I just saw the latest from the imagination of Michel Gondry, one of my favorite music video directors.  The concept is so simple and playful. A great accompaniment for Mia Doi Todd’s  “Open Your Heart.” Check it out:

After watching the video, it had me scanning Oaxaca for interesting juxtapositions of color (an easy task in such a colorful city). Where does color and image play a role in your life?  Can you think of a particular place or time where color evoked a feeling or memory for you?  Are there any images in our gallery that use color in a way that you find intriguing?  Let us know!

Cheers,

Megan

In a past blog post, we highlighted Playing for Change, an organization that promotes peace through music. Their latest endeavor definitely caught our attention, for the sheer beauty of the story behind it, not to mention the music that accompanies it.

Rather than paraphrase a wonderful story, I encourage you to listen to the music, feel the joy, and then read Mark Johnson’s description of this project below.

When we think about the role of dreams in our lives, they serve as both the places we go when we shut our eyes as well as the hopes and aspirations we hold for the future of our loved ones and ourselves. Playing For Change began as a dream to create something that could be full of positivity and inspiration for the human race. We have found that music is the greatest tool on earth for us to achieve our dreams of a better world for everyone. The village of Kirina, Mali is the heart and soul of this dream and a place with music at its core.

It is an ancient village with about 1,000 people, all of whom are descendents of musicians– many of them over 75 generations! They have no electricity, but enough soul to brighten all of us as we share this journey together. It is also the home of the newest Playing For Change Music School. When they heard the Playing For Change crew was coming to visit them to discuss the idea for the new school, they told us they had dreamed we would come. They went on to explain that they are prepared to be a part of the next chapter of our life’s journey, and thus have titled the new school “The Playing For Life” Music school.

Last week we traveled with the Playing For Change team to Kirina with our brother and soul mate Baaba Maal. He is a legendary singer in West Africa, and even he was humbled by the opportunity to visit the people of Kirina and meet the elders. He told us that he learned about Kirina growing up in school, but did not realize that it was a real place that still maintains their ancient traditions and culture. We traveled with 4 cars full of musicians and the Playing For Change crew and were greeted with open arms and songs from the villagers. We gave gifts to the elders and were granted permission for Baaba and friends to perform music for the village chief under their mango tree. I swear if ever humanity has shined a light it was on this day!! Baaba performed for all the people in Kirina and was joined by our friend and percussion master, Mohamadou Diabate. The elders from the village had donated land for us to build our new music school, and this day was an opportunity to celebrate the great future we all share together.

I ask everyone who believes in a better world for tomorrow to join us today to build our next great music and art school in the village of Kirina, Mali. Together, it is a dream that we can make come true, and we will always know that there is a place where music and inspiration are passed on from generation to generation for the betterment of all of humanity – Playing For Life!!!

For anyone wanting to contribute, you can find more information on their website, Playing for Change (org) and for more videos, check out Playing for Change (com).

Blessings,
Meg

Well folks, the Ides of March is just around the corner; it’s hard to believe.  I imagine a lot of you are already steadily in the pursuit of your New Years resolutions–or perhaps just about ready to let them fall to the wayside (if you’re anything like me). So now that we’re well into 2010 perhaps it’s a good time to for assessment. With resolutions we often look back, and then forward to consider “how am I,” and “where am I headed?”

So, how are we doing?

I ask this question a lot with my co-workers. We work for a non-profit here in Oaxaca, and often talk about how to measure need, resources and impact in our work-big factors for any organization to consider. We’re frequently asking “How are we doing” and “How can we improve?” More recently we’ve started chatting about how to answer that question; meaning, how do we measure how we’re doing? How do we measure our impact on communities, families and individuals with whom we work? Some organizations understandably use profitability as a measure of success. But is profitability always the appropriate measure of progress? In a recent article in Time Magazine Judith Schwartz discusses whether GDP (for instance) has become an obsolete measure of progress and success. “The GDP, generally expressed as a per-capita figure and often adjusted to reflect purchasing power, represents the market value of goods and services produced within a nation’s boundaries. Sounds reasonable. Until we consider what it doesn’t measure: the general progress in health and education, the condition of public infrastructure, fuel efficiency, community and leisure.” Schwartz uses as an example the rising costs of health care-which can be a major strain on families and individuals-but actually boosts the GDP.

