GLOBAL EVENT: Heineken Open Your World Campaign

I once serenaded a girl at varsity. I lugged my guitar on my back to her res and belted out Goo Goo Dolls to an audience gathered on her balcony. It was quite a daunting experience. I certainly would have appreciated some serenading support at the time.

Now we can send something special to an admireree with a little help from Heineken. The brand has launched a serenade campaign called “Open Your World”, which allows romantics to serenade a potential Valentine digitally with a song that says it best.

Serenade your date with a personalised online video with they help of a Heineken Facebook app launched this week called Serenade. The video below accompanies the Serenade Facebook app. Clicking through from the video will take you straight to the application, where you can create your own fully personalised Serenade for a date in just 4 clicks.

How it works

You must first select “Who” you would like to take on a date, “Why” you want to go out with them, and then decide “What” you want to do on your legendary date. You should of course explain why your chosen date should step out with you - “Why Me”. Once you have made your choices, your Serenade will be ready to send to your lucky date.

It’s then all about waiting to see whether you will receive a Yes or No from them. With a total of 640 different Serenades available (and in 20 different languages), you should be able to find the legendary Serenade that will inject some romance into your life.

NOTE: Both the sender and the recipient will have to allow the Facebook App to send and open their Serenade respectively. Supporting the App, Serenade Live is an 8 hour live, global event taking place on 9th February, which will be streamed on Heineken's YouTube channel. Join in and let Heineken help you set your Valentines’ Day message to music and lyrics, and be a part of the worldwide Serenade!

The “Serenade Live” event will be streamed at the following local times:

• Sydney: 5am – 2pm
• London: 6pm – 3am
• New York: 1pm – 10pm

• To keep up to date on Twitter, follow @Heineken and use the hashtags #Serenade, #SerenadeLive

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MUSIC: Irvine Band Summer Tour

I've been living in Cape Town for a little over a month now since moving down from Pietermaritzburg. One thing I've been really impressed with during my evening social endeavours is the Cape Town music scene. I've been supporting local bands at venues such as Zula Bar, The Armchair and the Purple Turtle.

One band that has played each of these venues in the past month, and which have been quite memorable, is a band called Irvine. They have quite a unique sound, but I suppose if one were to categorise their music style you might call it Indie Rock. Here's the splurb off their website.

"Irvine is a group of like-minded musicians who aim to put the heart and soul back into indie rock. Formed in 2006 by brothers Bob and Chris Thorpe, the band spent much of their time performing, writing and recording in London, England, before moving to Cape Town, South Africa, in 2009. The following months saw Irvine develop their line-up with bassist Doug Gass as they focused on the recording of their as yet unreleased full-length album.

With songs that are as memorable as they are intricate, voiced through sincere, unassuming lyrics, Irvine has developed a sound that has fused the art of the emotive big chorus rock anthem with the experimental low-fi production and subtle aural anarchy of the authentic indie tradition."

Irvine "The Chase" Music Video

The Irvine band is currently on tour around the Southern and Eastern Cape with the band Crashcarburn. They will be building up towards a grand finale at Raggies in East London. If you are in the area on any of these dates, Irvine is certainly worth lending your ears.

Irvine Band Tour Schedule

• 19 DEC: George: Zanzibar
• 23 DEC: Kei Mouth: Wild Kei Fest
• 24 DEC: East London: Raggies
• 26 DEC: Port Elisabeth: Pool City
• 27 DEC: Kei Mouth: Bush Pigs
• 28 DEC: Knysna: Zanzibar
• 30 DEC: East London: Raggies

Check out Irvine's website for more music videos and some free MP3's.

COP17 VIDEOS: World experts speak on climate change

THE Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership hosted a series of high-level COPpuccinos, sponsored by Nedbank. The brief interviews feature world-class experts on sustainability sharing their thoughts on COP17 and the progress made.

COPpuccino videos at COP17: Christiana Figueres

Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, in conversation with Professor Richard Calland, CPSL Senior Associate. In this interview, Ms Figueres shares her thoughts on the significance of the COP, its role in the revolutionary process of change, and the contribution of the private sector.

COPpuccino videos at COP17: Christiana Figueres 2

Christiana Figueres follows the interview with Professor Richard Calland by taking part in a Q&A session. In a personal and emotional contribution, Ms Figueres shows her passion for her role in the COP and explains why she is committed to change, and that there is no Plan B.

