Archive for December, 2008

By Kellie Kreiser

I have to say that I never expected that I’d ever get an invitation to the White House. And I certainly couldn’t have guessed that I’d be sitting at a conference table with Laura Bush in the West Wing. But given the First Lady’s passion for helping Afghan women, perhaps I shouldn’t have been so surprised. Mrs. Bush is the Honorary Chair of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council, which is a public-private partnership focusing on providing resources to empower Afghan women.
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By Kellie Kreiser

My musician father recently sent me a great link to an interview Bill Moyer did with Mark Johnson. Johnson has spent the last decade traveling around the world filming a documentary called “Playing for Change.” In the film, Johnson finds musicians of all different cultures, styles, and walks of life, and he has them record the same songs. He selected songs like “Stand By Me” and “One Love” that are known in many countries. Then he edits the versions together so that the musicians accompany each other. The result is absolutely breathtaking. You can find the interview here … (skipping ahead several minutes brings you to the music).

Not only is the music and the symbolism amazing, but one of the results of the project is that the film producers have started building music schools in some of the remote communities featured in the movie. The movie is due to come out in 2009.  You can find more details at www.playingforchange.com/.

By Kellie Kreiser

I was listening to NPR last week and heard Michael Kinsley discussing his new book, “Creative Capitalism.” It struck me how the central theme of the book closely related to what Thunderbird has sought to do with its Thunderbird for Good initiative. The book began with a speech Bill Gates gave on Jan. 24, 2008, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Gates called for a new kind of economic system that he called “creative capitalism.” He said: “As I see it, there are two great forces of human nature: self-interest, and caring for others. Capitalism harnesses self-interest in helpful and sustainable ways, but only on behalf of those who can pay. Philanthropy and government aid channel our caring for those who can’t pay, but the resources run out before they meet the need.”
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