt zu haben, wird wohl immer tief in meiner Erinnerung verhaftet bleiben und obwohl das für weltweit eigentlich alle Leute gilt, hat es doch für jeden einzelnen eine andere Einfärbung und Bedeutung.

Zum Nachvollziehen und sich Hineindenken, was vor Ort geschehen ist und wie die Information an die Gesellschaft erfolgt, gibt es viele Möglichkeiten:

Als erste Referenz zu den wirklichen Hintergründen zu empfehlen

Die Fukushima Lüge ZDF *
TEIL 1 – TEIL 2 – TEIL 3

—————-

* update 22.4.2020
Leider wurden die Videos von Youtube gelöscht, gesperrt, zensuriert- ich konnte zumindest eines der Videos von ZDFzoom wieder finden. Zur Doku lasse ich die Links genauso hier verlinkt stehen wie sie waren. Die Suche im Netz mit dem Suchwort “Fukushima Lüge” bringt sie jedoch auf weitere Spuren …

Die Fukushima Lüge Teil 1 vom 08 01 2014
“Teil 2 dieses Filmbeitrages wurde leider weltweit gesperrt. Fukushima –
Der Filmbeitrag zeigt die kriminellen Machenschaften in …”

—————-

Gern verweise ich hier auf Publikationen von Zeitgenossen meiner Unterrichtstätigkeit in Japan von Judith Brandner, Ann Cotten, Lydia Mischkulnig.

Judith Brandner
Reportage Japan
Außer Kontrolle und in Bewegung
Interview dazu
Hören Sie sich rein

Neuerscheinungen

Jürgen Draschan, Bertlinde Vögel (Hrsg.) (2012):
NACHBEBEN JAPAN
Wien: Luftschacht Verlag. ISBN: 978-3-902844-12-5

Mit Beiträgen von Xaver Bayer, Judith Brandner, Ann Cotten, Elfriede Czurda, Erwin Einzinger, Franzobel, Peter Glaser, Ludwig Laher, Hanno Millesi, Lydia Mischkulnig, Sabine Scholl, Josef Winkler.

Buchpräsentationen:
Literaturhaus Graz, 24. Sept. um 20.00 Uhr
Literaturhaus Wien, 25. Sept. um 19.00 Uhr

ONCE UPON A TIME / ES WAR EINMAL FUKUSHIMA
von Kei Kimura/Maketa Smith-Groves
Herausgegeben von Renate & Peter Giacomuzzi
Übersetzungen von Isabelle Esser und Isabella König

Buchpräsentation mit Kei Kimura und Maketa Smith-Groves beim Sprachsalz-Festival
am Samstag, 15. September 2012, 11.30 Uhr, Stadtbücherei Hall, Tirol.

Inside Japan: Shushoku Katsudo 就職活動

Shukatsu ist die Abkürzung für Shushoku Katsudo und bezeichnet den Prozess der Jobsuche in Japan. Der Prozess ist kompliziert und zeitaufwendig, es müssen zahlreiche Veranstaltungen und Prüfungen in einer bestimmten Reihenfolge besucht bzw. bestanden werden. Am wichtigsten ist jedoch, dass dieser Prozess nur einmal pro Jahr startet. Wenn der Einstiegszeitpunkt verpasst wird, ist es zu spät.

Dieser Prozess der Jobsuche beginnt oft bereits schon nach dem 2. Studienjahr, sodass man bis zum vierten Studienjahr, in dem der Abschluß erfolgt, nur zwei mal die Möglichkeit hat, an Schukatsu teilzunehmen und damit einen Job zu bekommen.

Für die Studenten, die nächstes Jahr ihr Studium abschließen werden, hat sich die Situation verschlimmert. Viele Firmen haben ihre Beteiligung an diesen Programmen abgesagt. Das ist eine – weitere – Katastrophe für sehr viele!

Es war schon vorher so, dass viele Studienabsolventen keinen Job mehr finden. Die Wirtschaftskrise und nun die Katastrophe aufgrund des Erdbebens haben diese Situation bedenklich verschärft. Doch wie es der japanischen Kultur entspricht, wird über solche Probleme kaum gesprochen.

See also

SHUKATSU – The Road to a Job in Japan [in English}

… there are the innovators, those who help lead the way

I am proud to now have proof that I am an innovator …

Reid Hoffman, Co-founder and Chairman, personally thanked me because I was one of LinkedIn’s first 100,000 members – member number 91345 in fact. In any technology adoption life-cycle, there are the innovators, those who help lead the way. And that was me.

Two weeks ago LinkedIn hit the big milestone of the 100 million members. Congratulation!
It was the vision of LinkedIn to help the world’s professionals be more successful and productive when they started. And this vision already became reality for me in my professional life – I met professional educators from around the world and engage in high profile discussions with them about current work tasks and questions arising. We share ideas and connect on many different levels. LinkedIn made that possible. Thank you for making your vision reality – I am sure that it was very hard to reach this point we are at today.

Links
My profile on LinkedIn
Wikipedia – Diffusion of innovations

Related to other blog articles
oo Social networks
oo People driven
oo Unsere Krisen

Information is key – especially in a crisis

April 4th, 2011

Graphical Map of Japan with current and continuously updated radiation and wind readings [visible with Mozilla Firefox only]

19. March 2011

The Japan earthquake has been showing in a very dramatic way how crucial information is and how media can be distorting the picture, confusing the people depending on the accuracy of the information and creating panic and fear. And fear is not a good basis for making right decisions.

