Gordon Brown: Wiring a Web for Global Good

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown was a surprise speaker in the first session of the TEDGlobal Conference in Oxford. In his news-making talk (see below), he argued that we've reached a unique moment in human history: we can use today's interconnectedness to develop our shared global ethic -- and work together to confront the challenges of poverty, security, climate change and the economy.

About Gordon Brown (from TED.com):

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is one of the world's most experienced political leaders. He has been a key architect of the G8's agreements on poverty and climate change, and has provided a passionate voice to encourage the developed world to aid struggling African countries.

Mr. Brown has promoted technology as a tool for economic (and environmental) recovery. With his charge to "count the carbon and the pennies," research on electric cars and residential energy efficiency are slated to become a major part of the UK's recovery plan. He has pushed for universal broadband and a general increase in spending on science. He has also sought to use new communication tools like Twitter and YouTube as a means to communicate government policy.

Comments

[PresidentRobertBooth]

***In his talk, Brown argues that we've reached a unique moment in human history: we can use today's interconnectedness to develop our shared global ethic***


Yep, typical "corporate-speak" nonsense.

While he's developing our shared "global ethic" with "blue sky thinking" which is "outside the box", British soldiers continue to die in Afghanistan and the British people are losing their jobs.

[slowtono]

Nope, Nope, and nope. Though Brown pushes equality, the internet doesn't. The internet is loaded with non allowed information in foreign countries, and it's willingness to publish any story and run with it is unethical. Lies are published daily, and spying into peoples lives are common. E Mails to lovers for political gain. What ensues is chaos, As such power mongers only allow their voice and their views to reach people. Example... A common statement by our government is that we owe China for borrowed funds. As I recall China did not approach the U.S. with industrializing the U.S. and others out side of China built and invested companies in China. These investors made the money, as well as China so who owes who? Rich investors?

[IssuesInFocus]

Gordon is not perfect.. but what he suggests on use of technology makes sense as we think 21st centruy . My type of politician and statesman. Did you hear that David Cameron? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8EYz6UaNNg

[PrawnSprat]

The problem, as always, is with our human nature. Gordon Brown's talk of a 'global ethic' is blind to the inherent contradictions we all face in deciding how forcefully to pursue our own private interests at the cost of the 'common weal.' Look at us in the Western World...we all want to be millionaires...advertising bombards us with financial advice to accumulate and grow our wealth, and living the lifestyle of the rich and famous trumps our concern over millions dead in the Congolese civil war, etc.; and politics is a system for battling out in the public arena alternative policies that will enrich one group (private health-care insurers vs. public provider special interest groups like public unions, weapons makers vs. pacifist internationalist NGOs, domestic manufacturers versus importers, etc.) at the expense of its rivals. Each special interest couches its position in the rhetoric of a 'global ethic', etc. I'll believe in idealistic speeches like Gordon Brown's, and venues like the hip TED conference, when Skinnerian operant conditioning to create a utopian society of selfless humans is instituted...wait, they tried that program in the early days of the Soviet Union.