change encoding for a mysql table/db in rails

gistfile1.txt

def change_encoding(encoding,collation)
  connection = ActiveRecord::Base.connection
  tables = connection.tables
  dbname = connection.current_database
  connection.execute <<-SQL
    ALTER DATABASE #{dbname} CHARACTER SET #{encoding} COLLATE #{collation};
  SQL
  tables.each do |tablename|
    connection.execute <<-SQL
      ALTER TABLE #{dbname}.#{tablename} CONVERT TO CHARACTER SET #{encoding} COLLATE #{collation};
    SQL
  end
end

change_encoding('utf8','utf8_general_ci')