Watch a Word-Changing Film

Last year I made a world-changing film for, and with, a group of year 5 and 6 students. I just watched it again with around 4000 students at a talk I gave at the Halogen Young Leaders Day in Brisbane. The participants were really juiced on it and had lots of their own world-changing ideas.

The film has had a few thousand views on Myspace and Youtube and there's a bunch of positive energy around the project. I hope to make a longer world-changing film for kids and teens. 

I'd love you to check it out, pass it on and leave your comments and suggestions either here or on Myspace or Youtube.

:-)

www.tristanbancks.com

Find a Farmer's Market

I know those woody-flavoured bananas at the supermarket that have been gassed to make ripe are pretty hot but, believe it or not, there's something better.

There are a bunch of good Farmers Markets where we live. In the past we've been lazy and haven't gone but we're getting better. People give you weird fruits like Wax Jambus. And they bargain you down in price. Low carbon miles, often organic or no sprays, not plastic wrapped, supporting local growers and putting us back in touch with our food.

I've got to get back to my double-banana. How long's it been since you've had one of those babies?

www.tristanbancks.com

Do the TED Shuffle

TED's not the coolest name ever. I once had a dog called Ted. He died. Poor dude. But over at www.TED.com they're doing the coolest stuff ever. (FYI, this is not my dead dog's website.)

The TED conference happens every year in California. A whole bunch of amazing people from Bono to Richard Branson to folks you've never heard of from the areas of Technology, Entertainment and Design are asked to give the talk of their lives. Max time 18 minutes.

The sessions are online at www.ted.com and you find the wildest stuff there. Talks on Creativity, Happiness, Crow-operated Vending Machines, Second Life, Rethinking Poverty, SkyCars and Sliced Bread.

Spend five minutes downloading something cool (video or audio). It'll change you.

www.tristanbancks.com

Take the Handmade Pledge

I know it can be devastating when someone hands you a present made out of pipe cleaners for Christmas. And you have to say how nice it is even though you have no idea what it is.

But by making gifts you give something personal and you get better every time you do it. Change the whole paradigm where people expect an expensive, shop-bought gift.

Check out www.etsy.com, a site dedicated to the coolest hand made gifts from around the world. In particular, www.lovelyandhug.etsy.com

[And if you really do want to make something out of pipecleaners, here's where to start: www.squidoo.com/pipecleaners ]

Switch to Green in 5

Check this - a super-easy action that took less than 5...

I upped our Green Power quota with our electricity dudes. For a few bucks extra a month they'll buy green power from renewable resources on our behalf.

Australian Green Power provider links are here or if you're in North America, try green-e.org. If you do it, check if it's accredited green power.

www.tristanbancks.com

Learn Stick-to-it-iveness

So the jug I fixed broke. I could go and buy another one for a hundred bucks. But I won't. I'm busting out the silicone.

Not only am I cheap but I don't want to chuck every electrical item a year after I buy it. I want to be the guy who can fix stuff. I've never been that guy and I figure it's time to get into character.

I like the word stick-to-it-iveness, that drive that makes you finish the things that you begin. That jug is my nemesis. I'm currently using a chopstick to activate it. I must win.

www.tristanbancks.com