So, what is an appropriate measure of progress? At the Hub in Oaxaca we’ve started talking about well being-and how our work affects the well being in our community. Well being, as a measurement tool, was previously considered mostly inside academic circles. But more recently it has expanded outside that realm as many are realizing the faulty nature of gauging success and impact by one bottom line, profit. “‘You tend to get what you measure,’” says Gus Speth in Schwartz’ article. “‘So we’d better measure what we want.’ In other words, to a certain extent we are what we count.” Luckily, today there are a number of indices used to measure progress in a more holistic way.

There is the Human Development Index (HDI), which the UN uses in its Development Programme; it takes into consideration standard of living, life expectancy and literacy as indicators. There’s also the Genuine Progress Indicator, “which incorporates aspects of social welfare such as income equity, pollution, and access to health care.” Another index that is drawing a lot of attention these days is the Happy Planet Index (HPI). The HPI utilizes complex measures like data from Gallup, the World Values Survey and Ecological Footprint to gauge more subjective indicators like life satisfaction. The HPI considers “the degree of human happiness generated per quantity of environment consumed.”

All this talk of well being measures made me think of my own happiness and satisfaction. I’m all for resolutions if they help me get a fresh start towards a goal I value. But this year, after considering all the ways the Hub I work with can measure its work in a balanced way, I started considering my own goals for tomorrow in the similar manner, with balance.

A good friend sent me this wonderful article by Hillari Dowdle in the February issue of Yoga Journal. In it Dowdle talks about the need to balance our goals throughout the year between our varying priorities. Like diverse indicators used to measure the state of our world, Dowdle’s insights offer an opportunity to do the same at the micro level. “It’s easy to get bogged down in the details, in setting goals that relate to how you think you want to look, or act, or be in this world. But consider bypassing all the particulars-the numbers on the scale, the bank account balance, the starting or stopping of habits-in favor of a deeper approach that can reshape your whole life in a positive way.” I like her suggestion to balance one’s life between the poles of dharma, artha, kama and moksha-basically duty & ethics, prosperity & wealth, pleasure & sensual gratification and the pursuit of freedom. Whatever tool you use to set your goals for the weeks and months to come-perhaps it’s worth taking a page from these conversations about well being and progress, and take a moment to reflect on how we’re judging our own progress as individuals. Can we do that with compassion and balance?

For me the holidays and special occasions, like the New Year, serve as a reminder that time has passed-and they mark a moment to look forward and back. Here at HarmonyWishes we hope that our service can help to commemorate, celebrate and mark those moments in your lives. So as you log onto HarmonyWishes this month and send a card out to someone in your circle-perhaps it’s a good opportunity to ask “How am I?” “How are we doing?” “How shall we direct ourselves forward from here?” And send that message of hope and balance out to someone you love.

Cheers,

Megan

It’s 10 o’clock on a Friday night and I’m racing down a four-lane highway, running parallel to the now-defunct train station in Oaxaca. Cars, scooters, trucks with noisy engines huffing exhaust out from dirty mufflers race by on my left side—nothing between my exposed calf and their metal doors but my pant leg. I’m on a bike.

It sounds crazy, perhaps. And in a normal situation I would have been scared for my life—bicycling in a city with zero understanding for any kind of pedestrian or bike traffic. The difference: I am surrounded by one hundred other bikers. I’m on a night ride organized by Mundo Ceiba a local non-profit in Oaxaca started by a group of youth in 2004, working on ecological sustainability in the region. The group started with an idea to plant trees where deforestation was a problem. And after planting more than 16,495 over the last 5 years, their work has expanded to promote alternative urban transit in the city—namely bicycles—environmental sustainability being the common bond. In their own lovely words (a little clunk-ily translated into English on their site): “We look that people get directly involved in these activities and make from these experiences an opportunity to interact with other people interested in generating and supporting an ecological culture that will bring good things for us as a society.”

That’s exactly what this night ride was—a chance to come out en masse to support and encourage a friendly attitude towards alternative transit in the city. There was a moment, as we screamed down a major thoroughfare, eyes wide in astonishment from those passing by, that I felt very connected to a collective celebration of a different way to do locomote. A system that was sustainable, cheap, easy on the environment, and frankly, in the clogged narrow streets of Oaxaca, a faster way to travel!

