For time immemorial, we’ve honored those who are willing to go to war, risk their lives and kill others to fight for their country, for their life and liberty.

At the same time, history honors great soldiers of conscience, who risked their lives to stand for something peacefully: Gandhi, Galileo, King, Jesus, the unknown protestor in Tienanmen Square, Iranian protestor Neda, the list goes on…

Yet every day, soldiers who dare to defy orders from their superiors, when it conflicts with their conscience, are shamed, imprisoned, dishonored and even killed for disobeying orders.

This Saturday, I’m taking a stand to honor soldiers who dare to follow the orders of their conscience first, especially those who are standing for peace, and I invite you to join me and spread the word.

I’ll be speaking at the National Assembly to Honor Freedom of Conscience in Austin, Texas, about an hour outside of Fort Hood in Killeen, TX, the largest US military base in the world. For more information, click here.

Friend of VisionForce and CEO of FLOW, Michael Strong, has a great new book out called, Be The Solution: How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World’s Problems.

Arnold Kling, libertarian economist, comments:

“The book combines a passion for capitalism, a passion for solving social problems, and some New Age spirituality. Think Ayn Rand meets Stephen Covey.

“I see the book as a manifesto for what I once called civil societarianism. The implicit message to young idealists is to solve problems through entrepreneurial innovation, not through political coercion.

In these times of great change, when so many people have placed their hope in our governments to save us, I say it’s time we each take the initiative to “be the solution.”

I’m currently awaiting my signed copy’s arrival in the mail. I suggest you go grab your copy at Amazon today:

http://tinyurl.com/be-the-solution

Your support will help Michael Strong to bring this bold message to the world. It’s an idea whose time has come!

Shawn David Madden is a rising musician (and a dear brother and friend), who sings to the soul … If you dig music that inspires you into the depth of your heart, and inspires you to reach for the stars, you’ve gotta listen to this music!

Shawn has given so much to VisionForce and our efforts to contribute to you, your vision, your loved ones and your journey. If he inspires you as he does me, I encourage you to download this man’s music into your heart.

Just listen to this, from Shawn Madden, visionary musician:

Shawn Madden attended the VisionForce Boot Camp, aka, iStand Experience in March 2007. He came with his guitar and serenaded us with his uplifting music. Later that year he moved to Austin, joined the VisionForce team, and has been preparing the launch of his grand vision for transforming the world through song and dance.

Check out my audio interview of him and his One Prosperous World Music Tour.

For nearly two years, the VisionForce community has been following the story of Clovis Ategeka, as he has ventured forward to create prosperity in Uganda. Now he’s coming to America this June! With your help, that is!

I just interviewed him and his friend/colleague Medi, who aims to join Clovis here in Austin for Prosperity For All 2008. Please chipin even a small amount to make Clovis’ voyage here possible!

Watch for more details about this adventure at the Prosperity For All 2008 blog.

Jeff Hutner’s new site, New Paradigm Digest, features Michael Skye, Clovis and VisionForce here.

Jeff is a connector, and someone who keeps his eye on emerging trends and new developments in the realm of creating a world that works for all of us.

By the way, as you’ll read in the article, Clovis is coming from Uganda to Austin for the upcoming June iStand Experience!

Next Wednesday a few dozen individuals from around the world are gathering here in Austin, Texas to take a stand for their lives, for our lives and for life itself. They are those who are willing to claim the title of visionary, simply be being a conscious being with a choice to see and create a better world in the face of great adversity. They are those who are willing to look within, face what there is to face, find something worth standing for and come together to create a world that works for everyone.

We are at the dawn of a new era, in which human beings own our full power to create. It begins by stepping into a sacred relationship with self, others and all that is.

The work we do at the VisionForce Boot Camp is quite simple, yet very profound, and it has great implications for the world we live in.

The next domain of technology that will transform the world we live in is the inner domain of human relationship–relationship to self, others, the planet, the universe, the divine, etc. For nearly five decades we’ve been flying into outer space and landing upon the moon, but we seem to find it more challenging to traverse the inner space required in landing within the sacred realm of another’s heart, let alone our own. This is the next frontier. It’s an invitation to all those who dare to explore and pioneer new paths for connecting with others, even and especially those seemingly opposed to us, and creating together.

Already, there is a growing movement around the world, as noted by Paul Hawken in his book, Blessed Unrest, of organizations that are rising up to cross divides, stand together and create a better world.

One such organization is the Pachamama Alliance, which we are honoring at our March Boot Camp, in calling out specifically for 44 inspired leaders who are willing to stand with us to “bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on the planet.”

Today, I honor those who are journeying here next week to “face everything, avoid nothing and stand for humanity.”