When I saw this video I gained a much better perspective, and almost an instantaneous appreciation for the value of consciousness art, something as a web designer for the last decade I have almost completely forgotten about.

the cape of good hope from rowan pybus & faith47 on Vimeo.

The Cape of Good Hope tells the story of the tragic and sometimes horrific newspaper headlines that people are faced with every day. It captures the darkness while suspending the headlines in time through a visual installation in the grimy district of Gympie Street in Lower Woodstock, Cape Town. The music for this video was produced by Inge Beckmann. – found on designindaba.com

This video presents a street art piece, captured in an intensly emotive video presentation. It takes a deep look into the messages which litter our street lamps and signs about the ugly side of life in South Africa.

No further comment!

Global issues like poverty are extremely complex. There is no simple,
clear answer. By asking thousands of different people to give their
viewpoints and opinions, Blog Action Day creates an extraordinary lens
through which to view these issues. Each blogger brings their own
perspective and ideas. Each blogger posts relating to their own blog
topic. And each blogger engages their audience differently.

Blog Action Day 08 aims to focus the lens on the issue of poverty and change the conversation on the web on one specific day. The idea is to stimulate discussion, debate and hopefully come out with some solutions to tackling Poverty woldwide.

Bloggers are playing an increasingly important role in tackling social issues through awareness campaigns and by influencing activism. This year’s blog action day has taken the effort a step up by providing resources for bloggers to understand the issues which contribute to poverty.

If you’re interested in participating in this event you can register your blog to notify the site that you will be participating. The next step would be to work on your personal part of blog action day by writing a post/s, creating a podcast or video cast, and then posting these on 15 October 2008.

Some Big web 2.0 names ave gotten behind the event this year including Tech Crunch & Read Write Web so make sure you join the effort to tackle Global Poverty blogger style.

At the same time, in your local setting don’t forget to make the life of a poor person easier in whatever way you can by feeding, clothing or facilitating ife for them in some way.

As you are aware, the xenophobic violence has left an estimated 25 000 victims displaced, destitute and in despair. We can only but pray to the Almighty for a solution to this political and humanitarian crisis.

The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Management has appointed Mustadafin Foundation, along with four other NGOs, to provide meals and blankets for the displaced people. This co-ordination aims to ensure that all communities are well provided for in this trying time and that no clashes occur between NGOs and other relief organizations.

Working in Harmony Park, Phillipi, Mitchells Plain, Stellenbosch and other areas, Mustadafin provides cooked meals, twice a day, every day to over 10 000 of the displaced victims with. (See full list below). We are also providing victims with clothing, toiletries, baby packs and other essentials as donations from the public are received.

But the work is not over. And while donors have been very generous in terms of food stuffs, the Foundation is desperately in need of volunteers to aid in the cooking and food distribution.

For a list of ways you can help, please scroll to the bottom of this mail.

Many of the victims have lost hope in the South African government to solve this crisis, some have threatened to go on a hunger strike to get the United Nations to step in. we are appealing to all in our country to, in any way possible, help solve the xenophobia outbreak. Help us help our neighbours from Africa. Support Mustadafin’s Xenophobia Relief appeal.

If you would like to help ease the plight of the victims by working with Mustadafin, you can contribute in any of the following ways:

Mustadafin is working in the following areas:

MUSTADAFIN FOUNDATION

18 BELGRAVIA ROAD, ATHLONE, 7764, CAPE TOWN P.O. BOX 24503

025-725 NPO

PHONE: (+27) 021-633 0010 / 633 0060 FAX: (+27) 021-633 0057

Email: media@mustadafin.com

Website: www.mustadafin.com

Ogilvy Cape Town’s art director Jennifer Macfarlane and copy writer Cuan Cronwright are the winners of The Times Young Creatives Competition, held 23 – 26 February 2008 at this year’s Design Indaba Expo.

A PR stunt no doubt saw creatives pitting their skills against each other in a fishbowl style space with Public onlookers. Pity the procedings had to be screened on Plasma screens which would have used a fair amount of power themselves. Kind of defeats the purpose a little but I suppose it was about driving a message home and this little stunt certainly did that.

The winning agency was rewarded with a full page ad they can use for any pro bono client of their choice worth about R50000. Check out the article with all the details.

The following mind map is an excellent example and is available for free to download, spread and share with everyone. It gives simple practical solutions we can all identify with and can definitely start working on right now.

A Few other mindmaps found on the same site explain the impact and science of Global Warming in a plain and simple manner. These can all be found on a mind maps page which conveys a straightforward yet highly effective message in a visual language we can all understand.

Why use Mindmaps?