Bicycle transit has long been a popular topic for many. One of the most famous (and often contentious) bicycle initiatives worldwide is Critical Mass. Started back in San Francisco in 1992, Critical Mass was just a bunch of cyclist gathering to ride the city streets, where safety in numbers allowed them more freedom to trek a then-unfriendly Bay Area downtown. The first event in September of ‘92 was actually called “Commute Clot.” But after a local screening of Ted White’s documentary Return of the Scorcher about bike culture outside the United States the term “Critical Mass” caught on. In a scene from Return of the Scorcher (which you can watch here in four parts) designer George Bliss commented that both motorists and bicyclists in China shared an unspoken understanding for how to manage intersections without formal traffic signals. “There was a kind of critical mass thing, where all the cyclists would pile up and then go. All the cyclists…turning left in an intersection would wait in the middle until they had enough numbers to force through the cars and make them stop. And vice versa.  And it worked!” Thus, the name of “critical mass” was embraced. Now urban biking groups all over the globe have sprouted up.

I should mention that from what I’ve read Critical Mass doesn’t claim to be an organization, with leadership or a formal body. “In every city that has a CM ride, some locals simply picked a date, time, and location for the ride and publicized it, and thus the ride was born,” states the site Critical-Mass.info. Without central leadership, groups with the name Critical Mass have emerged in various cities.  And some have an inharmonious relationship within their own neighborhoods–using the rides as forms of political protest–that for many has been a source of conflict and friction. However, other rides, like the one I participated in in Oaxaca (which isn’t associated with Critical Mass, incidentally) simply wish to celebrate bike culture in a peaceful and mindful way.  There’s a score of diversity out there amongst urban biking initiatives. As an example, some rides, like the two annual rides in Budapest, Hungary, have up to 80,000 riders, while others are just a dozen or so local cyclists. Is there an urban biking initiative in your neck of the woods?  Here’s one place you can look.

More recently, there has been a push around the globe for more than just organized, collective bike rides. Cities and social entrepreneurs have been imagining ways to integrate bikes into existing transit systems—making them more sustainable and accessible. Bike-sharing systems, as they are called, have sprouted up in cities and towns around the world. Andrew Posner on Treehugger.com writes, “Essentially, in a bike-share program bicycles are made available at special kiosks or racks that are strategically placed around a city. Users can access the bikes 24 hours a day, either by inserting a credit card or by paying an annual fee for a membership card. The bikes can then be returned at any of the stations in the city.” It’s like the Zip Car model, but with bikes. Bike-share programs vary from place to place; examples abound in Paris, Mexico City, Washington DC, Buenos Aires, for instance. And while programs have had to grapple with serious challenges, like bike theft—they continue to adapt the model to best suit the locality. I just recently saw this great video on a bike-share program in Denver called B-Cycle made by Good Magazine’s video department:

So it’s official—the bicycle movement is underway! Interested in getting on board? Well get out there, then. The more of us that take the the byways on bicycles, the more we’ll encourage our neighbors and friends to do the same. It’s fun, healthy, economical, eco-friendly and you can get where you want, when you want, all on your own steam. Can you imagine a tomorrow in which you and everyone you know heads to work on a two-wheeler every morn? I can. My ride on the 22^nd helped me imagine that.

Saludos,

Megan

Here in Mexico Valentine’s Day bears a different name: Día de Amor y Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship). While it could be a clever marketing strategy to expand the pool of people for which you can potentially present valentines, I enjoy that the 14th need not be a day only celebrated by the romantically entwined.  I think my cohorts here at HarmonyWishes would say the same. You don’t need a reason to reach out and let the people most important to you know you care; but a day of love and friendship certainly is a good pretext.

So whatever reason you have to celebrate the day, let us help you send a message that is personal, thoughtful and creative.  We’ve got some new images up just for the occasion. So stop by the galleries and look around!  Or take a quick tour here:

Con cariño,

Megan

Have you ever wondered how microfinance organizations like Kiva work?  Well, one part is their Fellows program.  It’s an unpaid volunteer position designed to increase Kiva’s impact in the field.  You need to be able to commit a minimum of three months in another country.  It offers a rare opportunity to travel abroad and witness the impact and realities of microfinance.

