in the 21st century is the physical neighborhood dead
neighborhood dead
neighborhood dead has it been slayed by the online world
has it been slayed by the online world
has it been slayed by the online world and is this a tragedy for us do you
and is this a tragedy for us do you
and is this a tragedy for us do you increasingly spend more and more of your
increasingly spend more and more of your
increasingly spend more and more of your time checking social media rather than
time checking social media rather than
time checking social media rather than chatting to friends and neighbors do the
chatting to friends and neighbors do the
chatting to friends and neighbors do the young people in your life walk down the
young people in your life walk down the
young people in your life walk down the street oblivious to all except for their
street oblivious to all except for their
street oblivious to all except for their headphones and their Twitter feed and
headphones and their Twitter feed and
headphones and their Twitter feed and he’s increasingly worries me but we
he’s increasingly worries me but we
he’s increasingly worries me but we don’t look out for each other but I also
don’t look out for each other but I also
don’t look out for each other but I also believe that the physical neighbourhood
believe that the physical neighbourhood
believe that the physical neighbourhood and the online world are interdependent
and the online world are interdependent
and the online world are interdependent they rely on each other and the online
they rely on each other and the online
they rely on each other and the online world could be a key tool to help us
world could be a key tool to help us
world could be a key tool to help us reverse the decline of our communities
reverse the decline of our communities
reverse the decline of our communities on a cold morning at the end of last
on a cold morning at the end of last
on a cold morning at the end of last year I thought about this as I sat on a
year I thought about this as I sat on a
year I thought about this as I sat on a bench in a village called Anna’s Lee a
bench in a village called Anna’s Lee a
bench in a village called Anna’s Lee a former mining community in North
former mining community in North
former mining community in North Nottingham sure where generations of my
Nottingham sure where generations of my
Nottingham sure where generations of my family had lived and where I grew up
family had lived and where I grew up
family had lived and where I grew up Anna’s Lee was founded on farming but
Anna’s Lee was founded on farming but
Anna’s Lee was founded on farming but transformed by coal mining a dark
transformed by coal mining a dark
transformed by coal mining a dark dangerous dirty job but an honest
dangerous dirty job but an honest
dangerous dirty job but an honest honorable profession where the bond
honorable profession where the bond
honorable profession where the bond between individuals lasted a lifetime
between individuals lasted a lifetime
between individuals lasted a lifetime and that bond was felt in the village
and that bond was felt in the village
and that bond was felt in the village it was nurtured through the physical
it was nurtured through the physical
it was nurtured through the physical contact often in shops but also in the
contact often in shops but also in the
contact often in shops but also in the miners Institute or the miners welfare
miners Institute or the miners welfare
miners Institute or the miners welfare it was as it was known locally and the
it was as it was known locally and the
it was as it was known locally and the miners welfare was a witness to the flow
miners welfare was a witness to the flow
miners welfare was a witness to the flow of village life from Cub Scout fairs to
of village life from Cub Scout fairs to
of village life from Cub Scout fairs to Crown Green bowling to flower and
Crown Green bowling to flower and
Crown Green bowling to flower and vegetable competitions miners were avid
vegetable competitions miners were avid
vegetable competitions miners were avid gardeners wouldn’t you want to spend as
gardeners wouldn’t you want to spend as
gardeners wouldn’t you want to spend as much time as possible outdoors if you
much time as possible outdoors if you
much time as possible outdoors if you spent eight hours a day every day
spent eight hours a day every day
spent eight hours a day every day underground and my dad was one of those
underground and my dad was one of those
underground and my dad was one of those people he grew enough produce to feed
people he grew enough produce to feed
people he grew enough produce to feed our family many times over
our family many times over
our family many times over often leaving excess tomatoes or
often leaving excess tomatoes or
often leaving excess tomatoes or vegetables at the front of the house for
vegetables at the front of the house for
vegetables at the front of the house for people to take perhaps a more kinder and
people to take perhaps a more kinder and
people to take perhaps a more kinder and natural way than the modern food bank
natural way than the modern food bank
natural way than the modern food bank and the community in Anna’s lay was
and the community in Anna’s lay was
and the community in Anna’s lay was strong everyone knew everyone else and
