“One Billion Legacies” is the story of everyday people with everyday struggles – unemployed youths, grieving parents, visible and invisible leaders seeking to understand how they can make a difference for those who need it most. It tells of how unforeseen events – a heart attack, an earthquake or a bullet – transform the lives of those affected, but not always as one would expect. And while it narrates many challenges and much suffering, this story also recounts many humanitarian responses and the hope that emerges when all seems lost.
Yet this story is more than solely a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It is a plea for a fragmented world, a world where all are now connected yet many do not know their neighbors. As these tales show, our times are different, because for the first time ever we can no longer say that we did not know; for the first time ever we cannot say that we did not have the means. Neighbors can work together like never before, we can form networks and coalitions, we can pool in our limited resources and come to realize nothing can stop us. Or we can sit around and bear responsibility for the continued suffering of those around us, feigning that we were too busy living our lives.
This story is, ultimately, a call to action for a new generation of dreamers and, more importantly, a new generation of doers who will harness technology for the full benefit of humanity.
[Note: All characters appearing in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any perceived references to other thinkers or doers should only be construed as a reflection of the reader’s broad culture and good taste.]
One Billion Legacies 