BLO!!

by Shane Solanki

Times, they are a’changing, said Bob Dylan. And the dude wasn’t wrong. This year’s model is the BLO, the Brass Liberation Orchestra. Highly political in motive and deed, the BLO are today’s terrorists, using music as their weapon. They play their music to support political causes with particular emphasis on peace, and racial and social justice. They are live, infectious, funky - and FREE. They refuse to play for money, or sell their music; instead, you can book them to play at your protest or street party. All their music is released as downloadable scores from their website, and you’re free to play it, adapt it or remix it. The BLO are a perfect example of Vivacity in motion; imagine if we all used the city as our stage, using public platforms to practise our craft or our business, never charging for what we did, but instead using these platforms to elevate the perception of that which we cared about!

Conservatives and republicans around the world shudder with laughter at this new age notion, imagining ‘trustafarians’ and other modern day hippies, freeloading off either their parents or the state. But perhaps a change is in the air… just ask Mark Boyle, who after a year of living without money and inventing a philosophy called Freeconomy, launched ‘Just For The Love Of It’, an online community dedicated to help reconnect people in their local communities through the simple act of sharing. Everything is shared for FREE on Freeconomy, and no money changes hands between members.

Still don’t believe the hype? Then check the Planetwalker, John Francis, who didn’t take any motorised transport for 22 years, whilst undergoing a vow of silence.

What on earth is going on? No less than a revolution, friends… a revolution of mind and spirit. Neither left or right in politik-speak, but forward. One small step for man at a time… the days of ‘capture-and-own’ are dead. Now is the time of ‘create-and-share’. Vivacity la revolution. 

why vivacity

This is the century of the city.

Over half the world’s population now live in cities. This is projected to rise to three-quarters of all people in 2050. With population increases, this means 6.75 billion of us will be city dwellers, an increase of 3.75 billion from today. As the future success or failure of mankind lies in cities, new ways of using them are needed.

The city represents an incredible paradox. We have never been closer together physically, but we have never been further away from each other emotionally. At vivacity we celebrate city movements around the world that change and re-define the way we interact with and use cities. Whilst cities cannot cope with the numbers now and the resultant strain on the world’s natural resources and eco-systems are already painfully evident, we believe that human spirit and endeavor will overcome, as it has done before.

vivacity promotes city movements that are connecting people & creating new types of communities. They are typically low impact, highly sociable, enabled by technology, using public and private spaces in new ways and empowering people to act locally.

vivacity promotes new ways of feeling alive, new ways of being invigorated, and new things to be a part of. We call it grassroots stuff in the city. We hope you get involved and share your experiences with us.

who we are

Andy Marks vivacity founder and editor

Social entrepreneur, lecturer, writer and curator, Andy Marks is an agent of positive social change practicing at the intersection or fault-line of business, society and culture. Andy is the founder of research and consultancy network Salad Worldwide, an advisor to some of the world’s leading companies on Corporate Responsibility and an advisor to a number of non-profit organizations. Andy is an expert on grass roots city movements, and a founding partner of an upcycling enterprise launching in 2010.

Julian Broadhead contributor

With a background in advertising, branding and corporate responsibility, Julian works with blue-chip companies from a wide range of industries and sectors, advising on strategy and new ways of connecting with people. He is currently developing a number of new opportunities in the environmental sector, with a particular emphasis on making environmental action more accessible.

Shane Solanki – contributor/distributor/carburettor/carbon-ara

Artist, writer, performer, producer and director, Shane’s first short film was commissioned by the BBC and directed by Peter Cattaneo. His first record was produced by Mercury Prize Winner Talvin Singh. He worked for years to forge the unique identity of independent record label Ninja Tune. We at Vivacity like to think of him as a grass roots detective, covertly operating under the pseudonym of the Last Mango in Paris; imagine him skulking around the world in a beige macintosh, recording and documenting our shift into a society where social responsibility and public creativity are norms.

contribute

become a vivacity scout

As more and more of us live in urban areas, individuals and communities can feel overwhelmed and isolated by the sheer intense-city of it all.

However we at vivacity believe that human spirit and endeavor will overcome as it has done so many times before. That is why we are celebrating movements around the world that are changing and re-defining the way we interact with the city. We would like to hear from you about grassroots movements or activities that bring people together face to face and use cities in new ways. The more original and imaginative the better.

Please email us describing a movement you would like to see on vivacity using a maximum of 300 words. info@vivacity.me