Going Beyond the norm - cool stuff!

It has been a few weeks since my last blog post and for this one I wanted to do something fun and interesting.  I have come across some very cool websites and initiatives lately so I thought I would detail my favourites here. 

GOOD is my new favourite website.  It reminds me of Mind Food magazine and website and is for people who give a damn about our world and what is going on in it.  It's such an interesting site but there is so much to it that if you're time poor like me I recommend you sign up to "One good thing a day" which is located at the very bottom left of the site.  Each day you will receive an email that "wows" you.

 http://www.good.is/

eDay is a community initiative designed to raise awareness of the benefits of recycling computers and the hazardous nature of electronic waste (e-waste) while offering an easy way for households and schools to dispose of old computers and mobile phones in an environmentally sound manner.  This is definitely one site all New Zealanders should visit! 

Learn more about eDay and e-waste initiatives in New Zealand. 

I have recently discovered a very cool FREE app for my iphone which is available on android etc as well.  It's called Pulse and it's the fun way to read news!!  Here's a quick blurb about Pulse:

"A beautiful application that makes browsing news from websites and social networks fun and engaging. Pulse takes your favorite websites (including Facebook) and transforms them into a colorful and interactive mosaic. Tap on an article, and you will see a clean and elegant view of the story. Sharing a story via Facebook, Twitter or email is as easy as two taps. Pulse has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, BusinessWeek, Techcrunch and more. Experience Pulse today - you will never look at news the same way again".  Search for it today to start experiencing it for yourself.

sparked.com is online volunteering for people like you!  It's so easy and fun - after a couple of clicks you are given a list of possible challenges to help with, your own profile page and it's SOOO interesting.  Help needed can be anything from marketing, to feedback on websites, to helping with business plans and it's tailored to your areas of interest.  Definitely worth checking out!

http://www.fairtradefortnight.com/ is on right now!  From 7-22 May whether you're a group or individual - get loud and proud this Fair Trade Fortnight and show off your swap to fair trade and Fairtrade Certified™ products for your chance to win one of the great prizes.  Check out Fairtrade fortnight prizes for more information. 



Travelista on demand has teamed up with http://arrivalsurvivalpack.com/ to bring you a very cool prize this month.  Be in to win an International Sim Kit worth NZ$68.00!  If you are not planning to travel overseas anytime soon this prize would be the perfect gift for that 'person who has everything!' 

You get both a Global and a USA phone number that works in over 160 countries and you save up to 90% on international roaming costs!  It also comes with a $10 call credit.

•Use in over 160 countries (great for flight stop overs, or doing tours in several countries)
•Rates from USD 49c per minute (including the United States)
•FREE to receive calls in more than 60 countries (on your Global number)
•FREE for family and friends to call you (USD 39c per minute surcharge applies)
•FREE to receive text messages (on your Global number)
•Receive a Free Online Travel Journal and Map of your Trip
•Connection fee of USD 35c
•Prepaid Data services
•Send international text messages from USD 69c each
•Recharge minutes anytime via the phone or web, or enable auto-recharge
•24/7 Customer Service
•It is prepaid, so no contracts, no credit checks and no monthly fees
•View call records and receipts online
•Easy to use voicemail and call-forwarding
•Easy to set up forwarding of your existing number
•Receive a Global +44 (United Kingdom) phone number and a United States +1 phone number

To be in the draw to win this very cool kit all you have to do is "like" Travelista on demand on facebook, share the page with your riends and comment on the "International SIM kit" post to say where you would most love to go on your next overseas trip.  It's that simple!!

http://www.actionforhappiness.org/ is a movement for positive social change, bringing together people from all walks of life who want to play a part in creating a happier society for everyone.  Check it out - it's a fantastic initiative!

You can contact me at anytime by emailing: goingbyond@gmail.com.  I'd love to hear what you think of our blog and welcome ideas for future posts.



Earth Hour 2011

Last weekend 134 countries joined together to celebrate Earth Hour 2011 - surpassing last year's record 128 countries.  This year the focus was "going beyond the hour" and thinking about what else you can do to make a difference.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries/territories participating. 

