It's difficult to believe that genocide can take place today. Tens or hundreds of thousands of men, women and children being systematically killed? Impossible. Someone would surely stop it before things escalated to that… wouldn't they?
Since 2003, rebels and government forces in the Darfur region of Sudan have killed hundreds of thousands, kidnapped, murdered, maimed, and raped citizens, poisoned wells, burned entire villages, and displaced more than 3 million people.
Being a refugee does not mean you've escaped and are out of harm's way. Roughly 80% of deaths in Darfur have been among displaced people, most as a result of unsanitary living conditions.
The documentary, The Last Survivor examines the idea of genocide in the 21st century. It tells the story of survivors of four different genocides: the Holocaust, Darfur, Rwanda, and the Congo.
We've all heard the line:
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
In each case of genocide, thousands died before anyone stepped in. The Last Survivor takes a look at how we face similar issues today.
In honor of World Refugee Day, make this the next movie you watch. It's been winning award after award at film festivals, but you can watch it online for free here.
Don't have time to watch today? Plan another night to watch with friends or family. There's plenty you can do right now. It takes less than a minute to sign this petition, urging Congress to support laws and actions that prevent genocide.
In 1994, more than 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda as the rest of the world stood by. President Clinton later said that he regretted not sending the 5,000 peacekeepers requested and lamented that that single action could have saved 500,000 lives.
After signing the petition, complete a short activity in support of one of the following organizations on SocialVibe, working to support peace and human rights around the world:
Invisible Children works to educate rescued child soldiers and stop the LRA. More about the LRA here.
The American Red Cross works around the world, providing medical supplies, skilled response workers, and financial assistance to communities in crisis.
The Censorship Research Center provides uncensored Internet access to oppressed people, while protecting their identities.
Once upon a time, we lived in a world where no one expected the companies that sold them soap, shoes or snacks to also help cure diseases, feed the hungry, and protect animal habitats. Sure you'd find the occasional donation can at a cash register, but for the most part, bettering the world was not something you looked to do while shopping or encountering ads.
All of that is rapidly changing. Welcome to the "We First" world - one where people are more socially aware than ever, and companies are pulling their weight in innovative ways to create positive change around the world.
In his new book, We First: How Brands and Consumers Use Social Media to Build a Better World, Simon Mainwaring (@simonmainwaring) discusses the connection among social media, brands, charities, and everyday people. He points to SocialVibe as an example of the power of spreading messages on social media and talks about the incredible movement from a "me" world to a "we" world.
We're so honored to be a part of the "we" movement and thrilled to be included in this inspiring book.
Below, SocialVibe CEO, Jay Samit, sums up "the power of all of us."
"Just a few minutes a day…a click here…a post there…can inspire millions to give back to those in need. On average, SocialVibe users share brand campaigns with 170 of their friends and our members, their friends, and our advertisers continue to use social media for social good each day."
We've had the honor of working with hundreds of your favorite brands that want to make a difference. From uploading images of light to fund solar energy projects through GE, to making virtual beds through Marriott to fund disaster relief efforts, we've been able to help offer actions that highlight the work of both brands and charities – and we couldn't have done it without you.
What are some of your favorite socially responsible brands? Share them in the comment section!
A Saudi woman was arrested Saturday after posting a YouTube video of herself driving. She has an international license and was abiding by local traffic laws. Her crime? Driving while female.
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world to ban both Saudi and foreign women from driving.
Despite the lack of a written law prohibiting women from being behind the wheel, the religious police strictly enforce the country's interpretations of Islamic teachings.
Women who can't afford $300-400 each month on hired drivers must rely on male family members to drive them to work, school, the grocery store or even the hospital. In fact, Saudi women are often prevented from working, going to school, traveling, purchasing phones, getting married, or even accessing health care without permission from male guardians (called "mahrams").
Part of public school curriculum in Saudi Arabia is teaching boys how to use their guardianship rights.
Perhaps motivated by the powerful effects social media movements have had in the region lately, human rights activists started a Facebook and Twitter campaign, encouraging women in the country with international licenses to drive on June 17th.
To get things started, Manal al-Sherif, a 32-year-old mother and computer security consultant who learned to drive in the United States, posted a YouTube video of herself driving – a bold move as women who've tried in the past have been banned from travel and even lost their jobs.
In part due to public pressure, Al-Serif was released after signing a pledge to no longer drive, but authorities arrested her again the following day and she is now being held for "violating public order."
Al-Sherif recalls crying, as she stood stranded and alone on the street one night, unable to drive herself home despite having a license. She couldn't find a cab or get a hold of any male family members to pick her up, and became frightened as Saudi men harassed her for being out alone.
Another woman, Najla Hairiri, said that, although she did not get video footage of herself, she drove for 4 days last month, before being stopped, to show her daughter that women can and should be able to drive.
The campaign's Facebook page had 11,000 supporters by the time Saudi censors removed it.
