Projects

In this original song dedicated to the families of Virginia Tech Victims, Nanakojo Adu plays on his keyboard and sings his words of comfort. Many lives were lost on April 16, but many more were affected. This impact of the violence could be felt around the nation. Many are expressing their feelings through song. Thanks for voicing what many of us are feeling.

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There's so much violence in the world. In recent events, the Virginia Tech Massacre caused much pain. One man wrote a song, performed it in this video. It reveals his feelings about the event which is shared by many. He sends it out as a message of healing.

The TV, replaying like a broken record.
The image, it's numbing, another record broken.
More questions, no answers, left to imagination
Alarming, disturbing, what are the implications?
All as one and all at once, we ask why they had to die

There's no sunset in Virginia
The Earth is standing still
The mighty may have fallen
The pain never will
There's no sunset in Virginia
The pain is in our eyes.
But if there is no nightfall
The sun will never rise

The candles are burning, blocking out the darkness
By thousands they flicker, light and sorrow linger
The silence is deafening, reliving consternation
Reminder, that violence cut short their aspirations
Now as one, we take a vow: protect the light for better days to come (refrain)

All as one we'll look up to the sky to remember all the ones we left behind.
As the sun begins to set the sun will set us free (final refrain)

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Two guys and two girls held up "Free Hugs" signs in four cities, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth on March 2007 and offered free hugs to people on the street. It's incredible how good it makes people feel. The police asked them to leave but the public defended them. Their one-day-long journey is captured here.

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In his English accent, a man poses a challenge for us to do something kind for a complete stranger, just to bring a little happiness into this world. What a beautiful thought. There's so much hatred. Any small act can brighten someone's day. Together we can make a difference.

The speaker offers some suggestions:

• After a nice meal, send a compliment to a chef.
• Swap places with someone behind you in a cube.
• Feed some ducks.
• Hand out water to people as they leave the gym.
• Hide a complimentary note in a book in the library.
• Smile at someone at random on the street.
• If you are driving a car, let someone out in front of you.
• Leave some loose change in the phone box so that the next person who come to make a phone call can have the phone call for free.

It all starts with one word or a phrase written on a palm. People put up their hands and make powerful statements. They communicate their message to the world. Different individuals in the video wrote these inspirational messages on their palms: "Compassion," "Respect," "Accept," "Honor," "Tolerance," "Care," "Share," "Laugh," "Think," "Imagine," "Open your eyes," "Be Free," "Be True," "Be You," "Don't give up," "Stop Hate," and "You are not alone." People come together in so many ways. This is just one very touching one.

With Paris Hilton singing "That's Hot" repeatedly and video of her striking a pose, Banksy sets out to question people's fascination with celebrity and the ways the consumers build them up. He takes Paris' self-titled debut cd and posted his subversive messages in them. On the cover stick, the songs listed read: "Why am I Famous?" "What Have I done?" and What Am I For?" On the inside, Banksy states: "Every CD you buy puts me even further out of your league," "Thou shall not worship false icons," "Life wasn't meant to be fair," "90% of success if just showing up," "Race to the bottom of the pile," and "Every time someone asks me how I am I hesitate for a little bit too long."

It's guerilla art at its best. Banksy invites us to rethink the value of celebrity and the role each of us play into it. In posing these questions, Banksy boosts the celebrity of himself and Paris Hilton. They both understand self promotion well. View more grafitti.

One female started the "Hugs for Jacey Campaign" because she was touched by the videos she saw of Jacey posted by her mom. The viewer wants to show her support and love. Jacey is a 10-year-old girl battling leukemia. Instead of complaining about the raw deal that life has dealt her, Jacey's telling jokes and singing. She has taken a doll that she's made with Jacey's picture attached to it out on the streets. The video shows other people hugging the Jacey doll and expressing their well wishes. She wants others to hug Jacey and show their love. She has found a new hero. She is inspired by Jacey.

This is what activism is all about. It's starts with one thought, one word, one gesture and acting upon that and getting others to participate in the endeavor. This is a call for posting responses to "The Hugs for Jacey Campaign." She is courageous in face of her illness. Currently, Jacey is in remission but is at a high risk for relapse. She reminds us all of how precious life is and how lucky we are to be alive. Let's celebrate life!

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As part of the Michigan State University's "Take Back the Night" rally, the "Clothesline Project", honors survivors of rape, homicide and domestic violence. This videos shows the poignant messages written by survivors of molestation and rape, using markers across shirts hung on clotheslines. The women showed incredible courage in breaking the silence surrounding their molestation and rape. It's not easy to think or talk about our abuse, but it is necessary. Silence and fear are our biggest enemy. Let's not let our abusers intimidate us into silence and submission. There is hope. Speaking out about our experiences and feelings is the first step into ending the cycle of violence. Let's hold the perpetrators accountable for crimes committed against us and humanity.

Often we feel alone in our abuse, but yet millions of children and women around the world have experienced it or know people who have survived violence committed against them. There is no shame, no guilt in being abused and violated. It is the abuser who bears the guilt and shame. When we break that silence, we break the hold our abuser has on us. We are free. We see that we are more courageous than we think. With courage, hope and love, we can make it through. Let's express our outrage. Let's speak out against violence against women and children and ourselves. Let's show our support and love for every survivor. View more "Take Back the Night".

This video shows Banksy, the grafitti artist from the U.K., in a white hooded sweatshirt scribbling the statement, "The Joy of Not Being Sold Anything" on a blank billboard. He demonstrates the power of language in provoking thought and action. View more grafitti.

Artists and activists gathered made labels that featured real people who are behind the making and production of commercial products. In what is termed as shop-dropping, they go to business and replace original labels with the homemade ones. Their name and sometimes story are featured to allow the public to put a face on the objects they are consuming. Get involve with the movement. For more information on shopdropping and see how you can do it on your own. View more advertising.

Advertisement is big business, as we all know. Corporations pay a lot of money to catch the attention of potential consumers. Find out exactly how much different advertisement space cost in this video from Good magazine. View more advertising.

Four artists respond to abandoned and rundown houses in detroit by painting them orange. They are interested in bringing attention to the decay - bringing beauty to something that is ugly or overlooked. Why is the area ruined? They painted eleven houses, four of which were demolished. Houses are abandoned everywhere. It's part of the cycle of life.