The Ball by Orlando Mesquita 2001

Can film change the world?  Probably not.  But those who watch them can.  I was recently introduced to Pangea Day, an organization who's aim is to "use the power of film to strengthen tolerance and compassion while uniting millions of people to create a better future."  Through the power of film this organization seeks to eliminate borders and help people see themselves in others.

Among the many short films on Pangea's site you can watch, I was captivated by Orlando Mesquita's The Ball.  Mesquita is a fellow Lusophone from Mozambique and an award winning filmmaker. Since 1984, Orlando Mesquita has edited, directed, and produced over 20 films, including features, educational programs, and documentaries. His projects explore the many facets of Mozambican life such as the role of women and war, refugees, and demobilized soldiers.

The Ball is a football story, in which the children have found a very interesting way to make a ball using condoms.  It pays homage to the creativity of poor children, many of them orphans in Mozambique's central region.  As you enjoy the short film Orlando Mesquita wants you to think about how mistaken our statistics are in relation to condom use.

Pangea Day will facilitate community-building activities around the world connecting inspired viewers with numerous organizations which are already doing groundbreaking work.  I encourage you to visit their site for more information.

Watch other short films here.

Pangea Day 2008 took a small, but meaningful step towards bringing us together through the international language of film. The idea took flight in 2006 when filmmaker Jehane Noujaim won the TED Prize (Technology, Entertainment Design). She was granted $100,000, and more important, a wish to change the world. Her wish was to create a day in which the world would come together through film.

On the Pangea Day web site they define their mission and purpose as follows:

In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common. Pangea Day seeks to overcome that—to help people see themselves in others—through the power of film.

My description for Pangea Day? Sundance with a cause.

May 10th was Pangea Day. Films and speeches were streamed to a worldwide audience. Over 2,000 films were submitted for consideration. The broadcast was a 4 hour wonder for the eyes, ears, heart and mind. Here is one of my favorite films, shot entirely with a Nokia cell phone by Sumit Roy.

Follow this deep link to see all the films one at a time. To see the full show go here. Don't have 4 hours for the entire show? View a one hour highlight reel here. Find ways you can take action and push this cause even further here. Hollywood, wake up. There is so much more you can do.

Artist and computer scientist Jonathan Harris makes online art that captures the world's expression – and gives us a glimpse of the soul of the internet. His projects are both intensely personal (the "We Feel Fine" project, which scans the world's blogs to collect snapshots of the writers' feelings) and entirely global ("Universe," which turns current events into constellations of words). But their effect is the same – to show off a world that resonates with shared emotions, concerns, problems, triumphs, and troubles.

La Iasi s-a petrecut in Sala Gaudeamus a Casei de Cultura a Studentilor tot pe 10 mai, de la ora 21 pana tarziu in noapte. In acelasi timp, in fata Casei de Cultura se canta zgomotos "din cauza" Festudis-ului. Primele 30 de minute au fost cu probleme de organizare (chiar mi s-ar fi parut normal sa faca un test conexiunii si posibilitatii de streaming inainte), dar care s-au rezolvat chiar in momentul in care lumea s-a mai "diluat". Cu alte cuvinte, oportunistii nerabdatori au plecat enervati si au ramas cei care chiar vroiau sa participe la eveniment.

Ce-am vazut

Am vazut aproape toate filmele, majoritatea spoturilor si discursurile "speakerilor" vizionari (cum explica site-ul PangeaDay.org.

Ce mi-a placut
Toate filmele si "interstitiale" dintre filme (dar si alte inregistrari) le gasiti pe PangeaDay.org. Scurt-metrajele au un fir de care trebuie sa te agati ca sa te prinzi in final (sau mai devreme, in functie de frecventa de ceas a fiecaruia).

Cel mai mult mi-au placut urmatoarele:
Telefonul fara fir
Palma
si asta:

J'Attendrai Le Souivant (I'll Wait for the Next One)-Philippe Orreindy

By: Sanaz Khalaj Santos

WASHINGTON, DC - Emerging on the global music scene not long ago, Hypernova proves to be a legend in the making, already. Rocking out sold-out venues in major cities across the world, these Iranian rock-prodigies, Raam (Vox/Guitar), Kodi (Lead), Kami (Drums), Jam (Bass), are a part of all that's prideful and consuming about being Iranian. Jamming away in unison passionately, Hypernova creates a magical sort of synergy between themselves and their fans.

Equipped with undeniably massive talent, Hypnernova's sound is modern, genuine, brilliant, and uncontrollably captivating. Promoting peace, hope, and love through their Indie-Rock-style harmonies, all the restraint in the world will not stop you from becoming addicted to the familiar yet uniquely pulsating rhythms they have delicately refined.

Recently, their soaring popularity and relatable lyrics landed them a coveted set at the Pangea Day Music Festival, and they didn't disappoint. With such potent and relatable lyrics like: "we are one, the world's in love and so are we" from their hit track 'Universal'  their musical might transcends the current state of world politics, and offers a platform for unity amongst all. Iranian or not.

We don't find Hypernova deistic, but their sound is definitely secularly sacred.

***For more on Hypernova, join their Facebook page or visit them on Myspace.

SK: What are your names?
KR: Raam, Kami, Kodi, Jam

Where and when were you born?
Raam: Bushehr, Iran , 1981
Kami: Tehran, Iran 1981
Jam: Tehran, Iran 1981
Kodi: Tehran, Iran 1989

Where did you grow up?
The guys all grew up in Tehran. I was born in Iran but then moved to the States at a young age. I grew up in Eugene, Oregon back in the 80s. Then moved back to Iran in 91.

