This video (thanks Mike!), combined with recent conversations at work, have convinced me to further examine the possibility of being both an IT/security person and someone who wants to make a difference in the world. It sounds good, it sounds feasible, however I have a very hard time relating the two seemingly separate roles.
The possibility of helping clients with making their IT departments more sustainable sounds awesome in theory. However, the issue that I've been running into is that sustainability isn't just about protecting the environment, it's more than that. Social responsibility is a big component that, in my opinion, must be included in sustainability. We may end up having a great air quality one day, but we also need to make sure people's basic human rights are met.
Increased virtualization and more efficient HVAC designs for data centers are great. Reducing our impact on the Earth is a step in the right direction. I can help clients with that. But what I cannot figure out is how to help an IT department tackle the social responsibility component. Perhaps that's representative of the fact that I myself do not know how to best make a difference in my own career on social justice issues.
Have I forgotten how to be an IT person? Computers were designed to solve problems. It should be easy to use computers to solve these world issues, right? I think I need to just geek out for a while and figure out how to do this...
Showing newest posts with label life. Show older posts
Showing newest posts with label life. Show older posts
Friday, December 4, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
While I Buy Expensive Organic Food...
5.7% of American households have adults that are hungry, but don't eat because there isn't enough money. Out of this percentage, there are over a half million households that have children that go hungry. In most cases, these are families with a single mother.
This is all according to a USDA report on hunger in America. The biggest reason for this was unemployment rates, which obviously have skyrocketed in the past year.
Hunger and homelessness are issues that we must face, perhaps before we can fully realize a sustainable future. The question is, is it our society's lack of concern over sustainability that is the cause? Do we need big screen TV's while people don't have food? Do we need to shop at organic food stores, when people are eating McDonald's? No one's perfect, and that means me too. How do we figure out what is most important in the world and put our effort towards that? Is it personal happiness, it is the earth, or is it equal rights to basic human needs? I'll say the obvious (it's everything), but that's very difficult to handle on a daily, operational basis.
In reading "Beyond Civilization" by Daniel Quinn, I cannot help but think about programs. Programs to end hunger, or homelessness. Put on by the government or NPO's. They're merely sticks in a river headed the wrong direction. Maybe those sticks are logs that are big enough to divert the river. I suspect, however, that we need to change that river's direction and think about our relationship with the world in a different way.
And I guess that's the real answer. We need an overhaul of the way we relate to the world. At least that's my opinion, I'm trying to change the way I relate to the world. It's not so much about the stuff we have as it is about our relationships with other humans and living beings on earth. It's a tough journey, and I'm not exactly sure where it's going to take me, but I'm ready to go.
This is all according to a USDA report on hunger in America. The biggest reason for this was unemployment rates, which obviously have skyrocketed in the past year.
Hunger and homelessness are issues that we must face, perhaps before we can fully realize a sustainable future. The question is, is it our society's lack of concern over sustainability that is the cause? Do we need big screen TV's while people don't have food? Do we need to shop at organic food stores, when people are eating McDonald's? No one's perfect, and that means me too. How do we figure out what is most important in the world and put our effort towards that? Is it personal happiness, it is the earth, or is it equal rights to basic human needs? I'll say the obvious (it's everything), but that's very difficult to handle on a daily, operational basis.
In reading "Beyond Civilization" by Daniel Quinn, I cannot help but think about programs. Programs to end hunger, or homelessness. Put on by the government or NPO's. They're merely sticks in a river headed the wrong direction. Maybe those sticks are logs that are big enough to divert the river. I suspect, however, that we need to change that river's direction and think about our relationship with the world in a different way.
And I guess that's the real answer. We need an overhaul of the way we relate to the world. At least that's my opinion, I'm trying to change the way I relate to the world. It's not so much about the stuff we have as it is about our relationships with other humans and living beings on earth. It's a tough journey, and I'm not exactly sure where it's going to take me, but I'm ready to go.
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Irony
Looking at my last post (excluding the most recent one announcing my shift in focus), it's quite ironic that I posed the question "How Can InfoSec Change the World?". Since then, I have dedicated the majority of my free time to thinking about this specific question. Even times when I'm busy, I'm still also thinking about this.
I realize some people may think I'm nuts for constantly thinking about ways to "change the world" or more specifically, solve the world's problems. Everyone poses this question at one point in their lives, but I cannot stop thinking about it. Since that post, I've discovered half the answer: a triple bottom line. I'm trying to figure out the other half now: how to apply it to InfoSec.
The triple bottom line is simple. If you have heard me talk about sustainability, this is what I really mean: People, Planet, Profit. In order for our world to operate in a sustainable way, we must keep the needs of humans (that is - all humans, including those less fortunate that us) and the planet in line with businesses' ability to make a profit.
So far, my life has been about making profit for myself and ensuring the well being of myself. When possible and convenient, I helped other people and the planet. I want to make my life about each of those three things, with equal emphasis on each. It's a steep climb, but I'm up for the challenge. Hopefully along the way I'll figure out how to connect my career and passion for InfoSec with my passion for solving the world's problems.
