Top 10 Events and Films that Created Change in 2006

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Looking back at 2006, there were a lot of major events and people that changed the path of history. Rather than a traditional top ten list there is a list of five actual events that made an economic, social, or environmental change, and since everyone loves movies, there is also a list of five thinking-man’s films that are worth your time. These are the ideas and events from 2006 that have the power to change the way you think, and to improve the welfare of individuals, communities, and the world.

Top 5 Events in 2006

This year was big for socially-conscious consumerism, corporate social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and philanthropy. 2006 also bears witness to a change in the way we communicate and spread information—a shift from mainstream media to grassroots viral communication. These are my top five picks for 2006:

Discussion about global warmingThe success of Al Gore’s film may very well have been responsible for single-handedly bringing the discussion about the global climate crisis into the mainstream light.

Warren Buffett gives $37 billion to charity

The world’s second richest man, the “Oracle of Omaha,” set aside the bulk of his fortune as the largest gift of philanthropy ever, set to be handed over to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, just as Gates stepped down from his position at Microsoft to oversee the Foundation’s granting of aid to reduce poverty, improve health and access to education around the world.

Muhammad Yunus is awarded the Nobel Prize

After decades of extending loans to working-poor entrepreneurs in the developing world, the “banker to the poor”–the creator of microlending–and his Bangladesh-based Grameen Bank finally received recognition for their efforts to foster economic and social development in the Third World.

Bono & Bobby Shriver’s (Product) Red campaign

The latest example of celebrity-led social change, mega-brands like American Express, Gap, and Apple have all joined in this initiative to donate a percentage of sales to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa.

“You” are TIME Magazine’s person of the year

While many other news outlets criticized the selection as a cop-out, TIME indirectly recognized Web 2.0 for its groundbreaking community and collaborative powers—through blogs, video- and photo-sharing services, social networks, and more.

Top 5 Films of 2006

Films are one of the most effective ways to express, entertain, and inform in our society. They deliver messages which can be received and shared by millions of people across the globe. Here are my five favorite films of the year, which I think convey a positive idea in one way or another and are far more worthwhile than the average flick:

An Inconvenient Truth

Explores former Vice President Al Gore’s passion for spreading the word about global warming. As stated above, the interest in climate change generated by this film was unprecedented.

The Pursuit of Happyness

A fantastic new release featuring Will Smith as a single father who will do anything to provide a better life for his son. Moral: you can achieve anything if you don’t give up and don’t take no for an answer.

Blood Diamond

Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou star in a drama, loosely based on historical events, that documents the bloodshed and trials associated with the diamond trade during the 1990′s Sierra Leone civil war. Might make you think harder about buying that rock…

Babel

Mexican director Gonzalez Inarritu delivers a great social commentary on the many ways culture divides us. Starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett.

V for Vendetta

The Wachowski brothers (The Matrix) adapt Allan Moore’s graphic novel into a very timely political metaphor that asks questions about freedom, terrorism, and corruption in a futuristic, totalitarian Britain.

What were YOUR favorite
moments (or movies) from 2006?
Share your thoughts in the comments…