Cellphone Dying? Get to Steppin'!

Japan is leading the way in harnessing the power of people’s footsteps in subway stations to power their ticket machines and billboards. So why not harness the energy that our bodies naturally output to charge something that always needs charging—our cellphones! I have been caught out there one too many times with a low-battery warning and if taking a walk would do the trick I’d not only be reachable but also fit! Orange Power Wellies are a new boot that uses your footsteps to charge your cell and I love the idea of using renewable energy for practical purposes. I can even foresee some slick new designs to accompany these once it hits the stores!

Image from www.gotwind.org

Don’t Drive Around a Bus—Drive Under It!

The Straddling Bus is China’s attempt to revolutionize the way we take public transportation and it’s o-so-21st-century. I’m sure there will be lots of kinks to work out but according to the video, it will not only save commuters time, but also help reduce the carbon footprint toll that transportation takes on our world. I, for one, am looking forward to this.

Make Love, Not War

Check out this video from Cultures of Resistance on the globalization of militaries/weaponries all around the world. Imagine how much money could go to education and healthcare instead of making weapons. Sad, really. 

Cultures of Resistance: A Look at Global Militarization from Cultures of Resistance on Vimeo.

Connect the Dots, Says Steve Jobs

I am inspired by college drop-out and Apple (and Pixar Animation) founder’s Stanford University speech about how his life’s ‘dots’ found a way to connect to form the magnificent picture of his accomplishments that we know today.

onBeing a Human Being

onBeing is a weekly multimedia series put out by the Washington Post, which explores the musings, opinions and anecdotes of everyday people through video portraits. onBeing is “based on the simple notion that we should get to know one another better.” It’s a great way to be a part of the human constellation.
http://specials.washingtonpost.com/mv/onbeing/

Screenshot from Washington Post

Taking the World by Storm: MediaStorm

I lovelovelove this website. They produce the most amazing, moving, informational, educational multimedia stories, with photography, video and graphics to rival the very best—hell, they ARE the best. Their pieces have been featured on everything from the Washington Post to National Geographic. Check out any of their ‘films’ and be inspired!

http://www.mediastorm.com/client/projects.html

Keep It Real: 4Real

4Real is an online community that produces—among other things—a TV series that highlights countries and people interested in real social change. My favorite episode is about my native Liberia, which features singer MIA and humanitarian Kimmie Weeks.

Definitely check out their other series. For real.

http://4real.com/tv/details.asp?pageid=13

The Q Drum: A Rolling Revolution

When we need potable water, we walk to the nearest corner store--there's one on damn near every block. But for countless women around the world—especially in Africa—clean, drinkable water is not as accessible to them as a bottle of Deer Park from 7-11 is for us.


The responsibility to walk miles each day to get water falls on women—and children. They carry what they can manage, on their heads, in unbearable heat, no matter how far. And with climate change affecting water availability in many parts of Africa, they are starting to travel even farther.


Enter The Q Drum, a rollable water container that is a simple but much needed-water container that will change the way women can fetch their water.


Their site says it is a “durable, donut shaped plastic container which when full holds 50 litres of water. Its uniqueness lies in the design of the longitudinal shaft or central hole, through which a rope is tied, to pull or roll the drum along all terrain types.”


Kudos for a small design that will make a huge difference in many women’s lives.


For more information visit: http://qdrum.co.za/