strong everyone knew everyone else and
strong everyone knew everyone else and everybody helped everybody else and that
everybody helped everybody else and that
everybody helped everybody else and that sense of belonging the need to belong
sense of belonging the need to belong
sense of belonging the need to belong it’s something that’s in all of us it’s
it’s something that’s in all of us it’s
it’s something that’s in all of us it’s something that’s existed in humans since
something that’s existed in humans since
something that’s existed in humans since the start of time the need to establish
the start of time the need to establish
the start of time the need to establish long term relationships with each other
long term relationships with each other
long term relationships with each other belonging matters honestly today is
belonging matters honestly today is
belonging matters honestly today is transformed beyond recognition
transformed beyond recognition
transformed beyond recognition the miners welfare shut its doors and
the miners welfare shut its doors and
the miners welfare shut its doors and lies derelict there is no butcher
lies derelict there is no butcher
lies derelict there is no butcher there is no baker and the green grocer
there is no baker and the green grocer
there is no baker and the green grocer closed its doors at the end of last year
closed its doors at the end of last year
closed its doors at the end of last year in our neighborhoods that sense of
in our neighborhoods that sense of
in our neighborhoods that sense of belonging is eroding our neighborhoods
belonging is eroding our neighborhoods
belonging is eroding our neighborhoods are under threat under threat from a
are under threat under threat from a
are under threat under threat from a changing world under threat from the
changing world under threat from the
changing world under threat from the online world today you can buy your meat
online world today you can buy your meat
online world today you can buy your meat or your loaf of bread along with all
or your loaf of bread along with all
or your loaf of bread along with all your other shopping online and have it
your other shopping online and have it
your other shopping online and have it delivered to your door soon by drone
delivered to your door soon by drone
delivered to your door soon by drone here in Cambridge we are at the
here in Cambridge we are at the
here in Cambridge we are at the forefront of the technology that drives
forefront of the technology that drives
forefront of the technology that drives that online world those virtual
that online world those virtual
that online world those virtual communities we created the first webcam
communities we created the first webcam
communities we created the first webcam academics in the university pointed a
academics in the university pointed a
academics in the university pointed a camera to a coffee pot to save them the
camera to a coffee pot to save them the
camera to a coffee pot to save them the effort to go and get a coffee if the pot
effort to go and get a coffee if the pot
effort to go and get a coffee if the pot was empty but that’s the simple act
was empty but that’s the simple act
was empty but that’s the simple act remove those important social physical
remove those important social physical
remove those important social physical connections between individuals the chat
connections between individuals the chat
connections between individuals the chat that you have around the coffee pot as
that you have around the coffee pot as
that you have around the coffee pot as the coffee is brewing today the world is
the coffee is brewing today the world is
the coffee is brewing today the world is connected like never before
connected like never before
connected like never before estimates say that one in three of the
estimates say that one in three of the
estimates say that one in three of the world’s population that’s 2.4 billion
world’s population that’s 2.4 billion
world’s population that’s 2.4 billion individuals are connected via virtual
individuals are connected via virtual
individuals are connected via virtual communities and that trend is gathering
communities and that trend is gathering
communities and that trend is gathering pace Facebook has doubled the No
pace Facebook has doubled the No
pace Facebook has doubled the No of its active users since 2012 to some
of its active users since 2012 to some
of its active users since 2012 to some 2.2 billion who in this room checks
2.2 billion who in this room checks
2.2 billion who in this room checks their Facebook Twitter feed whatsapp and
their Facebook Twitter feed whatsapp and
their Facebook Twitter feed whatsapp and Instagram numerous times a day I know I
Instagram numerous times a day I know I
Instagram numerous times a day I know I do yes we all do we all do and as we
do yes we all do we all do and as we
do yes we all do we all do and as we move rapidly to that virtual world we
move rapidly to that virtual world we
move rapidly to that virtual world we leave behind those important physical
leave behind those important physical
leave behind those important physical social connections
social connections
social connections with each other and that threatens our
with each other and that threatens our