Mind maps are an excellent tool for conveying a mixture of elements & ideas especially when these ideas are linked together. A mind map can condense a whole body of knowledge into a single diagram thereby shorting the time it takes to explain something complex in a dragged out step by step manner.

The mind-maps have been collated and expanded upon in the e-book developed by Jane Genovese, public speaker, university graduate of Law and Arts and passionate global warming advocate.

The drawings and mind maps developed to convey her message connect with the viewer even though they have been roughly sketched with simple ink pens found in any child’s stationery kit.

It shows the author’s deep understanding of the subject and appreciation for human interaction and communication.

The structure of this beautifully put together little e-book is another point to note. It takes the reader through a necessary cycle from the point of apathy, to the wake up call, why there is a need to change, what to change and how to change it. The author’s understanding of psychology helps her get inside the mind of the person on the street and understand the thought processes and emotions involved in this issue.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Why We Need Change
Chapter 1: Waking Up
Chapter 2: Understanding Global Warming
Chapter 3: The Big Polluters
Chapter 4: Too Close for Comfort: Overpopulation

What to Change
Chapter 5: You Have the Power!
Chapter 6: What about the Government?

How to Change
Chapter 7: It’s Time for Change
Chapter 8: Goal Setting for a Liveable Planet
Chapter 9: Connecting with Nature

Who Has Changed
Chapter 10: It’s OK, You’re Not Alone!

It goes to show that big budgets are not necessarily a major requirement to producing and spreading ideas which can change the world.

Spread the word

I recommend taking a look at live-the-solution.com, viewing the mind maps page , downloading the e-book and maybe sharing it with your friends, family, colleagues, whoever. Blog about it, print the mind maps and stick them up somewhere where they could make a difference.

A huge thanks to Jane Genovese for the excellent work put into producing such engaging content for such an important issue.

I especially loved the videos which we were shown explaining some key web 2.0 concepts. I’ve seen this one before but mixed in with the rest of what we focussed on Yesterday it had a much greater impact and I just have to share this with those of you who may not have seen this yet.

Now, think about the impact this is going to have on you, your career, your business or organisation, your family and your relationships in only the next 2 – 5 years. We can’t afford to hide anymore. Fear of technology is something you just have to get over unless you’re prepared to be cut off from a huge percentage of the worlds population. Developments are going digital and any strategy which does not include some aspect of these developments could be missing an essential ingredient to its success.

I’ve thought about this many times and tried to analyze whether this type of emotional fascination with high profile sporting events is healthy or not and whether it truely has the power to bring about good in Society. One thing is for sure, no-one seems to be bothered with any negativity at this moment. People of all kinds are standing on the streets next to each other cheering, blowing those irritating sports horns and having a fun time together. Work is not something anyone seems to be bothered about at all.

The SA flag his flying high and the colours of green & gold are all over the place. Talk about Branding hey! I feel the positivity now as well and as they come closer down long street the energy is picking up. It’s like a bit of mass hysteria almost.

I long for a day when we can all feel this way about each other and about this country for something besides sport. When we can stand in the streets with each other and feel proud about some other more meaningful change in our society. We need this enthusiasm to spread into activities which benefit our society in a much great way, like fighting crime, unemployment and poverty together. I look forward to a day when our successes on these levels will bring our people out in their thousands so we can celebrate the “real New South Africa”. One which we can be more proud of on all levels.

Seems the BOKKE are coming closer now as the screaming and whistling is picking up. As more people being to shout and cheer others are motivated to come running down the hill towards Long Street hoping to catch a glimpse of their heroes. I remember a time not too long ago when these reactions were spared for our freedom fighters, like Mr Madiba and Chris Hani and the other people responsible for fighting against apartheid but politicians have become kind of undesirable since then.

I wish I had a camera now to take a few pics of show you a little vid of the atmosphere developing in front of me. It reminds me of the street scenes after the 95 World Cup Victory or the time we bid for the 2004 Olympics. This makes me wonder what lies ahead, how will the 2010 World Cup affect us as a society,as a country, as a family. Will it bring us together for just a short moment and then fade.

And here they come, the streamers are flying, they’re coming past us on their open topped bus and the crowds are chasing after them. Just a slight glimpse and they’re off. There’s a whole motorcade of buses with the whole entourage. People have now run off to the next street to catch another glimpse, to snap a few shots and show their support.In a way it sums up what I feel is the nature of these moments, short lived, filled with emotion and quick to fade.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m feeling the energy too, but wish it would stay longer and be put to more beneficial use. if you’re feeling it now go put it to good use at www.one-project.org, a project to get South Africans collaborating towards a better Society.