Michael Jackson – On The Cello

Stjepan Hauser and Luka Sulic turn Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’ into a classical battle on their cellos. Awesome and strangely attractive.

A Challenge For Scotland

Greenpeace is awesome. No doubt about it.

Ruth Davis, chief policy adviser at Greenpeace UK gave this speech to the Sustainable Development Commission in Scotland last year, and it’s worth watching.

Some headlines –

• It just wasn’t politically possible to transform rich country economies in the 10-year timescale, as well as funding a just development transition for poorer countries.
• Now focusing on a bottom-up approach, creating solutions that can be scaled
• Investment into renewables has to happen. We can’t move forward without it. Hence the Beyond Oil campaign.

State Of The Union Songified

I have literally had this on repeat all day, and it is now in my top-played list on iTunes. The Gregory Brothers are perhaps my favourite people ever. Especially Michael. And Evan. And Sarah. And Andrew. Ok, all of them.

Link Loving 01.02.11

• The University of Strategic Optimism gives a lecture outside ‘tax-efficiency specialists’, publicly-owned Coutts & Co.
• Joshua Heller reveals what the rest of the world uses instead of Facebook.
• Stewart Wallis explains that different people were being listened to in Davos this year.
• Umair Haque reveals the 10 things you’re not allowed to say at Davos. Hilarious and spot-on.
• Seth Godin gives advice that rings so true – three ways to help people achieve.
• David Bosco asks who will lobby for the International Criminal Court?
• Suzanne Goldenberg reveals Ban Ki Moon’s change in tactics on climate.
• Stephanie Strom and Miguel Helft on how Google.org has failed to fulfil it’s bold promises.
• Denmark introduces a tax on fat in foods.
• A Buddhist temple made out of beer bottles. Seriously.

The World’s Most Successful Hunger Eradication Program?

Brazil’s Zero Hunger programme has wowed policy circles over the last couple of years with it’s remarkable results. This short video reveals some of the reasons why it’s had such success. Some stand-out learnings;

• Give people what they want.
• Help people help themselves.
• Social proof. Tell a story that this is happening for everyone.

h/t Alex Evans