Source: BBC News-Asia-Pacific

I was shocked to find this request in my email inbox this morning, a Sunday. Finding it drove home–again–how powerful the work we do in our daily lives is when we are all globally connected. You don’t imagine that your work will have an impact on people’s lives beyond the impact you intend, but then, you realize that in a Read/Write Web world, how far that work can really reach.

The podcast this Australian educator refers to was had at personal cost. This was one of those actions that got me banned from the TCEA TEC-SIG group during my term in office as vice-president and president–the simple act of sharing information beyond the 4 walls of conference meeting room. I don’t want to dwell on it, but it is relevant that we must sometimes endure personal discomfort to share ideas that will impact others around the world. I like the way Mark Pesce put it.

“Sharing is THE threat,” shared Mark Pesce at a 2008 Personal Democracy Forum conference. One of the key points of his talk was that in his ”honest and human act of sharing, any of the pretensions to control, the limitations, or power are revealed as completely collapsed and impotent.” In fact, what Mark Pesce shared is so important to keep in mind, I’m reblogging it:

A hyperconnected polity—whether composed of a hundred individuals or a hundred thousand—has resources at its disposal which exponentially amplify its capabilities. Hyperconnectivity begets hypermimesis begets hyperempowerment. After the arms race comes the war.”

To understand this new kind of mob rule, it’s necessary to realize that “Sharing is the threat. Not just a threat. It is the whole of the thing. A photo taken on a mobile now becomes instantaneously and pervasively visible on Flickr or other sharing websites. This act of sharing voids “any pretensions to control, or limitation, or the exercise of power“.
Source: HyperPolitics

Although a few years later, things have worked out exceedingly well, I had no idea that it would, only that it was the right thing to do at the time.

I hope those who were podcast also see this message and realize what a profound impact it can have on others, on another continent, and just around the corner.

Here’s the email that moved me:

I am the principal of a secondary school in Victoria Australia. My school zone has been heavily impacted by wildfires – I have had one student perish in the fires and many of our families were left homeless.

The immediate response to crisis has been good with all our families now in
temporary accommodation and students attending school more regularly since
the fire threat has eased.

I noted that your podcast was mentioned in the resources section of an article published in ‘Threshold’ (Fall 2006) referring to recovery and rebuilding after disaster strikes.
Source: Email received at 4:45 AM; 3/22/2009

And, here is an excerpt of my response:

Here are several links to podcasts and presentations about Disaster Recovery.

TASA 2009 – Disaster Recovery and Planning – Miguel Guhlin-http://mguhlin.org
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD details it’s extensive efforts to prepare for Hurricane Ike, sharing disaster recovery and planning information. This is an information-rich presentation–from top school administrators–well worth listening to.
More information here: http://www.mguhlin.org/2009/01/tasa2009-disaster-planning-and-recovery.html

Podcast: Around the Corner – MGuhlin.net – Sheryl Abshire on Disaster Recovery Planning in K-12 School Districts – Miguel Guhlin
Sheryl Abshire, District Administrative Coordinator of Technology, from Calcasieu Parish Public Schools, Lake Charles, Louisiana, is speaking to the assembled membership of the TCEA TEC-Special Interest Group (SIG) on Thursday, May 11, 2006. She shares some excellent points based on her experience with 2005-2006 hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

Podcast: Around the Corner – MGuhlin.net – Dell Computer’s Juan Shepperd and Mike Knab on Disaster Recovery Planning in K-12 School Districts – Miguel Guhlin
Although I ended up missing the Dell Computer presentation on Disaster Recovery, I did manage to obtain a copy of their presentation and chat with Michael Knab and Juan Shepperd (pictured below from left to right) afterwards. You can listen to the podcast of that conversation, as well as view the presentation.

Since I responded fairly quickly, I missed an important point in the requestor’s email. A student had perished…I can only express my profound hope that all will work for the well of those who survived, and can only share my sorrow that a student died and others suffered.

And, I’m grateful that something done here in Texas might be of help to others in Australia, as well as that we now have access to technologies that enable us to share ideas and information with others in ways we never originally imagined, just like this one.

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Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure