LIVE: TEDx Ramallah - Don't Miss It

Watch live streaming video from tedx at livestream.com

One of the main objectives of this blog is to bring Palestinian narratives to the forefront. An event taking place tomorrow is going to be doing just that, and is well worth checking out. TEDx Ramallah is an all day event of inspirational speakers and presentations that will link Palestinians all around the world. TED events, for those who are not familiar with them, are international forums based on the exchange of ideas worth spreading. There is plenty more about TED here.

TEDx forums localize the TED format in spots around the globe, and tomorrow Palestine will be hosting an impressive collection of speakers as part of their event. But in response to the particular logistical challenge presented by the Israeli occupation and the realities of Diaspora communities, the organizers of TEDx Ramallah have utilized technology to find creative solutions:

In a break from the conventional format, TEDxRamallah will be taking place in three venues in three cities simultaneously – in Bethlehem, Amman and Beirut – to enable as wide an audience as possible to participate in the groundbreaking event.

A total of 20 universally talented but widely diverse speakers are confirmed to speak at TEDxRamallah, including Fadi Ghandour, global social entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of Aramex; Laila Atshan, a Ramallah-based psychosocial counselor and consultant for UNICEF, the Red Cross and Red Crescent society; Julia Bacha, an award-winning filmmaker who has worked on films screened at the Sundance, Berlin, Jerusalem and Dubai International Film Festivals; and Wael Atilli, co-founder and chief creative officer of Kharabeesh Network, a storytelling house for the new Arab generation that aims to place Arab cartoons on the WEP map.

Other speakers include: Architects Suad Amiry and Alessandro Petti; Steve Sosebee, founder and CEO of the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF); highly celebrated artist Abedalrahman Katanay; healthcare professional and leader of a number of women’s anti-abuse program Amal Shahabi; Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, godfather of Arab accounting and the promotion in the Arab world of Intellectual Property; Khaled Al Sabawi, founder and President of MENA Geothermal, a Palestinian green energy company, and “One of the World’s Top Energy Entrepreneurs”; Raja Shehadeh, lawyer and award-winning author of Palestinian Walks; Gisel Kordestani, Director of New Business Development at Google; and Mohammed Khatib, co-founder of Bazinga!, a start-up catalyst and tech hub in Ramallah.

The one-day TEDxRamallah program will also include performances from a wide range of musicians, singers, dancers and poets.

More than 1,000 people are expected to attend TEDxRamallah in Bethlehem, while the venues in Beirut and Amman will accommodate approximately 400 people collectively. An additional 20 simulcast events are scheduled around the world, from Canada to Cairo, Hungary, Holland, the Czech Republic, and to Shanghai, London and cities throughout the US.

We're hosting a live stream of this great event here so check it out above to participate in a global exchange of ideas between Palestinians.

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