COPpuccino videos at COP17: Kumi Naidoo

Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director of Greenpeace International, talks about civil disobedience and the need for business to be a part of the solution. Kumi calls for a "painless tax" and suggests that until business understands that it must deliver value to future generations and that the pace of change must speed up dramatically, the climate change crisis will not be averted.

COPpuccino video: Stefan Raubenheimer & Laurence Brahm

Stefan Raubenheimer, international climate change policy facilitator, CEO of SouthSouthNorth, CDKN and MAPs, and Laurence Brahm, global activist, international mediator and leading advocate of The Himalayan Consensus - a fresh development paradigm speak to Professor Richard Calland. Stefan Raubenheimer and Laurence Brahm speak about the process of the COPs and how the events have changed.

COPpuccino videos at COP17: Trevor Manuel

Trevor Manuel, South Africa's Minister for National Planning, in conversation with Professor Richard Calland, CPSL Senior Associate at The Oasis. In part 1 Trevor Manuel discusses mistrust and South Africa's energy transition. In part 2 of the interview, Trevor Manuel talks about designing the Green Climate Fund.

COPpuccino videos at COP17: Saliem Fakir & Dr Bob Scholes

Richard Calland interviews Saliem Fakir from WWF South Africa, and Dr Bob Scholes, CSIR Fellow and author in the latest IPCC report.

COPpuccino video: Sandrine Dixson-Declève & Peet du Plooy

The 6th COPpuccino interview involves the European Director of CPSL, Sandrine Dixson-Decléve, and Peet du Plooy from TIPS (Trade and Industry Policy & Strategies).

COPpuccino videos at COP17: Smita Nakhooda & Nick Robins

The 7th COPpuccino introduces Smita Nakhooda of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and Nick Robins - Head of Climate Change Centre of Excellence (HSBC). Both guests speak about pulic and private finance structures and the negotiations around these issues at COP17.

COPpuccino videos at COP17: Peter Seligmann

The 8th daily COPpuccino features Peter Seligmann, head of Conservation International talking about working with the private sector and the shift that has occured as companies take sustainability more seriously.

• All the videos above are courtesy of the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership

FTW: Free the Web with naked ADSL

MWEB's Free the Web campaign (FTW) is highlighting the importance of Naked ADSL in a new social media movement. MWEB's Free the Web (FTW) initiative has taken up the cause of Naked ADSL, calling on South Africans to take a stand and add their vote to remove mandatory landline billing with ADSL lines.

Derek Hershaw, CEO MWEB ISP, says: "With Uncapped ADSL finally becoming the norm for fixed line access, the time has come for Free the Web to focus on the next cause. So we're asking consumers to take a stand and call for Naked ADSL. There are currently three costs associated with having ADSL connectivity in South Africa: the ADSL line rental; the cost of the ADSL data; and the cost of the landline rental from Telkom," says Hershaw.

As Telkom is bundling the landline with the ADSL line, consumers are unable to subscribe to an ADSL-only service, where they just rent the ADSL line and pay for data usage. If they want ADSL, customers are forced to also pay the rental fee for the landline, irrespective of whether they use it for voice calls. Although our voice lines do currently subsidise a portion of our ADSL line costs, consumers should still see a reduction in costs if you didn't have to have a landline.

"Since a landline is not required for ADSL connectivity, Naked ADSL calls for Telkom to unbundle landlines from ADSL lines, ensuring that ADSL customers who don't want a telephone line don't end up having to pay for one unnecessarily," says Hershaw.

Naked ADSL FTW Video Campaign

The Naked ADSL issue was once again brought to light at the recent Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) hearings held by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). These hearings discussed opening last mile access to the copper ADSL infrastructure, which is currently owned by Telkom. LLU would mean more competition within the Internet Service Provider space, which would benefit consumers.

MWEB sees Naked ADSL as being a step closer to complete LLU, as LLU is expected to be a very lengthy process.

"The FTW initiative has therefore taken up the call for Naked ADSL. South Africans can visit the FreeTheWebSA Facebook page, watch a quick video which explains the concept and campaign, and show their support for Naked ADSL via an Appeal Mosaic," says Hershaw.

The mosaic will feature a visual representation of South Africa's call for Naked ADSL. It will also allow people who have already made their mark to spread the word and grow the petition by sharing the mosaic with their friends - further spreading the message.

