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Sartaj Anand
Bangalore
India

Founder, Egomonk , Melton Foundation

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Fill in the Blank - What the World needs now is __________ ?

The World is shaped by our common aspirations and it is through our everyday actions that we provide tacit approval to our reality.

Try to answer this question objectively and share your thoughts to help co-create our Future.

Related Talks:

Topics: change empathy future progress society

+14

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Efrain Torres
- +1
Jul 22 2012: Evaluate, accept, mitigate and learn from our errors. Understand and replicate our success.
Damian Przybyła
- +1
Jul 21 2012: imagination and sensitivity just as "pragmatic" approach in >long-term< visions
Mark Hurych
- +1
Jul 21 2012: Murmuration

There are pieces of many of these answers that somehow must be taken together for the synergy that they represent. That's because each concerned person has something to offer. So I think the real question/answer might be about what we need to do and how we need to be with each other in order to collaborate fully as co-stewards of life on this planet.

The growing global consciousness, the growing power of meme catalysts, and the growing interest to innovate and test new ideas, all of these things just might crescendo in the form of a kind of self-integration of the whole which I have visualized with the metaphor of a murmuration. (That's what you call a swarming flock of swallows. They are quite spectacular.)
see
http://www.coalitionblog.org/2011/02/coalition-of-the-willing-contributors-we-salute-you/
Tanka Poudel
- +1
Jul 21 2012: IN MY VIEW:
What the world needs now is for people to be conscious
andrew jones
- +1
Jul 20 2012: What the World needs now is - for the human population to decline peacefully from 7 billion to about 1 or 2 billion.
- griffin tucker 10+
  - 0
  Jul 22 2012: perhaps on earth. there's always space occupation.
  - andrew jones
    
    0
    Jul 22 2012: Nonsense! Space is a cold, hostile vacuum that will never provide humans a living. This planet is the ONLY place we will EVER inhabit.
    - griffin tucker 10+
      
      +1
      
      Jul 22 2012: what do you suggest? law to only have 1 child per couple? it could be a realistic goal.
      
      i for one believe space occupation is a realistic goal, what with companies investing in space exploration/asteroid mining as well as opportunities nowadays to go to in to almost outer-space just as a thrill-ride (if you have the cash).
      
      i believe opportunities to go in to outer-space will grow as technology develops at an ever-increasing rapid rate, and also as the cost of technology decreases.
      
      EDIT: perhaps i should say one child per person, as single parents are becoming more wide-spread.
- Efrain Torres
  - 0
  Jul 22 2012: This is a truth, but the question is how to achieve it without violating the people's rights.
  
  Maybe tere is a way. There is a male contraceptive in Europe for men that is placed under the skin and last 5 years. Lets make a global referendum and if the people of this world agree all mens of this planet will avoid having childs for five years. This will reduce the world popilation in 1B in 5 years. After that, one child per couple until population stabilize. The developed countries have to be commited to improve the way of life during that period and mental health professionals has to give support to the people during the quarintine. If it works and the people agree the quarintine can be repeated every 25 years in order to affect only one genaration at a time.
Robin Lenehan
- 0
Jul 19 2012: Deb, I've left you a message above. I've was adding on to original message . . . Yikes! STILL trying to navigate my way around.
- Debra Smith 200+
  - 0
  Jul 22 2012: Dear Robin, I will check my answer and get back to you but you never have to wait to contact me, please just click on my name which will take you to my profile page and you can email me if you wish to speak with me. I promise you a listening ear and honest response. Thank you.
Lucas Andrade
- 0
Jul 18 2012: Passion. When you have a passion for what you do, great things could happen, creative minds could appears, great ideas could concretize and the life could be more happy :)
- Jon Miner
  - 0
  Jul 22 2012: I do agree that there is too much apathy in today's world. Where I see passion is in the eyes of terrorists who have given up reason for ideology, or as they would probably believe, for God.
  Passion comes in many flavors. The two masks of drama, comedy and tragedy, were derived from the worship of the god Dionysus. As a god associated with wine, his followers were naturally passionate and prone to dramatic action.
  But passion is too irrational. To love or hate from within a feeling of passion causes over action.
  I suggest that acting from a position of calm commitment based on responsibility and transparency would be better than passion.
  - America Mann
    
