The world’s economic paradigm is shifting quicker than Lewis Hamilton would in a Red Bull. Brazil has officially overtaken the UK to be the 6th largest economy and Africa is the new China.

The relatively recent growth of the African nations is based on rich commodity resources (but that’s nothing new), improved infrastructure and a generation of young folk wholly embracing technology.

However, the perception of change on the continent will be a tad slower. Decades of mediated images and reports of famine, war and dictators has left westerners with a single vision perspective.

Afrographique is a blog that consciously aims to change that through infographics based on economic and lifestyle data from the African continent. From countries broadband speeds, Co2 emissions to foreign investment in Africa. Created by Ivan Colic, an art director at Zoom Advertising Cape Town part of the Ogilvy and WPP group, is an interesting story in itself.

The repositioning of the African continent for the 21st century has only just begun. First step first though, and it’s an important one. Repeat after me; Africa is not a country.

We popped down to St. Pauls a few weeks back to finally see the Occupy London camp for our selves. Whilst talking to a young fella, we came across another occupant who happened to be giving his mum – who was apparently checking up on him on her way home from work – a tour of the site before she left. The story makes the last image in this series particularly poignant. The others speak for themselves.

Banksy pays real attention to the world around him, which is why unlike many artists – musical, visual or otherwise – his work will always be around us.

As Europe battles with a harsh economic reality, it also struggles with the notion that the very future of the eurozone rests in the hands of a woman. Sometimes an image masquerading as commentary says more about the commentator – Steve Bell – and society at large than it does the commentated upon.

The semiotics of this image – run in The Guardian on Friday – features Angela Merkel in the role of dominatrix. For insecure men with cahoonas issues, such images are probably the only way of quantifying the German Chancellors influence in Europe without their already fragile sense of masculinity falling into ruins like the Greek economy.

Even tougher economic times lay ahead. This 2010 illustration proves again that through his message, Banksy always stays ahead of the curve.

Visual humour. A play on words. Very serious issues: The Economist‘s brand has tone of voice and visual identity on lock.

Anyone with as little knowledge as Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain on, well anything, better have a good catch phrase to hand. His “We need a leader not a reader” response to the Libya gaff could wash if Cain weren’t vying for leadership of the world’s largest economy and armed forces. Cain though, doesn’t quite have that luxury.

In truth, we can all get caught short for an opinion, but when it does happen – and contrary to Cain’s advice – stop talking, start reading, before you even think about leading.

When our inalienable rights to protest are threatened by potential repercussions and the use of rubber bullets – as they were in the lead up to last weeks University fees protests – what better way to subvert that tension with some well crafted humour and essential commentary.

More to come on this soon…

David Icke talks a lot of sense. Despite that he’s known by many as just a conspiracy theorist. Why? Because he has had a tendency in the past to undermine his sound theories with talk of reptilian bloodlines ruling the world. Though if you’ve seen V,  the last point probably doesn’t seem like a massive leap of the imagination.

While I jest, there is a serious point to be made amid all of this. A consistent, coherent message is essential when trying to get a number of complex (or even simple) points across. This includes tone of voice. Tone of voice is something we at LBB refer to constantly, as it is the key differentiator between you having the ear of the people or them coming to premature conclusion that you’re a crackpot.

Which brings me back to David. Lend this video your ear. His tone of voice might er on the side of the eccentric – as do some of his points – but the message does provide some interesting food for thought.

Watch out, Banksy’s about. He may not have won an Oscar last week, but Banksy made sure he left his poignant and witty marks on the streets and walls of LA.

We came. We saw. We conquered. We got pretty damn wet. And with the help of Juliette Dalton and her 2diceproductionz team, pretty soon we’ll have the film to prove it.

The problem with mediated representation is that it’s invariably designed to benefit the traditional media outlet while rarely serving the interests of those allegedly represented.

It takes a clever person to invert that traditional process of representation, but a clever person Russell Brand most certainly is.

From the ashes of Rise comes the UpRise Anti-Racism Festival on October 3 in Finsbury Park London.

The previous incarnation went down in a blaze of contention and glory. Brazen Bunch, Zap! Bang! and twenty%extra™ have bowed to the will of the people to bring back an event that never should have left in the first place.

We’ve achieved an awful lot in a very short period of time, but there’s still much to do and funds to raise. So if you – like us – want to put our money where our mouth is so to speak, then please lend your support by joining the ever growing £1 Crew [larger donations ARE welcome], joining the FB page or just spreading the word.

Too young to vote? No probs. Old enough to vote? Then I hope you did, as last weeks elections affect all of us whether we get involved with the political process or not.

And if you were in any doubt what a hung parliament might look like, The Guardian website has put together a very impressive graphic interface that makes quite a convoluted picture just a little clearer.

The UK election results map is clean, informative and very easy to interact with – sadly nothing like the politicians we’ve just voted for.

If you’ve walked past an oversized image of David Cameron and thought ‘what are you looking at?’ only to get an empty glare back, then Andy Barefoot’s very funny site gives you the chance to write your own response for the Conservative campaign poster for the upcoming UK general election.

You can change the line and the logo. Hell, if you’re really up for it, you can change the shape of the election itself.

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via boredomisyourfault (via @mattyboomboom)