The World by Us

OK, so at The World by Us, we can’t say we’ve got the worst case of Affluenza…We’ve written about how much we love getting rid of things and the joys of turning trash into treasure.  But we can certainly admit to craving the excitement that accompanies shiny new things. And while we believe there is absolutely nothing wrong with treating ourselves every now and then, we’ll also admit that whenever we over-indulge our appetite for new stuff, it is indeed followed by a sluggish, unfulfilled feeling that leaves us wondering why all our shiny new things didn’t make us happy. In fact, studies show that past a certain point, increases in income and an ability to buy bigger, better, shinier things actually leads to a decrease in happiness & satisfaction. Perhaps just knowing the bigger, better, shinier things are readily available robs them of some value… and us of our ability to fully appreciate the smaller, simpler, less shiny pleasures in life. 

In an attempt to rid us all of this Affluenza, the organisers of Buy Nothing New Month have challenged us to think twice about ‘what we really need, where the stuff we buy comes from (finite resources), where it goes (landfill), and what our alternatives are.’ By pledging to buy nothing new in October (with the exception of the essentials like food, drink, medicine & hygeine products)  we’ll commit to begging/borrowing/bartering/buying only pre-loved items. And the organisers of Buy Nothing New Month have given us some handy tips & ideas to help us avoid all things new.

We’re going to give it a try. Do you think you’re up for it?

The Tango, a glass of malbec, the colours, the passion…and the one place we wouldn’t mind sinking our fork into a juicy steak with a simple side of handcut chips and fresh tomato. Or perhaps instead, a handful of empanadas and a crisp cold bottle of Quilmes.

Today we are dreaming of Buenos Aires…of stirring from a long slumber somewhere like this, strolling the cobblestone streets & pausing on park benches to watch the world go by.

Our inspiration? A gorgeous little homage to Argentinian poet Jorge Luis Borges, shot in the winter of 2010 in Buenos Aires and Capilla del Señor, Argentina.

The task of art, is to transform what is continuously happening to us, to transform all these things into symbols, into music, into something which can last in a man’s memory. That is our duty. – Jorge Luis Borges

The first African woman to win the Nobel peace prize and Founder of the Green Belt Movement, Wangari Maathai fought tirelessly for the protection of her country’s forests and the communities they sustained. Inspired by the struggles of women in rural Kenya, she founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977 to help them improve their access to resources like firewood and clean water and advocated for her corrupt governments to protect Kenya’s forests.

Since 1977, Maathai and the movement have planted tens of millions of trees and courageously demanded action on de-forestation and climate change, remaining a thorn in the side of Kenya’s politicians and a wonderful example to the rest of the world.

Maathai passed away from cancer Sunday evening but her unwavering passion and dedication to the environment will no doubt live on. The countless messages on her facebook page are just one testament to the legacy she leaves behind.

“She did not just plant trees, she planted hope and inspiration in millions of people in Africa and the rest of the world.”

A truly inspirational woman.

Will you plant a tree for Wangari Maathai?

Will you be the hummingbird?

Want to learn more about Wangari Maathai’s inspirational story? We suggest you check out her authobiography Unbowed  or have a browse through the articles she’s written for The Guardian throughout the years.

• 30 Days of GOOD – September Challenge – Thank an old teacher! - GOOD Magazine. GOOD’s September Challenge is almost up but you can still get in this week & thank an old teacher. Check out Thanks for Teaching Us and submit your story!

• 30 Gifts to 30 Strangers in Sydney – One Man’s birthday celebration – Vimeo. A Brazilian man shows love for the residents of his adopted city. Watch this video for that warm & fuzzy feeling.

• The Healing Power of Movement: Why you need to get your dance on! - Mind Body Green. We’ve always known there was power in movement but are thrilled to hear  that two of our loves – yoga & dance – are being combined to bring us both health & happiness.

• 10 Myths that keep us from creating the world we want - Huffington Post. Author of Diet for a Small Planet talks us through 10 common assumptions about how the world works that are perversely aligned to human nature.

• Mari Sarai’s forthcoming exhibition & book – Naked  - Nowness. The result of 2 years of work focused on the idea of femininity, Japan-born, London-based photographer Mari Sarai debuts a selection of intimate and revealing photographs from her forthcoming exhibition and book, Naked.

• Me in You – Kings of Convenience – Boooooom. A new tune from one of our favourite duos and a beautiful bird’s eye view of Bergen, Norway.

• Facebook’s Timeline: Memories are more complex than algorithms. – The Fox is Black. Facebook announced the launch of their new product – Timeline – a way to ‘tell your life story with a new kind of profile.’

Bringing you more fabulous female talent, today we chat with Sydney artist Jasmin Dwyer about her passion, her art, her time in London, and her love for our little feathered friends!

Where does your passion for art stem from?

Growing up I used to draw a lot. I remember having a little hexagonal red desk in the corner of our lounge room where I’d sit and make pictures. I was obsessed with newsagencies before I discovered art stores. I made a drawing of a snow storm out of liquid paper when I was about five, and I thought it was amazing. My mum is really creative, so our house was always full of colour.