    0
    Jul 22 2012: Well said, Jon. Passion and temperance.
Shon Faye
- +1
Jul 18 2012: love
Eric Grovum
- +1
Jul 18 2012: Truth is paramount. Our democracies are currently based on the manipulations of reality by the wealthy and powerful. Freedom of speech is being used to empower an ever more elite power base which runs our whole democratic system behind the scenes. The media is afraid of telling the truth, and is literally owned by the plutocrats in power. They create the illusion of choice in our elections, but they own the politicians on both sides of the aisle. Pick any member of congress on either side of the aisle, and you will see the evidence in their campaign funding, and their relation to lobbies. While I support freedom of speech, we are not allowed to yell fire in a crowded theater. If it can be shown that an elected official manipulates the truth or lies, they should be put on trial for treason. How is it possible that allowing our elections to be based on lies and propaganda is acceptable? I believe it is reasonable to limit free speech in regard to lies by elected officials.
- Greg McEachern
  - +1
  Jul 18 2012: I agree Eric. In Canada we have a prime minister who won't allow scientists to talk about their work. Communication has to be filtered and approved by him first. He pays their wages and could fire them if they disagree. They are protesting on parliament. There have been election fraud issues here in the last election concerning his party. The end justifying means is his theme. He is an economist and he seems to filter out every other influence. He has stated that we won't recognize Canada by the time he gets finished with it. There is a Canadian TV production drama (Continuum) that proposes that in 2044 the corporations ARE the government. I see the human population almost as a single entity and therefore acting as a single entity. I don't see it acting reasonably but more like a bacteria colony hell bent on exponential population growth (and therefore economic growth). I see us having less spiritual and balanced/common sense influence and more of a frenzy as we race towards the finish line. The finish line being the END that justifies the means. Propaganda and lies are not acceptable. They generate chaos.
  - Debra Smith 200+
    
    0
    Jul 22 2012: Wonder where he got that idea Greg? Is he a Republican/conservative?
    - Greg McEachern
      
      0
      
      Jul 22 2012: Yes Debra he is conservative to a fault. Environmental groups and leaders are named literally as terrorists by him and his party members. Industry is given the fast track with environmental issues ignored. It's a feeding frenzy. We see the same polarization effect here as in the states in regards to politics in terms of right and left. The bottom line is that the real and silent killer is pollution no matter if we are left or right influenced. Exponential population growth is unsustainable in terms of environment or hunting and gathering. We should all take a trip to the Appellations to see the dying model of paradise caused by mountaintop mining. We are more natural than we are intelligent and fatally flawed therefore.
  - Debra Smith 200+
    
    +1
    Jul 22 2012: My point was Greg, that he imitated his US heroes who muzzled the National Science Body in the US for many years. Thus the so called debate on global warning that only Gore's talk finally exposed (I think that last part is accurate).
  - Eric Grovum
    
    +2
    Jul 22 2012: I wasn't aware it was that bad in Canada. We are so self centered in the States. We never get any news about our friends to the North. Possibly another example of a biased media. If we could come up with some ideas on how to get people to demand accurate information and then be willing to accept new information when it's presented, it would be a start. Here's one I've been thinking about: If it became a crowd sourced "occupation" of the social networking sites, maybe we could show that we won't put up with lies any longer. Or... millions of people created you-tube videos making the demand. I don't know anything except that we've got to wake people up. Left and Right would be better off with the truth and with getting the money out of politics entirely. It feels great to have found a place where reason seems to be predominant. Thanks TED!
W Chan
- 0
Jul 17 2012: Is that a serious question? ... of course!
Darina Stoyanova 500+
- 0
TED Attendee TED Translator TEDx Organizer Associate Language Coordinator

Jul 17 2012: LOts of Laughter & a serious SENSE of HUMOR! ;)
- Khush Panthaky
  - 0
  Jul 19 2012: Darina, I LOVE this idea! Yes, Yes, Yes!!!
Dale Retter
- 0
Jul 17 2012: To move past wishful thinking, basic human nature has never changed. The good must continually fight against the bad. The only long lasting systemic changes have been achieved by technology (for example agriculture and medicine) or better social / political / economic systems (such as the rune of law or democracy). Technology is rapidly improving, but with better social practices it is already adequate to make the world a much better place. What the world need now is better social systems that provide a better method of democratic self government. Our present democratic process is inadequate to deal with our present problems. It is overly influenced by money, power and very shallow analysis by uninformed masses of people. It is more like a trial by mob than a public jury trial. Tribunocray is to present democracy what a jury trial is to trial by mob. Tribunocracy is what the world most needs now, see: www.tribunocracy.org
Eric Grovum
- 0
Jul 17 2012: Truth, Logic and Empathy
Khush Panthaky
- 0
Jul 17 2012: What The World Needs Now Is:

Unconditional Love For Our Fellow Human Beings.
The Elimination Of The Term "National Self-Interest".
The Elimination Of Condescension.
More Scientific Exploration.
World Leadership That Comes From A Context Of Ethics And Love, Rather Than Power And Domination.
Jordi Salvat i Alabart
- 0
Jul 17 2012: Spoons? http://www.h2g2.com/approved_entry/A352739
Kathleen Parvizi
- 0
Jul 17 2012: patience.
fan hunt
- 0
Jul 17 2012: think different
Jasmin Begic
- 0
Jul 17 2012: Creative minds, and no misguided souls.
Lindsay Newland Bowker 50+
- 0
Jul 17 2012: wisdom
Hugo Saynac
- 0
Jul 17 2012: Empathy.

