Start Your Own Sm'Art Trader ALPHA POINTS @ E-CO VILLAGE HUBS

In responding to a terrific article initiated by Jitesh Naidoo at Civil Society Social Network Group on Linkedin social network site, and listening to some of the two-thirds who continue to live today 'in abject poverty' this Christmas, I thought it appropriate to sum up the year as follows, which I now would like to share here on this Blog:

"We all have seen far too much of the talking shops for decades without the followup in concrete actions, probably because there was never a clear vision of the change they wished to see in the first place. Today that Vision is a prerequisite of the people collectively, and needs to come from within their Communities, and be backed by it. The need for sustainable Change is long past.

Hope still reigns eternal in society however, and real alternatives are indeed slowly emerging in great numbers, collectively like the 'phoenix from the ashes', and starting to gain traction and shape. This time real change is coming from grassroots level, the ground-up, and mostly from within the Third Sector rather than the Private or Public sectors. Vern's Social Tourism idea is one of those with great potential. Third Sector Organisations are now centre-stage - Cooperatives, Social Enterprises and Volunteer Groups - the new leaders in Society that are taking back responsibility for their own lives into the Caring hands of their own Community.

Your discussion takes place at a time when the world is at a point of such great Change, with a momentum that has not been seen for over 100 years - not since the arrival of the bulb, bridges, railroads, cars & airplanes. And Dambisa Moyo in her book captured that moment - "How the West was Lost: 50 years of economic folly and the stark choices ahead" sums it all up for me with "....the world is standing on the lip of a global seismic change, where another country stands on the cusp of greatness". And this time the speed in this viral marketing-enabled and driven world will be far faster, the 'changeshapers' (Jitesh's term) now have so many more tools at their disposal - from the internet, iphone and ipad and now with the rapidly emerging era of the Internet of Things (with advent of IPv6 this Summer).

In my own view, the old Organisational form is fading fast, and makeovers or takeovers no longer suffice. New Organisational models, mostly bottom up driven, are winning the day, as Communities articulate ever more the Conditions for the change the World wishes to see - such Orgs will not be guided by an army of experts, nor controlled by rock star executives, but owned from within Communities themselves providing sustainable Jobs. The Great Crash we witnessed since 2008 essentially marked the beginning of this time for such great Change. As the pace of old Orgs demise grows, the new and more Community embracing forms of Org are starting to flourish. What is holding this process back? The mssing Link for people across the world is nothing less than need for Digital Literacy - the bridge to the Knowledge and indeed Innovation Economies of the World that will create vast numbers new kinds of Jobs, in a world power-packed with new ideas looking for a forum. Communities will release that great energy, enthusiasm within them to grow their own sustainable society- a case for all of us, thinking differently, working together. Whatever new type of model emerges to replace the fading Corps, they are likely to be dominated by Community Service Providers - one heck of a jump,from where we are now, and to which you allude here. Any Corp unwillingness to change to meet the needs of modern Society can best be expressed for me in the worlds of a worldly wise NGO executive of ten years ago who said in response to the (compelling) arguments for change then presented: "Nobody wants to pay $10 for a head of cabbage". That articulated the Fear that kept what was a greed train rolling until so late in the day."

Happy Christmas to everybody wherever you are, and as a promoter of United Nations "International Year of Cooperatives" 2012 worldwide and a multi-stakeholder in Digital Agenda Europe "Digital Literacy & e-Inclusion" - perhaps we can connect with real purpose and zest with you and your Community @ VoxWorld.Coop early in the New Year and together run a powerful campaign starting January 1st 2012, that will contribute to making a real difference in the lives of many of those who are disenfranchised this Christmas 2011. Seasons Greetings,
Richard O'Farrell
Founder & Social Entrepreneur
VoxWorld.Coop

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK, November 14-20, 2011 Starts Today in Villages of Ireland, 1000 D.I.Y.!

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) starts to-day in the Villages of Ireland, as well as around the world, and your Village can be an exciting part of it. Start to-day with VoxWorld.Coop Brand to create your first E-Job or E-Trader. GEW can provide supporting materials, ask VoxWorld.Coop info@voxworld.coop.

There are over 1,000 Villages in Ireland, and together they can create a 1,000 E-Jobs or E-Traders over the next week or even month, Season or Year. A Job with ongoing income is very valuable we know, and it is only a start. One E-Trader can create one or indeed many E-Job(s). It's up to each Village as to what they want to or can achieve, what each Village has to offer, what your Village Diaspora wants, perhaps waht your County or Region holds out for others. Nearly one third of E-Jobs in Europe are only advertised in Online, because they require E-Skills - and those with them are assumed to be already online. Are you part of that yet? Every European is going Digital over the years ahead, every Country and Continent are heading the same way. See for yourself at Digital Agenda Europe - earlier in these Blog pages, now Going Local in Ireland since October 2011.

Now ideally every Village in Ireland should actually run their own Hub or Community Centre. All it needs is Broadband and a few computers or iPads, in a place where people can meet and learn together. And there is plenty of Property about for sure. Of course you may need a local Sponsor, or perhaps there may be a local TeleCentre already open. If not why not open one.? Or maybe a Local Hotel will step in and provide all you need to get started in a Business Centre. They stand to gain from future local business spending, incoming Diapsora and culture tourism, even Trade Exhibitions or Culture Showcase sales ongoing.

Hold Digital Literacy pr advanced ICT Courses by day, or night, at weekends - or all of the above, as demand dictates. It will pay dividends every day of the week in communications, extra income, perhaps an E-Job or even an E-Trader business. That will create a Job for an ICT Tutor too. None available, Tutor Courses and Train the Trainer Courses are all available. Now go on and learn more E-Skills, access ever more opportunities. Or you can learn at home, online - helped by a familiy member perhaps, or a local. Its for all ages, for the unemployed, people on low incomes currently or those less well educated until now. It only takes a week or two to make a real difference in your life.

Then hold an Event, maybe get your local GAA or other Stars of stadium, screen or stage to assist in raising your profile. You can even distribute your Digital Literacy self-learn Courses on low cost, high quality USB Flash Drives from VoxWorld.Coop, to learn on computer at home - where they can contribute to your local Digital Hub creation fund. Now with Digital Capability, you can promote your Village for its Culture Tourism, with Hospitality services to your Diaspora. Or join together as one County, and collectively promote your County Brand, with your own emblem, your Team identity, or even your County Shirt and anthem. Link to your Diaspora through your Migrants in USA, Australia, Canada, Europe or UK. Identify a Hub or Centre for future activities. D.I.Y. The opportunities are indeed endless, once you Start.

Richard O'Farrell
Social Innovator & Socila Entrepreneur
Founder VoxWorld.Coop & EriuVox.

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK, November 14-20, 2011 Starts Today in Villages of Ireland, 1000 D.I.Y.!

Village Hub Startups: An E-Job in Every Village 1,000, D.I.Y!

Does your Community want to become involved in managing its own affairs, do you want to contribute to shaping the future for your own people?