It’s a simple sign and a simple idea that has, in its own way, changed the world.
Juan Mann (a pseudonym and a homonym of “one man”) had a mission. He wanted to brighten up one person’s day with a hug. He didn’t hug someone he knew, he simply began offering free hugs to total strangers on the streets of Sydney, Australia.
On September 22, 2006, a music video featuring Juan’s endeavor was posted to YouTube, kick starting the phenomenon that today is Free Hugs. The footage, shot in 2004 at the Pitt Street Mall in Sydney, showed Juan’s walk through the mall holding a sign that read “FREE HUGS.”
It started with one hug from a stranger. One year after the YouTube release, hundreds of Free Hugs campaigns have sprung up from the grassroots of communities worldwide. Even Oprah invited Juan to her show. Today anyone can join the movement by signing up at the Free Hugs website.
Free Hugs Worldwide:
AUSTRALIA
NORTH AMERICA:
- LOS ANGELES
- NEW YORK
- SEATTLE (Video)
- TORONTO
- BAY AREA
- NEWFOUNDLAND
- PORTLAND
- MONTREAL (Video)
- VICTORIA, BC, CANADA
- DENVER
- BALTIMORE (Marley Station Mall)
- SAN DIEGO
- VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA (Video)
- OTTAWA
EUROPE
- ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
- ZURICH
- KRAKOW
- TORUN, POLAND
- KIEV
- SPAIN
- OPORTO, PORTUGAL
- SWANSEA, GB
- BARCELONA
- MOSCOW
MIDDLE EAST
SOUTH AMERICA
ASIA
- MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- SEOUL, KOREA
- INDIA + THE WORLD/AMMA
- CHINA (Video)
List reposted from Tribe
