#reducing world suck

[bookwormpanda]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psaVQpxpuK0)

just a reminder guys, the annual project for awesome guys, this is a great opportunity to do good, have fun, and learn about amazing charities and organizations

[julioxcuckooface]

21 years ago, a 12-year old Severn Cullis-Suzuki traveled to Brazil to speak at the very first U.N. Conference on climate change. 

[blessed-but-distressed]

Making is Connecting

There is a book that I have had from the university library for the last year. (Legally renewed, I swear it.) If someone recalls it, I will cry, and have to actually go buy my own copy.

It is called "Making is Connecting: The social meaning of creativity, from DIY and knitting to YouTube and Web 2.0" by David Gauntlett

It provides the theoretical justification for how I intend on living my life, which is to say, letting small acts of creativity breed larger social change and spread happiness.

I've seen this work in my own life. I've seen the vlogbrothers, John and Hank Green combine their immense YouTube power to create The Project for Awesome: The Foundation to Decrease World Suck.

http://fightworldsuck.org/

I've seen Amanda Palmer redefine the parameters of the musician/fan relationship using her blog, twitter and hugs. (I've been on the recieving end of one such a hug.)

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/03/watch-amanda-palmers-ted-talk.html

I've seen creative place-making and methods of tactical urbanism help to rejuvenate a city recovering from disaster, as is the case of GapFiller in Christchurch, New Zealand.

http://www.gapfiller.org.nz

And then there are the everyday things. Fan Art. Memes. Fan Fiction. Guerilla Gardening. Knitting Circles. Etsy. Instructables.com. My laughable attempts at playing 1930 on my ukulele. The screen prints I make for my friend's presents.

I am so fucking inspired by all of these awesome people who have made it their mission to make the world suck just a little less by being creative, and sharing their creativity with others. I aspire to be one of them.

Rachel.

[enough-to-eat]

Case Study: Kiva

www.kiva.org 

Kiva is an organisation that I was directed to through watching the VlogBrothers (Hank and John Green) on YouTube (anyone who knows what DFTBA stands for gets a high five from me at this point!!). It is an organisation which allows ordinary people like you and me who have access to the internet to make loans to small businesses in the Majority world. it's tagline is "loans that change lives." 

So through Kiva, you and I can lend all or part of the money, for example, which a farmer in Uganda requires to buy the tools they need. It allows those who do not have access to a banking system to use an ethical version of that structure.

I would advise everyone to check it out- personally I've joined the NerdFighters team, but there are plenty of teams to be a part of, and it's a great way of doing something really positive.

[eightfoldwordplay]

and I'm so proud of him :)

[foxyc0xy]

Today, me and Jess introduced our physics teacher to the world of Nerdfighteria, thusly making him a NerdFighter. My world has become a little greater. (Strictly speaking not Brian Cox but its physics so). DFTBA.

[bowithoutadaemon]

I just signed up at Kiva (using John Green's invite link which gave me 25$ to lend for free) and now am on an inviting spree but have run into a problem.

Like would it be totally stupid to invite a former friend who I bet would love the concept of Kiva but who I most definitely do not want to have contact with again?

Also if you haven't heard of Kiva you should go sign up and start reducing world suck one loan at a time. http://www.kiva.org/invitedby/jonatan1128

[narkeza22]

Seriously if everyone accpted their differences the world will be a better place

Reducing world suck.

No more wars and the death it causes. No more murders or attacks.