MDGs under discussion at TEDx eventsTo coincide with the UN summit in New York, more than 60 public

TEDxChange satellite events will be held around the world to

debate the millennium development goals

A south-north v iew of the world's map. Photograph: Guardian

Thousands of people engaged in global development will today be attending TEDx

events all over the world themed around the millennium development goals (MDG) to

coincide with the UN MDG summit in New York this week.

More than 60 public TEDxChange satellite events are planned around the world,

organised as viewing parties and discussions around a live webcast from New York,

convened by Melinda Gates. Around two thirds of the events are being held in Europe

and North America, with the remaining third spread across Africa, Asia, South America,

Oceania, and the Middle East.

TEDX is a spin-off from TED, which describes itself as a small, non-profit "devoted to

ideas worth spreading". TED hosts annual conferences, bringing together innovators

from the worlds of technology, entertainment and design, producing talks that are made

available on their website in video form and transcribed (in an all-to-rare nod to

accessibility). One of my recent favourites, very much in keeping with the philosophy

behind this new global development site, is Ethan Zuckerman's talk on listening to global

voices.

TEDx is a recent development, enabling people to organise mini-conferences under the

TED banner. TEDx events share TED's name and format, and are required to show

TEDTalk videos, but are otherwise independent, and free.

Ten years after the millennium development goals were signed by all UN members,

TEDxChange is bringing people together to deliberate the world's greatest challenges.

Marieme Jamme, a member of this website's advisory panel, will host the first TEDx

event in Ghana.

Among those speaking at TEDx London are the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi

Adichie and Paul Hilder, co-founder of OpenDemocracy.net and Avaaz.org (which has

more than 5.5 million members worldwide).

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comment)Staff

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MariamCook

22 September 2010 9:39AM

Don't miss Eliza Anyangwe's round-up of TedxAccra: developing a plan for Africans by

Africans.

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In a previous TED talk, Adichie, author of Half of a Yellow Sun, a fictional take on the

Biafran War, spoke about how the global north often talks of Africa as a country, with a

homogeneity and internal coherence (one of poverty and catastrophe) that it doesn't

have.

If you wish to follow these events on twitter look out for tweets with the #TEDxLondon,

#TEDxChange and #TEDx tags. The Guardian will be reporting back from the events in

London and Ghana tomorrow – so tweet us at GdnDevelopment if you'll be attending

either event.

To watch the live TEDxChange webcast you will need to RSVP on Facebook - the event

will be streamed at 3pm GMT/11am EDT/8am PDT.

The talk by Melinda Gates will also be streamed.

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