jazz-overload in Molde (Norway)

Inspired by a compliment I have just received from @lopesluciane, I decided to catch up with my blog and update it with new stories. Actually, not so new, as this one took place over a month ago. But I thought it's worthy sharing :P

Between experiencing the mountains in Sweden and sailing the Norwegian sea with a professional skipper, Mark, Philip and I got "stuck" in a little town for one week. Luckily (luck is not enough to describe that!), there was a major international jazz festival taking place there during those 6 days... the town is called Molde, city of roses, with 20,000 inhabitants, host of one of the oldest jazz festivals in the world, MoldeJazz, at its 49th edition!

And how luck we were to get a volunteer job there! Why not? We would get a free pass for all concerts, free camping and discounts on food and drinks, plus a "special" deal for a day in an island across the fjorde, with music, beers, food and a swim... and our job? For some reason, they got to know we're passionated about the environment, so they got something to do... and it was called The Environmental Patrol (Miljø Patrulje)...

Our job was simple: clean the main street. Another name for it: cleaning men! Apparently, Scandinavians have replaced names for all "discriminated" jobs with nice names (and they are really well paid ;-))

In our case, we worked 1 hour, twice a day, for 3 days. A total of 6 hours of work (should I say fun!?) worth 300 euro!! Niiiice!! And we enjoyed showman Leonard Cohen, crazyman Cecil Taylor, funnymen Fanfare Ciocarlia, talentedman Joshua Redman and his Trio and popman Jamie Culum... plus a few other surprises at the Jams during the night and some street artists during the day...

I absolutely recommend for anyone!! So much fun, an overload of jazz!

More pictures at my flickr account: flickr.com/vedana

Got wild in the Swedish mountains, again

I mentioned previously about my current European summer adventure. It has been so far the most diverse short trip I have ever done (6 weeks) and still to be the most fantastic. I still have two more weeks on the road but I've found some time to start writing about it. I've managed to update my Twitter a few times though...

The first part of my trip was in Sweden. I've been there last year taking part of the GetWild program, and I came back this year as co-facilitator, supporting Martin and Rowan in this mission of providing an extraordinary experience with Nature for 18 young social entrepreneurs for one week in July. We're received once again by Göran Guunvi, CEO of Naturakademin and our connection to the Sami People, "owners" of the sacred lands of Vålådalen.

The learning curve was increadible, and I got a lot from this experience. It was fun at most times and pretty challenging at some moments. We got terrible weather most of the time and three people were "rescued" from the top of the mountain, due to the cold and constant rain. But even for them, the experience turned out very impactful, and it feels great to know that. Bert from Netherlands wrote about his experience in his blog.

I intent to facilitate new experiences like that in the future, in Brazil. I also realized the crucial importance of authenticity - you cannot preach what you don't do yourself. I need to join more solo trips and practice more mindfulness myself before doing it again for others!

Thanks for Rowan for his determined work at Up-Stream.dk and Martin for his experience and calmness.

In the next post I'll share more about the MoldeJazz Festival 2009!

Event: Stories of Antarctica, Leadership and Climate Change

Today is EarthDay! First celebrated 39 years ago, it marks the birth of the modern environmentalist movement... learn more at www.earthday.net/earthday2009

As part of the celebrations, my "action" today is to start sharing my experience in Antarctica. I'll also write some reflections down on my blog (meanwhile you can check the Official Expedition Website) and look for photos, videos and blog posts, where I was one of the official bloggers).

If you are in São Paulo, try to join us at The Hub, located at Rua Bela Cintra 409 (see map) at 19h.


Thomas Ufer e Henrique Vedana foram escolhidos entre jovens do mundo inteiro para participar de uma expedição para a Antarctica (http://expedition-antarctic-2009.com), em Março/Abril de 2009, com a intenção de ver os efeitos das mudanças climáticas acontecendo no continente mais remoto e mais intacto do planeta, e conectar-se com lideranças jovens e cientistas de ponta, buscando entender a crise onde estamos e quais as perspectivas, o que a gente pode e deve fazer.

Mostraremos algumas fotos, o filme da expedição e contaremos algumas histórias... venha pra bater-papo, fazer perguntas e refletir com conosco!

I'm going to Antarctica!!

Today I got some news that made me jump from the chair, and I still can't stop laughing and dreaming, even 10 hours later... so I decided to write about it!