with each other and that threatens our lives and it threatens the life of the
lives and it threatens the life of the
lives and it threatens the life of the communities where we live and we can
communities where we live and we can
communities where we live and we can demonstrate that we can demonstrate the
demonstrate that we can demonstrate the
demonstrate that we can demonstrate the impact on our social and mental
impact on our social and mental
impact on our social and mental well-being and it’s not just the old and
well-being and it’s not just the old and
well-being and it’s not just the old and the offline that are impacted it’s
the offline that are impacted it’s
the offline that are impacted it’s actually the young as well because
actually the young as well because
actually the young as well because although they’re connected to the world
although they’re connected to the world
although they’re connected to the world like never before they feel more lonely
like never before they feel more lonely
like never before they feel more lonely and more isolated than ever a survey by
and more isolated than ever a survey by
and more isolated than ever a survey by the Mental Health Foundation in 2015
the Mental Health Foundation in 2015
the Mental Health Foundation in 2015 highlighted it in the UK one in ten of
highlighted it in the UK one in ten of
highlighted it in the UK one in ten of us feel increasingly isolated and lonely
us feel increasingly isolated and lonely
us feel increasingly isolated and lonely and 48% of us that’s almost half of us
and 48% of us that’s almost half of us
and 48% of us that’s almost half of us believe that we’re getting lonelier in
believe that we’re getting lonelier in
believe that we’re getting lonelier in general and that brings me to bubble the
general and that brings me to bubble the
general and that brings me to bubble the cat a cat from Cambridge who was lost
cat a cat from Cambridge who was lost
cat a cat from Cambridge who was lost but he’s now found and I know you’re
but he’s now found and I know you’re
but he’s now found and I know you’re saying why is he talking about a lost
saying why is he talking about a lost
saying why is he talking about a lost cat well I know about bubble not because
cat well I know about bubble not because
cat well I know about bubble not because its owner posted a poster on a lamppost
its owner posted a poster on a lamppost
its owner posted a poster on a lamppost but because they posted a message on an
but because they posted a message on an
but because they posted a message on an online app next door a virtual community
online app next door a virtual community
online app next door a virtual community that links you with your neighbors
that links you with your neighbors
that links you with your neighbors now bubble was found some 13 miles away
now bubble was found some 13 miles away
now bubble was found some 13 miles away from Cambridge that would be an awful
from Cambridge that would be an awful
from Cambridge that would be an awful lot of posters on an awful lot of
lot of posters on an awful lot of
lot of posters on an awful lot of lampposts if they were using the
lampposts if they were using the
lampposts if they were using the traditional method but the story of
traditional method but the story of
traditional method but the story of bubble is an illustration but convinces
bubble is an illustration but convinces
bubble is an illustration but convinces me that the virtual world the online
me that the virtual world the online
me that the virtual world the online world is a critical tool in reversing
world is a critical tool in reversing
world is a critical tool in reversing the decline of our communities and in
the decline of our communities and in
the decline of our communities and in its simplest form virtual communities
its simplest form virtual communities
its simplest form virtual communities can
can
can what’s up groups or Facebook groups that
what’s up groups or Facebook groups that
what’s up groups or Facebook groups that I’m sure all of you have and if you’re a
I’m sure all of you have and if you’re a
I’m sure all of you have and if you’re a parent today you’re more likely to be
parent today you’re more likely to be
parent today you’re more likely to be kept up to date with school news and
kept up to date with school news and
kept up to date with school news and gossip via a Facebook group even though
gossip via a Facebook group even though
gossip via a Facebook group even though you may have slightly less time to chat
you may have slightly less time to chat
you may have slightly less time to chat at the school gate than historically and
at the school gate than historically and
at the school gate than historically and those groups link us as neighbors both
those groups link us as neighbors both
those groups link us as neighbors both near and far and the interesting thing
near and far and the interesting thing
near and far and the interesting thing about the virtual community is the
about the virtual community is the
about the virtual community is the impact it can have on major events most
impact it can have on major events most
impact it can have on major events most recently we saw that with the tragic
recently we saw that with the tragic
recently we saw that with the tragic fire at Grenville tower in London last
