Digital Eskimo » Community

DE Flicks presents ‘The Economics of Happiness’

Sally Robertson — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 02:01:42 +0000

DE Flicks is back! And we’re giving you the opportunity to catch ‘a must-see film for the future of the planet’ (Zac Goldsmith, Member of UK Parliament).

When: Thursday 23rd June, 6:30pm
Where: Our igloo (Level 2, 44 Foster St, Surry Hills)
RSVP: Book your tickets here

Featuring a chorus of voices from six continents, including 350.org’s Bill McKibben, Vandana Shiva, Khyentse Norbu Rinpoche, and Clive Hamilton, The Economics of Happiness reveals some uncomfortable truths about today’s global economy and the economic decisions that are promoting, and diminishing, human happiness.

The film also takes a look at how people around the world are experimenting with ‘going local’ as a powerful strategy to repair our fractured world — our ecosystems, our societies and our selves — a movement that Bill McKibben describes (in his awesome book Eaarth) as the single most effective response to climate change. It’s a view we wholeheartedly agree with at Digital Eskimo and the live local foundation.

This special screening is free (a gold coin donation on the night is appreciated) and will give you the opportunity to hear from one of the film’s producers and directors, Helena Norberg-Hodge. Places are very limited so an RSVP is essential.

Don’t miss out – RSVP NOW!

The Santa Barbara Independent

Join the compost revolution!

Sally Robertson — Fri, 06 May 2011 01:07:42 +0000

Announcing The Compost Revolution – another great project with our friends at the 3 Councils Initiative. It’s a community project that encourages residents living in Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick to take up composting or worm farming at home. Given around 46% of the average Eastern Suburbs bin is organic waste, this is a really effective way to direct valuable nutrients away from landfill and back into nature.

The Compost Revolution provides residents with face to face training and provides free compost bins or wormfarms for attendees. The challenge with such project is always one of scale. You can only run so many sessions and train so many people with limited resources. That’s where the power of design and technology come in. Digital Eskimo has taken the face to face training and developed a superbly simple and fun online learning environment. Residents choose from a worm farm or composting tutorial and then sit a quick quiz which, if answered correctly, unlocks a free compost bin or worm farm.

So if you’re living in Woollahra, Waverley or Randwick, visit the Compost Revolution site, do the tute and blitz the quiz. (If you don’t live nearby you’re still very welcome to come and learn the ropes)

Join the compost revolution now

Agents of Change at Object gallery

Sally Robertson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:05:25 +0000

Launching last Friday and running over the next seven weeks, Digital Eskimo will feature in Object Gallery’s exciting new STATE. RESPOND exhibition.

Along with four other NSW-based designers we’ve been invited to respond to a statement addressing the challenges of sustainability in design. These responses have been translated into physical installations that are displayed within the gallery space.

We chose to use this opportunity to introduce our upcoming Change Agents project which is a collaboration with the Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC) at UTS. The project’s ambitious aim is to co-create an open source resource which will aid the design industry as it responds to the rapidly approaching low carbon economy.

We’ve included several participatory design methods in the exhibit to expose elements of our Considered Design methodology, while collecting input from the design community that will help shape the strategic direction of the project.

You can check out STATE. RESPOND from 6 February – 28 March at Object Gallery, which can be found at 417 Bourke St in Surry Hills.

View Indesign Magazine launch party photos or visit our Flickr page for more shots of opening night.

live local nominated for two AIMIA Awards

David Gravina — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:00:45 +0000

We’re thrilled to announce that the online presence of the live local project has been listed as a finalist in the 16th AIMIA Awards.

The site has been nominated in both the Best Non-profit or Government and Best Science, Health or Environment categories.

The AIMIA Awards are Australia’s longest running and most prestigious Interactive Media awards and it’s fantastic to be recognised for our work on a low budget not-for-profit project such as live local.

