Simply Wonder-full.

P/s: I also love the Alpaca Reversible hat! Made in Peru by a group of women to improve their family’s income.

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”

- Vincent van Gogh

Women hold up half the sky — Chinese Proverb

Reality is hard. It is a startling revelation at times often because we choose to surround ourselves with our view and experience of the world. This Thanksgiving, I am reminded of reality when I sat down to read Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. In Half the Sky, Kristof and WuDunn throw an interesting twist into the conventional view of plights of women around the world: by telling their stories. From Cambodia to South Africa. From sex slaves to maternal health. By putting a name, emotion and passion into the stories. This tentative foray into the realm of story-telling melds surprising well with what is, essentially, a passionate call to action against our generation’s most pervasive human rights violation: the oppression of women and girls worldwide.

The opening of the book follows the story of Srey Rath, a young Cambodian teenager, who was sold as a sex salve across the borders, ending up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where she endured routine brutality and constant humiliation. It was a huge shock to my system, as Malaysia is someplace I call my home town…  to read in such vivid detail the human rights violation done to Srey Rath was stunning in every sense.

These stories of human perseverance, injustice and ultimately hope, just like Srey Rath, are woven into three main issues: sex trafficking and forced prostitution; gender-based violence e.g. honor killings and mass rape and maternal mortaility. Sub issues include education, microcredit and religion. The stories in the book are shocking, but ultimately this is the central truth of the book: Women aren’t the problem but the solution. The plight of girls is no more a tragedy than an opportunity.

“It appears that more girls have been killed in the last fifty years, precisely because they were girls, than men were killed in all battles of the twentieth century. More girls are killed in this routine “gendercide” in any one decade than people were slaughtered in all the genocides of the twentieth century.

In the nineteenth century, the central moral challenge was slavery. In the twentieth century, it was the battle against totalitarianism. We believe that in this century, the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality around the world. ”

Through stories, Kristof and WuDunn demonstrate how the key to economic progress lies in the fact that as a society, we need to stop ignoring women who hold up half the sky. Unleashing this incredible human potential is not only the right thing to do in terms of our own shared humanity, but also the best way to tackle poverty. They show how in vastly different circumstances, the endurance of the human spirit and how a little help can go a long way e.g. the simple act of iodizing salt to improve a baby’s IQ.

I won’t go into the details of the book because my summary will not do these incredible stories justice. However, on a personal level, this book’s message has imprinted itself deeply within my beliefs in international development. After all, how many books make such a  statement about a matter than concerns everyone because of our shared humanity? The stories of these women show me the resilience and amount of hope they have within themselves who have every reason to give up but continue on. It’s so moving and inspirational that I just want to shout it out loud and tell everyone about the issues Kristof and WuDunn have written about. If there is one thing that this book is about, it is the story of transformation.

Rating: 10/10

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” — Derek Bok

I’m at a point in my life where the decisions that I make are of my own and not predetermined by the educational path that society has laid out for me. It’s almost alarming to think about the fact that for the bulk of my life, my education has been shaped by forces that has approved this path as a “natural” (and necessary!) progression in life.

What I have come to realize over the years though, through a series of unexpected events, is the beauty of imagination. I was asked the question recently of why/what I was passionate about international development/life… and the words tumbled out of my mouth explaining social change and the nature of aid before I even realized, wait… it was a textbook answer and wasn’t the entire truth of why I love this space — the international development, empowerment, social finance and innovation.

So, to share a part of my journey, this is why I love this space and what I got out of education. One word.

This singular concept has been the catalyst in my life to meeting amazing concepts, people, books and initiatives. It is the fact that imagination is the ability to free oneself from the constraints of the human condition. The fact that when you allow yourself to explore spaces that leaves you completely out of your comfort zone, it serves the purpose of satisfying your mind’s hunger for knowledge. The human thirst for knowledge and innovation is the result of imagination. Humans create and invent as a result of imagination. But most of all, what I am really excited about, is that with imagination, its the way that we view the world, and how all of that can change, the minute you open your mind to the possibilities. i.e. Sharing a social finance model to the investment world, empowering women that there are better ways to feed your child or something as simple as remaking used plastic bags into makeshift footballs.

Most people get through life thinking “if I can make it through this, things will be better later,”. But they forget that the experiences they have, shape who they are and they eventually forget what “better” and “later” means. And we see this phenomenon everywhere, from the politically suppressed society to the 40 year old who’s working a 9–5 job and hating every minute. They forget how to imagine. To create. They forget that the predetermined paths that society has somehow conjured along the way may not necessarily be the best path, and who is to say it is the right path to begin with? The world/people are quite eager to give you a set of criterias for your life, if you let it. They forget that we have the power to change educational systems, to change the way we interact with our environment, to bring on the culture we wish to see at work, or to even bring on that New Economic World Order!

