Judging by their actions, many advocates seem to take opposition critics as their role model for advocacy. Wrong. Opposition political parties oppose everything that is advanced or proposed by the Government. Every idea/issue/announcement invites an opportunity for the Opposition to … Read More
Blog posts by Al
Every Volcanic Cloud Has a Silver Lining
One of the event's that was not postponed under this volcanic ash ceiling still hovering over Europe was the one Million Euro Essl Social Prize presented to Ashoka Founder and CEO Bill Drayton. Ashoka will use this award to assist … Read More
Global Disability Initiative
A number of Ashoka fellows are addressing challenges experienced by people with disabilities and their families. Over the past few years we have formed ourselves into a 'caucus' to discover how we can combine our efforts, particularly to advance the … Read More
Civil Society is Also in the UK Air
By coincidence we are in the UK during their general election. There is lots of talk about the possibility of a 'hung' Parliament so all Canadians at the Skoll World Forum on Social Enterprise are being asked what it is … Read More
England Discards the The Old Math
It doesn't take too long in London before noticing the emergence of a new math. Social Innovators in England are busy creating new equations to address tough, hard to solve social and environmental challenges. To start they exposed the fallacies … Read More
Going Global in Vienna
Thanks to Ashoka, Vickie and I will spend three days at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna receiving advice on how to accelerate the global impact of our latest social innovation – Tyze. Along with twenty-four other Ashoka fellows, we will … Read More
Civility and Speaking Up: Tips for Solution Based Advocacy (6)
Mark Kingwell believes a decline in civility is unhealthy for our Democracy and I agree. Being civil is not about being polite, or being nice or not offending. There is an ethic of substance behind civility. Civility accepts that we … Read More
Dowser – a ‘divine’ alternative to the daily news
Most great ideas, movements or individuals have a trusted companion and talented scribe equally engaged in creating knowledge and discerning wisdom and insights. In fact making sense out of what is happening and identifying the deeper patterns is an essential … Read More
Be Political not Partisan – Tips for Solution Based advocacy (5)
When I was a young activist eager to take on all the dragons who were resisting the closure of institutions in British Columbia, I got the 'bright' idea to intervene in a provincial by-election. I had studied tactics of the … Read More
The Young and the Restless (2)
Last week I introduced you to four young social innovators under the title of More Refreshing Than Miley Cyrus. As part of a continuing series here are four more. What I have noticed about those you are meeting and those … Read More