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TED is a conference people, by the people and of the people and that
empowerment of the people is the only wayto lift
where inspiring individ- them from poverty. He also believed that 'con-
nectivity is productivity' and brought a mobile
ualsare invited to talk, phone system to impoverished Bangladesh and
contributed to the country's economic develop-
and each talk is posted ment. How did this work? Watch hIs talk to fInd
on www.ted.com out.
There are more such examples. Fin9.out about
why bee colonies are disappearing all over the I
I s it Possible
change .the world and
.
for One person with an idea to
make a difference?
Yes.Visit www.ted.com and meet a whole
set of individuals who look at the same things as
world at an alarming rate, look at pictures of
people from remote cultures like Ecuador, see a
real sputnik and a meteorite or listen to stories
told with emoticons.
the rest of us, get ideas and act on them and TED is an annual conference launched in'1984
spread these ideas to the world. with a mission to air "ideas worth
TED is a conference in which spreading". TED believes thatthe
inspiring individuals are invited
to talk about their current work,
and each talk is posted on www.ted.
Web power of ideas will change attitudes
and this will result in inspiring the

Watch
world. The speakers come from var- I
com. Each little video clip is pas., ious backgrounds and disciplines I
sionate, compelling and informa., and are visionaries who pursue I
tive. their passion with zeal, which comes
The speakers launch straight through powerfully as each of them
into what they have to say in subjects ranging presents their topic. Every weeka new lecture is
from medicine, archaeology, nanotech, neurol- added and all the content is offered free to those
ogy,psychiatry, global warming, arts and design, whoare interested. In200S,TEDintroduced TED
culture, technology and development, enter- Prize, where three individuals with exceptional
tainment, slavery in the present day and other ideas are awarded USD100,OOO and granted a
global issues. There are live performances and "wish to change the world", about which they.
storYtelling too, but even here, we can expectthe come to speak about at TED.
unexpected. If you have time, log on to this website and get
Take for example, Iqbal Qadir, an investment inspired by ideas and by the people who are pur"
banker from New York who is originally from suing them for the betterment of the world:'
Bangladesh. He addresses the question of why
poverty persists in this day and age. He believes -Subha Venkatesan
that economic development should be for the venksubha@yahoo.com

Idian Express, No, 29, Industrial Estate, Ambattur, Chennai - 600058. Tel: (044) 23457601, e-mail:

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