pechakuchaMedia Release Tuesday 16 February 2010
PechaKucha / Klein Dytham architecture, Tokyo
In a matter of seconds, thousands of lives and dreams were destroyed in Haiti.
Following the tragedy, aid came from many quarters, in all shapes and forms. The global PechaKucha community is coming together with Architecture for Humanity to lend a hand in rebuilding Haiti and establish long-term solutions. Please help us spread the word about our global event in February: 20 images x 20 seconds, 200 cities, 2,000 presentations, 200,000 people. Rebuilding a nation 20 seconds at a time.
This is a true, last minute, we‐can‐do‐it fundraiser, mobilized less than a 20 days ago, spreading today to over 130 cities globally with 100% of proceeds destined for ready‐to‐go reconstruction projects in earthquake‐ravaged Haiti. Why this matters:
“The fact is more people died in Haiti than in the 12 countries affected by the ‘04 Tsunami. Oh, and rainy season begins in a week. So this natural disaster IS a big deal and it’s going to get rough.”
Cameron Sinclair, Founder and eternal optimist @ Architecture for Humanity.
Global PechaKucha Night for Haiti – 2/20/10
On 20th February many of the 300 cities that host PechaKucha events worldwide will converge to present one continuous 24-hour edition of PechaKucha Night. Beginning in Tokyo 2003 as an online networking and exhibition event, PechaKucha has become a massive global event inspiring creative communities from Uganda to Norway. Kicking off at SuperDeluxe in Tokyo, where PechaKucha Night first started seven years to the day (20th Feb 2003), the a presentation ‘wave’ will travel westward, with cities presenting one after the other. Crossing all times zones and cultures, the ‘wavecast’ will be streamed live online on Ustream and will be viewable not only on computers, but also on any iPhone or Android handset.
Some presentations intend to offer hope and encouragement through stories of past disaster relief projects, others simply inspire by showing the power of creative thinking.
All of the 2,000 presentations generated from the one-day event – in what could be the world’s biggest single-day globally distributed conference – will be posted on the PechaKucha website, where visitors will also be able to make monetary donations to each presentation.
100% of proceeds will go to Architecture For Humanity which operates globally, and was instrumental in getting projects built after the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.
“We are not the first responders, we’re the last responders and we’re in for the long haul. We estimate having teams in Haiti for 4 years but we will only do that with the financial support of others.”
Cameron Sinclair, Founder and eternal optimist @ Architecture for Humanity.
In organizing this event PechaKucha intends to not only raise funds through pledges from host cities and contributions from individuals but also illustrate the power of innovative minds, creative passion and, most of all, sharing ideas for change and sustainability.
More information about the project and cities which are holding events
http://www.pecha-kucha.org/pechakucha-for-haiti
Watch Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, PechaKucha Founders in Tokyo launch the project jointly with Cameron Sinclair, Founder of Architecture for Humanity who was in Davos at the World Ecomonic Forum – this is a good example of how the presentation will be archived on the web site:
http://www.pecha-kucha.org/presentations/50 (always go full screen)
Personal letter from Cameron Sinclair
http://pecha-kucha.org/daily/2010/02/14/a-message-from-cameron-sinclair/
First PechaKucha Presentation for Haiti by composed by Brian LeBarton (Beck) to photographs taken in Haiti by Francesco Valentino as he we was trying to find his family – is now live.
http://www.pecha-kucha.org/presentations/52 (always go full screen)
PechaKucha for Haiti logo, design by Studio Number One, founded by Shepard Fairey.
http://pecha-kucha.org/daily/2010/02/07/pechakucha-haiti-reconstruction/#more-3499
All events in February are in support of PechaKucha for Haiti. Find a city near you.
http://pecha-kucha.org/night/calendar/
Showing in Raglan at the Old School Arts Centre in Stewart St. Open from 8pm on the 20th to late and then from 8am on 21st through to 9pm.
Local builder Raglan David Wimmer will be one of the hundreds of international presenters taking part. David Wimmer was one of several Raglan builders who went to Samoa after the tsunami to help with the rebuilding work. He will present a selection of photos taken of the group’s work.
PechaKuchaWAVE broadcast on Ustream, viewable on any iPhone, Android handset, download the iPhone, Andriod player app now!
http://www.ustream.tv/mobile
PechaKucha Ustream channel
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/pechakucha
What you can do to help
Find a city location and join the conversation.
Make a presentation
Make a donatation
Foward this mail to your NATIONAL press and TV contacts
Foward this mail to your LOCAL press and TV contacts
Join us on twitter: http://twitter.com/pechakucha
Join us on Facebook http://bit.ly/d54GFA
Watch the ‘WAVEcast’ on Ustream http://www.ustream.tv/channel/pechakucha
Watch ‘WAVEcast’ on your iPhone or Android handsets via Ustream
Background
PECHAKUCHA
http://pecha-kucha.org
PechaKucha Night was conceived in Tokyo in February 2003 by architects Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein of Klein Dytham architecture as an event where young designers could meet, network and show their work in public. Over time, it has evolved into a massive celebration of creativity, with events regularly being held in over 270 cities. Last year, more than 6,000 presentations were given at +600 PechaKucha events.
“Few things—except, perhaps, Apple computer products and Moleskine notebooks—have been embraced by designers of all stripes so quickly and universally as PechaKucha Night has.”
John Gendall, Architect Magazine
Drawing its name from the Japanese phrase for the sound of conversation (“chit chat”), the PechaKucha format is simple – 20 images x 20 seconds – and designed to keep presentations concise and moving at a rapid pace.
ARCHITECTURE FOR HUMANITY
http://architectureforhumanity.org
A non-profit organization dedicated to building a more sustainable future through the power of professional design. Founded in 1999, this design services firm channels the resources of the global funding community to meaningful projects that make a difference locally.