When did you leave Iran?
We finally made it to the States in March, 2007.

Where in Iran did you live?
Tehran.

When were you in Iran last?
Well it’s been a year so far that we’ve been away from Iran. This whole journey feels like one really long holiday. We can’t wait to go back. We love our lives back home. Iran isn’t as bad as the west makes it out to be. Every country has its pros and cons, you just learn to adjust to the given framework. We’re just on a mission right now and will work as hard as we can to achieve all our goals. This is only the beginning. The universe has been our guide and so it shall be for the rest of the voyage.

What’s the first instrument you played?
Piano.

How old were you?
I was 11.

Have you had any classical training?
A little bit. I’m a big fan of Beethoven.

Do you write your own music?
Of course! I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What’s something your devoted fans would be surprised to know about you?
I want to be a goat herder and live in the mountains of Iran.
 
How did the name “Hypernova” come about?
I’ve always been fascinated and inspired by the universe and outer space. A Hypernova is a huge explosion in space. We saw ourselves as an explosion on the scene back in the undergrounds of Iran.

What is the Farsi version of your name?
Hyper Noonva - just kidding…

How would you describe your sound?
We have no specific sound as we are evolving everyday. I would say it’s a mix of a little bit of everything from the 80s to all the modern day sounds.

How has the reception been for Hypernova, ever since you guys made the transatlantic leap?
To our own surprise it has been absolutely overwhelming. We really had no expectations whatsoever when we came here. We just had a simple dream of Rock ‘n’ Roll. So far we have had the craziest adventure of our lives.

Where have you toured?
Mainly in the major cities: NY, Boston, LA, San Francisco, Austin. We’re trying to organize a big tour all across the States but it requires a lot of money. Hopefully we can do a national tour sometime in the near future.

What was your first paid gig?
I think it was at Arlene’s Grocery in NY. The owner came and gave me a little envelope full of cash. I didn’t even know we could get paid.

Is your music sold in in Iran?
I don’t think so.

Who has influenced you the most in life?
There are many beautiful people who have influenced me in my life but no one will ever come close to my parents. I owe everything to them.

Who has influenced your sound the most?
The Strokes, The Arctic Monkeys, Interpol, Queens of the Stone Age, Kasabian...

If you could tour with any other modern Iranian bands, who would you choose?
The Yellow Dogs.

How about any three non-Iranian bands from any era, which bands would you choose?
Kasabian, the Strokes, Queens of The Stone Age.

What is your favorite Iranian dish?
It’s a toss up between Tahchin and Adas Polo. And it definitely has to be my moms cooking. She’s the best cook on the planet. I know all Iranians say this but seriously my mom would kill the competition.

How does your Iranian family feel about your decision to pursue your passion?
They are absolutely supportive. They always believed in me and allowed me to pursue my dreams no matter how crazy they seemed.

Describe your current life in three words.
Super Mega Awesome!

Where can one see the immensely talented Hypernova perform?
Well our next show is actually going to be our most important show as of yet. We will be performing at a festival called Pangea Day. You can find out more about the festival @ http://www.pangeaday.org/

How do you want to be remembered five decades from now?
I want my music to be remembered more than anything else. That’s why I will push myself for the rest of my life until I create a legendary masterpiece that will always be a part of history. But besides my music, I also want to be remembered for being the first band from the undergrounds of Iran who reached critical success on a global level.

What’s your favorite song?
My friends make fun of me about this subject because every day I have a different favorite song. Today that song is: Red Socks Pugie by the Foals.

What’s your favorite Hypernova song?
It’s a song called “See the Future”

Who is the best rock band, ever?
Obviously Pink Floyd. I don’t think anyone will ever come close to what they are.

What’s your favorite city to play in?
New York.

Describe Iran in a sentence.
Iran is a clash of the modern and the ancient where chaos and order coexist in perfect harmony with each other.

What’s your favorite Iranian city?
Hengam Island.

Where can everyone buy your music?
Our music is still not available for sale. We just finished recording our debut album. Hopefully it will be available online and in stores within the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!

Do you guys have any other hidden talents that your fans might want to know about?
I’m a psychic and can read people’s minds. Please feel free to contact me for a personal reading.

What time of day are you most creative?
4 in the morning.

Would you play in Iran if asked?
Of course, we’ve played in Iran all our lives.

Gojeh-Sabz or Zoghalakhteh?
Gojeh Sabz.

What’s your favorite color?
Green.

Your favorite venue worldwide?
We want to play @ the Glastonbury Festival in Scotland one day. That would be a dream come true.

Best audience ever?
All the kids back home in the undergrounds of Iran.
 
Who do you think your listeners are?
People who have good taste in music.

Who do you want them to be?
I want them all to be Victoria’s Secret super models.

Will you ever do a Farsi album?
Maybe when were all like 73 years old.

Are you working on a new album?
We haven’t released the first one yet!

What does your tour schedule look like?
We just got invited to go to Europe and do a tour over there but most likely we’re not going to make the trip right now. We still have a lot of stuff to do in States. We’re going to stay focused on promoting the album over here for the next couple of months.

In the spirit of the event, I would like to share with you, my top three picks.

#1. Papiroflexia. An animation feat. If movies could be poems, they would look like this:

#2. The Ball. I will never be able to throw away any one thing after seeing the video. 

#3. Pale Blue Dot. Makes you think about the big questions . . . I had flashbacks from Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth.

Thoughts, feelings?

