The other day I blogged a piece about the challenges of global warming and energy deficit, based on coversations with my futurist friend David Greenop: When friends say "we've got problems" you listen harder . I was trying to make the point that we take most notice of those we know and trust.

It prompted David to email me: "This is the thought / question that has been puzzling me. Let's say we are hit by an energy & climate change perfect storm which cripples global trade etc. and creates a 1930's style depression at home. To what extent will Internet technologies, in particular knowledge transfer, change the nature of this emergency? I can think of both positive & negative outcomes."

... which prompted me to look more carefully at the links flowing through my newsreader? on methods for collaboration, and round up a Face-to-face and online collaboration mix.

Technology is behind many of the commercial and competition-based processes of globalisation. Can it help us collaboratively address the challenges produced? Techies will say - of course it can. But do we have the motivation and attitudes to match?