I realize some people may think I'm nuts for constantly thinking about ways to "change the world" or more specifically, solve the world's problems. Everyone poses this question at one point in their lives, but I cannot stop thinking about it. Since that post, I've discovered half the answer: a triple bottom line. I'm trying to figure out the other half now: how to apply it to InfoSec.
The triple bottom line is simple. If you have heard me talk about sustainability, this is what I really mean: People, Planet, Profit. In order for our world to operate in a sustainable way, we must keep the needs of humans (that is - all humans, including those less fortunate that us) and the planet in line with businesses' ability to make a profit.
So far, my life has been about making profit for myself and ensuring the well being of myself. When possible and convenient, I helped other people and the planet. I want to make my life about each of those three things, with equal emphasis on each. It's a steep climb, but I'm up for the challenge. Hopefully along the way I'll figure out how to connect my career and passion for InfoSec with my passion for solving the world's problems.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Launch Number 12,482
I really want to have a blog, I swear. I think my problem is that the last thing I want to think about when I get home from work is computer stuff. I do that all day and honestly, when I get home I don't think about that. I think about saving the world. No joke. I think about that non-stop.
I deleted several previous posts as they don't really relate any more. I left a couple ones which fit in with my new theme. I'm going to focus on my quest to understand the world, the world's problems, and solutions to those problems. Lately that's come in the form of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, but it will likely shift around in the future.
Here I go again...
I deleted several previous posts as they don't really relate any more. I left a couple ones which fit in with my new theme. I'm going to focus on my quest to understand the world, the world's problems, and solutions to those problems. Lately that's come in the form of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, but it will likely shift around in the future.
Here I go again...
Thursday, April 2, 2009
How Can InfoSec Change the World?
Something that has been really bothering me lately has been the subject of changing the world. I'd like to, but I'm having a tough time figuring out how. So, I have a simple question for anyone who can chime in: How can you use Information Security to change the world?
Here's some further explanation:
Here's some further explanation:
- I realize that making the world's networks more secure can make the world a better place. Computers run our world, and we need them in order to do even the most basic things in life.
- Day-to-day work of enhancing network security isn't enough for me. I want to have a bigger impact.
- I don't want to sit in a room with a "working group" and talk about ways to make the world better, I want to actually do hands-on work to make a difference.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Gettin Stuff Done
I feel like I've made a lot of progress lately, and while it's probably not that much, I feel like I've figured a lot of stuff out.
First off, I've figured out what type of volunteer work I want to do. Ever since I stopped being involved in Boy Scouts, I've felt like a lazy bum because I haven't been doing any community service. I've had issues trying to figure out what type of work I wanted to do. I tried doing some volunteering with a local organization but I just ended up painting a mural for an elementary school. It was fun, but I didn't feel like I was really making a difference.
After a search for literally about 6 or 7 months, I finally figured out that I want to do IT work (why not, I know how) for a non-profit. Through the help of one of my coworkers, who happens to be on a board for a particular non-profit here in Chicago, I'm going to be meeting with some people next week to see how I can help them with their environment. It's a non-profit that helps homeless people after they get out of the hospital to make sure that they're healthy, and to help them put their lives back together. It's a great organization, and I'm really excited to hear more about how I can help them.
The biggest motivator for me to volunteer (besides Obama) has been my new interest in philosophy. I've been reading a philosophy book, and so far I've read about Socrates, Plato, and I'm starting to get into Aristotle. It's opened my eyes to an entirely new way of thinking about the world and human existence. I still have a lot left to read, but I feel good about what I've accomplished so far.
Other than that, I've been:
First off, I've figured out what type of volunteer work I want to do. Ever since I stopped being involved in Boy Scouts, I've felt like a lazy bum because I haven't been doing any community service. I've had issues trying to figure out what type of work I wanted to do. I tried doing some volunteering with a local organization but I just ended up painting a mural for an elementary school. It was fun, but I didn't feel like I was really making a difference.
After a search for literally about 6 or 7 months, I finally figured out that I want to do IT work (why not, I know how) for a non-profit. Through the help of one of my coworkers, who happens to be on a board for a particular non-profit here in Chicago, I'm going to be meeting with some people next week to see how I can help them with their environment. It's a non-profit that helps homeless people after they get out of the hospital to make sure that they're healthy, and to help them put their lives back together. It's a great organization, and I'm really excited to hear more about how I can help them.
The biggest motivator for me to volunteer (besides Obama) has been my new interest in philosophy. I've been reading a philosophy book, and so far I've read about Socrates, Plato, and I'm starting to get into Aristotle. It's opened my eyes to an entirely new way of thinking about the world and human existence. I still have a lot left to read, but I feel good about what I've accomplished so far.
Other than that, I've been:
- doing some studying for the CISSP
- trying to find a parking spot for my car (since I got kicked out of my really nice parking spot, forcing me to park on the street)
- realizing that I'm really lucky to still have a job
- traveling to NJ, WI, and OH
- learning more about SAN security
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