If one man can do this....

...imagine what we could achieve if we all climbed aboard.

Fantastic post over at Love Outdoor Play by a follower of theirs and how he convinced.... actually, I won't tell you because it would spoil it and his letter is so beautifully written.

Check.it.out.

We Are The People We've Been Waiting For

Now, I may be going mad, or at least losing my memory.... but I have a vague recollection that I posted about this film in the not too distant past.

If I have, please excuse my momentary blip and ignore this post. If not, please check out the website, there are some great people involved, Richard Branson, Bill Bryson and Ken Robinson, to name but a few.

We Are The People.

Imagine it!

A non-profit organization called Imagine it! promoting creative thinking to help tackle the problems of our future. (Sir Ken is on board...... need I say more.)

This is what they say:

"We believe creativity and imagination are the hope for a positive future.

Why? Because right now is a tipping point in human history of seemingly uncontrollable change when the intersection of global problems, an alarming decline of student interest in science and technology and a “crisis in creativity” calls on teachers and parents, business and government leaders to empower the incalculable assets of human ingenuity to make the world a better, safer and more prosperous place for everyone."

Hear hear.....

Living buildings

Project called Europe in Bloom by Danish architect Johanna Rossbach. Wouldn't it be great to see more of this in cities where there is little space for greenery. It's not far from me, so I have to go and see this for myself in the spring.

(Found via GOOD via laud8)

Children still delight in playground games

Article over at The Guardian about a two year research project done on playground games.

"Prof Jackie Marsh of the University of Sheffield said the research demonstrated how children have responded to the new media age. "Today's children have to manage an increasingly complex world of technology and information and the project has shown how these aspects of their lives are crucially important for their social, emotional and cultural development," she said. "The playground provides an important space for children to engage with how their culture is changing in a digital age.""

Ready for Ten

Love it when I hear of a campaign by parents to get kids outside and playing. This one is over at Ready for Ten, a "parent powered website for mums and dads of 6 - 9 year olds". Sponsored by Robinsons Fruit Shoots, Parents for Playgrounds is campaigning to renovate playgrounds and get more kids playing outside.

The psychology of nature

This article by Jonah Lehrer over at Wired is from last year so I am a bit late about finding it, but it's really interesting and has some great links.

"......the typical city park is little more than an expansive lawn, punctuated by a few trees and playing fields. I’ve got nothing against grass and Little League, but it’s probably worth pointing out that, if you want to maximize the psychological perks of greenspace, this is probably the wrong approach. In a 2007 paper, Richard Fuller, an ecologist at the University of Queensland, demonstrated that the mental benefits of green space are closely linked to the diversity of its plant life. When a city park has a larger variety of trees, subjects that spend time in the park score higher on various measures of psychological well-being, at least when compared with less biodiverse parks."

Equals?

Not totally on topic but this is about the future and what we can do to stop our kids from having to deal with such shocking inequalities.

Plus it's rather nice to see 007 sporting a dress.....

Equals?, link.

Kilburn Grange Adventure Playground

Very impressive playground in Camden, London. Designed by erect architecture. That log stepladder alone would make me want to visit.

Found via playscapes.

The Lorax

Yesterday was the anniversary of Dr Suess's birth. I'm a huge fan of "The Lorax" and only need the flimsiest of excuses to go on about it at great length...... trees, pollution, Dr Suess's belated birthday, Avatar, any of those will easily set me off.

Way ahead of its time.......