I always thought that people are mature enough to understand that it is a STRENGTH to admit that there is something going wrong and report it to a larger group of people to work together to solve the problem.
This understanding is a pre-requisite if we want to solve the problems of our COMPLEX world of today. We need to work together crossing all sorts of boarders (national, language, religions, … ) in an international interdisciplinary group of experts – this is at least giving us a chance to be successful in solving problems.

Here are the websites that provided real information

AIST Tsukuba Center Headquarters for Disaster [EN]
Live Press conferences about the daily happenings [JP, EN]
Update on the happenings in Fukushima von Greenpeace [DE]
Gesellschaft für Anlagen und Reaktorsicherheit[DE]

I think that IT IS OUR MAIN TASK to UNDERSTAND this throughout all cultures and of the world and it is everybody’s responsibility to be part of this process and contribute where- and whenever they can.

I am feeling with the people of Japan … and sincerely hope that things will change for the better.

REZEPT GEGEN WINTERGRAU

Kleine Aufmunterung zur Stärkung des Selbstwertgefühls!

In diesen trüben Tagen, wo sich das Wetter nicht entscheiden kann, soll es aufklaren oder doch nebelverhangen bleiben, ergreifen oft Anfälle von Niedergeschlagenheit und sogar Depression die Menschen, aus denen sie sich sehr schwer befreien können.

Obwohl es ein ganz ernstzunehmendes Krankheitsbild gibt, das „Münchhausen-Syndrom“, bei dem ein Betroffener körperliche Beschwerden erfindet und versucht eine Krankenrolle zu erzwingen, möchte ich hier auf ein Lügenmärchen des Barons K.F.H. Münchhausen zurückgreifen, das helfen soll, sich „an den eigenen Haaren aus dem Sumpf“ von Mutlosigkeit und Selbstmitleid zu ziehen.

Diese eigentlich unmögliche Form der „Selbstrettung“ kann durchaus den Verstand zu Hilfe nehmen. Durch die Kraft des Denkens können die Informationen aus den tagtäglichen Erfahrungen gefiltert und gesteuert werden. Die Freude am Leben und eine positive Weltsicht können durch den Versuch wiedergewonnen werden, bewusst schwierige Situationen als Herausforderung zu begreifen und dadurch zu bewältigen. Trotz widriger Umstände nicht zu resignieren, ist der erste Schritt zur Wiedergewinnung von Zufriedenheit und Lebensfreude.
Es lohnt auf jeden Fall einen Versuch!

Link zu verwandten Blog Artikeln
oo Die Macht der inneren Bilder

Begeisterung ist der Sprit des Gehirns – Enthusiasm is the fuel of the brain!

Wenn es uns nicht mehr gelingt, uns schöpferisch vorzustellen, wie eine Welt aussehen könnte, in der Menschen Ihre Potentiale entfalten anstatt sich gegenseitig als Resourcen zu benutzen, dann ist es schlimm um unsere Welt bestellt.

Zitat vom führender Neurobiologen Univ.-Prof. Dr. Gerald Hüther

AUSZÜGE AUS DEM VORTRAG	BITS AND PIECES FROM HIS TALK
Begeisterung ist der Sprit des Gehirns	Enthusiasm is the fuel of the brain!
Wir lernen nur durch Erfahrung – auswendig Lernen wird nicht wirklich im Hirn verankert	We only learn through experience – learning by heart is not really anchored in the brain.
Wir haben viel mehr Potential als wir nutzen.	We have more potential than we use.
Lernen ohne Fühlen – anders denken als handeln – macht letztendlich krank.	Learning without feeling – acting differently to what you think – makes sick.
Wir brauchen Eseln, die Spass am Laufen haben. Türkisches Sprichwort: Wenn man den Esel antreibt, muß man seinen Pforz ertragen.	We need donkeys who have fun to run. Turkish proverb: If you drive a donkey, you have to endure his fart.

Vortrag selber Nachhören kann man hier: Die Macht der Inneren Bilder

– The power of imagination
Unfortunately this is in German – I would be so happy to present this also in English!

Unsere Krisen? – nach welchen Werten handelt der Einzelne allein und in Gesellschaft …

Die Werte, nach denen wir unsere Handlungen ausrichten, verändern sich heute in Echtzeit und darüberhinaus sind sie über politische Räume nicht einheitlich, manchmal selbst in benachbarten Regionen nicht einmal ähnlich. Die Werthaltung von Nachbarländern in Europa können voneinander abweichen, auch diametral entgegen liegen. Ein weiteres Phänomen kann jeder selbst bei sich beobachten: Wir handeln alleine anders als in Gruppen oder in größeren Gesellschaften. Warum tun wir das?

Die Mechanismen sind wahrscheinlich so individuell wie es Menschen auf der Erde gibt, obwohl sie historische Wurzeln haben. Es wäre gut sich über seine eigenen Entscheidungen alleine und in Gesellschaft klar zu werden. Die Unterschiede geben Auskunft über die eigene Herkunft und eben jene Werte, nach denen man seine eigenen Entscheidungen ausrichtet. Sich selbst bewusst in dieser Dialektik zu erfahren bringt uns einen Schritt näher, das zu verstehen, was wir zur Bewältigung der unzähligen Krisen verstehen sollten. Denn es sieht so aus, als dass sich im Großen jene Dialektik reproduziert, die in uns allen steckt.