Where The Hell Is Matt?

You may have already seen this video, Where the Hell Is Matt. Apparently it has been very popular, but somehow I missed it. What an awesome idea! A fun little dance move that people all around the world joined in on to create a video spanning the entire globe. Funny how something so small can bring people together.



I would just like to say the sponsor, Stride Gum, deserves a big thank you for making it happen.

It Starts With One Person

Here is a great video showcasing the power one person has to start a movement. Through action others will follow.

Amnesty International and Imagine

Amnesty International and Yoko Ono teamed up recently in a new campaign for human rights. Using John Lennons song Imagine (which I posted here), Amnesty recreated the song in a video with children passing along their dreams for a better world. I am a big fan of the song, and am now a big fan of the campaign. Here is the video for your viewing pleasure:

UNICEF Tap Project

It was World Water Day last Saturday and I was too busy to post anything to remind people. However, a friend of mine wanted to share this video and I think it is a really interesting campaign that is something anyone can participate in. For your viewing pleasure:



For more about UNICEF's Tap Project check out their website.

Yes We Can

Great new YouTube video by Will I Am of the Black Eyed Peas. Based on Barack Obama's speech this star studded video is awesome. Inspiration for a better world is all around us, we just need to be open to it.

Check it out

Celebrities and the UN

It has become ALMOST popular culture. Celebrities are increasingly entering the realm of activism. While celebrities such as Bono and Angelina Jolie have taken most of the spotlight for their roles as Co-Founder of DATA (Product Red and ONE) and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, others such as Don Cheadle, in his role as Darfur activist, George Clooney, in the same role, and Brad Pitt with his environmental housing project in New Orleans, have also been making headlines. Most recently, George Clooney was named a UN "Messenger of Peace", a role he will take to help mediate the growing conflict in Nigeria.

A letter from militants in Nigeria shows fears that the escalating conflict could grow to be even worse than what is happening in Darfur.

The blending of celebrity with activist is an important step in the process of raising awareness. While they are often criticized for not doing enough, these celebrities are doing more than most to swing the tide of global degeneration. The fact that it is becoming popular culture means more to make average people aware of the world around them than does the traditional forms of activism. To reach the masses it must come from sources that the masses pay attention to.

The UN is making a bold and important step by associating itself with celebrities. It is averting its nation-to-nation role and entering the global-to-person arena. To do so it is using the celebrity avenue. Sports marketing companies have done this for years with great success. Nike, Reebok, and Adidas, have all made billions by garnering celebrity endorsement.

This video by the ONE organization (Bono's) depicts celebrities asking for the average persons help. It is a powerful message that creates a connection that people can share.



The importance of celebrity activism and popular culture is one that we can all share. You can buy a t-shirt that shows your favorite cause and parade it around for all to see, you can wear a rubber bracelet that has a few words of awareness, you can even post a video to YouTube that puts you alongside these celebrities in a medium that others can share in. The point is in order for awareness and activism to take the next step WE all need to do our part to make it hip and popular. WE need to help them to make it catch on. For it to become a movement WE need to participate.

If the UN can make the steps to start making activism cool, then we too can show others it is cool. It might come at us like a sales pitch, but don't be fooled by the criticism - It still needs to be sold. The world wont change when you purchase a t-shirt, but when you wear it around you open up the chance to change someones mind.

Join George, Brad, Angelina, Don and Bono and help make activism cool.

Earth Hour

I was sent this video about Earth Hour which started in Australia and is now spreading all over the world. It can have a huge impact and I implore you to take part. Check out the video.

New Years Resolutions

This will quite likely be my last post of the year. I would like to thank all of you who read this blog and provide your feedback - while I try to inspire people it is you who inspire me. It has been a busy few weeks in my life, even though I am on holidays. I will have a few things to announce in the new year which I am rather excited about, and I will try to post my Davos video before too long. I just have to figure out how to put it on video and post it to here and to Youtube.

This year brought many exciting changes in my life, and just a few things I wish I could have done differently. I think that is the case for most everyone, and the few who wouldn't change a thing can count themselves extremely lucky. Life has many ups a downs but I try to remember that with out the downs the ups just wouldn't exist. As we approach the new year I think everyone should think about a resolution. It is a goal for the next year of your life and the carrot at the end of the stick.

This year think about telling people your resolution. Write it down and put it on your bathroom mirror. Make it a solid goal - not just something you are thinking about and can easily forget about or let go - force yourself to make it real. Put yourself in a position to succeed and don't just create a resolution for the sake of having one.

We all have dreams, some of us over the years have been let down when we don't achieve our dreams, or feel scared to attempt accomplishing our dreams, and we are all conditioned to believe that dreams can never be reality. It is just not true - none of it. As the old saying goes, "If you believe then you will succeed" (or something like that). Dreams are not made to be broken, they are made to be accomplished. Failure to attempt is where real failure happens. If you try and it doesn't work then that is just a lesson on how you should try again next. Check out this video and get a taste of just what can happen when you dream.


My new years resolution is simple. Change the world little by little. I want to get my Ideal World book project up and running (which I will talk about in the new year), I want to graduate from International Project Management and get out into the field, I want to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, I want to lose some weight (preferably a lot of weight haha) and I want to write blog posts more frequently. Scratch that - I will accomplish all these things. I dream big and I won't settle for anything less than my dreams. Anything in life is possible, we just need to dream it first and then go out and do it. As Nelson Mandela said, "It always seems impossible until it is done."

Your Ideas in Davos

I came across this great new program on Youtube that lets anyone upload a video that has the chance to be seen by world leaders, global economists and some of the most influential people around the world at the Davos meetings in 2008. Just film your answer to the following question and then upload it to Youtube. The question is:

"What one thing do you think that countries, companies, or individuals must do to make the world a better place in 2008?"

Watch the following quick video for more information


You can also check out the website outlining the project with a little more detail here

Videos will be voted on starting January 1st and the winners will be screened January 23-27 at the World Economic Forum.

This is one spectacular way to have your idea and opinion shared and heard. If anyone has any ideas now is the time to voice them. I am going to be thinking about this one for the next few days and maybe I will post my filmed idea before January 1st. I would be really excited to see some of your ideas though so if you decided to participate then send me the link to your videos so I can bask in your great ideas!