"It was a huge surprise for me to win this award. I couldn't believe it was me when the winner was announced at the broadcast," says Cachucho. "With my film, I wanted to tell the world that children are children everywhere, no matter where they live, what their race is, or whether they are rich or poor. Children are the same all over and want to have fun and play."

"Its incredible to see the creativity, beauty, and hardships people capture when filmmaking is opened up and shared with the world," says Jehane Noujaim, a documentary filmmaker and judge.

Filmmakers entered the 2008 Nokia Mobile Filmmaking awards through the Pangea Day Channel on Share on Ovi, a free media sharing service The mobility company Nokia had received over 600 submissions from around the world.

Related Article: Nokia’s Finalists for Mobile Short Videos

Pues otra semana mas viviendo del otro lado del charco y pues para no perder la costumbre , pues he tenido algunos inconvenientes pero tambien no puedo negar, tambien he tenido otros momentos sumamente placenteros , poniendo todo en una balanza puedo decir que ahora si ganan las mejores cosas contra las peores.

Desde la semana pasada , habia ya notado que en ciertas ocasiones me llegaba a sentir raro, como que mareado mientras andaba en la calle, al principio pensaba que solo era algun tipo de mareo pasajero y ya pero como fueron pasando los dias se fueron haciendo mas constantes hasta el punto de sentir que me caeria o desmayaria . Gracias a Dios aun no ha pasado; pero si me esta como asustando este asunto. Quiero creer que es mucho de esto por la alimentacion que e estado teniendo ultimamente, por que no es por no comer, (aun no soy taaan pobre jeje) pero mi dieta a cambiado radicalmente de cuando estaba en Mexico y todas mis comidas perfectamente seleccionadas y cocinadas por ......mi mama je pero aqui pues mi dieta realmente se basa en productos congelados y precocidos, pasta y alguna que otra cosa tambien diferente a lo que acostumbraba antes. Es muy probable que sea por eso aunque si necesito ir al medico a que me cheque y tratar de modificar mi alimentacion a cosas mas sanas. Tambien llegue a pensar que era por el hecho de ver a tantisima gente en espacios reducidos, nunca me he sentido tan comodo viendo tanta gente pero pues ya no estoy tan convencido de que sea eso.

Ahora en las cosas buenas, vino un amigo mexicano, hermano de un amigo de la escuela , bueno y no solo de la escuela sino que bueno si de la escuela pero alguien que desde que tengo uso de razon pues lo conosco, y pues tambien por ende a su hermano. Desde varios dias antes me habia comentado que tenia varios dias libres en su trabajo y que queria venirse un par de dias a Londres y pues de plano para aprovechar que yo estoy por aqui (creo jeje) . Sabia que llegaba el miercoles, pero para colmo, algo paso con el internet en mi casa y de un momento a otro deje de tener conexion y no lo habia visto todo el dia anterior y pues no sabia a que hora llegaria. Pues ni pex, le tuve que hablar a su cel ( de españa obvio) para ponerme de acuerdo con el a que hora iria por el. Total que ya me lo encontre en Victoria y pues nos fuimos en direccion a su hostal, nos perdimos , pero despues de una pequeña escala en un cybercafe y de hacer una consulta en el TodoPoderoso Google (especificamente google maps) pues dimos con el lugar. Se siente padre tener a algun amigo de antaño para poder platicar , por que pues por mas que haya conocido gente aqui pues sinceramente no es lo mismo que platicar con alguien que conoces de hace muchisimos años y poder turistear por la ciudad acompañado.

Al dia siguiente habia un evento llamado Pangea Day , al que de pura suerte habia sacado boletos para ir por que luego vi que se terminaron jeje, asi que le comente que si queria ir y despues de comentarle el por que del evento pues le gusto mucho la idea y fuimos.

En resumen el "pangea day" fue un evento para crear un mejor entendimiento cultural , acabar con el racismo y el odio por cuestiones de religion , raza, o color de piel. Estuvo en varios paises, pero la central de todo fue en Los Angeles, donde de ahi se enlazaba a varias ciudades del mundo , bueno en un puñado se grababa y transmitia contenido para que se viera en el resto del mundo y en otras que de plano solo se proyectaba lo que estaba sucediento en LA y demas ciudades que transmitieron contenido.

Hasta me escogieron ( desde luego que fue asi super al azar) y me hicieron una entrevista preguntandome que pensaba acerca de todo esto jeje, Que bueno que no estudie comunicaciones, por que si no seguro me moria de hambre jajaja el video esta en www.ovi.com/pangeaday , haber si encuentran cual es por que ni de broma lo dire directamente jeje.
La cosa esta termino temprano y nos fuimos rumbo a no se donde caminando entre el putrimillon de gente que estaba chupando en muchos lados en varias plazas , pero eso de andar vagando sin un pinche rumbo fijo si de plano no es lo mio, a decir verdad me pudre asi que me despedi y me fui a dormir.

Este lunes fui a la escuela pero me empeze a sentir mul mal asi que apenas termino la clase y me fui a mi casa, aunque ya habia quedado con Alberto (mi amigo de mex) en salir a pendejear con el .No fui, sorry , A pero me sentia bien mal.

Hoy de nuevo volvi a salir un rato con el a Regents Park , por una cerveza a Carnaby Street y una deliciosa hamburguesa de BK ....

Haber que pasa mañana..

Here's a map showing the home locations of the finalists in the 2008 Stockholm Challenge. There are some great ideas and great works going on all over the globe, and I'm looking forward to meeting some of them in Stockholm next week and exchanging some knowledge.

Plus: Corrina McFarlane (Bodi Lane in WWO) pinged me on Saturday, which was Pangea Day – an exciting day of global connection. She's collected reader comments on her blog.

