Next week, the US Government will launch Global Pulse 2010, an unprecedented, online brainstorming event focused on global sustainability and development. This forum will give participants a chance to engage with thousands of people from around the world on 10 major challenges facing the global community. The discussion topics will focus on issues related to Global Development, Democracy and Sustainability.

Global Pulse 2010 evolved in response to President Obama's speech in Cairo where he called for new and different ways to engage the world in conversation and in the importance of listening, learning and seeking common ground. This dialogue, hosted by USAID along with Departments of State, Education, Commerce, and Health and Human Services is a response to this call and seeks to catalyze an open, global conversation to help connect people ideas and solutions. Currently there are over 5,000 participants registered from over 150 countries.

This is a great forum for the Net Squared community to engage in and the event takes place over 72-hours, giving ample time to talk, debate, and collaborate around ten major challenges within the fields of science and technology, economic opportunity, and human development. Each discussion will have VIP participants engaging with questions and ideas.

Global Pulse 2010 will highlight these ten challenges:

• Inspiring a New Generation
• Empowering Women
• Exercising Political and Civil Rights
• Promoting Global Health
• Advancing Entrepreneurship, Trade and Economic Opportunity
• Fostering Science, Technology and Innovation
• Supporting a Sustainable Planet
• Pursuing Grand Challenges

There are over 40 experts and thought leaders joining Global Pulse 2010 as hosts - which means you'll have the chance to exchange ideas with them. They include:

Mr. Youssou N'Dour: Africa’s best-selling pop musician and one of the continent’s most effective combatants in the fight against malaria. He serves as a UNICEF and Roll Back Malaria ambassador and a board member for Malaria No More. Time Magazine named Youssou one of the "World’s 100 Most Influential People" in 2007.

Mr. Pradeep Ramamurthy: Senior Director of the White House, National Security Council/Global Engagement Directorate

Ambassador Melanne Verveer: U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues

Mr. Iqbal Quadir: Founder of GrameenPhone (Bangladesh) and Founder and Director of the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT

Ms. Sonal Shah: Head of the White House Office of Social Innovation

Mr. Abdelmalek Kettani: CSR/CGEM President of the Corporate Social Responsibility board of the Moroccan confederation of entrepreneurs

Why YOU Should Participate: 

Participants will choose from a list of 10 hot-button global issues facing the global community that interest them the most. Each issue will have a number of recognized leaders in a related field of interest facilitating the conversations. What is truly unique about Global Pulse 2010 is that it gives people working in the field who have innovative ideas, a chance to voice their opinion, learn from one another, and speak directly with those who have the desire and resources to take action. Also, Global Pulse 2010 is an online “virtual” event which means registration is FREE and participants can join from any computer with internet access.

When you can log-on to participate: 

• Indonesia —Monday, March 29th 6:00 AM
• >Jordan —Monday, March 29th 2:00 AM
• New York —Sunday, March 28th 7:00 PM

You can register here:www.globalpulse2010.gov/register.html

Check out Global Pulse on Facebook: www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Global-Pulse-2010/327872951484?ref=ts

See a video about joining Global Pulse here

Follow the action on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@GlobalPulse2010