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02/12/08 Imagine If.
DUBLIN, IRELAND - Imagine if… we had a mission as a country. A mission to be the first country in the world to do something incredible. Imagine if the Irish Government decided that a cheap way to start bringing winds of change, create new jobs, create new companies, create new markets, would be to undertake a world first mission we could all join in on. All talk about. All look forward to. All focus on.
What if Ireland had a dramatic and ambitious goal of X before the end of the decade?
- The first country in the world - to provide free, fast and widespread, internet access for everyone, just like you’re entitled to mains water. While they’re at it, make connecting devices tax-free.
- The first country in the world - to be carbon neutral, producing more renewable energy than we use.
- The first country in the world - to recycle, home-compost, bio-degrade 100% of our recyclable waste.
- The first country in the world - to make continuous education free, unlimited night courses, weekend courses, qualifications, up-skill 100% of the country.
- The first country in the world - to land on the moon, oh wait - that has been done and it gave them a goal as a country.
A dramatic and ambitious goal of sending an American safely to the Moon before the end of the decade.
What effect would this have on our population?
-Robin.
(Image Credit: Bailey Lighthouse in Howth last week.)
Tags: imagine, irish government
12 Comments
This idea really resonates with me Robin. I always get goosebumps watching Kennedy’s ‘call to arms’ and have similar longing for a comparable sense of long-term communal purpose here.
Thinking out loud I wonder if we could organize an ‘X Prize’ type competition around this by requesting submissions for the best idea for ‘Project 2020′ (or 2015 if that’s too long a time frame in our ‘internet speed’ world).
We could fund the competition using, for example, ThePoint.com - eg. prize of e10,000 for the winner. I’d happily contribute e10 if 1,000 would do likewize. In fact I’d gladly contribute e100 but it would be best from the point of view of seeing the project through to recruit 1,000 ‘foot soldiers’ who would thereby also commit to generating a grassroots movement throughout the country to see the winning idea through to successful completion. IMHO this kind of thing won’t come from the top down in Ireland (sorry, I just don’t have faith in our politicians) but instead from the ground up.
It needs to be something simple but with a measurable end that everybody can contribute and feel proud towards… something that is seemingly impossible too at first glance.
“Ireland has the first/last/biggest/smallest/fastest/slowest/longest/shortest X”.
Find X!
I love the fact we are the first country with a smoking ban, the first country with only energy efficient bulbs. etc.
By the way, that was just me riffing on the ‘Vote For Energy Independence X-Prize’ thing, which I loved -
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/11/vote-for-the-next-x-prize.php
I’d love to see similar YouTube entries for ‘Project 215′ (or whatever).
Agreed about the pride in smoking ban and bulbs. Also don’t forget the Plastic Bag ban which has had a huge amount of mentions on the aforementioned Treehugger.
Leadership, inspiration, pride, purpose, hope.
great post Robin
keith
Excellent Idea…
However I see a flaw to your plan. Its success lies with the following people: http://url.ie/ymf
Epic FAIL
@Darran, but does it? Look at the success of the X Prize in focusing and catalyzing a common sense of purpose. From the bottom up, not the top down. I think Ireland needs it’s own X Prize -type foundation.
From Antoin O’Lachtain’s blog post yesterday -
“I think the Commissioner was a little bit surprised to hear that defiance of authority was considered a virtue in Ireland, even for loyal government supporters.”
http://www.eire.com/2008/12/02/in-the-land-of-the-euros-the-one-eyed-man-is-king/
That’s why I think that even if we had a JFK callibre Taoiseach here we’d be hard put to rally the country behind a common purpose from the top down. It must percolate from the grassroots.
03/12/08 Cronan
> What effect would this have on our population?
It would give the population a positive goal to focus on and we would have less time to dwell on all of the negative comment and opinion that is all too popular now.
One small step:
Switch your electricity bill to Airtricity now and give your money to a renewable energy company rather than to the ESB.
I’m loving this idea, the concept of a nation having a mission is fantastic. I also like the suggestions of an X-Prize type effort, but I think it would need to be something that (unfortunately) came in from government.
Maybe I’m just being short sighted, and playing devils advocate, but how far could it go as a nationwide intiative without being implemented from on high? And conversely, how much support would it actually gain if it did in fact come from such a group?
A totally new government structure, and members, with this at it’s core would be deeeeeefinitely be something worth seeing…
09/12/08 jbkenn
I’m in, I will put up €100 towards a prize fund.
We will only get ourselves out of the present mess by “thinking outside the box”, we have lots of innovative people in this country, alway’s had, then we choke the life out of them via the State agencies, we will not do it using the present structures.
Couple of points
Change from ESB to Airtricity?, sorry, but for the ESB, half this country would not have broadband.
Free water, like every other European couintry we will shortly introduce domestic water meterimg.
Immediate what can I do?. In the run up to Christmas, spend your money locally, remember your shopping trip to Newry, London or New York, puts your neighbour out of a job after Christmas, CDWOW dont pay rates to your local Council
29/01/09 Irish Blog Awards » Blog Archive » 2009 Best Blog Post Nominees
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29/01/09 Irish Blog Awards » Blog Archive » 2009 Best Blog Post Nominees
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