The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers, but above all, the world needs dreamers that do... Sarah Ban Breathnach

Sunday 27 November 2011

We Want Peace - Emmanuel Jal


Emmanuel Jal’s Story

“Left home at the age of seven/one year later I’m carryin’ an Ak-47.” For hip hop artist Emmanuel Jal, a former child soldier in Sudan’s brutal civil war, these lyrics are hardly empty posturing. They are the bitter reality of a young man who was “forced to sin” but determined to “never give up and never give in.” Today, wounded but still hopeful, Emmanuel Jal fights a new battle: bringing peace to his beloved Sudan and building schools in Africa.

This time, his weapon is a microphone. See why audiences from New York to Berlin to London rave about the award-winning film, War Child, and have embraced the hip-hop artist with a terrifying past and a gentle soul. Interspersing original interviews, live concerts, and rare footage of Emmanuel Jal as a seven year-old boy, War Child will make viewers cry, laugh, dance, and celebrate the power of hope.

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Being Young and Making an Impact - Natalie Warne


At 18, Natalie Warne’s work with the Invisible Children movement made her a hero for young 
activists.

At TEDxTeen she uses her inspiring story to remind us that no one is too young to change the world.

For more inspiring free to the world talks by remarkable people around the globe visit TEDx below.




In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers traveled to Africa in search of a story. What started out as a filmmaking adventure transformed into much more when these boys from Southern California discovered a tragedy that disgusted and inspired them, a tragedy where children are both the weapons and the victims.

After returning to the States, they created the documentary "Invisible Children: Rough Cut," a film that exposes the tragic realities of northern Uganda.s night commuters and child soldiers.

The film was originally shown to friends and family, but has now been seen by millions of people. The overwhelming response has been, "How can I help?" To answer this question, the non-profit Invisible Children, Inc. was created, giving compassionate individuals an effective way to respond to the situation.

Monday 21 November 2011

Minds In The Water - Dave Rastovich


Minds in the Water is a feature-length documentary following the quest of professional surfer Dave Rastovich and his friends to protect dolphins, whales and the oceans they all share. Through Dave's journey—a five-year adventure spanning the globe from Australia to the Galapagos, Tonga, California, Alaska and Japan—we see one surfer’s quest to activate his community to help protect the ocean and its inhabitants.
The message: if ocean minded people are to pass
on a sustainable culture then they must become responsible stewards of their coastal environment
~ Dave Rastovich


TransparentSea is an awareness campaign aimed at highlighting coastal environmental issues, with particular attention given to cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and the waters they inhabit.
The first journey (Byron Bay to Bondi, Australia, 2009) successfully highlighted the plight of humpback whales and the threat faced by Japanese whaling fleets.
The second (California, October, 2011) traces the southern migration of the California Grey Whale from Santa Barbara to Baja, Mexico with an emphasis on engaging key coastal community groups and drawing awareness to the causes they support.

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Birke Baehr - What's wrong with our food system...


12 year old Birke Baehr presents his take on a major source of our 
food - far away and less-than-picturesque industrial farms.

Keeping farms out of sight promotes a rosy, unreal picture of big box agriculture, he argues as he outlines the case for green and localize food production.

At age 9, while traveling with his family and being "roadschooled," Birke Baehr began studying sustainable and organic farming practices such as composting, vermiculture, canning and food preservation. Soon he discovered his other passion: educating others -- especially his peers -- about the destructiveness of the industrialized food system, and the alternatives. He spoke at TEDxNextGenerationAsheville in 2010

Tuesday 15 November 2011

1.4 Billion Reasons - Ending Global Poverty



The Global Poverty Project's vision is a world without extreme poverty within a generation. 
We exist to increase the number and effectiveness of people taking action to end extreme poverty.
We have developed 1.4 Billion Reasons - a simple yet ground-breaking presentation, that is travelling the world, inspiring and empowering audiences in its path.
Making simple changes, everyone can be part of the solution.
Compelling and challenging, the presentation moves audiences to take action and become a part of the movement to end extreme poverty.

Founded by two Australians, the Global Poverty Project was launched at the UN High Level Event on the MDGs in September 2008.
1.4 Billion Reasons launched to the world from Melbourne in July 2009. Since then, the presentation has been seen by more than 60,000 people.
In 2011 the Project continues its grassroots phase, as we train a number of passionate Australians to deliver 1.4 Billion Reasons in their own communities, and expand our education and advocacy work.

Monday 7 November 2011

Dallas Clayton



This is Dallas Clayton.  
He wrote a book for his son about the idea of 
dreaming big and never giving up. 
He put it online and his whole life changed forever. 

Because of this he started a Foundation to give away one book for every copy of An Awesome Book he sells. Now he writes children's books for a living, travel the world reading to kids, and spend his days having magical adventures.


The foundation was formed in an effort to promote children's literacy by 
encouraging kids to dream and dream often.
 The foundation's goal is to donate one book for every copy of An Awesome Book sold by Awesome World llc. Books are delivered directly and distributed to schools, hospitals, libraries, camps and shelters both domestically and worldwide.

Sunday 6 November 2011

Take 3 A Clean Beach Initiative


The 'Take 3' message is simple: take three pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach or waterway and you have made a difference.  

Marine debris, particularly plastic, has a disastrous impact in our oceans on marine life and, ultimately, us. We can greatly reduce the amount of marine debris in our oceans by preventing it from getting there in the first place. We encourage people to 'Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle' and Respond by picking up other people's rubbish.
As a proud recipient of the inaugural "2011 Taronga Conservation Society Green Grant" the team at Take 3 are ready to take this important initiative to Australia and beyond.
Take 3 and you will make a difference!

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Define Necessity


Gift Giving

In a world were so few have so much and so many have so little.
We have indulged long enough in the oasis that we can just continue to live beyond our means and ignore the needs of those less fortunate.

The depletion of natural resources brought about by the greed of governments, corporations and various individuals, has become the fuel which has powered the mass production and consumerism of modern societies.

This has left this world with an unhealthy balance and for a great many an unlivable inbalance of power and wealth, which to the extreme has us living in a world were a child dies every 3 seconds.

How do we continue to justify and excuse the extravagance in our lives when we know without a doubt that in our world there are those that will live their whole lives in the misery of the neglect of their basic human rights to food, water and shelter.

One way in which we can be more aware is in the traditions of gift giving, which without a doubt is one of our greatest displays of overindulgence.

In a world were over 80 billion dollars is spent worldwide for the sole purpose of a holiday that was originally marked on the calendar as a religious celebration of life, we have created a monster that leaves behind a trail of waste and consequences that we can no
longer afford to ignore or remain indifferent to.

The throwaway nature of our societies is no more present and obvious than at Christmas time.

It has long been the time to shift the focus, time, energy and money from mass productivity of goods, trades and services that, use, abuse and destroy our planet, our environment, our people and our animals in one form or another.

By putting our energy and focus into creating a world that is sustainable and fair and encouraging those around us to do the same, there is hope.

Teaching our children, the future generations of adults and leaders to come, the value in the principle that less is more.
Reminding ourselves and teaching our children that its is in the giving that we receive.

Melanie Lee