Welcome to summit season on Planet Earth.  We have just concluded a new round of promises to half the rate of biodiversity loss by 2020, having spectacularly failed to do this, as promised, between 2000 and 2010.  Next is the Climate Change summit in Cancun that seeks to repair some of the damage caused by squabbling leaders last year in Copenhagen.

While we squawk, the world burns.  It’s time to listen – if those radio telescopes tuning in to the farthest reaches of the universe, tuned their sensitive ears to Planet Earth, here are some messages they would pick up.

In many ways having an idea is like having a baby. Planting the seed is a thrill – although there is zero correlation between size of thrill and end (or lack of end) product.

Whether the seed takes root depends on timing and a large smatter of luck. Then if it does take root the best advice is to stay healthy and eat for two. Ideas need credible champions who do more than dream.

Whilst three words of affirmation resonated with the residents of the browbeaten, self-proclaimed upholder of the free world, President-elect Obama will need to start saying No, we can’t when he assumes power, because what you say no to, defines a leader and a culture more than a yes-man.

And innovation, the most sorely needed attribute in a world suffering an ecological and financial meltdown, is more often sparked by Why Not rather than Why. Negatives can be very positive.

I’m not sure how Bill Gates rallies the troops at Microsoft, but when Steve Jobs wanted a new iMac, a few years back, one that would redefine the pc, he said: Make me a sunflower.

And so they did. The iMac is a flat screen monitor attached by a double-jointed chrome arm to a sleek, plastic dome. This dome contains all the computing power. It is also an inverted sunflower.

(I wrote this 10 years ago – most of the campaigns are now history – what has replaced them?)

NOW THE Loeries have come & flown, how about honouring the campaigns that have stick around. Brand-builders that have been with us a decade or more. . If a great ad is worth a bird, a great brand-builder should be given a flock.

So here are the First South African Flock Awards. I have selected 5 winners...in approximate chronological order:

As Cape Town welcomes the world’s press and sporting VIPs this week for the World Cup draw, what view of the Mother City will we offer the world beyond Table Mountain, two oceans, luxury, squalor, and of course, the ability to throw a humdinger of a party?

Then in June next year, with an obligatory North-Wester whipping up the Cape of Storms, Table Mountain sulking behind clouds & potential tourists seriously reconsidering their long-haul options, how will the Cape use the biggest event on Earth to leave a lasting impression?

On a recent trip to Thailand, I marvelled at the locals ability to precisely copy van Gogh, Gauguin, and Renoir.  In Bali I saw wooden giraffes by the thousand, waiting to be shipped to South Africa where they are sold on our road-sides.

From fashion to fine art, nations of the East are copyists supreme.  While in Southern Africa we are punching  above our weight  when it comes to creating new things

Globally, the creative industries are being seen as vehicles of strong economic growth.  It’s time to assess, cluster and promote our strengths.  While being aware of our creative gaps.