1. Another world is possible. You have to understand that the global socio-economic system will no longer be as it was. Although the inertia of returning to old patterns is very strong, we must move towards a more just and sustainable world that gives value to honesty against speculation. Experts are already giving clues on how to do it: moral recasting , a balance between public and private sector , innovation of democracy and maintenance of the welfare state as one of the main assets that we can not lose.

 2. We are not vassals. Although it may seem like it, we are not in feudal times. There are fundamental differences, such as the vast majority of humanity have been educated or receive education every day through the Internet, access to which doesn’t stop growing . Democracy allows us to exercise power, not just voting for our representatives but by getting involved in important decisions. If there are not enough legal channels, we must promote change. It was more difficult was to abolish slavery or get the vote for women. We can find examples in Iceland , where citizens refuse to take onboard the financial mess created by bankers, and in Brazil where public movements have managed to remove all charged with corruption from electoral lists.

 3. We can be active consumers. Adjust the budget to what is most needed, prioritizing goals, in solidarity with those who are worse off, while working for the new economy. This means spending money wherever we can in companies and projects with just business models, that are committed to transparency, innovation and the talent of people. For me active consumer applications range from legal downloads to investing in collectively financed projects on platforms such as Verkami and studying whether products are supportive or sustainable (via Intermon or Consumer, for example) before buying.

 4. Investing in knowledge is profitable. Educate ourselves, create and share what motivates us, enjoying and promoting the value of knowledge, thoroughness and quality. It means being critical and engaging in lifelong learning. This is what was conceived , for example, by the organisers of Breakout Beceite - inventing a tourism event and, at the same time, a place for the exchange of information and knowledge. Whether we are employed or not, being active, puts us in a better situation in the labor market and, at least, makes us grow as people and as professionals. The commitment of the journalist Jordi Colomer Pérez who went to Syria without anyone asking him to and ended up being a correspondent for a lot of the media, is a case in point. This line of thinking has inspired the postgraduate course in Strategic Digital Communication we are launching in October: the proposal is to do projects though which we can learn and create opportunities.

 5. Citizenship is active and connected. We’ve spent years complaining about political management and our disappointment in the functioning of public system-as well as the private-and for good reason, but now we need to take action. Better to build something, even on a small scale than moan and do nothing when faced with a need. In 2009 I participated in the organization of a self-organized workshop for parents at the school of my son and now we plan to fill the sixth class hour that public schools are losing a similar system. Information Technologies permit the setting up and easy maintenance of social network based initiatives. The portal Citizenship 4.0 created by Telefonica proposes to bring these initiatives together and make them visible. And everyday there more and more active and connected citizens, demonstrating how the information society goes far beyond consumption and entertainment. Are you in?

Las mujeres están superando poco a poco una larga historia de discriminación con resultados exitosos aunque muy desiguales en distintas partes del mundo. Lo han hecho con mucho esfuerzo:

-Denunciando los injustificables crímenes sexuales y violentos .

-Venciendo lentamente la baja autoestima que les han impuesto para estudiar y trabajar fuera de casa.

-Aceptando puestos de responsabilidad cuando tienen la oportunidad de hacerlo, a veces renunciando a la vida personal unilateralmente respecto a los hombres.

She leader 2.0

En Europa al menos, se han formado pero aún no han llegado al poder real de la sociedad (30% de directivas frente al 70% de directivos). Como causa y consecuencia de ello no han sido capaces de cambiar las reglas de la empresa, de la economía, y de la política. Algo habremos hemos hecho mal y seguramente es no integrar suficientemente a los hombres en todo este proceso. Ellos acatan la igualdad formal y legal porque es tan insostenible como defender la esclavitud  pero sus sentimientos son en muchos casos de frustración -sino de ira- cuando les toca en propia piel tener que ceder un puesto de responsabilidad, o cuando se dan cuenta que, en la igualdad, tener una pareja o compartir hijos es muy distinto de cómo se lo habían imaginado.

Cada vez hay más hombres  que dan valor al cuidado de lo personal y que creen que la felicidad no está en acumular poder y dinero. Hay que apoyarse en ellos para convencer al resto porque tienen argumentos en positivo para valorar a las mujeres y lo femenino. Se ha dicho en el congreso She Leader: para superar la crisis deberíamos cambiar el sistema económico hacia uno que no sólo busque beneficios, las empresas no pueden permitirse el lujo de desperdiciar el talento de las mujeres y hay que dejar que ellas intenten resolver conflictos que los hombres han dejado por imposibles: ya sean las miles de guerras enquistadas por todo el mundo o los recientes acuerdos fallidos de la reforma laboral en España, entre gobierno, patronal y sindicatos. Es muy simple, si el método masculino –no exclusivo de los hombres- no funciona, probemos otra vía porque, si da resultados, ganará toda la sociedad. La Fundación Goldman ya lo está intentando con su proyecto de becas para 10.000 mujeres.

Gracias por las aportaciones en She Leader de:

Gemma Altell, Michelle Bachelet, Sara Berbel, Pilar Casanova, Cristina Gallach, Noelia Fernández, Maria Teresa Fernández de la Vega, Gemma Lienas, José Montilla, Lourdes Muñoz, Xavier Prats, Jordi Pigem, Antoni Gutierrez Rubí, Carme Ruscalleda, Carme Sánchez, Mar Serna, Olga Sierra, Nouzha Skalli, Anna Solana, Adela Subirana, Marina Subirats.

Vaig assistir dijous al Creativity Point de divuCiencia, un esforç notable però petit si es compara amb la magnitud del que es necessita. La vintena de persones allà aplegades van interaccionar força, cadascú va explicar el que feia i després varem prendre una copa plegats mentre gaudiem de diverses actuacions. El nou districte poblat per empreses (sector TIC, media, continguts o industrials de tota la vida) universitats, institucions, comerços i veïns necessita un pol cultural prou ambiciós com per catalitzar la interacció que ens ha de portar a la innovació, la raó de ser del 22@. De moment però no sento la seva ànima per enlloc. I no parlo pas d’espiritisme.