Big ups to Piers Dawson-Damer who had the vision and courage to invest in the project. Also the project team here at Digital Eskimo; John Macfarlane, Jeremy Epstein, Chris Gaul and everyone in the project team for all their hard work. I should also thank all of the live local community who are what it’s all about in the end. (We haven’t won yet so I’ll hold off continuing the acceptance speech until the awards night perhaps!)

Going, going, Gong!

Sally Robertson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:11:12 +0000

Congratulations to Dave, Anthony and Jeremy, who represented Digital Eskimo in the 2009 Sydney to Gong bike ride on Sunday. Proudly dressed in their new DE branded t-shirts, they cycled from Sydney to Wollongong to help raise funds for MS Australia. We’d also like to acknowledge the awesome fundraising of Digital Eskimo’s sustainability guru Duncan Underwood who raised the most money but who was unable to make it on the day unfortunately.

The ‘Igloo Sled Racers’ successfully completed the 90km stretch, enjoying not only the perfect weather but also the spectacle of 10,000 cyclists amass at the top of the steep descent into Wollongong. After reaching the finish line, they headed straight to the beach for a celebratory swim, before heading back into Sydney on a surprisingly roomy train. Taking public transport back to Sydney was a much better approach than the many folks who (perhaps not realising how cheap/easy and roomy the train would be) chose to be driven home in polluting cars.

With the support of our sponsors, the team raised $2220 (above our target) for MS Australia. This money will help the 18,000 Australians affected by multiple sclerosis to live life to their fullest potential and receive the care and support they need, until a cure is ultimately found.

We’d like to say a big THANK YOU to the following people:

FuelVFX
Ma Undies
Vaike Neeme and Fionn O’Hare
T&G
Catherine Marshall
John Underwood
Amanda + Matt
Camille Bligh
Elodie D
Emily Williams
Ewan Horsburgh
Steve H
Sepehr
Janine Bempechat
Michaela Epstein
Dennis Epstein
Judy and George H.
John & Malinda
Sally
Kimberley Crofts
Abbey Shorthair
Bruce from GoGet
Simon Alderson
Sally Browne
Jamie Balliu
Camperdown Pain Management
Priscilla Brice-Weller
Milkwood Permaculture
Daniel Ferguson
Di @ DCConferences
Tony and nonymices
Mark Elizondo
Ryan Cross
Brent Grayburn
Sandra Epstein
Sonya Suares
Matthew McCauley aka The General
Stefan and Nicola Lie
Jill Robertson (Robertson Family)
Rachel Hynes

Ohh and big ups also to the unicyclist who rode the whole way on one wheel, and to Michael in the Multi-coloured recumbent who made it look so easy going up those hills.

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350.org climate protests move the world

Sally Robertson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:59:18 +0000

On Saturday 24th October, millions of people around the world participated in the largest global protest for a safe climate future. These protests formed part of the international day of action known as the ‘350.org’ campaign. Approximately 5200 separate actions in 181 countries were organised for the day, with over 160 events happening across Australia.

“350″ refers to the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (in parts per million) that has been identified by scientists as the safe upper limit. Ongoing carbon emissions created through the burning of fossil fuels, industrial scale agriculture and deforestation has forced this level of atmospheric CO2 to rise by 2ppm each year, to total almost 390 parts per million. In order to prevent the inevitable climate chaos that will be brought on by this global warming, governments must commit to lowering the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350ppm. This campaign aimed to “inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis“, and mobilise political leaders, the media and the public behind the 350 goal.

Plenty of events were held Australia-wide which helped to show the world that we are concerned about climate change, and that we’re demanding a safe and sustainable future for generations to come. In Sydney, over 1000 people were down in Circular Quay, helping to form a human/umbrella ‘350′ on the Opera House steps. The day was considered to be a great success, and will hopefully put pressure on global leaders before December, when the international conference on climate change will be held in Copenhagen.