You recently spent time in London. Can you share with us a bit about your time there? How did it affect you as an artist?

I spent two years working really hard as an Art teacher in the UK. Living in London’s East End was a constant source of ideas and inspiration. The area has become an incubator for young artists to experiment and push the limits of their forms. It was so exciting to see new displays and exhibitions pop up in the area all the time. My own art became a lot smaller due to space in London; it was there that I focused creating over 100 small illustrations of birds. Garden birds in England are so beautiful!

Yes, birds feature in much of your work! Any particular reason?

I started hoarding bird books a few years ago; I used to love looking at all the different colours and shapes. I knew I wanted to include them in my art. They’ve always stirred my imagination, being not bound to earth I’m interested in what they symbolise. I’m currently working on finishing 365 illustrations of birds.

What has been your proudest moment in your career thus far?

My career has only just begun! I was really proud when I was published in the 2010 edition of Curvy. I had a similar feeling when I sold my first print online. I’m the most proud when I create something that I really love, something that I keep going back to look at.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I find inspiration in everything. There are so many contemporary illustrators and artists who inspire me. I love the typographic and collage work of Eduardo Recife, and the collaborative vision of design studio ‘Racket’. Sydney artists Greedy Hen fill me with inspiration every time I visit their page, as do the drawings of Emma Magenta, Retro Whale, Maureen Gubia and Ashley Percival. It would be impossible to write about influential artists without mentioning Shaun Tan, Egon Schiele, Brett Whiteley and Del Kathryn Barton, they are at the core of my art making, and will forever provide me with inspiration. At the moment I’m totally captivated by the work of American illustrator Treasure Frey.

Do you have any advice for aspiring female artists?

I speak to myself here as well – Get involved in lots of things now! Group shows, life drawing sessions, collaborative projects, competitions and prizes. It’s more courageous to put yourself out there before you feel ready, than waiting until you’re perfectly satisfied with what you’ve achieved. I make this mistake all the time, you’ll never get to that point.

And what is next for your work?

I have a beautiful new studio in Glebe, where I can spread out and create lots of big pictures. I’m always making new work, and I’m hoping to complete the ‘365 birds project’ sometime soon – a bird for every day of the year. Keep an eye on my art page on facebook. This is where I add all recent works and links to new projects.

Thank you Jasmin! 

In the 1990‘s, English actor Jeremy Gilley was concerned about what was going on in the world. Like many of us, he had trouble making sense of the starvation, destruction, and killing of innocent people occurring around the globe. At the time, he felt the content of the work he was involved in was lacking…there surely had to be something more.

Inspired by the belief that all sectors of society have a responsibility to move the world forward in some way, he began to rethink his purpose and how he could better use his interests and talent as an actor and aspiring filmmaker to make a difference.

He began thinking about peace, began questioning the fundamental nature of humanity and how he could make sense of the violence he saw around the world. At the time, there was no day of global unity, no day for humanity to come together and share that unity in peace. So he created a documentary – one that would serve as a case to the global community to create an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence.

In 1999, Peace One Day was established to campaign for the world to recognise this annual day of peace. In 2001, the idea was presented to the United Nations General Assembly and was unanimously accepted by every member state.

So what has Peace One Day has meant for the world so far ?  

In war-torn Afghanistan alone:

• Since 2007, 4.5 million children have been vaccinated against polio in previously unreachable areas as a result of Peace Day.

• In 2008, Afghanistan saw a 70% reduction in violence on Peace Day.

• In 2010, over 50,000 children and women of child-bearing age, across 23 high-risk locations of greater Kabul, were vaccinated against deadly diseases including polio, meningitis, diphtheria and tetanus.

A 70% reduction in violence in one country was a massive win for Peace One Day, though Gilley and his team are now taking it a step further. Today in London, they will be launching a new campaign which calls for the largest recorded cessation of hostilities with a Global Day of Truce on September 21 2012.

What can you do? 

Peace One Day believes that ‘each individual has the power to make a difference – if we all come together, we can change the world, one day at a time.’ Choose peace, educate others, sign the Global Truce 2012 petition, and celebrate peace today.

“If we are to move from a culture of war to a culture of peace then we will have to unite around the most fundamental issue that humanity faces – the protection of each other and our environment. 21 September is the starting point. Individuals can make a difference. By working together there will be Peace One Day.”

Jeremy Gilley – Founder, Peace One Day

 Hear from Jeremy Gilley at TED Global 2011:

A little game of ‘fill in the blank’ for your Monday morning…

Remember that incredible _____ (summer/winter/autumn/spring), when you met that gorgeous ____ (guy/girl) at that ____ (cafe/bar/park/beach) in an amazing little town in _____ (Spain/France/Germany/America/Australia)?

You spent the day_____(surfing/skiing/biking/strolling) together, shared a delicious meal of ____(paella/bœuf bourguignon/bratwurst/fish & chips) and danced into the wee hours of the night, meandering home hand in hand as the sun rose over the ____(ocean/mountains/city skyline).

We sure do. And these fabulous short films directed by Gustav Johansson helped us relive those glorious few months overseas. If you had any trouble filling in the blanks, perhaps these videos will be just the inspiration you need to book that flight/start saving those dollars!

