Can we change the world

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Can we change the world?
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Gavin Fairbairn, Professor of Ethics and
Language, has collaborated closely for many years
with
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Denis Rowley, Director of Equal Futures, whose
work on countering the isolation and loneliness
experienced by many disabled people was inspired
by his friend
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Vickie Cammack, Director of the PLAN Institute in
Vancouver. Vickies husband
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Al Etmanski, Ashoka Fellow and Executive Director
of PLAN,
regularly teaches community building skills
alongside his friend John McNight
who co-founded
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,,,the Gamaliel Foundation, which began its
training school for community organisers by
placing a small advert in national newspapers
asking Do you want to change the world?
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One of the first people to respond and train as a
community organiser was none other than
Barack Obama, President Elect of the United
States.
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In their different, but connected spheres, all of
these people share McKnights value-driven
aspiration for
nothing less than a life surrounded by the
richness and diversity of community. A collective
life. A common life. An everyday life. A
powerful life that gains its joy from the
creativity and connectedness that comes when we
join in association to create an inclusive world.
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So can we change the world? Barack Obama
reminds us that by working together, Yes we
can!