This statement was released the day after Earth Hour 2011.  To read the full article please go to http://www.earthhour.org/mediasite/globalPressRelease.aspx

"More than lights-out: Earth Hour success shows world ready to go Beyond the Hour

As the lights come back on in the Cook Islands, the 134th country to celebrate Earth Hour 2011 – a record breaking year for the annual lights-out event – the global community has shown it is united in commitment to a sustainable future.

Around the world, Earth Hour was embraced by the global community, transcending race, culture, age and economics as individuals took leadership in their communities in the pursuit of a cleaner and safer planet. In 2011, Earth Hour asked the hundreds of millions of people taking part in the one hour switch-off to take the next step and go beyond the hour, using Earth Hour to commit to ongoing action for the planet.

“The Beyond the Hour call to action has been unanimously answered by people worldwide,” said Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour. “From school children in Singapore, to Heads of State from the UK, to Australia, Pakistan and Colombia, people have shown that Earth Hour has evolved beyond lights-out. “This year’s event has illustrated without question what can be achieved when people unite with a common purpose and rally to action.”

...Hundreds of millions in thousands of cities, towns and communities in a record 134 countries were expected to have participated by the time the lights out and pledge action beyond the hour completes its passage from New Zealand on one side of the International Date Line to former New Zealand dependency the Cook Islands on the other.

Brazil set its own record with 124 cities taking part this year compared to the still creditable 98 of 2010. This included around two-thirds of the state capitals and coverage across all five Brazilian regions. More cities and towns are likely to reveal Earth Hour activities in the coming days".

I have put together a gallery of photos and images relating to Earth Hour 2011.  I hope you enjoy them - and please contact me if you participated in Earth Hour 2011 and have photos of how you celebrated this event. 

A statement in candles





Sydney, Australia



Santiago, Chile

Rio de Janeiro

Malaysia

  



Xiamen, China

Hong Kong

Seoul

Manhattan, New York

United Arab Emirates

Jakarta

"Going Beyond" the world in seven days!

Keeping you up to date with snippets of the most interesting "going beyond" headlines and news stories of the week. 



Viva Las Vegas!  Casino Strip to Celebrate Going 'Beyond The Hour'

Las Vegas

US entertainment group, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, will switch off the lights of the iconic Caesars Palace and Flamingo Casino in Las Vegas for Earth Hour, along with a host of other properties along the famous entertainment strip and around the world celebrating their commitment to a range of environmental initiatives that go 'Beyond the Hour'.

To read the full story go to: Earth Hour Blog

Deloitte identifies the 10 most disruptive and emerging technologies for CIOs to Consider Over the Next 18 Months

NEW YORK, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte today issued a new report identifying 10 disruptive and emerging technologies that are expected to play a crucial role in how businesses will operate globally over the next 18 months.

"With 2011 well underway, CIOs should be evaluating the progress made on their New Year's resolutions and taking full advantage of technologies that have the ability to dramatically improve and advance their business operations and decision-making," said Mark White, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP and a co-author of the report. "We have evaluated, industry-wide, what is working and what is not when it comes to IT and have identified 10 technologies that are likely to transform the enterprise over the next 18 months."
...
Cyber Intelligence:  While it still may be necessary to build a rapid detect-and-respond cyber security function, organizations should consider going beyond adding tools to learn and adapt, protect against upstream threats, and connect the internal and external dots to assess probable risks, and in the process move from reactive to proactive.  

To view the full article go to: PR Newswire


Award Recognises Exceptional Ethical Leadership Actively Upheld Within Various Industries 

WEST CALDWELL, N.J., March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ricoh Company, Ltd., a worldwide leader in digital office equipment and advanced document management solutions and services, announced today that it has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the 2011 World's Most Ethical Companies. This is the third year in a row that the company is thus honored for going beyond legal minimums, introducing innovative ideas to benefit the public and forcing its competitors to follow suit by consistently upping the ante for what it takes to be an ethical leader. Out of a record number of nominations for the award, Ricoh secured a hard-earned spot on the list by going the extra mile and implementing upright business practices and initiatives that are instrumental to the company's success, benefit the community, and raise the bar for ethical standards within the industry.

To read the full story go to: PR Newswire


Can I get a full refund on a flight to Japan?
 

Tokyo

BA (British Airways) and other airlines are going beyond their usual obligations by offering a range of options for travellers booked to Tokyo in the next few days and weeks, including postponing the trip or switching to a different destination.