"Naked ADSL is another step in the process of driving down the cost of connectivity. It's also about the right to only pay for something if you want to use it which is completely logical," Hershaw concludes.

MWEB originally devised the FTW initiative to champion change in how SA connects to the Internet and to provide a platform for South Africans to come together and work towards a local Internet landscape that's aligned with international benchmarks. MWEB's pioneering launch of uncapped, unthrottled ADSL for R219 per month (data only costs on a 384kpbs line speed) in March 2010 followed closely on the launch of FTW.

Get involved FTW

• FTW Twitter handle: @FreeTheWebSA
• Naked ADSL Facebook Tab - where South Africans can show their support for FTW Naked ADSL via an Appeal Mosaic.

THE OASIS: Fresh thinking on climate change

IT’S hard to imagine that anything sustainably substantial will come out of this year’s Cop17 (Conference of the Parties on climate change). This assumption is based on the fact that this will be the 17th attempt to reach agreement and that climate change remains a heavily heated issue with much to be done by way of solution.

Basically, if things continue the way they are with regards to industry practice and global carbon emissions, we will all be cooked within the next 20 years.

Only acting after the shit squarely hits the fan and the sea levels are on our doorsteps, seems to be the consistent tale of humanity. It is known that if you place a frog in a tub and gradually increase the temperature, the frog will not react until it quite literally boils alive.

We have come a long way since evolving from amphibian-hood and we are better equipped with knowledge and technology than we have ever been before. Let’s hope to hell that this year a real plan of action will be set in motion at Cop17. We need fresh thinking around climate change. Our lives may depend on it.

Fresh thinking on climate change

One of the central issues regarding combating climate change is that big, profit-driven businesses are often reluctant to reduce their carbon emissions if this means a reduction in profits.

But increasingly some big business is coming around to the necessity for change. This year more than 300 businesses have signed the The 2°C Challenge - a document that the Corporate Leaders Network for Climate Action – calling on governments to break the deadlock at Cop17 and reach agreement. Governments must decide how to divide up the carbon budget available to us if we want to keep global temperatures below 2 degrees (a target agreed at the last COP held in Cancun).

Obviously some countries are in a stickier position than others and this will mean a sweaty slap in the face of economic growth for many. Countries and business need to get a lot more creative if they want to find alternative ways to grow without destroying the planet.

Frustratingly, green technologies, in general, are not yet cheap enough for mass use. Older technology - specifically power-generating technologies, are still being pawned off to poorer countries such as South Africa, which puts them firmly in the category of “high carbon emitters.” Then there is the painful attitude of those who plead ignorance and deny that global warming is a scientific reality.

Perhaps what is needed is greater incentive to go green. For one, the country of Bhutan for example is one of the only countries on Earth that is actually a carbon sink. Not only that, but Bhutan’s major export is hydro-electric power. Surely such a role model to the world should be praised and rewarded?

By the same token, businesses of all shapes and sizes should not only aim to meet their new carbon budgets, but be given the incentive to go further - greater rewards for being greener than thy neighbour. But then of course there is the issue of where reward funding would come from.

It will be interesting to hear what businesses themselves have to say on such matters and what some of them aim to do in the coming decades. I’m sure we can expect a lot of PR speak and lobbyist chatter at Cop17, but much of it is likely to be interesting.

Fresh thinking on climate change

One to watch is the discussions that are set to take place at the Fresh Thinking Oasis. This will be convened by the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership – the organisation behind the Corporate Leaders Network for Climate Action. The CPSL is also widely acknowledged to be a champion of progressive international business when it comes to sustainability issues.

While the world’s governments sweat it out next door around the negotiating table, the folk at the Oasis will be hoping to generate some fresh thinking on the old challenges in a more relaxed environment.

• To keep up to date with all the events and programmes planned for Fresh Thinking Oasis at Cop17, follow @CPSL_SA on Twitter or “like” the CPSL Cop17 Fresh Thinking Oasis Facebook page. More information is also available at www.cpsl.cam.ac.uk

** Video Gallery of COPpuccinos at COP17 **

Greenpeace Report: Who's holding us back?

• How carbon-intensive industry is preventing effective climate change legislation

COMPETITION: Who killed Internet Explorer 6 campaign

INTERNET Explorer is attempting to make a comeback with the launch of Internet Explorer 9. The masterful minds at Microsoft have devised a very clever marketing strategy called “Who killed IE6?”

