Street

New World Order

This illustration from Marco Marella suggest very well what i’d like to express about the actual economy crisis — that it may not be the end, but rather the start of a new era — one where we’ll be free from the fear that reigns all over, free from the consumerism bulimia, sovereign and responsible of creating a better world, thus a better economic system where no one’s gonna lack of a shelter, clothes, food and love — a new world where everyone will do loving and appreciated work, where art will have its place, where our humanity will thrive on the understanding that we are all one, connected-and-in-need of each other.

Meanwhile, if you see something like a spaceship tomorrow October 14th 2008, or any other day, let me know!

Pangea Day

Cultivating fear

Make Art Public

One of my dear friends, Manuel Bujold, has been cooking up a brilliant project for the past couple of years, called MAP or Make Art Public / Mouvement d’art public.

It was finally launched a few months ago at Square Victoria metro station. If you live in Montreal, you might’ve seen that there is a publicity free section of billboards. The ads have been replaced by art, exposing artists to thousands of daily metro users. The project will also be launched in Ottawa, Québec, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Mexico.

Art will replace publicity in subways, bus stops, billboards and columns, so check it out if you can!

wemakeartpublic.com

Written by Moon-Hee for Vu d’ici

Shaking China

The support for Tibet is growing, awareness for the real picture is trying to reach masses.

“One World, One Dream” is China’s Olympic slogan. But the reality of China’s occupation of Tibet is a nightmare. Right now thousands of Tibetans are being arbitrarily detained, beaten and killed for speaking out for freedom.

On March 24th, China launched its Olympic Torch Relay. In the next two months, the torch will travel to cities around the world in a blatant attempt by the Chinese government to gain international acceptance and to divert attention away from its illegal occupation and current military crackdown inside Tibet.

I am always confused in these situations, because of the sudden wake up of people, but at the same time, as many others, i wonder if posting on the web is enough.

In a way it brings many people away from the ignorance of what the events are, but can we really call an activist someone who just copy-paste a banner code here and there, this as a mention of our contribution to change things? Is this really enough?

I think its not. But i cant go to China and try to shake things – i’d rather stay here and try to take conscious actions, such as boycotting all products made in China. Anything else i could do?

Links:
- Lose the propaganda, share the thruth;
- Beijing 2008 Torch Relay Truth! Banner, to share on facebook, blogs
- A Year Without “Made in China”: One Family’s True Life Adventure in the Global Economy
- Un an sans “made in China”? Mission impossible

If we ever land on Mars…

Argument Clinic

The Beckhams and the Hiltons of the web

A british school survey carried out by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers lead to the conclusion that 75% of today’s school children want to become famous sport or pop stars. Boys prefer David Beckham while girls favour Victoria Beckham or Paris Hilton.

The teachers are alarmed, because most of the children will realize that they won’t become the next Beckham or Hilton easily. They will grow up with a feeling of failure or low self-esteem when celebrity status is not achieved.

In my opinion this is not something new at all. Hey, my hero was Captain Kirk

I believe that most of the people nowadays want to become famous in the one or another way too:

being a successful entrepreneur, becoming financially independent (popularly known as “becoming rich”), having a lot of readers on your blog, hundreds of “followers” on Twitter, all these are indicators of the silent wish to be liked, valued and seen by other people.

I think these wishes are natural among all human beings, as long as people don’t suffer from peer community pressure, stress caused by pressure to become “famous”… and that’s where my critique of the “Web 2.0″ comes in:

I think the web tools we are currently using (like blogs, Twitter, MySpace or Facebook) can increase exactly this feeling of peer community pressure, because we are permanently following the life of our new “idols” (a blogger, or someone on Twitter or facebook) and then compare and measure ourself with these “idols”.

These new behaviours can easily result in a feeling of failure and low self-esteem. And beware! Some people are really good at “personal marketing” and trying to increase their community status on behalf of your feelings. Be conscious about it. Just think of it the next time you compare the number of people following you (”followers”) and people you follow (”following”) on Twitter.

On this, i wish you a relaxed day, without any peer community pressure!

(text by Chris Car)

Ron Paul – The High Tide

Entrevue à Musique Plus

J’était en entrevue à Musique Plus cet après-midi pour parler de blogues et de créativité, accompagnée de 4 autres filles inspirantes aux parcours différents : Marie-Ève Martel (écrivaine de voyage), Lizanne Castonguay, (Auteure de 18 ans), Soeur Marie Luquette (Jeune religieuse), Hélène Bélanger-Martin (Réalisatrice du film La Peau et les Os Après…)

Il faudra compter sur les redifusions pour voire l’émission puisque le tout était en direct.

Alors surement demain matin, 6h30 et/ou 10h.

Expo World press photo 07

À voir, l’événement World Press photo à Montreal, avec de magnifiques portraits des quatres coins du monde. Coeurs sensibles s’abstenirs.

worldphotomontreal.com.

Portrait de Serge Fiori

Superbe entrevue avec Fiori au Francs Tireurs. Richard Martineau a su présenter Fiori dans toute sa vulnérabilité, ses failles, sa sensibilitée, son authenticité, ses peurs de créatif blessé.

De belles longueures que les télédiffuseurs nous laissent rarement voir, essayant de bien packager des contenus pré-machés et vendeurs. Et moi qui adore, mais alors là adore, entendre parler les créateurs à propos de leurs expériences, leurs blessures et leurs bon coups, leurs visions, projets, etc…

Vive Télé-Québec pour ce superbe tête à tête.