Is imagination merely a talent, such as a good singing voice, the ability to “make things up: or “think things up” or “get ideas”? Or is it, like science, a way of knowing things that can be known in no other way? We have much reason to think that it is a way of knowing things not otherwise knowable. As the word itself suggests, it is the power to make us see, and to see, moreover, things that without it would be unseeable. In one of its aspects it is the power by which we sympathize. By its means we may see what it was to be Odysseus or Penelope, or David or Ruth, or what it is to be one’s neighbor or one’s enemy. By it, we may “see ourselves as others see us.”

It is also the power by which we see the place, the predicament, or the story we are in.”

– From Wendell Berry, “God Science, and Imagination” in Imagination in Place

(from: http://tinyurl.com/yey35nv)

“We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we’re building here a clearing house that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world’s most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other.” http://www.ted.com

Starting out in 1984 as a conference bringing experts from the world of Technology, Entertainment and Design, it has since evolved into something more. Ideas and concepts that resonate. Shared. Spoken about. In the spirit of spreading ideas, TEDx has been created, enabling communities around the world to construct a TED-like conference with support from TED.

Here at UBC, we have our very own TEDx Terry Project. The project launched last year and was received with tremendous success. This October 3rd would be the 2nd Terry round of talks and registration is now open!

“Imagine UBC’s most fascinating and engaging students coming together for a day, giving ‘the talk of their lives,’ sharing their ideas and discussing their visions for UBC and the world. Now imagine being there, with students, alumni, faculty, administration, and members of the general public watching this unfold and partaking in the various discussions, and think of all the possibilities that this idea-share holds.” — http://www.terry.ubc.ca

photo credit: abdallahh

Registration is free and comes with a free lunch. It is currently restricted to UBC students, staff and faculty and some alumni. To reserve a ticket, click here, and to have a glimpse of what is in store for us, check out what happened last year!

I had the pleasure of attending TerryTalks last year and it was a wonderful experience. UBC has some of the brightest student minds in North America and the ideas that were shared last year blew me away. I am definitely not missing this year’s! Get your tickets now and see you there!

Here’s how we break it down:

1) We start with an idea. The girl effect had this fact sheet and Obama had a presidential campaign to sell.

2) The question: How do we get people to care? How can we create a movement?

3) Now, think about it. What would you do if you were in their situation? What is the most effective way of reaching as many people as possible given our resources and message? Many of us who are trying to fund-raise for a cause, running for an election — think for a minute what you have done in this same situation.   Most of us would use Word-Of-Mouth support, newspapers, personal websites, facebook with personal networks, and often; that is more than enough.

But what if instead, the people you are trying to reach out to, instead of being your university, is magnified thousands times fold to a nation?   And to add in another clincher, what if you only had 4 minutes to sell your idea?

4) Now, watch both videos. That’s what they came up with.

The Girl Effect

Yes, we can

5) Both videos are have their dissimilarities, but deconstructing the videos further, here’s what I was most drawn by both concepts:

1) Usage of typography and colours. Less is more. Both videos only have 3 colours — black, white, red (Yes, we can) or orange (the girl effect). Brilliant. Often colours can overwhelm the sense and take away from the main message. This way, the changing of colours of the typography, draw us in towards the importance of the words and the weight that they carry.

Yes,  we can: notice that words only appear after the main punch of the speech is delivered, and the words merely give us a reinforcing ‘graphical’ representation of what was said earlier.

The girl effect: how many videos do you know that are made up of purely only words, that you are hooked onto every letter. Note the effects of ‘sinking’, stretching of typography on words like ‘profits’, and how the typography seem to take a life and meaning of the words they present.

2) Music — Music is an element that transcends race, culture, and the merging of a brilliant score with the magic of the internet is a winning combination.

Yes, we can: Notice that the main message of Obama that his campaign team wants to be delivered — Yes we can, we want change, is spoken and chanted throughout the music video, solidifying the phrase in your mind even after you have finished watching the video. This video is one of the most beautiful harmonizations of speech and song, balancing the seriousness of the message and catchy tune that occurs throughout the video. To add to the political feel of the video, they threw in chants in the background — just like one would experience in a political rally.

On top of all of that, they used singers that have different pitch classes, combining them in polyphony, a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice creating the order of each unique voice fitting into the picture of ’ yes, we can’. It creates the effect of being inclusive and united — great delivery.

