And so as the seasons turn, Fuel sticks out its tongue and captures a few early snowflakes of inspiration to freshen up your week.
Coming up:
– Take a seat
– To Santa with love
– Where are you from?
Wrap up warm, and away we go…
Hello stranger
Visitors to Krakow's parks and public spaces are being invited to sit and strike up a conversation with a stranger. New benches designed by Fulco, a company that builds outdoor furniture, have been introduced across the city as a platform where people can sit and chat. There's more to this than just Polish friendliness however. A third of the world's adults reported feeling lonely in 2021, rising to 50% in some regions. And with reported links between loneliness and long-term mental health problems, this is a timely intervention. Human interaction is a powerful antidote to loneliness and the simple act of sitting down together and talking can make a significant difference.
Santa's secret
Traditionally a figure shrouded in mystery, this year we've learnt a bit more about Santa Claus. A seasonal ad for Posten, the Norwegian postal service, reveals that Father Christmas is in fact in a gay relationship. The story titled 'When Harry Met Santa' isn't just a Christmas tale however. It also marks the 50th anniversary of the legalisation of gay relationships in the country. Turns out it wasn't mama kissing Santa Claus underneath the mistletoe after all.
Home is here
The US is facing a worrying rise in hate crimes against Asian-Americans, with reported incidents increasing by over 70% last year. In response, the Asian American Federation teamed up with agency Droga5 to provide a creative boost to its Hope Against Hate campaign. The result is a series of posters that provide a revealing answer to the xenophobic question, 'Where are you really from?' At first sight, the vintage-style posters appear to represent foreign destinations, when in fact they feature familiar US cities, from New York to San Diego.