La magia di questo corto sta nella luce e nel sorriso con cui riesce a parlarci di prevenzione dell'AIDS.

Non solo in Mozambico.

]]> http://amzuri.wordpress.com/?p=154 Tue, 13 May 2008 04:13:11 +0000 amzolt http://amzuri.wordpress.com/?p=154

Jehane Noujaim

image credit

Pangea Day - in Videos

Pangea Day -- in quotes

Psssst... The Links Below Are Real Cool.

Pangea Day's fabulous line-up of thought-provoking, inspirational speakers produced no less stellar a collection of memorable quotes and priceless bits of wisdom. A small sampling of what we heard:

"By sharing stories, we've started the process of turning strangers into friends." - Filmmaker Jehane Noujaim, TED Prize winner and founder of Pangea Day

"We have a repsonbility to expose ourselves to our world, to see our common humanity, to learn about other people -- not only in times of war, but in times of peace. " - Ishmael Beah, former child soldier and advocate for peace

"When we look at the earth from space, we can see ourselves, our species, in its brave struggle. Yes, we're troubled inhabitants of a small planet, but we're also dreamers of dreams." - Planetary scientist Carolyn Porco

"Humans are -- and must be -- sensitive to differences. But we should find hope in realizing how rich and numerous our commonalities are." - Anthropologist Donald Brown, author of Human Universals

"If we are to prosper together in our increasingly small world, we must listen to -- and learn from each other's stories" - Queen Noor of Jordan

"When we laugh, we change. And when we change, the world changes." -- Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the International Laughter Club

"I feel like a hack... I feel I could be doing more... I feel sexy... I just want to feel alive for the first time in my life... I feel so much of my Dad in me that there isn't room for me." -- A selection of feelings, sampled live from the Internet, by conceptual artist Jonathan Harris

"We have the capacity and tendency to separate 'us' from 'them.' Once established, we're more tolerant to those we call 'us' and more brutal toward 'them.' But increasingly, science shows there's no limit to who we define as 'us.' Eventually, someday, there might not be any more 'thems.'" - Psychologist Robert Kurzban

