Earth Day and Bill Gates

On Wednesday, Bill Gates gave a speech at Sanders Theatre at Harvard, urging the nation’s brightest students to tackle the most challenging issues facing the world.  Though I wasn’t able to see the talk–I am currently studying at Cambridge on a scholarship founded by the Gates Trust–the ideals he spoke of resonate.  At Lebone, we have always thought deeply about the opportunities and responsibilities our education has given us, and all of us have been involved in the three areas that Mr. Gates pointed to as needing the most attention: poverty, global health, and education.  Gates called on Harvard and its students, in particular, to do more.  It is encouraging that 17% of graduating seniors applied to the Teach for America program this year, demonstrating a higher commitment to public service, but that’s only one area.  It does feel, though, that our generation is developing a special dedication to approaching the world’s problems, but with a spirit of practical optimism instead of utopian idealism.  And this work is being recognized and supported by society, government, and even business like never before.

Earth Day has always been about answering the question, “What can I do?”  How can I recycle more?  How can I minimize my environmental impact?  How can I help build a better planet?  This is a question we’re all beginning to ask more frequently, and about a broader range of issues.  How can I have an impact on global poverty?  What can I do diminish the tragedy of disease?  How can I help educate the next generation?  The answer is different for everyone, from scientist to humanist, politician to entrepreneur, but it is something that we must all engage with.