REVIEW: TedX Brighton - First published in the Argus
by Christopher Spring
Most people will have seen a Ted Talk, whether it be live or a 20 minute online video giving you ideas from the comfort of your own home. The format for TEDX is simple: each speaker talks about a subject, with the Brighton meeting entitled “We can be heroes” – the iconic David Bowie lyric.
Twenty one speakers spoke in 4 different sessions, with each section roughly split into four sections: “Oh Behave”, “Making the cut”, “The Art of Heroism”, “Role Models” with a break in-between each one giving the audience time to explore silent discos, join the English Disco Lovers in a congo, be part of a workshop, create toys or simply grab a coffee.
The sheer amount of information one takes in means that a decent notebook and time for reflection is vital one that you don't necessarily get at Tedx.
“Oh Behave” was roughly about how companies and individuals can make little changes to make big differences. Richard Summers’ talk encapsulated this, calling for an education system focused on helping people discover what they are interested in, refreshing in its statistical detail, whilst still inspirational. Wolter Smit’s candid talk on work life of finding a job you love, had much the same message.
The second section had talks from makers and artisans who spoke about taking their products from conception to realisation.
The final two sections were my favourite by far, with any of the talks worth a mention such was the quality of innovations, charities and work done. From Elaine Ortiz of the Hummingbird Project highly emotional video explaining the Calais evictions, Whitney Iles’ work with UK offenders, Cat Fletcher’s talk about reducing and reusing waste or Paul Richards’ charity “stay up late” whose work received a deserved standing ovation. Each encapsulated the power of the individual and the difference we can all make.
A life-changing and inspirational day that will take weeks to digest, so thank goodness we have the Youtube videos to watch.