The latest group of Kiva Fellows has just finished training and are ready to embark on their various assignments in different parts of the world.  They definitely rock in more ways than just musically, but even in that area they are impressive!

If it sounds like something that might be right for you, check out the Kiva site for more details.

Blending the creation of visually engaging pieces and computer technology was the impetus for Newmediasoup, LLC nearly ten years ago.  Joel is constantly learning about the ever-changing new media and how he can apply it to the business’ services.  In his free time, and when he is not underwater capturing stills or video, Joel enjoys perfecting the art of barbeque, music and snowboarding in the winter.

Having many different careers from Exercise Physiologist to General Manager in Restaurant & Hospitality (and more in between), Jen now focuses her time working with Joel on various projects, and handling the administrative side of their business.  In addition to underwater photography, she enjoys cooking/baking and snow skiing in the winter.

Q:  We’ve been following your work for quite a while now…with each successive dive trip your images keep getting stronger.  How did your interest in diving originate?

A:   (Jen) Thank you!  We’ve only been diving for a little over three years, and I blame it all on a very close friend (ha-ha!).  Once we received our scuba certification, our interest really peaked by all of the wondrous underwater life that we could view.  Scuba diving quickly became a passionate hobby for us.

(Joel) Prior to learning to dive, snorkeling was an activity that was prevalent on tropical vacations, so it just made sense to take that next step. Getting scuba certified was something Jen and I did together, spurred on by a good friend, and it’s something we continue to love to do together.

Q:   As difficult and physical as diving is by itself, you’ve added another layer of complexity by adding photography to the equation.  What made you want to take that next step?

A:  (Jen)  Initially, I didn’t want to have anything to do with an underwater camera.  I was enthralled with the underwater world and just wanted to dive.  But things do change.  In June of 2008, I started diving with a point and shoot system.  Since then, I’ve progressed to a DSLR system and haven’t looked back!  Now I wouldn’t imagine diving without a camera!

(Joel)  I’ve always been interested in photography, and it’s an associated service that my company offers, so it was a natural extension that I take a camera underwater with me from the very beginning.  Shooting underwater is very different  from shooting on land, and my first photos were just terrible.  The perfectionist in me was the motivating force to learn how to take underwater photos that portrayed what we were really seeing down there.

Q:   When we look at your images of the undersea world we see a lot of beauty, but there can be a degree of danger.  Have you encountered some uncomfortable or dangerous situations while photographing?

A:   (Jen)  First and foremost, one should be a sound diver prior to adding underwater imaging gear to the mix.  The diving really needs to be second nature since your focus is all on setting up for your intended shot.  We adhere to the buddy system and safety is always the first priority.

(Joel)  Having good buoyancy control is key when trying to capture stills or video underwater.  Other than experiencing very cold water temperatures, poor visibility and ripping currents, we have been quite fortunate so far and have not encountered anything dangerous.  We do our best to keep our scuba skills current so that in the event of an emergency, we are as prepared as we can be.

Q:  We’ve heard that underwater strobes can agitate sea life and certain species of  sharks especially.  Have you had any encounters?  If so, what  species and where?

A:   (Jen)  Since we haven’t been diving that long, we haven’t been to that many dive destinations (yet).  On the few encounters we’ve had with sharks, all reef  sharks, there has been no issue with strobes.  Actually, they are very skittish and usually don’t hang around.  I personally look forward to the opportunity to shoot the more predatory species of sharks and other pelagics!

(Joel)  At different dive resorts, we have been told by the dive staff that some critters are sensitive to extensive flash exposure, namely pygmy seahorses and frogfish.  Being a responsible diver is like being a good guest in someone’s home… you don’t disturb the habitat in any way, take a few photos of your intended subject, then move on to find another interesting critter.