BA has been offering full refunds to Tokyo passengers over the past week, because it has changed the routing of its flights and added a stop in Hong Kong extending the journey.

Taken from story by Simon Calder, http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/


Big Mike Gives Another Side of the Blind Side

Of the many well-chronicled challenges Michael Oher has overcome in his young life, the task of writing an autobiography has to be the most strange: How do you tell your own story after it’s been seen on the big screen in an Oscar-winning-film?

In ‘‘I Beat the Odds,’’ Oher, with a capable assist from author and former Sports Illustrated associate editor Don Yaeger, mostly succeeds in his stated goal of going beyond ‘‘The Blind Side,’’ a best-selling book by Michael Lewis and then a box-office smash starring Sandra Bullock.

While there’s some inevitable retread here — Lewis is, after all, one of the finest journalists of his generation — there’s much to be gained from hearing the story straight from the man dubbed ‘‘Big Mike.’’ His own voice is matter-of-fact, both hopeful and a touch melancholy.

His experience growing up poor in Memphis, Tenn., was, if anything, more harrowing than it was portrayed in the film. He saw a baby shot by a stray bullet, struggled to find meals, and his mother’s on-again, off-again relationship with drugs nearly prevented him from reaching his potential.

To read the full story go to: http://www.chieftain.com/


Beyond the Headlines: Mobile Money Afghanistan

Mobile Money Afghanistan was funded by the Institute for Money, Technology, and Financial Inclusion and frog design, and is totally independent of Reboot. I was honoured to work on it prior to co-founding Reboot and, as the project outputs were recently released, I thought I’d share some reflections on the experience here.


“So then I gave up my daughter to pay off my debt.” My pen stopped.

We were in Mazar-e Sharif, a city in northern Afghanistan. The woman in front of me, a poor mother of six, was describing how debilitating debt — to the tune of AFN 140,000, or USD 3,100 — had driven her to give her eldest daughter to the family’s creditor.

Her voice did not quiver, her eyes did not water. It was a thing of the past, a fact of life, something that had to be done. And this mother’s story, while unique in particulars, was common in thrust. Indeed, over the course of three weeks in Afghanistan, time and time again I was told: in times of great hardship, sacrifice is inevitable and exceptional circumstances are the norm.

Such tales of ‘life, going on’ are documented in the recently released Mobile Money Afghanistan. This book was born of a study conducted in August 2010, when Jan Chipchase and I traveled through Afghanistan to study the use of mobile money.

To read the full story go to: http://thereboot.org/blog/2011/03/14/beyond-the-headlines-mobile-money-afghanistan/



Cambridge Hospital Opens Healthy Living Center - Nebraska

A Southwest regional hospital opens a new facility to inspire a healthier lifestyle.
Tri-valley Health Systems in Cambridge held an open house on Sunday, unveiling phase two of its new hospital construction.  The facility now boasts a new Healthy Living Center in its remodeled "old" hospital, including a new weight loss facility, spa, and cafeteria.  Officials say the hospital is going a step beyond treating and releasing patients.

"We also believe in addition to that being our calling and our mission, that we have a calling for people to be healthy and actually try to prevent illness, and so it's in that spirit that we created the healthy living center," said hospital CEO Roger Steinkruger.

The center is medical based, and will officially be open to the public and hospital staff starting Monday.

Story from http://www.nebraska.tv/

Going well beyond the call of duty...

It has been an exceptionally tough month for the 52 strong New Zealand Fire Service Union Search and Rescue (USAR) team.  They arrived back in Auckland today after seven days in bitterly cold conditions searching for survivors in the costal Minamisanriku area, about 200km north of Tokyo.  They slept in tents and at times the temperature reached minus 17.

Many had not had a break since the devastating Christchurch earthquake on February 22, and had spent a total of just a few hours with their families in the last month.

Some rescuers had also been involved in the rescue efforts following the September 4th earthquake in Christchurch, the Boxing Day aftershock and the Pike River Mine disaster.

For the full story go to msn.co.nz

The New Zealand USAR team deserve far more than a rest.  I am very proud to call them our kiwis.  I hopefully speak for all kiwis when I say we sincerely thank and appreciate your dedication, skills and courage over the last five or so months as you have supported New Zealand and Japan.  A big thank you to all of the families of the team who have let us "borrow" your loved ones during these unbelievable times.