Ah, Charlotte… The epitome of ‘effortlessly cool.’

Daughter of legendary French singer/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg & English actress Jane Birken, Charlotte has a sense of style we adore and impressive amalgamation of her parents’ talents. Like her mother, Charlotte pursued a film career and has starred in some of our favourites including The Science of Sleep, The Tree, Ma Femme est un Actrice, and I’m not there. Her performance in Lars Von Trier’s The Antichrist won her Best Actress at Cannes in 2009. Her latest film, Melancholia (another collaboration with Lars Von Trier) is due out later this year.

She also made her musical debut in a controversial duet with her father called Lemon Incest (the video for which features a 12 year old Charlotte on a bed with her father). Charlotte says while she can understand why it shocked people, she never felt embarrassed or used. She understood the meaning behind the song and loved the experience. Her first album, Charlotte for Ever was released 2 years later and was produced by her father.

Her  second album 5:55, a fabulous collaboration with Air, reached the top of the French charts in 2006. Though, she is gaining much wider global acclaim for her newly released album IRM (French for MRI) – this time a Beck collaboration with a different feel. We like it. You can have a little listen here and tell us what you think.

Perhaps what we most love about Charlotte – aside from her wardrobe – is the way she oozes a quiet confidence in interviews - an openness with herself, and with her insecurities. Insisting ‘I am who I am,’ she prefers not to fuss over her clothing choices, and strives to take herself out of her comfort zone in both of her careers, worrying less about whether the end result is well recieved. But of course, she’s producing brilliant work and has already won our hearts!

Check out Nylon TV’s interview with Charlotte to hear her speak about her father, her second album, and her style!

Wait! Before you throw out those old wine bottles, used tea tins, and mismatching silverware…check out these simple & creative ideas for what may otherwise end up in the bin!

Mismatching forks = Gorgeous new hooks!

Vintage Colander = Hanging flower pot!

Old wine bottles = candlestick holders!

Piece of wood & an old ladle = A hanging votive holder!

Wooden pallets = A beautifully rustic headboard!

Been hoarding those old corks for nostalgia’s sake? Put them to use with an earthy bath mat!

Tin Cans + paint = chic office organisation!

Is that old guitar gathering dust? Don’t let it go to waste!

Need an excuse to swap your daily coffee for tea? A crafty home for your succulents!

Photos via French By Design, Inspire Bohemia, ReUseConnection, and Remodelaholic

In a wonderfully honest talk at TED Global, actress Thandie Newton examines the notion of ‘self’ – the external identity that develops in us all as the world around us begins to shape our ideas of who we are or who we should be.

Newton shares her experience growing up in England in the 70‘s, the daughter of a British man and a Zimbabwean woman who struggled to fit in as the ‘black atheist kid in the all-white catholic school run by nuns.’

 “Even the idea of us as a family was challenging to most people….I was an anomaly. And my self was rooting around for definition and trying to plug in. Because the self likes to fit, to see itself replicated, to belong. That confirms its existence and its importance… But my skin color wasn’t right. My hair wasn’t right. My history wasn’t right. My self became defined by otherness”

It was through dance and acting that Newton finally found a place she thrived, a place for her ‘dysfunctional self to plug in to another self not her own. It was only in these moments that she was able to perceive her true self, a sense of oneness.  She lost herself, felt alert and alive, ‘earthed in her essence’, connected to everything. But when the shooting day would end, she’d return to her awkward, insecure self (Amazing coming from such a beautiful woman!). She still believed this was all she was. Despite a degree from Cambridge and a successful acting career, she found herself on a therapists couch, suffering from Bulimia.

If you can spare 13 minutes, we encourage you to watch. She articulates so beautifully the conflict between our inner and outer selves and the consequences this has on the world as a whole. 

But to save you busy people some time ; ) we’ll share her closing thoughts here:

“I was in Congo in February, dancing and celebrating with women who’ve survived the destruction of their selves in literally unthinkable ways – destroyed because other brutalized, psychopathic selves all over that beautiful land are fueling our selves’ addiction to iPods, Pads, and bling, which further disconnect ourselves from ever feeling their pain, their suffering, their death. Because, hey, if we’re all living in our ‘selves’ and mistaking it for life, then we’re devaluing and desensitizing life. And in that disconnected state – yes, we can build factory farms with no windows, destroy marine life and use rape as a weapon of war. 

So here’s a note to self: The cracks have started to show in our constructed world, and oceans will continue to surge through the cracks,and oil and blood, rivers of it.

Crucially, we haven’t been figuring out how to live in oneness with the Earth and every other living thing.We’ve just been insanely trying to figure out how to live with each other — billions of each other. Only we’re not living with each other; our crazy ‘selves’ are living with each other and perpetuating an epidemic of disconnection….Let’s live with each other and take it a breath at a time. If we can get under that heavy self, light a torch of awareness, we can find our essence, our connection to the infinite and every other living thing….A simple awareness is where it begins.”

What do you think? Will acknowledging our ‘external selves’ and tuning into our ‘essence’ make the world a better place? In what moments do you lose yourself, feel alive & connected to everything?