"How can films change the world? They can't, but the people who watch them can. By changing minds, we change the world." - Actress Cameron Diaz

~~~~~~~~~

Responses to TED

Here follows just a small sample of the thousands of comments we've already received.

Barbara A. from Mexico
This has been one of the most inspiring and beautiful events I have ever experienced.
Let's never forget what we all felt and experienced today.

Organizer DR from Dominican Republic
As the only organizer of a public event in the Dominican Republic I was pleased incredibly. The show exceeded my expectations completely...

karima saad from United Kingdom
I am speechless. But i am sure of one thing, that while i was attending Pangea Day in London, those 4 hours were felt as if i was part of the whole world as one community, rather than countries divided by borders.

Cmsilva from Portugal
We joined 45 in a private event in portugal. It was great. Next year we'll be more, for sure.

Carolyn from United States
Thank you for doing this. I laughed, I cried, I was enlightened, I was moved and touched and inspired. I watched almost the whole thing without getting up. Too bad I had to watch it alone...

Marina from Brazil
If I had to express my experience in words, I would not be able to. These were the best movies I have seen as an expression of art. And all the movies combined, just changed my way of thinking....

Marcosncosta from China
Loved the event. Hope next year it can be bigger and better.

Galleher from United States
The Alaskans gathered in Anchorage to be witness to this global campfire were inspired and appreciative

LIDIA from Argentina
I didn't know that Pangea existed. I feel too moved to speak and happy that so many people feel that really all of us are ONE.

Biriscalin from Romania
We all are "Pangea Day". We all represent one earth, one life. Now is time to act !

RicardoSilva from Portugal
I've been using the internet since the 90's, but this is truly the first time that I feel that here, for brief hours, was a global community talking. I hear people from Canada to Pakistan, Shanghai, New Zealand, Chile, Romania...

CassieBrady from United States
I have always dreamed of a united world. I never knew how to act on my dreams, so I am so happy that it is finally happening. Imagine peace. Imagine a global community not separate countries. This is what the world needs.

Jacqui from Jamaica
I wish that this had been a public event here in Jamaica for people from all walks of society to see. It was truly a spectacular event , I sat riveted in front of the television.

Sana from United Arab Emirates
Hugs and love from United Arab Emirates.... It aint little...Its a big start considering we are thousands of miles apart and felt the same last night...

Light Sister from United States
Thank you all so much for this World Consciousness Raising Event. In my 59 plus years of life, I have never felt so hopeful about the direction this world is taking...

Nabeelkarim from Pakistan
There are matters greater than that of political, economical and social nature...they are the environmental and humanitarian ones!!! it is clear that a change is required...and each and every one of us can make a difference.

Marcusmeisel from Austria
Austria says thank you for all this work of love, passion, and devotion that went into realizing this dream come true.

Danna from United States
Pangea Day was an incredibly inspiring event!! It brought me both tears of joy and sadness on several occasions. Best four hours spent in front of the television EVER!

Divamover from United States
Several hours after the "end" of Pangea Day 2008, I am especially moved to see such an outpouring of support and longing from the US. I cannot help but believe that there are many in the US who want a united world...

Umc59 from Canada
i just stumbled onto the last half hour of the pangea day show here in toronto and am sooooo happy i did. i'm 48 yrs old and i got the most wonderful feeling of finally belonging to a community that speaks to me.

Rhea from India
I am 23 years old and I just finished watching the Pangea Day broadcast. it's 4:00 am here and I couldn't go to bed without writing to you and telling you how beautiful, thought provoking it was.

Nabeelkarim from Pakistan
Just for starter...each one of us could just start by helping just one person/or doing something good.....once a day....

IBelieve from Canada
Hello World; What an amazing day! I laughed, shed tears of joy, smiles of love, and tears of compassion.

Sherryl from Australia
A powerful vision and enormous drive has brought Jehane's dream to reality. Confucius c. 500BC said; In his teaching the wise man ...opens the way but does not take them to the place. Pangea Day has opened the way....

The quote above was written by ths man Charles Mackay you can read more about him at wikipedia . While all the reviews of his book, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds are not totally backing up his book I do believe he is touching on a point that is sweeping the mentality of most today Crowd Mentality.

This article may make my point for me from the WALL STREET JOURNAL

Mission:

In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common.

Pangea Day seeks to overcome that — to help people see themselves in others — through the power of film.

Take a look at Pangea's Youtube Page.

Need more info? Check out their wikipeda page.

Here is the first 20 minutes of Pangea Day.

Take the church questionairre or audit your footprint size here . From this link .

Check out the list of DIOCEAN ENVIROMENT OFFICERS

Foto: Divulgação

Manu Santos se apresenta no Centro Municipal de Referência da Música Carioca, na Tijuca, na Quinta-Feira, às 18:30. Manu foi atração do Pangea Day, evento de música e curtas no Morro da Urca, transmitido para 180 canais de TV no mundo todo, promovido pela Nokia, onde também se apresentou Gilberto Gil. Foi Vencedora da II Mostra de Talentos do Carioca da Gema, e é também integrante do grupo vocal Seresta Moderna. No show, leva Samba, Baião e Coco entre outros ritmos brasileiros. No repertório, além de canções
inéditas, traz Sivuca, Cartola, Monsueto, e um inesquecível Maria Maria, de Milton Nascimento. O grupo é composto por Denny Kessous (arranjos e violão), André Estrella (violão), Radamés Lago (Percussão) e Giló (percussão).

Dia : 22 de maio, Quinta-Feira
Hora : 18h:30
Valor do ingresso : R$ 20,00 inteira e R$ 10,00 meia.
Endereço: Rua Conde de Bonfim, nº 824 – Tijuca
Telefone: (21) 3238-3880

Pangea Day

Well there were both snacks and cuddling up in this household. It was an incredible event and as predicted I did get through many a kleenex during the 4 hours. For those of you who wanted to be part of it but couldn't you can still view the films that were shown at Pangea.org. For those of you who did watch they have posted more award winning films to the line up. I HIGHLY recommend that you take some time to watch a selection and take part next year. It was heart warming to see the audiences around the world, even the British audience who were gathered outside Somerset House in the middle of the night were dancing to the closing 'World Drum circle'. Scholar and writer Karen Armstrong closed the event with a call to action, "Look into your own heart and discover what it is that gives you pain and then refuse under any circumstance what so ever to inflict that pain on any body else".

Serious Play

