TEDxEdges has been an important part of my life since 2009, when I applied and got what would become the first TEDx license in Portugal (and one of the first in Europe) organizing the first TEDxEdges in Lisbon. I was not alone in this journey, I had a group of great co-organizers, Artur Arsénio (the first believer), Rui Ribeiro and Pedro Rocha Vieira, not to speak of our great super-positive volunteers.
This year we have resubmitted an application for what would have been TEDxEdges 2012.
Last Good-Friday I received an email from TEDx team, stating that our application was rejected due to what TED.com considers to be violations of the TEDx rules in the last edition.
I regret this decision and I think it doesn’t attest to the effort of the dozens of volunteers that have been involved with TEDxEdges since its inception. I also believe that TEDx brand was always highly considered and never alienated or put down in anyway on TEDxEdges, au contraire.
In the past years since I’ve started organizing TEDx my life changed, for the better and thus, I am very thankful to TED for allowing me to organize TEDxEdges, in 2009 in Lisbon, in 2010 in Portimão, and 2011 back to Lisbon – I’ve lost track to the hundreds of new people I’ve met, and of equal importance the connection to TEDx communities in Portugal, but also elsewhere, especially in Brazil, and Spain – I have also encouraged organizers to set up TEDx events in places like Portugal, Chinese Universities and connected to organizers in Tunisia after the jasmine revolution. I am also very proud of all TEDxEdges events, and its impact in creating a new mindset, new friendships, new endeavors, even political aspirations – not so uncommonly people that I don’t know personally would tell me that they have come to a TEDxEdges event and how that has impacted their lives – as an organizer that is my highest achievement.
When we decided to organize the first TEDxEdges in 2009, we believed it was important to have a forum to inspire but also to discuss Portuguese policies towards a more developed country, concerning topics on Design, Technology and Science – based on that vision, I’ve come to cofound Beta-i to promote a more innovative and entrepreneurial society.
That said I would like to let you know that TEDxEdges will not be organized nor this year nor in the future. The TEDxEdges website, blog, Facebook and twitter will be kept alive for the next weeks and after that they will be shut down (don’t worry TEDxEdges talks on video will be kept on Youtube and other media).
I also believe that there is a widespread network of TEDx in most of the country – some of them really good and very well organized. TEDx is a concept both fascinating and incredibly powerful engine of inspiration thus I hope it keeps its strength in our country, maturing but also allowing new organizers: schools, teachers, students, politicians – that will serve enormous good in keeping our minds dreaming of a better society.
For my side, I will be available to help anyone that intends to organize a TEDx (maybe not to commit the same errors that I did). I will keep working within Beta-i to create more inspiring events and continue my after TEDx life.
I would like to thank to all of you friends, TEDxEdges fans and speakers for your help and support along these years, look after yourselves, love your life, develop your community, hugs and greetings from,
André Marquet
@amarquet
