“[P]roduce the funniest, strangest or edgiest 30 or 60 second video about hunger,” challenges the Hunger Bytes channel.  “This is your chance to be controversial, provocative and shocking – whatever it takes – to make a video that will grab the attention of the on-line community and get them thinking about world hunger.”

Although no official connection has been made clear, this effort is likely related to the MDG Monitor site Google, Cisco, and the U.N. unveiled earlier this month.  A line might also be drawn to the Beatbullying channel launched on YouTube – it seems that all sorts of well-meaning projects can be connected to Mountain View.

Unfortunately, “well-meaning” is not a synonym for “extremely successful,” and it remains to be seen if this latest contest’s grand prize can generate many entries.  “The video that gets the most views by World Hunger Day – October 16, 2008 – will win a trip for two to visit the frontline in the war against hunger,” according to the Hunger Bytes channel.  “We will send you to a WFP hunger relief project so you can see for yourself that Hunger Bytes!”

In any event, the Hunger Bytes contest will hopefully accomplish some good.

Various “celebrities” have gotten involved with the project and posted their own videos to start things off.  To be honest, I haven’t heard of most of these people, but they may appeal to a younger generation, and the participation of Patrick Stewart is enough to validate the whole thing in my eyes.

What, then, does the Beatbullying channel aim to do?  Aside from the obvious end goal, it will “showcase everything that is great about anti-bullying work,” and, “[a]longside the celebrities, the channel will feature young people and professionals talking about their experiences of bullying and the bullying prevention work they’ve been doing.”

In the process, it should become a gathering place for bullied children.  As the cynical sort, I can’t help but wonder if bullies won’t view the place as an easy-pickings playground; one or two unsavory individuals have already entered the channel’s “Comments” section.

Nonetheless, the Beatbullying channel on YouTube represents a nice sentiment, and will hopefully make a few children’s lives easier.