Q:   To most of us, the underwater world seems very surreal.  What has been your most enduring underwater revelation? (peak experience)

A:   (Jen)  Wow!  I don’t think I can pinpoint a peak experience, because I don’t think I’ve experienced it yet.  The underwater world is so amazing!  In Monterey, there’s kelp forests, metridium fields, huge decorator crab and sea lions.  In Hawaii there’s colorful reef fish and turtles - Oahu has many wrecks from WWII, The Big Island has mantas.  Indonesia has muck diving - incredible, weird-looking creatures living in the black volcanic soil.  Every area has something different to see.  We are slowing crossing locations off of our list!

(Joel) I really like the rock formations, swim-throughs, and anything really BIG! When I’m underwater, I’m always trying to capture the Wide Angle shots. They are the most challenging, but I love it. When the water visibility is just right, and there is abundant life, I experience a “peak experience”.

Q:   Underwater photography is essentially a form of landscape and wildlife photography.  Do you think it is possible to develop a unique style or is it mostly trying to position yourself and deal with the technical issues to get the best image?

A:  (Jen)  After viewing some of my recent images, a girlfriend proclaimed that my underwater photos had a distinct woman’s perspective.  I’m still not sure how she came to that conclusion, but since most of the successful underwater photo and video pros are men, maybe I’m carving out a niche for myself (ha-ha!).

(Joel)  Jen and I will usually shoot the same set-up, but wide angle is always my preference. Even though we may be shooting with the same lens, we approach subjects differently and see different things to frame, so at the end of the day, we have totally different images than the other person.

Q:   Ultimately what would you like your underwater work to achieve?  (Education, conservation, other?)  Where do you want your work to end up?  Educate, entertain, inspire?

A:  (Jen)  For the present, I just want to improve my underwater imaging skills.  You don’t plan this, but to a certain degree, once you are passionate about the underwater world, you become an ambassador for conservation.  When you share your images with friends and family, not only are you educating them about the beauty and wonder of the sea, but you are also making them aware of how precious a resource our oceans are.

(Joel)  I would like it to entertain and inspire, be it on their wall in the form of an art print, or in a publication they may be reading and just have to stop and soak in the image for its beauty or amazement.

Q:   Are there any underwater photographers that particularly inspire you?

A:  (Jen)  In the short time that we’ve been diving, we’ve been very fortunate to become friends with some of the industry’s leading imaging pros.  They are always helping us get to the next level.  Their wealth of knowledge and experience is invaluable to us, and we’re so appreciative of all the tips and tricks that they’ve passed on to us. Additionally, I’m always inspired by my peers when we’re on a photo trip.  There is always something new to learn from other divers, and watching them set up for a shot shows you a perspective that maybe you didn’t have.

(Joel)  Diving with more experienced shooters motivates me to continue to improve my skills, whether it’s shooting a common subject in a different way or using lighting in a creative way to set a certain mood in the image.  Some of the underwater photographers that started back in the days of film really paved the way for those of us today that are honing the craft like David Doubilet and David Fleetham.  Some of the pioneers of the digital age who have raised the bar of underwater imaging with their overall knowledge and experience are Berkley White, Eric Cheng and Dr. Alex Mustard.  I strive to continue learning from them and others like them in the industry to improve my underwater imaging, both stills and video.

To see more of Joel and Jen’s images:

http://www.newmediasoup.com/underwater

To learn more about their multimedia services:

http://www.newmediasoup.com

“Women hold up half the sky” ~ Chinese Proverb

With that introduction, you get a sense of what Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn share as a perspective on the economic and moral resource that women around the world provide. What their book “Half The Sky” delivers, however, goes so far beyond that simple statement. Through their reporting for the New York Times, they have traveled through Africa and Asia and have witnessed much of the most heinous oppression towards women in the developing world.

While painful to read at times, it is simultaneously uplifting as they recount stories of women who have fought back against human trafficking, honor killings, mass rape, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS and have emerged as victorious in varying degrees.

Rather than just throw a bunch of statistics at you, each chapter takes you to a different part of the world and tells a story. I don’t think anyone can read this book and come away not wanting to do something to help.

The subject of help is what I find most fascinating about these stories – how well-intended foreign aid often can have unforeseen consequences when applied in settings that don’t fully contemplate entrenched customs and attitudes. The stories often illustrate how an NGO can go into a region with a specific solution only to find it produced a totally unexpected result (and often not a good one). The overwhelming message is that flexibility and persistence are what ultimately makes the difference.  And that the education of women is the most reliable way out of poverty and toward a more peaceful society.

