Millenium Campus Conference in Boston
And the first Trip in the USA goes to.... BOSTON!!
A few weeks ago, a fellow austrian fulbrighter (Magdalena, thanks!), asked me about going to the MCC2012. Without hesitating I agreed. So we went to Boston to learn about the Millenium Development Goals, hear good talks from great people (nobel prize winners and so on) and meet with 1200 other students. Not to forget about Boston itself!
Thanks to the Gateway in Reno, I know a few Fulbrighters in Boston. So I was hosted by an Indian studying at Harvard - classic, isn't it? ;) Tall smart guy, cooking incredible good rice dinner!!!
As you see, I had my own bus for travelling. I will share 2 quotes of F.A. Hayek with you, which I read on the way (original german):
"Politiker are like bad horsemen:
Totally occupied to stay in the saddle,
so they don't have time to look for directions."
"I distrust two kinds of people:
Architects, which say the can build cheap and
economics with simple solutions"
Equipped with this knowledge, I entered the northeastern University as planned just in time for the last panel. It was a discussion about global vs. local actions. "In the land of the big dick" (USA and western countries) it is much easier to help people, which live far away. Donating a few bucks makes you feel good and work is done. Some people think that's not enough. So the
y go on to "explore themselves" - live there and help for 2 weeks or one month, always knowing that after that, they may go back to their western lives in the lands of plenty. But what happens if suffering is just next door? Tacking care of somebody next to you harder than people in the distance, was the main message of one penalist. This reminds me of an article from the german newspaper " Die Zeit". Unfortunately it's in german, but it deals with the same problem and the example of gypsies in Salzburg.
On the picture, you see Magdalena and me (Austria :D), Francesca from Italy, Brian from the US (IPED colleague) and Abdoul from Niger in the Blackman Hall (main auditorium!).
The second day started with a free breakfast, so I really tried to be there in time! However, it was raining heavily and smart as I am, I had neither a rain jacket or an umbrella with me (thanks Brian who guarded my jacket on the way!). Once there, I had to confront reality: No tea! Even worse: Bad coffee. You would not have needed to make the "spoon-test", cause you almost saw the bottom of the cup! However, we had a lot of nice talks in the first session and I will provide you with a few quotes and facts:
"People told me I'm nuts...
... probably I was...
.. but I wasn't afraid!"...
"... be unreasonable..:"
...Akhtar Badshah, Senior Director of Microsoft Citizenship and Public Affairs
after talking about his seven (!!) major career changes
Dr. Paul Farmer watches Games of Thrones! He and a group are applying for a fund, which will be given after an internet vote. So please vote here for Nyaya Health to win $250,000.
For more information, click here.
The deal you receive with the
meal "voucher" is a worse deal
than the normal combo...
so that was my lunch at the conference
(oh yeah, it's America!):
Gandhi - "Worst form of violence is poverty..."
" Everybody should get a 2nd chance - even paper gets recycled"
We are on a good way to reach some of the MDGs..
- Poverty in terms of people living under 1,25$/day decreased
- Income of low-income countries tripled on average
- Child mortality decreased severely
- ....
"We as a NPO had real luck. We gave a T-Shirt to Bob Dole
(presindetal candidat 1996) and he used it once for jogging.
The next day CNN called, asking: Who are you?"
"You can teach people knowledge and skills.
However, you can't teach them to CARE."
Senior Vice-President and Dean, City Year
Next to all this fancy quotes, I heard talks about cross-sector collaboration, partnerships, effective programming, story about Tmor Leste (very impressive!) and got a homework from Dr. Jeffrey Sachs: "Save the world. It's open book, you can collaborate, ask your advisors and travel the globe for it. It's due in 15 years. But come back every year to the MCC as I need to give you credit in the meantime.
"The Nobel Prize hasn't told me I have done good and can end...
... it told me I have to do even more!"
2011 Nobel Peace Prize
So much about the conference... nice, what do you say?
After the conference, we got to enjoy Boston's nightlife. Together with the group you see above, and a russian lady called Olga (what else?), we went to explore Boston. As you have read already enough, I will just let you enjoy some pictures now... just one note: Bars&clubs closes at 2am... so good thing I'm not studying at Harvard or MIT 
