"Dancing": Four Million Views on YouTube

Two weeks ago, a guy named Matt Harding posted a YouTube video of him dancing with people throughout the world. "Dancing" has become a cultural phenomenon with more than four million views on YouTube. This sequel video to his original 2004 and 2006 "Where the Hell is Matt?" videos has caught fire worldwide (the 2006 original itself has ten million views in two years).

This reminds us that simple ideas can be the most effective. Learn more about Matt and his efforts in the recent New York Times article and be sure to watch all of this inspiring video.

Video: Burma, it can't wait

The devastation from a recent cyclone in Burma has been on the news for almost 2 months, but regrettably the devastation continues every day. Burma is currently ruled by a brutal military dictator who, among other committed atrocities, has recruited upwards of 70,000 children (starting from age 11) into the army for war against neighboring minorities, villages and even citizens. Currently the rightful leader of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, is on house arrest, illegally, according to UN interanational law.

At the website, Burma: It Can't Wait (burmaitcantwait.org), celebrity shorts with Will Farrell, Jennifer Aniston, Tila Tequila, and 10's of others, call attention to the various complexities of the situation, but bring to the attention  the realistic change of hope for Burma- by helping add your voice to the cause.

Add you voice, and join the campaign here.

Crossing Cultures, Crossing Boundaries - Pangea Day

On May 10th, at 18:00GMT, a live broadcast of 24 short films from all over the country will be broadcast in public areas and online in an powerful move to bridge cultures from over the world using media.

Pangea Day "is a global event bringing the world together through film... 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.

For more information about Pangea Day, as well as a list of venues, visit www.pangeaday.org. To learn about the idea's history, check out the most recent post on Pogue's Post in the NYTimes.

This event will be culturally historic- and a example of the power of change new media can have on all people, not matter where in the world you are watching television, or browsing YouTube channels.

Video: Starbucks to Honor Ethiopian Coffee Farmers

With the help of various supporters, Oxfam America and Starbucks have ended their long battle to allow  Ethiopia's coffee sector to brand their own coffees, which would in turn give Ethiopians more rights to control their brands.

"Starbucks is one of the first in the coffee industry committing to sign a licensing agreement with Ethiopia. With these agreements in place, Ethiopians could build the value of of their coffees and capture a greater share of the retail price for their farmers." - Oxfam America

The video below features a 'thank you' from Oxfam America President Raymond C. Offenheiser as well as an Ethiopian coffee producer, bringing home the point of this great new opportunity as well as the benefits it provides to both the producer and consumer.

Video: Innovate or Die

Brought to us by Google and Specialized Bicycle Components, the Innovate or Die Pedal-Powered Machine Contest was a contest designed to inspire innovation and environmental change by highlighting the benefits of cycling.

The Challenge: Invent and put together machines that transform zero-emission human energy into new and useful purposes.

The Result: Success- hundred folds. Entries from all around presented their own ideas, the winner however, took a Playpumps-esque idea and made it mobile. The Aquaduct:  Mobile Filtration Vehicle, a bicycle that not only provides an environmentally friendly transportation, but also provides a means to create and move clean filtered water long-distances. It was designed to target problems in areas where clean water is not readily available, and as a result, leads to millions of deaths every year.

I present to you the winner the Innovate or Die contest, The Aquaduct:  Mobile Filtration Vehicle...

Be sure to also check out the other entries on their YouTube page here.

Sources:

• Google Blog
• Innovate or Die Contest Page

Video: DoGooderTV - 2nd Annual Non-Profit Video Awards

Following the successful turn out from last year's contest, DoGooderTV is once again holding their Nonprofit Video Contest (presented by NTEN and See3 Communications).

The premise of the contest is to highlight nonprofit organizations using technology to inspire and promote their cause. New technologies have created several compelling mediums to reach people, DoGooderTV is out to make sure we all see it.

Below is last year's winner from the organization Avazz, titled "Stop the Clash of Civilizations".

Submit your video here.

View this year's entries here.

Video: On the Record

ONE, the huge (2.4 million members) non-profit humanitarian organization that is best known for fighting hunger has recently developed their "On the Record" campaign. The sub-portal on the ONE website, One the Record, interviews presidential candidates from Republican and Democratic parties, and briefs visitors on the candidates stance and approach to ending hunger if elected president. It also allows visitors to select and compare the responses of up to 3 candidates on questions about reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS, improving child and maternal health, universal primary education, and some others.

Visit the On the Record website

Learn more about ONE

t5m Launches Socially-Concsious Online-TV

Website: www.t5m.com

While still maintaining their intent on entertaining and inspiring, t5m now gives users direct access to original, broadcast interviews featuring famous personalities, events and news stories - covering headlines from fashion to the causes the stars support. t5m will feature an extraordinary range of people from actress Kate Bosworth to explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, author Barbara Taylor Bradford to musician James Blunt, and from world champion surfer Kelly Slater to actor Christian Slater.

Nelson Mandela's HIV/AIDS campaign, 46664, is the first cause to announce its involvement. The dedicated 46664 channel is already live as part of today's beta launch of t5m.com.

Charlie Muirhead, founder and CEO of t5m commented: "The next wave of entertainment is inspiration. Nothing else on the web offers such direct, unmediated access to the people and stories shaping the world we live in. We hope that t5m will be a much loved addition to every web user's favorites."

Video: One Laptop Per Child

Albiet controversial, the motive and intentions are admirable; One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is an innovative approach to empowering children in developing countries by providing them free laptops. The challenges of getting the XO laptop at the target price of $100 was a feat in itself, now the challenge of convincing people that this cause is worthwhile will be the tallest hurdle to jump.

From the OLPC website | Mission
The mission of One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected laptop to every school-age child. In order to accomplish our goal, we need people who believe in what we’re doing and want to help make education for the world’s children a priority, not a privilege.

Since November 12th, OLPC has been offering a limited-time Give One Get One program in the United States and Canada. During Give One Get One, you can donate the revolutionary XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and also receive one for the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. Thanks to a growing interest in the program, we are extending Give One Get One until the end of the year. Through this extension, and the increasing public interest in OLPC, we hope to give many more children the opportunity to grow, explore, learn and express themselves.

Broadcast Your Cause

Founded in 1995, the Rainbow Network is a Christian ministry working in rural Nicaragua with some of the poorest people in the world. They focus on four areas: healthcare, education, housing, and micro-loans.

In order to further awareness of their mission and highlight some of their work, they've developed a YouTube Channel where they post several related video.

Seems small, but channels like this one exemplify the far-reaching uses of Web 2.0 that are being use to benefit non-widely known foundations.