Global Culture

It takes a few passionate citizens to make a difference in a city. And it only takes a few cities to make a difference in the world. So it is very encouraging to see events like Open Cities being organized with a grassroots approach -applying all the good lessons that have created thriving technology communities using the barcamp model- with the ideal of findings ways to create better, more open cities:

Inspired by the open source software movement, people around the world are increasingly embracing open business, culture and education. Open Cities are places that accelerate this process, encouraging investment, implementing policies, creating spaces and holding eents that encourage all that is ‘open’. In doing so, they thrive economically while at the same time producing a new generation of artists, teachers and inventors who understand the power of the collective. They are hubs in the global growth of open societies and economies.

The first instance of this idea, dubbed Open Cities Toronto 2007 is taking place in Toronto, Canada as is aimed at creating a model for others to repeat. It is taking place on June 23rd and 24th and already gathering an impressive list of influential thinkers.

As I mentioned in my last post, the Mayors from some of the largest cities are meeting to exchange ideas on how to battle climate change. This is, however, only one of many problems that need to be solved and I believe a forum like Open Cities will connect the right people to make a difference. If my theory about a community of global citizens is correct, the richess of the debate will increase with more participants that have experienced life in some of the other major cities around the world. This should be no problem in a city like Toronto.