August 10, 2010 | Read Time: 2 minutes
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is over. The well has been capped.
There is no way to quantify the full extent of the environmental or economic damage—now, or possibly ever. But already we know that the response to this catastrophic event has not delivered the kind of radical shift in how we deal with disasters and respond to crises that was needed.
Why not? Simply put, the organizations and people who shared ideas, proposed solutions, and took action were doing so in their own self-interest. For example:
• Nonprofit organizations raised millions of dollars for people hurt by the oil spill (and in the process expanded their own e-mail lists). But their efforts aren’t really helping to rebuild the economy of the Gulf.
• Cause-marketing campaigns helped to brand corporations as philanthropic and committed to serious issues. But the money they have contributed pales in comparison with other issues. And their commitments have come with strings attached.
• Thought leaders and innovators have given speeches and penned editorials proclaiming the ways the Internet and technology can be used to organize and mobilize resources in response to the spill, but the ideas have not been backed up by meaningful, measurable actions.
Much has been made of the our connected society’s potential power—the availability of social platforms, the speed of information, and the increased commitment of people to promote social good.
But, as the oil spill showed, we aren’t doing much to tap that potential. We are doing more and more of the same old things.
Responding to crises in the digital age demands different ideas and new voices—not applications of the same old concepts with a new wrapper, or the same kinds of limited thinking that has set our society up for even greater challenges in the future.
On Thursday I’ll discuss some possible new approaches. But in the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
What are some ways that we can use new tools to break the patterns that have limited our ability to respond to crises and disasters? Post a comment to share your thoughts.
