There's a very cool global, participatory exercise happening yesterday, today, and tomorrow called Habitat JAM. It's being sponsored by the UN, the government of Canada, and IBM. It's also being moderated by an astounding group of experts from all over the world.
I strongly encourage you to log in and participate. Here's the in depth info:
"As part of the preparations for the third session of the World Urban Forum scheduled for June 19-23, 2006 in Vancouver, the Government of Canada, in partnership with UN-Habitat, is sponsoring this 72-hour Internet event. From December 1-3 people from around the world will gather via Habitat JAM to identify actionable ideas for the Vancouver World Urban Forum agenda.
Habitat JAM is about engaging anyone with a stake in the health and welfare of our cities — that means you. It's about sharing your ideas on important issues that ultimately affect you. It's also about connecting people who otherwise could never meet who have the experience and know-how from across the world — and applying their learning to current needs and issues. Ultimately, it's about working together to find solutions to critical urban problems."
Discussion Forum topics
Habitat JAM features six topics in seven discussion forums (Forums 1 and 2 are the same topic available in English and French). The discussion topics are based on the themes chosen for the third session of the World Urban Forum. Go to Discussion Forums to read the complete list of topics and questions, and to select a forum.
What are actionable ideas?
Habitat JAM will gather your input and add it to thousands of others to identify actionable ideas to solve critical problems affecting our cities. These ideas will help set the agenda for the third session of the 2006 World Urban Forum conference in Vancouver.
An actionable idea in Habitat JAM can be:
Relevant and timely: The idea addresses an immediate need.
Implementable by individuals and/or local authorities: The idea can be acted on with little or no additional insight or resources.
Implementable by regional or national governments, businesses or other institutions: The idea requires additional resources and/or authority.
Pragmatic: The idea provides a realistic solution.
Cost-effective: The solution proposed is affordable.