12for12k: The idea that regular people can use social media to get together and make the World better

Global Patriot: Mark Lovett’s vision that patriotism needed be confined by national or regional boundaries – which I subscribe to 100%

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières using the same philosophy to bring health care to people in need, regardless of race, religion or any of the other reasons for separating people.

With the huge number of people suffering in the World today, there is no question that Médecins Sans Frontières offers the only hope for many and it is a pleasure to be able to support this brave group of dedicated people in doing their good work.

There is a whole program of really cool events being planned for September. One of the first is Music as Medicine, being held in San Diego on September 3rd.

If you are going to be in San Diego that evening, I hope you can go. It will be a great night and you’ll be supporting a great cause. Even if you can’t be there life, I hope you will be able to make a small contribution to the cause.

There will be more exciting 12for12k and Global Patriot events throughout the month. Search on #12for12k on Twitter or check out the 12for 12k and Global Patriot sites for more info.

It’s time to get involved – time to make a difference!!

What do you think? do you have any ideas to make this program better and more effective? If you do, we’d love to chat with you.

Oh, don’t you agree the Music as Medicine poster is just way cool? I love it =)

Related posts:

1. 12for12k Global Event #GG24
2. Blog of the Week – Global Patriot
3. 12for12k Special 12 hour video-a thon

I came across Mark Lovett, the Global Patriot guy during the recent 12for12k 24 hour event. Mark has had a successful business career and now is devoting a lot of his time to helping others.

Marks idea is that being a Global Patriot is different to being a National Patriot. While a National Patriot is concerned with people and events within a single country or region, the Global Patriot wants to do and create things that are good for everyone.

As someone living in a different continent to where I grew up, I can completely relate to this idea.

Mark reminds us in a post about patriotism that the concept has changed over the centuries and is still evolving today. It is very true that old style National Patriotism has been responsible for many of the wars over the past few hundred years as well as many of the problems we face today.

The key question Mark presents us with today is:

“Can we envision patriotism from a global perspective…embracing patriotism without borders?“

Personally I believe that not only we can, but we have to. That is also one of the features of the 12for12k campaign. While 12for12k certainly supports local charities (the Eye Care for Kids” in Utah being a great example) there has also been support on a global with UNICEF and more to come.

The Global Patriot concept fits in really well with 12for12k and the teams will be working closely together later this year. Both are natural tie ins with social media, which brings people from all over the world together. Maybe in time, social media will show just how artificial traditional borders are – letting people bypass the traditional blocks and communicate together directly.

Personally, I’m proud to call myself a Global Patriot and really pleased to have Global Patriot as Blog of the Week!

Where do you stand? Are you a Global Patriot? How should we be working together to make life better for everyone?

Related posts:

1. 12for12k – Doctors Without Borders
2. 12for12k Global Event #GG24
3. Blog of the Week – Kids are Heroes