GetUp have launched Oz in 30 seconds - subtitled “Political ads authorised by you”. It’s a competition to create a 30 second political ad:

This is a chance to show us your Australia by making a 30 second political ad, which we will air on national prime time television during the lead up to the federal election.

In 30 seconds, show us a slice of your vision: perhaps it’s a call to action on an issue close to your heart; or maybe an idea that brings us closer to the Australia you want to live in; or your take on a major policy or event, rather than the spin you’ve been fed.

The title of the comp suggests it’s inspired by MoveOn.org’s successful Bush in 30 seconds competition. Though GetUp have wisely chosen to not focus on one particular candidate.

So, if you’ve got a concept, get it up

Well - Earth Hour was a lot of fun, and a roaring success.

Check out the official press release for more detail, but the highlights are:

• An estimated 2 million Sydneysiders participated by switching off their lights or taking other energy saving measures;
• A 10.2% drop in energy usage across the Sydney CBD;
• A significant drop in energy usage across Western Sydney - the same amount of electricity required to power 6500 homes.

Ang and I walked through Circular Quay for the start of Earth Hour, then attended the WWF fundraiser event.

On the bus on the way to the Quay, I started noticing the difference at around World Square, with Ernst & Young having their lights off. IAG was amazingly dark.

When we got the the Quay, AXA and AMP were both in darkness. A lot of the restaurants around the Quay were also candlelit.

It was both eery and cool and exciting to be walking through the city. You really could notice the difference. I’ve heard a report of a cab driver thinking there was a city blackout…

The Earth Hour Flickr group has some great shots. The before and after of Centrepoint is great, as is the blurry one at the end. Although side-by-side they don’t look as impressive, when you overlay one after the other the difference is amazing!

What’s really cool is a lot of the businesses remained in darkness all weekend - meaning an even bigger energy saving. Integral noted the same thing in the areas where they operate.

Anyways - had a great night, and it feels wonderful to be part of the team that made it happen. I’ll remember it fondly for a long, long time methinks…

Amnesty International have just launched a very clever site as part of their campaign to Bring David Hicks home.

They have a “cell” - the same as the one David Hicks has been held in for 5 years without trial - that they are touring around the country with. Visitors to the cell are presented with a “passport” explaining David’s situation, and once in the cell, they can leave a video message, which is then presented on the Bring David Hicks home website.

If you have visited the cell, you can find your video by using the search/filter options on the site.

I think the site is very good - helping to bring home the reality of Hicks’ situation and allowing people to connect in a more emotional way with what is often presented as a legal or political issue.

I also love the fact that the site uses YouTube for video hosting - a fantastic use of participant media.

The site was launched yesterday by Digital Eskimo - who also helped WWF build the Future is man made site. Nice work!

Update: GetUp have also just launched a new video as part of their campaign on the same issue.

They are looking for a Web Editor/Producer. More over the jump…

(more…)

After a few months of development (and many months of thinking and strategising) I’m proud to announce the launch of the new Future is man made website.

From the blurb on the home page:

This site … is a place where people can share their ideas for living sustainably. We hope the tips and stories here will be useful for you and that you will share your ideas here too.

As part of the team at WWF, I very much hope that the site will become a hub of activity from folks around Australia can share their stories, tips and experiences to make it easier to live more sustainably.

To kick things off, and as part of the Earth Hour promotional activity, the site has a “60 things you can do in the dark” competition - submit your ideas for a chance to win a Nokia 3250 mobile phone and Planet Earth DVD.

I could go into more details about the strategy, development and details, but really, I’d just prefer to point and let y’all decide if you like it or not Feel free to let me know what you think by leaving a comment here, or through the site’s contact form.

Big props to Digital Eskimo who were fantastic to work with to get the site up and running. It’s been a blast working with them on the project - muchos kudos guys

This video from Amnesty USA gets to the core of the problems with the US’s human rights abuses in the wake of 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Google is taking aerial shots of Sydney tomorrow, Australia Day 2007. Some enterprising campaigner has put out the word that there is a global warming action at Bondi tomorrow:

Are you in Bondi tomorrow?

8:30am Bondi Beach TOMORROW (Fri 26 Jan)

Make a human sign: “VOTE CLIMATE” for the Google Earth Aeroplane

Meet South end, at the big “Climate Action Now” banner, wear a dark colour, bring an umbrella and a beach towel. RSVP to “The Walk Against Warming Team”, ehowden@nccnsw.org.au so we know what size to make the letters.

We need at least 100 people - that means we need you!

I can’t make it. Can you?

Just came across (via Carl’s Kiva blog) a PBS Frontline special on Kiva. It’s kinda old news now - but absolutely worth mentioning…

….so says Greenpeace. And I have to say based on what I know I have to agree - certainly not under the current conditions where no real examination of alternatives has been carried out.

Anyways - I signed their petition. If you’re so inclined, join me

Oxfam Australia: Starbucks opposes Ethiopia’s plan to trademark specialty coffee names that could bring farmers an estimated $116 million annually: “Starbucks opposes Ethiopia’s plan to trademark specialty coffee names that could bring farmers an estimated $116 million annually”

Ethiopia attempts to trademark the names of its renowned specialty coffees that giant’s like Starbucks use to get premium prices in their stores. Starbucks intervenes and blocks the application. These names belong to the people of Ethiopa - Starbucks has no right.

I hope that Oxfam puts together a good online action for this - I’m sure they’d get a lot of support.