TEDxChange: The future we make el 20 de septiembre 2010 a las 16 30 en el Centro de innovación BBVA.
TEDxMadrid presenta su primer evento live webcast.

El 20 de Septiembre 2010, más de 150 líderes mundiales se reunirán en Nueva York para asistir al TEDxChange. Convocado por Melinda French Gates en ocasión del décimo aniversario de los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio de las Naciones Unidas, este evento explorará qué nos trae el futuro en temas como la salud y el desarrollo global. ¿Qué cambios han ocurrido en la pasada década? ¿Y qué más hay que hacer para asegurar la salud y el bienestar de las generaciones futuras?

Presentado por el editor de TED Chris Anderson, una audiencia planetaria participará en este evento, ya que comunidades TEDx en todo el mundo están organizando sesiones especiales de visionado, como la que organiza TEDxMadrid.

• Más información en TEDxChange.org
• Ver programa

TEDxChange was held at BBVA’s Innovation Center in Madrid. Antonella Broglia from TEDxMadrid was in charge of presenting the event.

Once the webcast connection from New York was over, a debate kicked off with participation from a large group of experts in development issues and with Ignacio Villoch as the moderator. The debate was opened with the following question: What lessons do you think we have learned in the last 10 years since MDGs were created?

The following statements were heard:

Isabel Garro, Manager of Pacto Mundial (Global Compact) in Spain:

She identified two main problems in achieving MDGs. The first is the fact that MDGs are not included in the “core business”, and the second is that they have been likened to social action. She explained that over the next five years the focus should be on identifying opportunities for alliance between the public and private sectors. Companies must be aware that development aid equals business, that markets must be created at the base of the pyramid.
In her second speech, Isabel threw the idea of some sort of contest among companies to fulfil specific MDGs to encourage implementing them.

Marina Navarro, Coordinator of the United Nations Millennium Campaign in Spain:

She highlighted the success story of Mozambique, which implemented a strategic poverty reduction program. The program was a resounding success due to the active participation of civil society and the private sector and support from donors to the development project that the country set up. The program managed to reduce extreme poverty by 30%.
She also stressed the important role that citizens play in achieving MDGs. The most successful goals are those in which citizens are involved, which is why information must be disseminated.

In her second speech, she discussed the priority targets for countries. When priorities are established locally it works better. Our role is to support the priorities established from the bottom.

José Moisés Martín, Head of Multilateral Cooperation at the AECID (Government of Spain):

He made two main points. Firstly, pessimism is the enemy. We may not have made as much progress as we wanted but we are better off. Pessimism demobilizes: Secondly, he said that the public sector alone cannot achieve MDGs. The most important business asset and the private sector’s biggest challenge is open access to creativity and innovation. He thinks that access to services such as health, financial or communications is paramount. He gave the example of
Coca-Cola. Melinda Gates suggested that organizations could successfully apply this marketing model to promote global health in underdeveloped countries (it analyzes data in real time, boosts the knowledge and enthusiasm of local entrepreneurs and adapts its campaign related to happiness to each region’s aspirations).

In his second speech, José Moisés also said that GAVI is a good example of public-private alliance. He also explained that we would need US$100,000 million a year to reach the goals.
According to him, development aid is a bonus. Countries like China and India have reduced poverty the most without the need for development aid. There is a blue ocean of 5,000 million people, and the private sector is responsible for providing access to basic needs.

As regards establishing priorities by geographical region and sector, he said that we must remember that the targets are interrelated, for example, there is no equity without improving maternal health. The geographical priority is Africa.

Juan Cardona, Director of the Corporate Reputation Forum:

He explained that the Corporate Reputation Forum is a business association formed by 15 companies that cover 70% of the Ibex 35 by market capitalization.
The forum launched the “A better world for Joana” initiative to promote MDGs through awareness, social and environmental projects and said that social action must not just equal a financial contribution, it must be included in companies’ essence and core business. The role of companies must not to be mere donors. They have know-how and talent that must not go to waste. Their involvement from the start, in the project studying and defining phase, would result in a greater impact and success.

Sandra Benbeniste, from CREAS:

She spoke about the GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) initiative that helps to achieve MDGs by providing access to vaccinations in developing countries, immunizing children and boosting their health systems. GAVI is an excellent example of partnership that we could apply in Spain.
We need to think big to achieve MDGs, like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation did when it helped the setting up of GAVI.
In her second speech, Sandra said that the positive results of MDGs need to be disseminated through networks, channels, news programs, and others, so that not only a pessimistic message is conveyed.

José de la Peña, from Fundación Telefónica:

He referred to the “Proniño” program to erradicate child labor.

María Zapata, from Ashoka:

She mentioned that people need to be informed better about MDGs and how they can help to achieve them. The man on the street plays a crucial role.

