HUMAN Extended version VOL.1

What is it that makes us human? Is it that we love, that we fight? That we laugh? Cry? Our curiosity? The quest for discovery?

Driven by these questions, filmmaker and artist Yann Arthus-Bertrand spent three years collecting real-life stories from 2,000 women and men in 60 countries. Working with a dedicated team of translators, journalists and cameramen, Yann captures deeply personal and emotional accounts of topics that unite us all; struggles with poverty, war, homophobia, and the future of our planet mixed with moments of love and happiness.

Watch the 3 volumes of the film and experience #WhatMakesUsHUMAN. Also available on Youtube

Part 1 deals with the themes of love, women, work and poverty.

Part 2 deals with the themes of war, forgiving, homosexuality, family and life after death.

Part 3 deals with the themes of happiness, education, disability, immigration, corruption and the meaning of life.

Life Hack HQ

Youth mental health and wellbeing is often approached as a collection of problems to be solved, rather than part of a holistic vision to be achieved. A flourishing society requires investment in young people that focus not only on minimising deficits or treating issues, but also on building capacity and skills that will enable them to be healthy, resilient and well-prepared for their lives.

Lifehack is a space where people can come together to develop new approaches, projects and ventures, with young people at the centre of the process. We bridge backgrounds, skill sets and place, and empower young people and communities to redefine their own version of success. In short, Lifehack is the R&D ground for Youth Wellbeing interventions.

In the last 2 years, Lifehack has moved away from trying to “solve” youth mental health issues with smartphone apps and stepped into the systemic questions:

What are the key components of wellbeing for a young person? 

How might user-centered technology contribute to this? 

What’s getting in the way? 

How do we get beyond that?

Zentangles

zentangle.com

For those of you who were not lucky enough to hear Aaron's FW3 talk last week (Dunedin student), heres a link to the Zentangles website.  Aaron used this activity on placement.

The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns.

Almost anyone can use it to create beautiful images. It increases focus and creativity, provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well being. The Zentangle Method is enjoyed all over this world across a wide range of skills, interests and ages.

We believe that life is an art form and that our Zentangle Method is an elegant metaphor for deliberate artistry in life.

B J Miller: what really matters at the end of life

Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai

Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai is a lifestyle series featuring 12 ten minute episodes filmed in the stunning landscape of Te Waipounamu. It captures the stories and essence of traditional food gathering practices passed down through the generations.

The series offers a window into the lives of Ngāi Tahu whānau carrying on the food gathering traditions of their ancestors – from tūna and pātiki on the east coast, medicinal rongoā plants in the north and kanakana in the far south. Through our characters we explore the evolution of the practice – its past, present and future and we learn about the species and their natural environment.

The above link will take you to all 12 episodes posted on the Ngai Tahu iwi website.  There are some lovely example here of occupational identity and the sustainability of culture through occupational practices passed from generation to generation.  

Transition to Retirement for Professional Athletes

For those of you who have Sky TV you may want to look out for a repeat screening of the following program.  It was shown on the Discovery Channel last Sunday and provided an excellent outline of factors at play, and the challenges faced by professional sport persons when they have to deal with life after sport.  There are strong links here to the concept of transition discussed last semester.  It may well also show up on YouTube soon.

John Eales Reveals: Life After Sport

What is the price for glory? When the fame, fans, money, training, coaches, support teams and victories are gone, what happens next? Through elite selection, grueling training, inspiring victories and crushing defeats, todays athletes run the razors edge of human capability. Pushing their bodies and brains far beyond the boundaries that limit the rest of us.

Through three extraordinary case studies, starting with the genesis of what actually makes a super athlete rise to the top, Life after Sport, hosted by John Eales, will deconstruct the highs, lows, pitfalls, perils and science of elite athletes as they struggle to make the transitions from normal human to superhuman and back and include interviews from former athletes including Grant Hackett, Lauren Jackson, Layne Beachley and Shane Webcke.