As we enter 2010 I hope we do so with a renewed sense of optimism, an unflagging belief in the inherent kindness of people and a passion to make a difference.

Below you will find links to some of the NGOs mentioned in the book. I encourage you to check them out, find one that speaks to your heart and act.  And please…read the book.

“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

Afghan Institute of Learning; www.afghaninstituteoflearning.org ~ works to improve the health and education of women and children in a country ravaged by three decades of war

American Assistance for Cambodia; www.cambodiaschools.com ~ fights trafficking and has a program to subsidize poor girls so they can remain in school

Apne Aap; www.apneaap.org; battles sex slavery in India

Campaign for Female Education; www.camfed.org ~ supports schooling for girls in Africa

Central Asia Institute (Greg Mortenson’s organization written about in Three Cups of Tea); www.ikat.org ~ provides education in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Edna Adan Maternity Hospital; www.ednahospital.org ~ the only teaching hospital in Somaliland, a country with one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world

Girls Helping Girls; www.empoweragirl.org ~ founded in 2007 by a 15 year old girl, it builds relationships between girls across continents and supports education and health initiatives

Hunger Project; www.thp.org ~ focuses on empowerment of women to end hunger

New Light; www.newlightindia.org ~ provides education and shelter to high risk children and women in Kolkata, India

Pro Mujer; www.promujer.org ~ supports women in Latin America through microcredit and business training

Tostan; www.tostan.org ~ one of the most successful organizations in overcoming female genital cutting in Africa

Whether you support through monetary donations, time volunteering (many of these organizations accept interns on the ground in country) or simply spreading the word, everything helps.

Peace and blessings,

Meg

A new documentary was released in September, following a writer and his family as they attempted to live a full year without making a large impact on the natural world around them. No electricity. No toilet paper. No imported foods.  Check it out.

The journey for Colin Beavan and his family continues on his blog.  There you can read about some of his observations and ideas concerning climate change, community, health, you name it!  And if you’re interested in taking a gander at the full length film, the No Impact Project has partnered with the Center for a New American Dream to draw attention to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.  They are screening the movie in communities nationwide, followed by a discussion on “to talk about the impact of holiday spending on [our] lives and the environment.”  You can check out the screening dates and locations here.

Why not send your circle an e-card to remind them about the UN Climate Change Conference this year from December 7th through the 18th?  It’s always a good time to start thinking green!

I love the guys over at GOOD who have been busy making some amazing materials!  By their own definition, “GOOD is a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward. Since 2006 we’ve been making a magazine, videos, and events for people who give a damn.”  GOOD’s videos can all be found on their website, or many are featured on their YouTube channel here.

I think GOOD does some of the best work around on making statistical information about our world come alive–which is so important. Much like a powerful image, what use is information if it can’t tell a story?  So, in honor of the approaching holidays, here’s a video they made last year on the origins of much of our Christmas products.  Check it out!

I was totally shocked when I saw this video the first time.  It made me wonder from where much of the other things I typically purchase come.  It can be pretty difficult these days to track the origins of what we consume and own–as so much is outsourced globally.  However, the folks over at MIT’s Media Lab, are creating an incredible tool to help us with that very problem. It’s called the SourceMap.

As the MIT folks posit, “Some things have vast supply chains that stretch across the world while others are completely regional. Understanding the reach of our sourcing is fundamental to improving economic, social and environmental conditions.”  The Sourcemap is a tool for use by individuals, or business owners, to understand the impact of the supply chain of which we are a part. It’s a pretty empowering instrument–because it compels us to consider how we make an impact globally with what we consume–giving us the tools we need to make informed decisions.

“[The] site is a social network where anyone can contribute to a shared understanding of the story behind products.” And the MIT developers have made it accessible to all, even creating easy-to-use embed tools so you can use Sourcemap on your own site, for the packaging of products, in your business, anywhere! Go over and take a look.

There’s so much positive energy going into projects like the Sourcemap, or the media work from GOOD. It’s truly inspiring!  Do you have a favorite project that is doing something for the well being of the planet?  Well, tell us about it.  We would love to know!

Saludos,

Megan