I applied last November to the BP-sponsored Expedition Antarctica, where 50 students from all around the world will gather in Ushuaia and travel to Antarctica, over one week, from 25th of March until 5th of April. The goal is to explore and "see" the changes and challenges to our planet happening, and together "act" upon it. Well, not that I need to see Antarctica to believe we are in deep s**t, and yes, probably BP is also contributing to it (not alone, of course), but the opportunity to visit the most remote continent in the world (which only reminds my inspiration Amyr Klink), and connect with (potentially) 50 other people like me is what makes me jump from the chair.

I didn't get in when the final results were announced, in December. The e-mail from today was an invitation for a few extra participants... "In discussion with advisers such as Peter Senge, we have decided to extend a number of invitations to candidates who have demonstrated particular credentials in the area of youth or student networks, or organisations dedicated to exploring innovation and change especially related to climate, energy and inter-related issues."

I also found out that Max Oliva is one of the participants, which means a great start!! :D

Peter Senge is advising on the project, which is led by polar explorer Robert Swan.

I can't say how happy I am!!!!

Democracy in Russia

It's 4.39am and I'm somewhere in the outscurts of Moscow, in a kind of "comunist-style" sports-center, facilitating a 6-days conference for 80 young leaders from all around Russia. The organization is well-known to me, AIESEC.

The main part of the conference is dedicated to the elections of the national executive board of AIESEC in Russia, in a very competitive environment where 4 people run for President and 15 people run for the 7 Vice-President positions. Besides that, there is a "history" of local and national politics, and a Constitution (where the rules of the process are described) that is very weak, full of flaws. Also, as last components, we are in a very young democracy, Russia, and AIESEC is made of young people, average around 20 years old. It's definitely a school for all of them, to choose and to be chosen by democratic means to run an organization at local, national, and international level.

I had a similar experience one year ago, where I was facilitating the same process for AIESEC in Brazil, my home country. There we had the non-typical situation of 3 candidates running for national president (first time in the 37 years history) and NONE of them got enough votes - in front of 600 conference participants [a second round was needed a month later to finally elect the new president] It's not easy to coordinate, facilitate and maintain a healthy emotional level when it happens. I felt challenged and I survived (thanks to the support from a few special friends).

This year in Russia we had some other particularities, such as an incomplete Constitution, written in Russian, a tough competition among 4 candidates and only 7 local committees (among 15) having the rights to vote, due to their past performance. Were the remaining 8 committees lowered to a "second grade citizenship"?

Despite all, I survived once again, and AIESEC in Russia has a new president elected in a fair and trusted election. For the first time in years, it's a male, and it's from Romania. Congratulations Victor!

My conference is only half-way through, 3 long days and short nights to go, following AIESEC's principle of "working hard, partying harder!"

Dobre noche!!

Invitation: Education, Creativity and The Kaospilots

I've been studying for two years in Denmark, and many people have been asking me, either by curiosity or interest, about this school with this strange name "Chaos Pilots?". What is it? How does it work? How can I study there? Is there anything like that in Brazil?

As this is my last week in São Paulo, before returning to Denmark and finish my studies, I would like to invite you for an informal conversation about Education, Creativity, Innovation, and much more...

September 9th, 2008 (Tuesday)
Location: The Hub - Bela Cintra 409 - São Paulo
Reception at 7pm, chat goes from 7.30 until 9.30pm
Cost: suggested R$ 5,00 (for drinks and snacks)

This invitation extends for all interested people, and curious about the subjects!
Let me know in advance if you're coming by e-mail henrique@kaospilot.dk.

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
(...)
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Warriors Without Weapons 2009

I met quite a few folks who supported the last editions of this program, and a few others who have participated. It's impressive, life-changing experience! The deadline has passed for the 2009 edition, but they still accept participants from outside Brazil.

Check the website www.warriorswithoutweapons.net and warn your friends and family, you won't be the same afterwords...





Hello! Do you want to change the world?

We are taking applications for the 2009 Warriors Without Weapons program. The program will gather youth from different countries that are willing to roll up their sleeves and really make a better world.

After 30 days working collectively with a local community, they will come back home with knowledge and experience to start to promote change in their local realities.

In 2009 the program will take place in Santos, Brazil from January 5 to February 5. The applications must be sent until August 15!

Do you want to know more about the program? Visit our blog at www.warriorswithoutweapons.net to learn how to participate.

Please, do you know someone who wants to change the world?

If you think this is a good way and have people in mind to participate. Would you send this invitation to them?

Thank you so much for your atention!

People from Elos: André, Cláudio, Edgard, Mariana, Mila, Natasha, Rodrigo Rubido, Rodrigo Alvarez, Thaís e Val.