This was a nourishing highlight that had me giddy with anticipation. Three days of inspirational speakers, rope jumping and yummy food and goodies. This biannual event held by Art Center College of Design covered topics as vast as the next rover that is going to land on Mars, the intelligence of crows, what it is like to live a full and curious life as a double amputee, the coke and mentos guys, Origami as science, and visionary architecture, all under the guise of PLAY a necessary part of who we are. It was a mind expanding gathering of topics and people that will keep me on a high for weeks. But the nourishing story here is the topic of Play in our lives, Stuart Brown the Founder of the National Institute for Play stated that the opposite of play is NOT work it is in fact Depression. So if you feel you haven't played recently, try it on, you will feel so much better for moving, laughing, going fast, twirling around, communicating playfully or bonding with others on a team. Children do not have the monopoly on play they just do it so well! Act like a child just once this week and feel your heart soar.
National Institute for Play.

Spring Cleaning

Yes really, in fact we will be having a nourishing conversation on this very subject very soon. In the meantime I wanted to share that we had several spring cleaning conundrums; firstly was the disposal of our 9 year old sofa. It has served us so well across four moves in three states, it has been with us through the arm waving days of Dawsons Creek, the heady days of Gilmore Girl romance, seen us be held in suspense by Aaron Sorkin's West Wing and it now sits to witness all the drama of Grey's Anatomy. It has also endured a few xbox 'sit ins', many thrills and spills and a burrowing puppy. It really is 'time' yet given all we had been through together we now seem to be hanging on to it out of sentimentality compounded by the graphic visual of our sofa balancing on the top of a landfill. Our much considered solution was to contact greendumptruck who are going to responsibly remove our old faithful (with ceremony) to make way for our new 'green' construction hemp sofa which brings me both to my point and the link that I have promised to share with many of you. The Story of Stuff, the animation on this site takes around 20 minutes to watch but it is well worth it if you want a recap on what the manufacturing and disposal chain really looks like or to consider your role as consumer, to help with some of your own spring cleaning decisions and more importantly to share with less enlightened souls than yourself.

I did however recently enter full blown consumer mode when buying the cleaning products to take on said cleaning. Having tried many green cleaners and using baking soda in the tub (it works!) I finally decided to convert all our products to Mrs Myers, our house will be smelling of lemon verbena some time soon, no really it will.....

Another area that saw a clean out was the make-up drawer. Just over a year ago I was made aware of 'Skindeep' the cosmetics database and I have to admit that even after reading about the lethal chemicals that were regularly making contact with my skin when they really shouldn't even be coming within 2 feet of me, I still clung on to that Dior mascara and that Urban Decay sparkly green eyeshadow. So have I thrown everything out? No. But I have made a considerable dent, pretty much have my 'chemicals of choice' under control and a renewed commitment to making sure what comes into the house and gets lathered onto our faces or bodies is harmless. To see what might be toxic in your products check out Skindeep.

The last element I want to include in this topic was the question 'Where was all our electricity being used?' We finally made a concerted effort to go around the house plugging and unplugging all our appliances until we got our electric meter disc to spin at a speed that was a lot more satisfactory to our pockets and the planet. This has included actively unplugging all our chargers when not charging a phone, headset or computer and turning our computers off (not just to sleep) and unplugging them EVERY time they are not in use. It has made an incredible difference to our bill!

The awareness of what stuff we have in our house (yes there is still more to tackle, the comic collection REALLY needs to be sold - hint) but the first phase clean out has made me feel lighter, I have a sense of accomplishment and I am more able to concentrate on some of the priorities in my life. It is amazing what the benefits of a clean out can be.
What new thing can you do this month to contribute to the care of yourself and the planet? Sign up for daily tips at Ideal Bite.

Coachella

I didn't make it out there this year but as a result of this West Coast desert festival we had a group of good friends come visit with us before they traveled back East. For me being able to kick back with good friends around the BBQ is very high on my list of nourishing things. Marc and I have decided that one of our nourishing intentions for the summer will be to have many stress free BBQ's and make the most of our home.

How do you want to remember Summer '08 and what are you doing to make it so?

Have a fabulous week...
With warmth and sparkle
Candice

© The Red Barn Cooperative
www.theredbarncooperative.com

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Last Saturday I went to ABC Carpet and Home on Broadway to watch the Pangea Day films. I think it is crazy in such a huge city we did not have a large public event like in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro, but was appreciative that ABC Carpet and Home hosted it, as they got nothing from it really. It may have been to their detriment, as people would come towards the showroom we were in and some left thinking they were interrupting something. Well maybe the people watching the film never came there before and now love it!!! Who knows? One thing they did gain was a fan, so if anyone from ABC Carpet and Home is reading this, thank you! Oh yeah, and we also ate in their restaurant, Pipa [nice place], so they did get some monetary value out of it!

For those that don't know what Pangea Day is here is a link to an entry I did on it called, "What is Pangea Day?". There were amazing films. It was a really great line-up. The only negative I will say was the three of the four hosts of Pangea Day were a bit annoying. I only really thought June Arunga cared about the event, the two men Max Lugavere and Jason Silva seemed very insecure and fake, so that kept distracting me and Lisa Ling was just on script. I could have also lived without all the actors reading their teleprompter, but I must admit when I told my mom Meg Ryan, Goldie Hawn and Cameron Diaz were a part of it, she got interested. Until then she was like, that sounds interesting dear...you know in THAT way...but later that same day she did email me and said she watched a whole hour. I guess it was a good idea to use popular Hollywood actors to pull in people like my mom, who are a little skeptical of us crazy do gooders, but trust that if Hollywood actors can support Pangea Day, it must not be too radical.

If you want to see some of these films go here. There was four hours of films [some ads, and songs, and such in between], I arrived about 45 minutes late, so only saw 3 hours and 15 minutes, but still they were so good time flew by. I think this was a great event, and in the words of the creator of Pangea Day, filmmaker Jehane Noujaim, "Movies can't change the world. But the people who watch them can.", so please take some time to watch these films and see where they take you.

One last thing, I just want to say I think Jehane Noujaim is an amazing woman and a beautiful soul and am thankful she exists in this world.

-Cara

Even if meat eaters are spared the big killers that their lifestyle is associated with (heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer), their diet may still be robbing them of everyday good health. A meat diet is sure to lead to nagging conditions and ailments. A whole-foods, high-fiber vegan diet, full of grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes, is just the ticket to reduce arthritis pain, ease irritable-bowel disorders, mitigate common back pain, relieve cold and allergy symptoms, and lower risk for gallstones, kidney stones, and heartburn. But perhaps best of all, the vegan life is one free of constipation!

