Discuss this theme: TED Prize Winners
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John Marshall – November 28 2007
To Carrie Blakley: Humanity has been able to overcome every challenge ever put forth, except for violence which I believe is part of our genetic code. The answer to our future lies in the stars, because we have almost outgrown our planetary incubation. We need perspective. Like a teenager who won't leave home, we risk becoming stagnant and narrow-minded.
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Carrie Blakley – August 30 2007
For the life of me I cannot understand why anyone would post a question pertaining to their own where abouts... or are you just posting to see if anyone has any clue who you are and possibly where, exactly, in Argentina you are perhaps? Outside of that line of questioning, I only see that you have possibly posted in the wrong sectin of TED? Perhaps you meant to post this in the "Creative Spark" section instead? - Just curious...
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javier mollo – August 18 2007
Where is Javier Mollo?
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ramakrishnan srinivasan – July 22 2007
Larry was just brilliant. I was not aware of such massive UN programs till he mentioned them. But the crux of the matter is good hygeine, bothe personal and environmental. For this population growth has to be stabilized which can be done by universal education. The starting point for controlling all the ills of society is education and this program has to be done on a war footing. For this programme of educating all we need to groom millions of teachers worldwide who are trained to teach with dedication. Invariably governments put the cart before the horse by treating the disease after they appear but not treat the cause of these diseases. TED is doing a great job and this movement should gain momentum worldwide so that the entire world participates in the program. It would be a good idea if TED talks are held in a different country every year or better still twice a year.
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Carrie Blakley – June 28 2007
re: Richard Beldin's comment:
I too can completely understand your point of view. For me, however, it is not a question of a type of challenege that risks a person's life, but rather a challenge that risks a person's death. Meaning this: if the ultimate goal of scientists and medical technologists is to intentionally and quite literally make their fields of study and practice non-required, then why should this not also be the 'ultimate' goal for all humanity?
While space exploration is indeed considerably 'new', and still extremely dangerous to anyone who takes part in going into space itself, I kind of think that we ought to also be stepping back from the main stream a bit and ask ourselves, "Is the Universe ready for us just yet? We can't even take care of each other, how is it possible that humanity has the concete to honestly believe that we will be able to overcome any types of challeneges when attempting to possibly colonize a moon, or another planet?"
While the cerebral capacity for knowledge and understanding puts humans at the proverbial top of the food chain, we are still, by all accounts, far more barbaric in nature than almost all other living beings on this planet, including those in the micro realm (such as micro-organisms). Humans are the only species on this planet that intentionally kills members of its own species for personal gain, and/or pleasure. Humans are also the only species on this planet that kills members of other species...for personal gain, and/or pleasure. I'm not talking about a primordial instinct of "kill or be killed", I'm talking about the thought process that goes something like, "What?! They have more technology? BOMB THEM!", or "You really, really, really, really,really pissed me off and made me angry, so now I have to hunt you down and remove you from existance at all costs". THAT is the type of killing I'm refering to.
Therefore, if humanity is capable of such barbaric and wretched acts of violence against their own species....do we seriously think that leaving this planet is such a good idea? Or perhaps, we can all band together peacefully. Learn from each other's differences, instead of utilizing those differences as a form of degredation and an excuse for 'life elimination'. Maybe, just possibly, we can grow together, so that we can help fulfill the ultimate goals of those who work in the fields of medicine and sience, without eliminating each other in the process. -
jeremie laflamme – June 21 2007
Richard I understand your feelings about are human race.
My self, I sometime would like to get out of the circle society has created to dictate my life as risk free.
Two things are truth in are controlled society, taxes and death. That is are reality.
So do we go with the flow or fight the current?
I'm tired of fighting alone.... -
Richard Beldin – June 20 2007
It seems obligatory to favor death-postponing action. I think that is not worthwhile.
Perhaps pruning the human population is needed. Can we invent a series of challenges for which people must risk their lives in something more meaningful than a drag race, alcoholic binge drinking, a walk down a dark street in a disturbed community, or base jumping?
Clearly, space exploration is one of these challenges, but for every person who puts his life on the line, there are 50 or more with more or less comfortable safe jobs. The infrastructure required is just too big to avoid the bureaucracy of big government or big business or big science.
We need challenges that someone can elect to try without the approval of authorities (or possibly in the face of disapproval). We need challenges that will seduce men's minds and emotions to risk it all.
Too many people grow old (like me) without every having the experience of "you bet your life". -
christopher macrae – June 5 2007
will tedglobal in Tanzania elect any local prize winners?