These are dark times for people all around the world, as the corona crisis continues to spread. It’s becoming harder by the hour to find a new normal. The effects of the corona crisis are enormous on our daily lives, our loved ones, our health care system, our economy… In our world everything is interconnected. But among all the distressing news, there have also been reasons to find a spark of light.
These are dark times for people all around the world, as the corona crisis continues to spread. It’s becoming harder by the hour to find a new normal. The effects of the corona crisis are enormous on our daily lives, our loved ones, our health care system, our economy… In our world everything is interconnected.
"As we grapple with the intensifying effects of COVID-19, now is more relevant a moment than ever to double down on critical sustainability efforts and channel our energy towards meaningful, resilience-building work. Developing resilience to future shocks means understanding the world as an interconnected system. While the social and environmental challenges resulting from our current economic system often feel independent from one another, it is critical to take an integrated view. Global issues of human health and economic stagnation, climate change and biodiversity loss, are inextricably linked and stem from a few key root causes. We can only begin to tackle these challenges with an understanding of the whole system, and unprecedented, global collaborative action."
- Eva Gladek, CEO & Founder of Metabolic
But among all the distressing news, there have also been reasons to find a spark of light. Amsterdam Smart City is an urban open innovation platform. We connect changemakers around the world who are tackling the most important issues of our time. We always place people and citizens central in our approach. We do this together with partners who have the expertise to not only engage but co-create with citizens. Now during the corona crisis a lot of hopeful initiatives sparked and blossomed within our network. We compiled a list of some of the initiatives or inspirations that we discovered.
What are the initiatives that sparked your light? Please add them in the comments!
Free parcel delivery of masks, gloves and goggles - PostNL
The Red Cross launched a central collection campaign for protective equipment against the corona virus such as masks, gloves and goggles. Due to the outbreak of the corona virus, there is a shortage of these resources. With a central fundraising campaign, the Red Cross takes on national coordination so that the resources end up where they are needed the most. And PostNL ensures that the parcels can be sent to the Red Cross for free!
Individuals or entrepreneurs who want to hand in materials can report to the Red Cross. The Red Cross determines whether the materials offered meet the official requirements and provides the donor with the free reply number. The package is then transported by PostNL to the Red Cross as soon as possible.
<https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6647890755912298497/>
A compassion platform in times of corona – Toon Jansen
Toon Jansen, CityMaker at Wild Project, stipulates the usefulness and necessity of a compassion platform in times of corona. He is looking at possibilities to create and organize an online compassion contact platform. A place where people can connect to other people to chat on the phone, Skype, or other apps. He’s looking for ideas and people who can help him out!
<https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/posts/nut-en-noodzaak-van-een-compassie-platform-in-tijd>
Do it yourself: Smart Gardening edition – by Waag (in Dutch)
In the coming weeks, Waag will share experiments with instructables that can be performed in your own home, garden and kitchen. In this way they want to tackled boredom together with learning by doing. Last week the Smart Gardening edition was launched. Upcoming weeks more intructables will be published.
<https://waag.org/nl/event/waag-makes-de-thuismakers>
Discover the world around you without leaving the comforts of your own home – NEMO Science Museum (in Dutch)
Do floating trains exist? What is hydrogen? Why don’t you see lightning when you can hear the thunder? Can I make lightning myself at home? NEMO Science Museum offers answers to all these questions, and much more, at their online platform. You don’t even have to leave your home to learn about and discover the world.
<https://www.nemosciencemuseum.nl/nl/ontdek/>
Future in time of Corona – what kind of region do we want to be? – Amsterdam Economic Board (in Dutch)
Nina Tellegen (Director of the Amsterdam Economic Board) wrote a blog raising questions on what kind of region we want to be in the future. What flaws do we see in our current economy? What alternatives do we have? How can we, especially now, use Green Deals to structurally better the future? And what investments are needed to create a smart, green and liveable region? The corona crisis can create a momentum to reflect and look forward into the future.
<https://amsterdamsmartcity.com/posts/toekomst-in-tijden-van-corona--wat-voor-regio-wil>
Life long Living – Kennisland (in Dutch)
Leven Lang Leven (Life Long Living) is a movement to create a new, positive movement around aging. A movement that consists of innovators who are looking at nursing care in an innovative way, who have different ideas about what it may look like and want to implement. The corona crisis bring a lot of concerns; about the people you love, the elderly. With their Leven Lang Leven project Kennisland is in contact with nursing homes, and empathize and support where possible. Read more on what they are doing and how you can support them.
<https://www.kl.nl/nieuws/leven-lang-leven-tijdens-corona/>
Share your experience around COVID-19 information to inspire global leaders – OpenIDEO (in English)
How might we rapidly inform and empower communities around the world to stay safe and healthy during the corona outbreak? OpenIDEO is currently coordinating with global response authorities who want to make sure people have actionable, relevant information around COVID-19. They like to share a range of experiences from around the world, showing how people are accessing information: what’s working well to motivate behaviour change, what isn’t working, and what feels missing.
<https://www.openideo.com/challenge-briefs/covid19-communication-challenge>
Listen to the big changemakers of our time – Pakhuis de Zwijger (in English & Dutch)
Clare Farell, Rutger Groot Wassink, Lize Koerpershoek, Lucas de Man, Pauline Westendorp, Kate Raworth. These are only a handful of names that have been interviewed in Pakhuis de Zwijger weekly’s podcast. Themes like the doughnut city, energy transition, civil disobedience, disruptive citizens and much more. 67 podcasts worth of inspiration.
<https://dezwijger.nl/podcast/>
Urban Technology Reading Tips – University of Applied Sciences (in Dutch)
The lecturers of the faculty Urban Technology of the University of Applied Science compiled a must read list. Being stuck at home is the perfect time for some reading. Don’t you think?
<https://twitter.com/HvAUrbanTech/status/1240950352960270337>
This is great, especially Open Ideo's platform. Can I propose my own love project? homeofficetarot.com is a free tarot site we made for homeworkers to relieve Corona worries and boredom. It is fun and lighthearted, but touches essential themes such as self care, personal leadership and productivity.