‘Dear Mandela’, a short film about Abahlali baseMjondolo, has been chosen out of 2500 entries from over 100 countries to be one of 34 films featured on the Pangea Day website, a global hub that seeks to bring the world together through the power of film. Filmmakers Dara Kell and Christopher Nizza spent a week with Abahlali baseMjondolo in December 2007. They produced a short film so that a worldwide audience could learn about the plight, and the fight, of the shackdwellers.

‘Dear Mandela’ was awarded the ‘Outstanding Filmmaker Award’ representing Africa. The award includes a $5,000 grant towards the production of the full-length documentary film, which we are presently fundraising for. We plan to return to South Africa to film for a longer period of time, to capture the scope and complexity of the situation. Here’s an excerpt from the Pangea Day press release:

PARTICIPANT MEDIA AND PANGEA DAY ANNOUNCE THE FIVE WINNING ENTRIES IN THE “OUTSTANDING FILMMAKERS AWARDS PROGRAM” The winners, one from each of the following continents - North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia (including Australia) - were announced this evening in Santa Monica, CA. “Each of the five winning films is an outstanding example of the kind of cinematic storytelling that reflects Participant’s mission to inspire and compel social change,” said Jim Berk, CEO of Participant Media. “On behalf of Participant, I’d like to congratulate all five filmmakers for their remarkable achievements and look forward to seeing the treatments that will be competing for the development grant.”

Thanks to Participant Media for recognizing the powerful story of Abahlali baseMjondolo. Many thanks to our wonderful crew, and to all those who filmed with us in December. We also thank Fazel Khan and Sally Giles for sharing their footage. The international recognition for ‘Dear Mandela’ is affirmation that the story of the Shackdwellers Movement is one that will inspire the action necessary to end the unacceptable conditions in South Africa.

To see the film, go to http://www.pangeaday.org/pangeadayFilms.php

People trickled in the building (taking a whiff and thinking...it smells like mints in here) at the 11AM start and then about half way through around hour #2 - I took my eyes away from the web-stream projection of incredible short films and engaging speakers and noticed a lot of people sitting and standing around viewing and connecting. And That's what it's all about...people connecting, communicating, sharing thoughts about what they've just seen on screen or something else. In that room were people of all different ethnicities, ages, income levels, religions, educational backgrounds connecting and coming together and that's the way it should be.

We look forward to uniting extraordinary people together again on June 22nd at Barnsdall Gallery Theater - so come to listen, reflect, share and be part of the 300+ community of dynamic attendees and then go out and ACT on it!

Bye for now...

Last Saturday the day finally came. I watched all four hours of Pangea Day on the edge of my chair - that feeling of connection in the moment was palpable for me. I sensed that I was part of something special and greater than myself. I knew that millions of people around my planet were watching the exact same thing as I, at the exact same moment as I. The power of it all was more subtle than I expected. Instead of a big emotional wave, it was like a light bulb flicking on. I felt not just like I'd become more aware, but a need within to not let that awareness fade, as it so often does. It's easy to say you'll do or think this and that in the middle of a big event, but it's keeping it going during your every day life that's the real goal.

I strongly urge everyone to go to Pangea Day and watch as much of the entire broadcast as you can. (It starts off with an intro from Bishop Desmond Tutu - this is big time shit.) But I also wanted to share my five favourite shorts from the day:

1. "Pale Blue Dot" words by Carl Sagan (Earth)

I feel a tad guilty putting this one as my #1 since it wasn't an official submission, but the genius of Carl Sagan simply can't be ignored. His words, famously recorded by Carl himself in 1990 after he NASA used the Voyager 1 spacecraft to take a picture of Earth from more than 4 billion miles away. Written for the public unveiling of the photograph, his words are succinct and endlessly powerful. The heart of a poet, the mind of a scientist...

2. "J'Attendrai Le Suivant (I'll Wait For The Next One)" by Phillipe Orreindy (France)

My jaw literally dropped at the end of this one. I felt everything all at once. Seriously, every emotion ever. I don't want to be any more specific because then I'll give something away.

3. "¿Por Qué Le Hago? (Who I Do It)" by Pablo Olmos Arrayales (Spain)

This made me cry. You'll see why...

4. "The Americana Project: Cuba" by Topaz Adizes (USA)

The explosive authenticity of this short was so real that I honestly can't figure out if it's scripted or reality, or maybe it's a mixture of both. Pure, visceral emotion that could only be born out of generations of family and cultural struggle.

5. "More" by Mark Osbourne (USA)

Amazing animation and a beautiful story, this didn't at all turn out the way I originally thought it was going to.

Last Saturday, I attended Pangea Day, the global film festival and live music event simulcast through the internet from six locations: LA, Rio, Mumbai, London, Kigali, and Cairo, Egypt.  The goal of Pangea Day was to unite people from around the globe through the power of film, using new technology for global storytelling on a large scale.  Surprisingly, it was pulled off with relatively few snags - there were only one or two breaks in the live feed.  

But what started out as a normal film festival - with the requisite crowds of black-clad Bohemians smoking cigarettes through plastic holders - quickly turned into an open-air brouhaha the moment waiters notified the audience in the VIP section there was an open bar.  

My taxi dropped me off at the Mena House Oberoi Hotel just outside the Pyramid complex.  After convincing several police officers that my tickets - printed from the internet - were indeed real, I was allowed entry into the compound, only to find out I was still 9 kilometers away from the event.  No ride meant a long hike through the dark desert in Giza.   

Luckily, a car pulled up beside me and offered to drive me into the party.  Even better, they had a VIP pass.  The pass let us park in the lot closer to the Pyramids.  More importantly, we were all granted access into the exclusive VIP section of the festival, a large area in the pit under the movie screen that sat around 150 people in plush, blue velvet couches in front of glass-topped tables.

Only the best for us VIPs.  Waiters with white gloves served chicken satay skewers and freshly squeezed watermelon juice.  Free bottles of Russian vodka and Moet were passed around like dollar bills at the Mexican border.  A man sitting near my table turned back a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label scotch, claiming that it wasn't good enough.  He ordered Chivas instead, and poured me a tall glass on the rocks.  

Cheers to global poverty, eh? 

With the caviar and French wine flowing strong, most of the VIPs walked around, mingled, and chatted up a storm throughout the night, making it virtually impossible to watch and appreciate the films - supposedly the point of the evening.  

Ironically, the general audience sat in tightly squeezed rows of chairs on a riser above us, shivering in the cold desert wind.  The poor people immediately above us had a front-row view of our lavish spread, close enough that I could almost feel them drooling.  One of them was a journalist, and she wrote this article, a great account of what they went through.  

