JUNE 21st, 2010
Medicin sans Frontiers have launched a new campaign aimed to draw attention to the 195 million children who suffer from malnutrition each year. “Starved for attention” is a campaign using multimedia documentaries incorporating MSF’s renowned photography. The documentaries are short, to the point and explore and explode a lot of myths and misconceptions about malnutrition and hunger. Click here to check the campaign out and to sign their petition lobbying governments and donors.
Source: Osocio
JUNE 2nd, 2010
There are few things quite so depressing as a vast expanse of concrete. Artists Haas and Haan have declared war on concrete carbuncles, and with the help of local youth have been transforming Brazilian favelas into an explosion of colour and a source of local pride. For more information and fantastic pictures head over to their website.
Source: inhabitat
MAY 27th, 2010
The Financial Times reportedly lost its nerve at the last moment after previously agreeing to place a hard-hitting advert from Amnesty International. Timed to coincide with Shell’s AGM in London, the decision was in contrast from the Metro and the Evening Standard who went ahead with the advert. One bright note from the FT’s twelfth hour cop-out is that the story has been covered in The Guardian and numerous blogs, hopefully ensuring the advert has had wider coverage for less money.
Source: Osocio
MAY 7th, 2010
All around the world people are shunning plastic and in particular plastic bags. Have we ever stopped to see things from the point of view of the plastic bag though? This is the slightly bizarre premise of independent filmmaker Ramin Bahrani’s short film Plastic Bag. The film is both beautiful, educational and succeeds in the seemingly thankless task of generating pathos for the much maligned plastic bag. Narrated by Werner Herzog’s reassuring German baritone, this film is a surprising treat. Not since American Beauty has a plastic bag been lavished with such close attention.
Source: mnn.com
APRIL 7th, 2010
Take a walk throughout any city in any country, and sooner or later you will come across a deserted plot of land, a barren traffic island or some other urban eyesore. Throughout the world guerrilla gardeners are reclaiming these spots for mother earth. Whether it’s turfing over an abandoned car, or taking your life into your hands by planting flowers in a Mexican pothole, green spots are turning up in unexpected places in a city near you.
Perhaps the height of guerrilla gardening is to be found in the works of London-based artist Anna Garthorth. Using a mixture of beer, sugar, and garden moss she has created moss graffiti (see above), surely the most eco-friendly graffiti on the planet.
For a more in-depth look at guerrilla gardening check out environmentalgraffiti.com. Also Julien Temple’s excellent documentary Requiem For Detroit is a fascinating look at how people respond when their whole city becomes an abandoned urban eyesore. You can check it out here.
Source: environmentalgraffiti
APRIL 6th, 2010
Responsible palm oil sourcing is a major issue these days. If you want to take action with your wallet, WWF have compiled a scorecard of major retailers and manufacturers to help you do just that. Truth be told the scorecard is at first a little bit daunting, with an array of facts and figures. It doesn’t take too long to get to grips with though, and the list of the top ten responsible companies is easy enough to understand.
The scorecard can be found in full here. In a nutshell: Sainsbury’s and M&S are on the right tracks, Tesco and Waitrose are lagging behind, whist Aldi and Spar have a sustainable mountain to climb.
APRIL 6th, 2010
Street poets are sometimes charged with talking rubbish, now they have been enlisted to help fight it. The City of Philadelphia Recycling Office have launched their largest ever anti-litter campaign with the help of five Philadelphia street poets. The poets deliver anti-litter spoken word messages accompanied by congas, acoustic bass or saxophone.
The city-wide campaign will be shown on TV, radio and transit posters. In addition, there will be street poetry events, Facebook and Twitter presences, designated signage, and block-by-block community mobilisation drives. Cool, man, cool.
Source: Osocio
MARCH 31st, 2010
Older people may be able to fend off the dreaded care home with robotic help in the future. Scientists from the University of the West of England have been testing a robot based system of caring in the UK and the Netherlands. The projects consists of a wearable health status monitor, a health reporting alarm and meal and drink reminders. These are linked to a robotic platform that will help people to stay in touch with relatives, create voice activated shopping lists, and lose convincingly at Bridge. Admittedly I made up the Bridge part, but all told the future looks brighter for independent living.
Source: phenomica