For more information on how you can get involved in the 350.org campaign, please click here. To see photographs of Saturday’s events, you can check out 350.org’s flickr photo-stream here.

the live local Foundation

David Gravina — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:31:29 +0000

I’m pleased to announce that myself and Piers Dawson-Damer have formally incorporated the live local Foundation. The live local project has always been about the community and the Not for Profit status of the foundation furthers that ethos and vision. We believe that through letting go of the profit potential of the project we can help it to grow exponentially and create far more impact than it could have achieved as a for profit business. We are in the process of setting up the infrastructure of the foundation and are looking to nurture partnerships and access to funding in the coming months.

About live local

The project’s first channel was designed to serve as a hub of inspiration for people looking to adjust their lifestyle in ways that have a positive impact on the environment and society. Everyday Australians (and soon global citizens!) are encouraged to upload and share their stories, experiences and adventures that come from living locally, such as growing a veggie patch in the garden, riding a bike to work or even cooking dinner for a neighbour. The project, launched in March this year, now has over 150 experiments running, and hundreds of active passionate members, who use words, images and videos to show how they are improving and enjoying their communities.

The board of the live local foundation includes myself, Piers and Gareth Johnston (who currently heads up the Australia & New Zealand Sustainability Business Circle). We are now in active discussions with strategic partners across finance, media and other areas and would be delighted to hear from you if you are able to support the foundation on a financial, in kind or volunteer basis. Please contact the foundation directly.

Sponsor an eskimo in the MS Bike Ride

David Gravina — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:57:37 +0000

On Sunday 1 November, members from the Digital Eskimo team will be taking part in the 2009 MS Sydney to the Gong Bike Ride. Participants of this fundraising event are hoping to raise $2.5 million for people affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which is the most common disease of the central nervous system and affects more than 18,000 Australians.

The riding team of Anthony, Jeremy, Dave and Duncan (aka the Igloo Sled Racers) would really appreciate your support to help us reach our target of $2,000!

Sponsor us now (please) – any amount – big or small – is welcome

Going, going, Gong!

Stand up for Australian cleaners

David Gravina — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:41:16 +0000

Across the nation, thousands of city cleaners are working long, difficult hours with no access to job security or fair pay. Many are also living below the poverty line. Over the last twelve months, many Australians have joined forces to fight this injustice through LHMU’s Clean Start Campaign. To date, over 40 major cleaning companies have endorsed the Clean Start Agreement, which delivers a better deal for cleaners, tenants, clients and the cleaning industry.

On October 17th, Anti-Poverty day, cleaners in Sydney celebrated a historic milestone in their three and a half year campaign for higher wages and improved work conditions. Due to efforts from LHMU, the Clean Start agreement in NSW was validated, and is now effective in Sydney’s CBD. This agreement entitles both full-time and part-time night shift cleaners to increased hourly wages over the next four years.

There are still contracters holding out, however. Click here to sign a petition to send a message to the cleaning companies that are holding thousands of cleaners back from fair pay and better lives.

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Art and green coming together, all over the world

David Gravina — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:29:30 +0000

Tuesday 6th October saw art markers, students, appreciators and collectors, as well as those interested in the future of the green scene, assemble at the Beauchamp Hotel for the first international greenups collaboration. The night was a fantastic opportunity to see art and green unite, with a slide show of international art from Sam Bower, director of the Green Musuem. Attendees were also able to knit, crochet and weave in the name of sustainability, supporting Knitty Gritty & Loopy’s campaign to make 350 baskets from plastic bags, which will be exhibited at the Opera House for the 350 project.

We’d like to thank the Beauchamp Hotel for hosting the event and for their continued support of green initiatives. The beautifully restored hotel was a perfect venue for the night, with a sustainable design, eco-friendly lighting and lamps made from recycled polystyrene cups! Thanks also to Green Magazine for the magazine subscription door prize.

Please be sure to join us for the next green drinks on the first Tuesday in November!