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Preparing for lift09: Excitment is Mounting
February 1, 2009 - 18:20 — Mark A.M. Kramer
The World Economic Forum has wrapped up it’s annual meeting in Davos today. The results of this annual meeting are still left to be deciphered. Bearing this in mind, in less then 25 days many of us will converge on Geneva for the European lift09 experience to engage in our own gathering to explore and share ideas on how our societies are affected by current and emerging “new” technologies.
As a community of “doers” and “thinkers” this years European Lift Experience will be focusing on answering the following question: “Where did the future go?” This is such a loaded question and I am very curious what outcomes we will all take away from this year’s experience. I do know for certain that Lift09 will attract the presence of incredibly bright “doers and thinkers;” and will be potentially more interesting and playful than Davos.
From a personal perspective I feel the excitement mounting as I prepare to attend lift09. As I make travel and lodging arrangements I feel the lift experience already coming alive despite the fact I have never attended this event before. I anticipate connecting with amazing individuals, (like you), engaging in purposeful dialogue in an open, creative and playful atmosphere.
In all honesty, I am humbled at having this opportunity to attend the European Lift Experience this year and I will do my utmost to be an active participant in finding ways to turn the global changes we all observe and face into opportunities for positive social development. I am looking forward to meeting you in Genève.
Comments
Couldn't agree more with you, Mark. The closer it gets (arriving on the 24th... 23 days left and counting) the more I'm looking forward to another LIFT experience, some days of intense exchange.
UPDATE: the LIFT site is on summer time. This makes it 22 days...
Hi Mark,
I was at WEF in Davos, to work behind the scene. I didn't see much about what's going on in the front stage, but felt that participated leaders were in a thorough search for what's next, i.e. Where do we want to go next and How?
LIFT may be one answer to the world searching the way forward. LIFT is not a leader-based, but individuals-based community.
Being a regular participant of LIFT since 2007, I count on LIFT to help creating wisdom for the real world. LIFT is set to do so by collecting a number of thinkers and releasing their thoughts in an environment where everyone has equal importance. No VIP room on site, everyone pays registration fees, including invited speakers, etc.
I am working to grow a system that enables motivated people to offer their knowledge and resources using the Internet. These resources even may be an idling time of your PCs! This is Volunteerism over Web 2.0, so to speak. If you wish to talk with me as to a way to unite people's good will worldwide over the Internet, let us meet at a Cyber Volunteer Workshop, 4 PM on 25 Feb.
Cheers,
Yoshiko Kurisaki
Coordinator, Cyber Volunteers
Geneva, Switzerland
As we listened to all the non-news tumbling out of Davos, I was thinking exactly the same thing as you, Mark. What we have in Lift is a Davos for thinking people, but with a hold on reality and the desire to get things done.
You say that this is your first time to Lift. Welcome! and I'm sure it won't be your last.
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