My Social Relevance

First, apologies for not being able to blog recently.  Our family has gone through the loss of a loved one.  So when I saw this video, I had to blog about it.  This is an issue that needs to get out and the makers of the video have done a brilliant job.  It gets the message about wearing seat belts out in a way that doesn't preach.  Many times video messages that try to get people to wear seat belts do it in a way that shows the graphic nature of what happens when you don't wear seat belts.  The director of the video, Daniel Cox wanted to show a different side of wearing seat belts, the more human side of it.  He wanted to show a positive message on road safety and wanted to show the impact on the loss of life on a family.  

A story behind the seat belt that many people might not know is that Nils Ivar Bohlin, while working with Volvo invented the modern 3 point seat belt as a safety feature to protect the occupants of a vehicle during an auto accident.  They patented the technology however, setting corporate greed aside for something that could save lives, Volvo directors decided not to enforce the patent and therefore made the patent available to other car manufacturers.  Volvo first introduced the modern seat belt as standard equipment on their cars in 1963.  

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that in the period from 1975 to 2007, an estimated 240,000 people are alive today due to seat belts.  In 2008, seat belts saved over 13,000 lives.  

Our family has recently lost a loved one to cancer.  Wearing a seat belt is such a simple task that could prevent a needless loss of life.  

Here is the video

25 years ago, a group of artists got together for a united cause...to feed Africa.  25 years later, the original producer had not intended to do a remake of the song for its 25 year anniversary.  However, something happened... a 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti.  

Just like 25 years ago, there was a great need to feed starving Africans. Now a new group of artists gathered to remake the song to help raise money for Haiti.  The original creators of the song were Lionel Richie and the late Michael Jackson.  After Lionel Richie witnessed the tragedy that was unfolding in Haiti, he decided that it was the perfect opportunity to remake the song.  

The seven minute video was unveiled during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  The video starts with an introduction by Jamie Foxx who speaks about the reason behind the remake of the famous song.  The video and song does includes music from Michael Jackson because he was been so giving to charitable events.  The song does include the same star power as the original 1985 song. The song is quickly making money as it shot to the number one position as the most downloaded song on iTunes.

Below is the video of the song.

Here is a cool video that I came across.  It shows a few polar bears befriending some sled dogs.  Goes to show that everybody needs friends and dogs do make a polars bears best friend.

Just know that Polar Bears are quickly becoming endangered species because of loss off habitat due to global warming.  Much of the polar ice caps where they live are quickly melting.  Within 10 years, much of where they live may be gone.  

Even polar bears have social relevance.

So what can a 7 years old boy do for the victims in Haiti?  We'll alot actually, in fact the 7 year old boy has raised $240,000 for Haiti relief.  How?  Charlie Simpson decided to sponsor a charity bike ride to raise money for the tragedy that is unfolding in Haiti.  

Once the story of his idea got out, people were starting to donate in droves.  When the media got word of it, it went to a whole new level.  After his bike ride was complete, Charlie Simpson had raised $240,000.  For somebody that's 7 years old, its an amazing feat.  He's not a George Clooney or Wyclef Jean but his heart is just as big.  

The money that Charlie Simpson raised will go to  UNICEF's Haiti Earthquake Children's Appeal.  They focus on providing water, sanitation, education and nutrition.