Take us back to when YOU were starting Xing?
That's ancient history possibly Precambrian in Internet time. Peering through the mists Lars was working at his dining room table underneath a single bulb enveloped in a giant lampshade in the shape of a huge crown he looked like someone who wanted to be king and we were watching the new site like a hawk and as it grew minute by minute we both knew it was special. At the end of the first day of openBC (as it was called back then) we had paying customers. At the end of the 90th day we were cash flow positive and we knew we were creating value for people the feedback was tremendous.
How did Neo come about? Does it have a connection with the hero Neo in The Matrix movies?
I have dedicated my life to a world that works for everyone and I am convinced that the combination of the context we create and the words we speak are key to the way we are as human beings. Neo in the Matrix has the power to remake the Matrix by his will alone similarly with the right language YOU can remake your world and we can remake our world. Not in any supernatural way just by creating contexts that work such as viewing climate change as a call to action or even saying you will be fit and healthy and then taking actions that fit in with the language. Neo is a place where you can publicly declare what your new world and commitments will be and then record what actions you are taking that are consistent with the new future you have declared for yourself and others. I have dedicated my life to a world that works for everyone and I am taking actions every day that are consistent with that. I do not fly anymore for instance as the numbers associated with flying are not yet consistent with a world that works for everyone.
Tell us more about YOUR involvement with the Hunger Project?
I think it is more about the Hunger Project's involvement with me. I first encountered the Hunger Project when I was in a place of transition. I knew I wanted more out of life and I was stopped. First child on the way a mountain of debt renting from my parents it was not the place or time to be starting out as an entrepreneur. Then I met Lolita the country director of the Hunger Project Indian and she asked me a question that has shaped my life every since. She asked me who would I have to become in order to fulfill a 50,000 Dollar pledge to the Hunger Project without suffering. In that moment I realised that I would have to become someone almost completely unrecognisable from who I was back then. So I quit my job and started my own company and never looked back. I actually delivered 100,000 for that pledge and we now have provided a multiple of the the the Hunger Project's mission of empowerment over the years.
What is the Declaration of Earth Citizenship all about?
The Declaration of Earth Citizenship is language that was created by many anonymous authors to create a context that literally anyone can be a part of, that allows for people to see themselves first as citizens of Earth all working together towards common goals. It is there to create a sense of belonging to something bigger while at the same time empowering everyone as an individual to take control of their destiny. It forms the context within which people who join Neo can work together.
If YOU were Secretary General of the United Nations, what would be the top 3 projects that YOU will focus on (today)?
Reforestation is the number one priority I would be focused on that is why I founded www.weforest.com as the first child project of Neo Foundation because it is apparent to me that healing our world is our top priority if we wish to survive as a species and the fastest way I have found to do that is reforestation. You see rainforests actually seed clouds so they help make the rain this means if we reforest we can increase average cloud cover and a 2% increase in average cloud cover would halt global warming.
The equal first priority for me would be to double the size of the UN by mandating that each member nation be represented by a woman and a man from that nation each with equal authority. So in reality I am talking about empowerment of women and the UN is the only forum where such a change could be made overnight. Such a move would precipitate a seachange in global relations and positively change the destiny of our species.
How can we solve world hunger?
Simply put, the combination of empowerment of women and reforestation can solve Hunger and in fact without empowered women and without permaculture food forests I believe world Hunger is in the process of solving itself tragically. So to me having been immersed in both permaculture and the work of the Hunger project for so many years it is enough now we have to all take action to empower people and to heal our world. In villages where women and men have equal say there is a quantum drop in hunger as measured by infant mortality rates. And 1 acre of permaculture food forest can feed 10 people for life (1 acre of wheat barely 4.5 people and then on a very poor diet).
Empower women and reforest the land using best practices and hunger will be a memory only.
How can we individually and collectively change the world (for the better)?
As individuals by giving our word to good things and then honoring our word by taking actions consistent with that word. By planting trees and by striving and thriving towards empowerment for everyone. By using the tools of the Internet and mobile telephony to reach out and actually do something good every day. As a species by giving up petty and childish nationalistic infantile games and instead realising that we are close to destroying our world so investing in our forests and our technology with the purpose of a world that works for everyone.
How do I find JOY in my life?
Very simply joy comes and goes of its own accord just create a space for it to show up and it will. The best way to encourage Joy to come is not to seek it. Instead focus on contributing to others your contribution will bring more joy than your seeking.
Who are YOUR personal heroes?
There are so many I cannot provide a comprehensive list. Richard Feynman, Buckminster Fuller, Gandhi, Hildegarde of Bingen, Joan Holmes, My wife Kerrie my kids. The list is huge everyone is my teacher as Alan Webber says.
What are YOU hungry for?
A world that works for everyone and chocolate though not always in that order.
What's one advice YOU will give to today's youth?
Go out and be it before you try to go out and do it.
About Bill Liao (from Wikipedia)
Bill Liao (born William Fu Wei Liao, 1967), co-founder of the social network service XING, is an Australian entrepreneur and philanthropist who has participated in seven IPO's. He is also CEO of Finaxis AG, a privately held company in the financial services industry.
Bill is a social networking pioneer and philanthropist. Among his philanthropic endeavors is his participation as an investor and volunteer in The Hunger Project in Uganda, New York and Mexico.
Bill is presently focused on launching a global citizenship initiative entitled The Declaration of Earth Citizenship. Bill is also a regular attendee at the TED conferences and also the World Economic Forum New Champions conference.
In 2007, Bill founded neo.org, a philanthropic venture and social networking site where people can make a personal commitment for the future of the earth. Neo is an international non-profit organization based in Switzerland and supported by a team of individuals from across the globe and was set up to provide a forum for people to make a personal commitment for the future of the earth in the form of a Declaration of Global Citizenship. Neo has also setup its first external initiative, WeForest.com an organisation promoting reforestation as a way to combat global warming, poverty and water shortages.
Bill Liao is married with three children and divides his time between Switzerland and Germany.
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