by Ed Mills You have probably heard the story of the Buddhist scholar who went to visit an old and respected Zen monk to discuss Buddhism. The monk invited the scholar in for tea and they sat down. While the monk quietly prepared tea the scholar immediately began to expound upon all he had learned about Buddhism at the university. On and on he went while the old monk continued to prepare the tea. The scholar never paused even as...

By Stephen Dinan During January, we spent time in Bali as part of recharging after the intensities of the Birth.  I wanted to share with you a few key themes that stuck with me from our time on this gorgeous island that I believe are essential for 2013:  embracing water and the plateau. After the great excitement, marathon hours, and relentless list of things to do for of the Birth 2012, we entered a different phase – a quieter rhythm...

By Katharine and Makasha Roske On the morning of December 22nd as the rose tinted golden sun emerged from the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean hundreds gathered in joyful communion to welcome the dawn of a new era.  Byron Bay, Australia, situated at the one of the most eastern points in western civilization was the first continent to welcome the light of this new chapter of global consciousness and co-creation.  Indigenous elders, youth activists, artists, musicians, children, and lovers...

By Stephen Dinan Let’s celebrate our achievement! We’ve marked an important transitional moment for our world—the Birth of a new era—and have done so with a spirit of love, prayer, and unity. With hundreds of events unifying millions of like-hearted souls in positive intentions from Dec. 20-22, there was something profoundly beautiful seeded into the collective mind of humanity: a possibility for a new kind of world that truly works for all. But now, as Marianne Williamson reminded us during...

Shift Innovation Awards on Mainstage Tomorrow At tomorrow’s Gala, and for the very first time, we present the annual Shift Innovation Awards. These awards are designed to be given to young leaders, betwen 18-35 years old, who are emerging innovators in one of four areas: sustainability, peace, economics, and health. The Award especially acknowledges achievements in innovative design that can be scaled and replicated. Here’s a look at the nominees to the Peace Innovation Award.  In this case, the winner—to...

          Stephen Dinan refining broadcast schedule with Stephen Dinan. [Photo by Kevin Zenzie]             James O’Dea, Belvie Rooks, and Philip Hellmich discussing the culture of peace. [Photo by Erika Rand]             This is Gabriel Rey-Goodlatte shot of the Visionary media panel “Art and Memes for Cultural Transformation.” (left to right: Erika Rand, Shepard Fairey, moderator Steven Starr, David DeGraw)

In January 2012, a group of individuals from eighteen countries invited people all over the world to share their honest thoughts and feelings on four simple questions regarding improving life on our planet—and nearly 1,300 people from 97 countries responded! They called their effort A Big Project—and you’ll note that it’s the first segment in today’s webcast schedule. But rather than crank out yet another dry report, the good folks at Big Project chose to harness the power...

An Interview by Lion Goodman, Luminary Leadership Institute. Welcoming Committee member Rinaldo Brutoco believes that business and commerce can and must lead the reconstruction of our planet symbolized by the Birth. Rinaldo, who is widely recognized as a practical visionary, change agent, and futurist, is the President of the World Business Academy, which he founded in 1987 to educate, inspire, and assist business leaders to take responsibility for the whole of society. An expert in emerging technologies and industries, Rinaldo...

The Birth 2012 webcast launch is upon us, and the quality of its technical direction will make all the difference in our experience of this once-in-a-lifetime event. A key behind-the-curtain figure is Michael Binkow, the producer-director of our online global broadcast who’ll be in the trenches making pressure-packed decisions as multiple feeds from multiple locations bombard Birth 2012 central in Los Angeles. Michael says he’s ready for the challenge, having spent the last 20 years as a leading freelance producer...