The most disappointing thing about the night was the lack of emphasis on the actual films.  The majority seemed too short and too trite, barely even skimming the surface of any real story subjects.  Where were the hard hitting docs on stories that reflect the poverty, injustice, disaster and conflict that unfortunately ravages much of the world?  Instead we saw postcards from one girl's summer vacation to Lebanon.  It was as if Pangea Day didn't get enough submissions.  

In between the short films, there were long musical performances, dull interviews, and incessant blabbering by half-witted, wannabe celebrity presenters that were way too excited that a live performance across six cities was actually taking place.  Too much weight was placed on celebrating the event itself, rather than the films and filmmakers.  

Pangea Day was the brainchild of Jehane Noujaim, an Egyptian-American documentary filmmaker ("Control Room", "Startup.com") who I've always regarded as one of really great modern documentary filmmakers.  Although I've always admired Noujaim as an honest and uncompromising filmmaker, it seemed like Pangea Day pandered to advertisers and it's own sense of self-worth.  

Of course, this was the first ever year for the event.  There are kinks to work out and concepts to retool.  But at the end of the day, Pangea Day is a great concept for filmmakers and an amazing opportunity to expose the world to many of the stories that the fast-paced news markets aren't covering.  

Next year will be better.

Listen! - Escuche! - Escute! - Écoute!

from January 15, 2008 Press Release:

“I agree with Muriel Rukeyser that ‘the universe is made of stories, not atoms,’ and that monumental changes are only possible when the stories people tell each other about the world change. I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically endorse the International Day for Sharing Life Stories”
- Howard Rheingold, author, journalist, professor, Stanford University

The Museum of the Person International Network (Brazil, Portugal, USA and Canada) and the Center for Digital Storytelling (USA) have announced Listen! – International Day for Sharing Life Stories, an international celebration of life stories to take place on May 16th 2008. They are launching the project Website, to assist with information sharing and coordination of the campaign. The goal of the campaign is to gain broad recognition of May 16 as an annual day for sharing, listening to, and gathering the stories of people’s lives.

“Our two organizations see the movement to share life stories as a critical part of the democratic process,” states Joe Lambert, founder and director of the Center for Digital Storytelling. “As our own work has expanded around the globe from our respective countries, we have found ourselves in dialogue with colleagues who have countless different approaches and perspectives to life story, but who share the sense that this work is vital to our contemporary societies.”

“What has been lacking is a common call to celebrate all these different practices,” adds Karen Worcman, founder and director of the Museum of the Person. “Whether it is helping to collect a local oral history, encouraging new learners to share their life in writing, producing stories using analog or digital media, or exhibition of life stories online or through mobile technologies, we felt we needed a day to bring all these different practices – different roads to the same destination – together. This is what inspired us to join in this call. We want this day to be especially dedicated to celebrating and promoting life story projects that have made a difference within neighborhoods, communities, and societies as a whole.”

For more information visit the International Day for Sharing Life Stories on the Web.
The project is hosted by:
Museu da Pessoa (Museum of the Person)
The Center for Digital Storytelling
Sponsors include
Stories for Change

Pangea Day is a global event bringing the world together through film. Why? In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common. Pangea Day seeks to overcome that – to help people see themselves in others – through the power of film. [1]

This reminded me of "the healing of the nations" in Revelation 22 and I thought it worth considering how the Biblical narrative plays into events like these. What does this kind of event tell us about ourselves? Is "Pangea" Day, biblical? Revisiting the Genesis story helps to shed light.

The Tower of Babel of Genesis 11 tells a story of how the scattering of the nations came to be. Their goal, to "make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth" was not necessarily displeasing to God, but rather threatening.

If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. [2]

This seems odd. After all, shouldn't the Creator of the universe have a decent sense of security regarding pride of place. What endeavors could humanity possibly accomplish together that would warrant such a drastic intervention?

In context, humanity was commanded to "fill the earth," a spreading of God's image and blessings. But instead of following the command given to ADAM (אדם-humanity) to "be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth," which was a way of God spreading his image and blessings around, humanity decided to pursue their own glory and achievement. Remember their motive -- to "make a name" for themselves. Add to that the existence of a tower, and you have a solidified vision of establishing a long-term monument, not to God (אלהים), but to man. Again, the story of Babel explains how pride and vainglorious ends are in opposition with the original intended order.

Revelation dreams of a day when the depravity of humanity is reversed, and that Genesis order is truly restored. Listen to Revelation along side key elements of Pangea Day's Mission & Purpose.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, [pd: In a world where people are often divided by borders] bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations [pd: difference]. No longer will there be any curse [pd: and conflict]. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him [pd: its' easy to lose sight of what we all have in common.] They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads [pd (seeks to overcome that): to help people see themselves in others]. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light [pd: through the power of film]. And they will reign for ever and ever. The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place. [3] (italics mine)

I may be over alluding a bit, for sure. But I don't think it's a far stretch to say that deep in the psyche of humanity lies a very real sense of connectedness with the rest of the earth coupled with a sense of disunity and distance. And so it ought not surprise us, and in fact delight us, that globalization is allowing a "re-convergence" of humanity to occur in new and phenomenal ways. Revelation simply describes what we all wish to realize.

Perhaps we ought to think spiritually about gatherings like these, to be very careful to avoid building a name for ourselves, to monument humanity over the greater unifying spirit of the Creator. We may be wise in heeding the cautions of the Genesis story; that the reason to come together is to bear the image of God and the fullness of his blessings to the world, all of it. Genesis 11 commissions that to us, as "all the earth" (כל-הארץ) shows up five times in the narrative as a key phrase. You etymological fans are ahead of me already for we see one last parallel with the name "pangea" meaning "all the earth."

---

[1] http://www.pangeaday.org/aboutPangeaDay.php, viewed 5/12/2008
[2] Genesis 11:6
[3] Revelation 22:1-6 (NIV)