Music phenom Peter Gabriel took the stage at this year’s Social Good Summit to tout the power of connectivity on Saturday.
Gabriel said he believes that connectivity has caused humanity evolve. It’s now a place of awareness and empathy, where people can recognize their own experiences in the lives of others, share their own stories and ultimately create change, he said.
“It’s just this whole other way of working,” Gabriel said. “It’s part of what makes people feel so powerful.”
Andrew Rasiej, a self-described “professional doer,” social entrepreneur and founder of Personal Democracy Media, spoke with Gabriel. Rasiej commented on the Arab Spring, and how the protests could not be quelled even when government leaders yanked the Internet cables out from underneath them.
“You can shut off the public Internet, but you can’t shut up the Internet public,” he said.
Gabriel agreed, saying the Internet “transcends,” and that protests can no longer be “contained and controlled,” like they used to be. He added, though, that people must be responsible when harnessing this power, as it can be used negatively.
“My biggest hope is that people’s power will become a reality,” Gabriel said. “My biggest fear is it’ll be turned on its head.”
Mobile, data and privacy is often a “cat and mouse game,” he said, adding that those with agendas may get there first.
But the Internet has a larger role than just politics, and Gabriel believes that every sector including healthcare, education, the economy and culture can be affected with connectivity — specifically, the power of mobile, which helps users access information immediately.
“This will empower us, and suddenly we have choices,” he said.
Gabriel is launching his own “earth catalog” for social good in Spring 2013. Thetoolbox.org will act as an ecosystem for action, something that people can visit to “get guidance or give help.” It will have a personal dashboard and accompanying app, he said.
What’s your biggest hope for the power of technology? Tell us in the comments below.
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Read more of Mashable’s coverage of the 2012 Social Good Summit:
Day One:
Hillary Clinton Opens the Social Good Summit [VIDEO]
How the U.S. Chief Technology Officer Is Making Data Awesome
Can Mobile Phones Help Fight Pediatric AIDS?
How Is Social Media Changing Diplomacy?
Peter Gabriel Makes Case For Internet Freedom
ITU Secretary-General: OK to Make Profit When Helping Developing Nations
8-Year-Old YouTube Sensation Performs at Social Good Summit
Social Good Summit Day 1: Highlights and Pics
Day Two:
ShoutAbout Aims to Inspire Social Action Based on News Stories
Tim Pool, Guerrilla Journalist of the Digital Age [VIDEO]
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice: Twitter Crucial to Her Mission
How Social Media Is Empowering Women in Haiti
How to Use Mobile Devices to Solve Global Problems
How Forest Whitaker Is Using Technology to Spread Peace
Social Good Summit Day 2: Highlights and Pics
Day Three:
Napolitano: Congress ‘Got Stuck’ on Cybersecurity
U.N. Foundation Challenges the World to Take Action
Nick Kristof Takes Social Good Gaming to the Next Level
Why Tech and New Media Can Help End Modern Slavery
UNICEF Launches Online Campaign to Reduce Child Mortality Rates
What It Means to Be an Advocate in the Digital Age
What Non-Profits Can Learn From Cat Videos
Wikipedia Founder: Online Connections Foster Real Change
Deepak Chopra: Social Media is the Next Phase of Humanity [VIDEO]
How Social Good Summit Sparked the Largest Conversation on Earth
Social Good Summit Day 3: Highlights and Pics
10 Inspiring Quotes From Mashable’s Social Good Summit
Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/22/peter-gabriel-internet-freedom/
Peter Gabriel Makes Case For Internet Freedom
Apps and Software, Internet access, Mobile, music, Social Good, Social Good Summit, Trending Big, US & World
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