Prompted by an email from TED, I watched three videos on YouTube this evening - of residents of one country singing the anthems of another country. It’s an awesome idea, and the different approaches really add to it.

• France for the USA
• Kenya for India
• Japan for Turkey

These short clips are inspired from an event that’s happening on the 10th of May, Pangea Day. I’d read mentions of it before (probably in TED emails, again), but I only had a browse of the site tonight, and I’m loving the idea:

“Pangea Day is a global event bringing the world together through film.

Why? In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it’s easy to lose sight of what we all have in common. Pangea Day seeks to overcome that – to help people see themselves in others – through the power of film.”

It sounds simple, but I think things like this are really effective. I’m only disappointed that I won’t be home in Melbourne that day - as there’s screenings at Federation Square and Cinema Nova. Nothing so public for Sydney that I’ve found so far…

(Your regular ruby-focused programming will return later in the week.)

Update: Just found a fourth video - Australia for Lebanon!