The girl effect: When words fail us, music speaks, and the makers of The Girl Effect, used purely instrumental music to evoke the emotions that they want. First, choice of music — classical, without words, drawing the viewers of the video into the words. The music is there to create and enhance the emotion. It starts with a piano introduction with (I’m guessing — do correct me if i am wrong) a xylophone carrying the melody of the piece. Brilliant choice of instrumentation as its bright, sharp tones are often associated with the ‘aha!!’ moments — like a bell going off in our heads.

Usage of pauses creates the dramatic effect — See 0:32s into the video the climax of  where the register of the piece, moves into the higher octaves and stopping abruptly before the presentation of the main idea (0:32s) — A Girl with a single chord. The music after this, takes on a beautiful homophony, a texture in which two or more parts move together in harmony, the relationship between them creating chords, layering in idea after idea, part after part, building upon the foundation of the main idea — A Girl. Another pause occurs at 1:40s when another idea is presented.

The music then moves to a Development stage– presenting what happens with a girl is helped, before modulating back to the original theme that was presented at the start. Notice that the movement of the piece is presented in A-B-A theme, the “A” parts addressing what you can do and what you should do, and “B” part, what a girl can do. Great underlying distinction of what you can do and what a girl can do using music, isn’t it?

3) Presentation of idea. An idea which advocates change needs to engage an audience on these three levels: Visualization, credibility and impact ( micro –> macro). An audience needs to be able to relate to your idea, to actually think that your idea is worthwhile, and to be able to see its impact.

Yes, we can:

Credibility: obviously the use of big movie stars and singers were a great draw, especially in terms of drawing the type of audience.

Visual: The image of Obama presenting his speech throughout the video interchangeable with images of the singers.

Impact — the core message of this video is, besides “yes we can” is to VOTE. Simple action on a micro level, but huge on an macro level: all you have to do is fill out a ballot and watch change unfold. Evidently, it worked!

The Girl Effect: Now this a little trickier with limited funds and resources. What do you do then? You sell your video line by line. Curiosity always kills the cat, and the video is built on a question– answer basis.

Credibility: They build a concrete idea without overwhelming you and by appealing logically step by step to things that have been done.

Visual: they ask you to visualize in a a form of a simple story line, what a girl can do in her village.

Impact: they then multiply the idea of helping a single girl by 600 million girls in developing nations and combined with a brilliant use of dots multiplying across your screen — voila, you’re not only hit with the visual impact, but the micro to macro shift in idea.

2 minutes later you’re left sitting in your chair thinking — man, that was awesome and that totally can happen.

***

So, the next time you want to spread a cause you believe in, think about the message you are sending with your colours, typography, music and presentation: visual, credibility and impact (micro to macro).
Maybe, you’ll be able to create the awareness and change that you are looking for.

…Because anybody can serve.  You don’t have to have a college degree to serve.  You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.… You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve.

You only need a heart full of GRACE.  A soul generated by LOVE. ”

–Martin Luther King, Jr.

The main speakers of the event would be World Peace through Personal Peace @ UBC Chan Centre:

1) The Dalai Lama “When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.”

2) Desmond Tutu …is a South African cleric and activitist who won a Nobel Peace Prize in his fight against apartheid. He also won the Albert Schweitzer prize for Humanitarianism and the Gandhi Peace Price. Desmond Tutu campaigns for human rights, the oppressed, AIDS, homophobia, poverty and racism. Tutu is widely regarded as “South Africa’s moral conscience” and has been described by Nelson Mandela, as ” the voice of the voiceless.”

3)  Matthieu Ricard — http://www.matthieuricard.org/ …is a Buddhist monk, author and photographer in Nepal. Dubbed as “the happiest person in the world” by scientists, Ricard’s books mainly center around the meaning and fulfillment of happiness. He is also deeply engaged in the effect of mind training of the brain at Princeton and Berkeley. Ricard received the French National Order of Merit for his humanitarian work in the East.

4)  Eckhart Tolle … is a Canadian-German spiritual teacher, author and motivational speaker. He is most famous for his book “The Power of Now”, which emphasizes not being caught up in thoughts of the past and future and being aware of the present moment. It has been a NY Time bestbeller, and listed as one of Oprah’s favourite book. Since, he has published “A New Earth” exploring the structure of the human ego and how it acts to distract people from their present experiences.

Other notable speakers are:

Co-Recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize Mairead Maguire and Betty Williams for their work in Peaceful resolutions in Northern Ireland, Nobel Peace Prize Jody Williams for her work in banning landmines, Ken Robinson (Creativity expert), Daniel Siegel, Kim Campbell and Ashley Judd.

Tickets start at $100 for the main event and $60 for the others.

The event can be viewed here. Tickets can be purchased here.

See YOU there!

Note: Bios of speakers and pictures are taken and paraphrased (bios) from Wikipedia