The campaign sees participants surfing around the web looking for clues to help them solve the Microsoft murder mystery. Here's the brief:

Internet Explorer 6 is dead! Our campaign is aimed at Internet-savvy users and we want to challenge them mentally and get them spending time on our mutual love, the Internet. In order to do this we've created a murder mystery that takes place all over the web.

And the prize? Be the first to figure out who killed Internet Explorer 6 and the R20 000 bounty will be yours!

The basic concept of the campaign is a crime scene for the death of Internet Explorer 6. Clues are being given a number of times every week and participants have to eventually get all the clues right in order to win the ultimate prize of R20 000. There are also weekly prizes of R1000 awarded to randomly selected participants.

So what are you waiting for? Round the mountain, over and under and on a yellow road to a little sleepy village... that’s where you’ll get a quote with something that will make you see things clearer.

Hint: We’re looking for pixels not pixies!

What is the Who killed Internet Explorer 6 campaign about?

The purpose of the campaign is to change perceptions of IE9 as well as educate users on the amazing features IE9 has. In order to build brand loyalty and experience of a product, you have to enable users to use the product. The campaign sends users on a hunt for who killed IE6 all over the web with the answers hidden in various websites.

How does the Who Killed Internet Explorer 6 campaign work?

Users receive clues on the website and have to enter the answer/word on the website which solves the clue. For each clue they get right, users will receive a letter for a anagram which will answer the mystery of who killed Internet Explorer 6. Once all the clues have been solved, users will have all the letters and will be able to submit their answer for the anagram.

Additionally there are two blocks which will require participants to choose an avatar and share the campaign as well as download the latest version of Internet Explorer in order to ensure that they have the latest tools in order to solve the case. All blocks need to be completed in order to unlock every letter and the entry field for users to enter their answer.

• Join the investigation

Good luck!

** More Promotions and Events **

DAILY DEAL AGGREGATORS: What's the deal?

IN the beginning, there was the mighty Groupon, which gathered hundreds of followers worldwide. Now, a new era begins – the era of coupon aggregators.

Social Buying websites, also known as Group Buying, Coupon Buying or Daily Deal websites have been around for about two years. Groupon, which originated in the U.S., has since managed to go public and raise millions of dollars - proving to be a highly profitable venture.

The basic method behind these websites is that they offer high quantity sales in return for steep price reductions. By promising increased sales, merchants lower their products prices, thus making the product more appealing to online buyers. The websites profit by percentage from each product sold via their website.

Today there are around 500 daily deal websites worldwide, if not more. Following this trend, numerous aggregator websites have been popping up over the last few months in South Africa.

Many have questioned the sustainability of these websites - most claiming that the method itself is flawed and that the expected lifespan of such websites is limited. Unless something radical changes, most will agree that this method will not last forever. So the question remaining is what changes can be expected in this market, if any?

According to David.B - CEO of Dealafrica - one of South Africa's more popular Daily Deals Aggregator websites, one such change has already begun. According to him, thousands of South African Internet users who used to subscribe to one or two coupon websites are now subscribing directly to the daily deal aggregators themselves.

These websites do not sell products directly but rather collect the deals being offered on many various daily deal websites, and centralise them in one place. This arguably saves users the time and effort that would have been spent searching for deals on separate websites.

An additional advantage is the various filtering options aggregator websites offer, which allow users to only view the deals that interest them and opt to receive emails according to their predefined preferences.

Techcrunch, Computerworld, Cnbc.com, and cnet.com have already begun reviewing the subject claiming that the move from coupon websites to the aggregators was expected.

"People are constantly looking for faster and more convenient ways to get things done and daily deal aggregators are definitely one of those ways", one reporter claimed.

For a trend to succeed there has to be a financial motive for the people making it possible. Its value has already been picked up on by major online players. Google and Facebook are showing increased interest and Google made the first move by buying out the deal aggregator website The Dealmap.

A quick peruse through the Dealafrica website reveals it clean and elegant layout. It is very easy to navigate and they are very quick to respond to any queries. What makes Dealafrica shine is its efficiency, convenience and the ability to filter through various daily deals.

• Dealafrica is currently offering cash prizes to three randomly selected Facebook fans. The more subscribers there are, the bigger the pot will be for each winner. This competition ends on 21 November, so sign up now and spread the word to increase your chances of winning some cash every month!