(hoho, just saw it was in the topics of the conversation, happy i'm not alone to think that)
Syed Kazim Raza
- +1
Jul 17 2012: World really needs not the leader but a common sense to stop killing each other and let give the chance to peace
Muhammad Aizat Zainal Alam 30+
- +1
TED Translator

Jul 17 2012: What the world needs now is some serious efforts from its inhabitants to make it a better place for all.
Nick Barry
- +2
Jul 17 2012: Understanding
Jon Miner
- +2
Jul 17 2012: Truth.
I was very disappointed when the US Supreme Court ruled that we have the right to lie.
Lies are so important to every evil doer. Lies should be punished. Children need to learn that truth is a very rare and important factor in their lives. Without truth all sorts of mistakes and misjudgements will be made. When a child breaks something such as a vase, and says "I am sorry. I broke it." He should be noted as being truthful and even brave, if there could be a punishment. If he says "I didn't do it." He should be punished for breaking and punished again for lying. If he says "I didn't do it. She did!" He should be punished four times: For breaking, for lying, for false witnessing, and harming another person's reputation.

So much of our world is based on lies. Big lies, bigger lies, and wholesale falsehoods.
In war, the first casualty is the truth.
The idea of incorporation, the creation of a legal body to take the responsibility, is a lie that is damaging the whole world. The people who damage the sustainability of life on the whole planet bear no personal responsibility for the damage they are doing. The politicians who say whatever it takes to get elected never take responsibility when they do not carry through with their promises.
Truth is the key ingredient that is missing from the world today.
http://tinyurl.com/8yw5l5p
- Eric Grovum
  - 0
  Jul 18 2012: Thank you Jon. You are right on. We cannot make good decisions when we don't have the facts. Logical reasoning will lead us to better decisions if we can get all the relevant verifiable facts.
fatima ...
- 0
Jul 17 2012: Promised savior...
Robin Lenehan
- +1
Jul 16 2012: Love. Please don't yell at me.
- Debra Smith 200+
  - +1
  Jul 17 2012: Robin, this was my answer too and the answer of many others. As far as anyone yelling at you, there are many here who would take great exception to that and you would be OK for you would have vocal allies.
  - Robin Lenehan
    
    0
    Jul 18 2012: Thanks, Deb. You are very kind. It was pointed toward someone in particular, but I was joking.
    
    1 Day Later
    
    Hello again! You are so cool, Deb. Thank you for your willingness to stand up for me. I am embarrassed to admit that I am intimidated by bullies. However, at the tender age of 58, I should be dealing w/these matters a whole hell of a lot better if I'm going to participate on TED.
    
    Another very kind woman came to my defense when an angry man berated me, insulted me, told me I offended him, regarding a belief of mine. The point here is that he became enraged because I believed something other than what he believes!
    
    I find this shocking! Simply amazing, bizarre, absurd, crazy, foolish, insane, nonsensical, preposterous, unreal, wild, implausible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable, grotesque; curious, kinky, kooky, odd, outlandish, peculiar, queer, screwy, strange, wacky, weird; farcical, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, Alice-in-Wonderlandish, nightmarish; dreamlike AND surreal. (yes, a thesaurus.)
    
    Okay, I got a little off-subject, but thought it worth mentioning. :)
    
    Thank you again & know that I am working on becoming a tougher me!
    
    ___________________________________________________________
    
    Again, you're so cool, Deb!!!! Thanks so much.
    - Debra Smith 200+
      
      +1
      
      Jul 18 2012: Oh good! but I wish you to know that I would verbally kick their butt if I had known. Welcome here!
    - Debra Smith 200+
      
      +1
      
      Jul 19 2012: Robin, thanks for sharing the thesaurus equivlents to what many of us feel in that regard. This note is to assure you that you are right on track in your own journey so just keep going and you will arrive at your own destination just the way you should. Many of us are detoured by bullies and I hope there comes a day when sweet spirits like your own will not even have to deal with and adapt to bullies. If so many more will reach our age intact.
      Just see yourself as whole rather than as delayed!
Steven Hsieh
- 0
Jul 16 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WibmcsEGLKo
Katie Dunn
- 0
Jul 16 2012: To say that the world needs something in particular is too big. It's too big of an idea. It's too big and too vague. The world needs hope? Hope for what?

I think there are small changes that each individual person could adopt that would and could change the whole world. And I think that change is the ability and willingness to understand other people. If we can stop for a second, and imagine what it must be like to be someone else, maybe we will stop judging, hating, and fighting. I believe in the good of people, and most people act reasonably. It may not seem reasonable to us though, unless we stop for a second and consider their influences and motivations. If we can do this, we can break down walls.
- Debra Smith 200+
  - +1
  Jul 17 2012: Small changes which have the power to change the world - sounds big and great to me.
  - Efrain Torres
    
    +1
    Jul 22 2012: I wish all the people in this world think that way.
Aryana MAY
- 0
Jul 16 2012: FAITH that we wont die this year 2012 XD
Chris Fox
- 0
Jul 16 2012: A secular approach to everything.

If we remove religion from political decisions and actions, many wars could be prevented before their initial disagreement gets off the ground. This certainly isn't the solution to everything, but I think if everybody could check their religion at the door when it comes to communication and cooperation with others, we would make a lot more progress a whole lot faster.

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