fire at Grenville tower in London last
fire at Grenville tower in London last year through social media people both
year through social media people both
year through social media people both near and far answered the call for aid
near and far answered the call for aid
near and far answered the call for aid and that response was transformed into a
and that response was transformed into a
and that response was transformed into a huge amount of physical help an
huge amount of physical help an
huge amount of physical help an overwhelming emotional connection not
overwhelming emotional connection not
overwhelming emotional connection not just between Londoners but from people
just between Londoners but from people
just between Londoners but from people Beyond and I believe that the virtual
Beyond and I believe that the virtual
Beyond and I believe that the virtual community if used correctly can not only
community if used correctly can not only
community if used correctly can not only ensure that our existing neighborhoods
ensure that our existing neighborhoods
ensure that our existing neighborhoods survive and prosper but it acts as
survive and prosper but it acts as
survive and prosper but it acts as cohesion and spirit in new communities
cohesion and spirit in new communities
cohesion and spirit in new communities the transformation of the Queen
the transformation of the Queen
the transformation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to part of a
Elizabeth Olympic Park to part of a
Elizabeth Olympic Park to part of a long-standing East London community is
long-standing East London community is
long-standing East London community is an illustration of how the online world
an illustration of how the online world
an illustration of how the online world can bring people together developers and
can bring people together developers and
can bring people together developers and community groups use the range of online
community groups use the range of online
community groups use the range of online apps and tools to encourage both new
apps and tools to encourage both new
apps and tools to encourage both new residents and existing residents to
residents and existing residents to
residents and existing residents to embrace the park as part of their
embrace the park as part of their
embrace the park as part of their community but nothing is guaranteed to
community but nothing is guaranteed to
community but nothing is guaranteed to use the online world as an enabler it
use the online world as an enabler it
use the online world as an enabler it needs that vital ingredient you people
needs that vital ingredient you people
needs that vital ingredient you people people in the community a reason to
people in the community a reason to
people in the community a reason to follow a purpose be it a lost cat or
follow a purpose be it a lost cat or
follow a purpose be it a lost cat or saving your local pub from closing so my
saving your local pub from closing so my
saving your local pub from closing so my challenge to
challenge to
challenge to you is to shout out loud online about
you is to shout out loud online about
you is to shout out loud online about your great community groups be it a yoga
your great community groups be it a yoga
your great community groups be it a yoga class or a gardening club my challenge
class or a gardening club my challenge
class or a gardening club my challenge to you is to shout out loud online about
to you is to shout out loud online about
to you is to shout out loud online about those great community services such as
those great community services such as
those great community services such as the service you get from your local
the service you get from your local
the service you get from your local butchers or your local shop or the great
butchers or your local shop or the great
butchers or your local shop or the great lunch you had at your local pub but most
lunch you had at your local pub but most
lunch you had at your local pub but most importantly my challenge to you is to be
importantly my challenge to you is to be
importantly my challenge to you is to be that catalyst to be that vital
that catalyst to be that vital
that catalyst to be that vital ingredient to use your online world as a
ingredient to use your online world as a
ingredient to use your online world as a tool through which you will preserve
tool through which you will preserve
tool through which you will preserve your physical community so it survives
your physical community so it survives
your physical community so it survives and prospers theater neighborhood which
and prospers theater neighborhood which
and prospers theater neighborhood which you live today or potentially a new
you live today or potentially a new
you live today or potentially a new neighborhood where you live tomorrow
neighborhood where you live tomorrow
neighborhood where you live tomorrow like bubble the cat the physical
like bubble the cat the physical
like bubble the cat the physical neighborhood may be lost but you can
neighborhood may be lost but you can
neighborhood may be lost but you can help to find it with the online world
help to find it with the online world
help to find it with the online world thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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