Tomás Conde, from RC-Sostenibilidad BBVA:

He stressed the importance of education, in every aspect, and the application of individual knowledge and involvement in MDGs from childhood.

Javier Creus, Strategist at Ideas for Change:

Creus introduced the “Blue Economy”, concept from the “Club di Roma”: the human race needs companies that, firstly, meet everyone’s basic needs, secondly, evolve with nature, and finally, make money. The new economy must be more effective and competitive. It must become sustainable, requiring less investment by introducing innovation to generate more income, while building social capital, not just value for shareholders. The development of MDGs shows that people are willing to set themselves truly ambitious targets and to fulfill them. He said that the unemployed in countries like Spain could play an important role in other countries where their talent is much needed. The idea is to apply our inactive and very well prepared workforce to help achieve the millennium targets.

Carmen Garcia de Andrés: Director of Fundación Tomillo

She thinks that Javier’s idea is great considering the large number of unemployed young people who would be thrilled to offer their talent to the benefit of underprivileged people through development programs or local NGOs. If we link this idea
a) to the national volunteer plan
b) we allow jobseekers to continue to receive benefits even if they spend a few months abroad on volunteer projects, or
c) we turn part of the benefit into aid to be used in NGOs
d) we implement training in specific skills through volunteer programs, and
e) we count the cost of hiring subsidies as development aid
perhaps the numbers will be the same but everyone is happier….

Jessica Bermúdez, from RC-Ferrovial:

She claimed that this type of event only convince those who are convinced already. We will have to see what the “others” (“Top Management”) do with our ideas.

Enrique Diaz-Mauriño, Director of Formación Bankinter:

He expressed his optimism after listening to development leaders on the webcast.
Achievements in countries like Thailand in health and the prevention of infectious diseases are a good example that we can achieve our targets using similar strategies. We need to start reporting on everything that has been achieved.

Javier Garayoa, Director of SpainSIF:

The private sector can contribute returnable funds for specific projects, making accessibility and sustainability compatible and building an engine for development towards a middle class that eliminates poverty and exclusion. He also said that supporting profitable and inclusive businesses in emerging countries achieves a strategic market position that is compatible with creating wealth for poorer people.

Elena Acín, Fundacion Hazloposible:

She would have liked examples of companies as development agents. It would have been interesting to see examples of companies with profitable business models and a positive impact on MDGs.

Other statements from participants whose names were not heard:

Another participant asked whether we know exactly how much money was needed to achieve the MDGs.

The organizers asked the participants to make sure that the swapping of ideas, proposals and good practices continues through the Internet and that these should generate output to be shared with TED.

• “It’s ok linking family size to infant mortality but there are limits: what happens to the population pyramid over time?”
• “Maximum involvement, on all sides, imagination and sympathy: the magic formula!”
• “Women as the motor for change. They are the real driving force behind change.”
• “Involve children and give them a mission!”
• “Let’s set our employers to work on Millennium Targets”
• “We want a twitter or facebook group to continue the discussion!”

Eventos TEDx en más de 70 ciudades en todo el mundo ya se han sumado a esta iniciativa que impulsa los Objetivos del Milenio. Más información.

La Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation es un partner estratégico del programa TEDx, y esta asociación ha generado TEDxChange – una iniciativa dedicada a dar visibilidad a ideas que merezcan la pena en tema de salud mundial y desarrollo. El equipo de TEDxChange trabaja en todo el mundo para fomentar el debate en áreas como vacunas, polio, malaria, HIV/SIDA, salud materna e infantil, y desarrollo agrícola. La iniciativa TEDxChange incluye también un evento anual, trasmitido en directo via streaming por la comunidad TEDx en todo el mundo.

TEDxChange 2012 – 5 Abril, 2012, en directo desde Berlín

Convocado por Melinda French Gates. Presentado por Chris Anderson.

El actual clima económico ha desviado nuestra atención hacia las más urgentes necesidades domesticas. Pero ahora, más que nunca, es importante no perder de vista que somos parte de una comunidad global y interdependiente. Y demasiadas personas en esta comunidad no pueden satisfacer sus necesidades básicas: comida, agua limpia, medicamentos esenciales y vacunas.

No podemos seguir en el camino de siempre.

El 5 de Abril, 2012, daremos un paso atrás para poder tener una visión de conjunto: ¿Porqué nosotros, como sociedad, debemos continuar a invertir en salud mundial y desarrollo? ¿Cómo podemos trabajar juntos más allá de los límites territoriales y las divisiones políticas, para generar un cambio positivo? Y qué retorno podemos esperar de nuestras inversiones?

Melinda French Gates y otros 4 grandes ponentes subirán al escenario.

La entrada es gratuita. El evento está doblado al castellano (en audio-dubbing).