From the page:
"We women in Saudi Arabia, from all nationalities, will start driving our cars by ourselves. We are not here to break the law or demonstrate or challenge the authorities. We are here to claim one of our simplest rights. We have driver's licenses and we will abide by traffic laws."
Saudi censors apparently do not have a problem with the page put up to counter the movement. Nearly 6,000 have "liked" the page, which demands that women who attempt to drive be whipped.
Want to help? Support the movement by sharing the message on Facebook or sending a Tweet.
A few months ago, we told you about an ambitious project called One Day on Earth, a documentary made by all of us, the citizens of the world.
On 10-10-10, thousands of you, along with people from the UN, non-profits like WWF and DonorsChoose.org, and even some award-winning filmmakers, grabbed cameras and shared stories of love, war, triumph, struggles and everything in between.
Hours upon hours of video has been added to an interactive, global map where you can find footage of just about anything.
A feature documentary is planned for this fall, but you can sort through the footage for yourself right now.
Here is a little taste of what happens in just One Day on Earth:
Founder and President of SocialVibe, Joe Marchese traveled to Pakistan last week to speak about reinventing philanthropy at the International Youth Conference and Festival.
While there, he met Marc Koska, a man on a mission whose message had to be shared.
Nearly three decades ago, Marc read an article claiming that reused syringes would eventually be one of the major causes of the spread of AIDS. He decided right then that he had to do something about it.
Sadly, the article's prediction has come true, but Marc has kept his vow to do all that he can to stop it.
To help combat the spread of deadly viruses through syringes, Marc invented the auto-disable syringe, a cost-saving and life-saving syringe that locks after a single use. It’s use is now mandatory in government health facilities in India and Marc is working with UN Ambassadors to make the same changes in all countries.
Time after time, we witness how important awareness is. Positive change happens faster when people take the time to share a message. Below is a message from Marc (via CNN) – share it.
“Twenty-five years ago I read a newspaper article which said that one day, reused syringes would be one of the major causes of the spread of AIDS. I thought this was totally unacceptable and decided to do something about it. Sadly, it's come true. The toll from the reuse of syringes now exceeds that of malaria, with deaths due to this practice estimated at about 1.3 million each year. Every 24 seconds a child dies as a result of receiving an unsafe injection. The transmission method is crude -- blood-borne viruses are transmitted from patient to patient as body fluid is transferred by reusing a needle and syringe multiple times… In 2006, I set up the SafePoint Trust to generate awareness, petition for consistent regulation, and ensure compliance.”
Visit lifesaveraction.org to learn more about stopping the reuse of syringes in developing countries.
Support Safe Injections for Pakistan on Facebook here.
Learn more about the International Youth Conference and Festival at www.iycf2010.com.
Daniel Radcliffe may be magic on screen, but the 21-year-old star does some pretty commendable things off screen too. In between filming blockbuster gold, he spends his free time promoting tolerance and acceptance to all who will listen.
Like all of us, Daniel was saddened by the recent string of suicides among LGBTQ youth and is asking everyone to join him in supporting The Trevor Project on SocialVibe. The Trevor Project is the only nationwide 24/7 suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQ youth.
Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth face factors that make them up to four times more likely to attempt to take their own lives. SocialVibe, Daniel, and The Trevor Project are asking for your help in preventing these tragic and unnecessary deaths.
"I think that with every generation, people become more open to those ideas and more aware and more educated,” Daniel told MTV earlier this year. “But it's a really, really slow process. If you take any family with parents who are bringing their kids up in a narrow-minded way that includes homophobia, it will take a very profound moment of realization to change those deep-seated views."
Visit the Trevor Project cause page on SocialVibe – socialvibe.com/thetrevorproject – and complete the short, sponsored activities. Each one that you complete directly raises funds to provide suicide prevention resources for LGBTQ youth in crisis.
After completing the activities, you can join SocialVibe and choose The Trevor Project as your cause to help even more. Have a blog? Add the SocialVibe WordPress widget or Blogger gadget to let your readers earn free donations for The Trevor Project.
Share the video on Facebook and Twitter to help spread Daniel’s message and get the word out about The Trevor Project’s life-saving work.
On 10-10-10, there will be struggles and triumphs. Babies will be born, people will die, and citizens from around the world will document joy, devastation, and everything in between to create a video time capsule called “One Day on Earth.”
We all have stories to tell - this is your chance to share yours with the world. All you need is a video camera. Sign up, film whatever inspires you on 10-10-2010, and upload it.
Participants range from high school kids with camcorders to Oscar-nominated filmmakers. The footage will be compiled into a documentary that captures a single 24-hour period on our planet from thousands of different perspectives.
Is there a cause close to your heart that you want to call attention to? One Day on Earth has partnered with charities like the World Wildlife Fund, United Nations Development Program, Autism Speaks, and The American Red Cross to help spotlight all kinds of important causes.
Consider this an invitation – YOU are cordially invited to help tell the story of One Day on Earth.
Don't have a video camera? Buy, borrow, or steal one. Just Kidding! Seriously, please don't steal one. Borrowing is the best option. Ask a friend or neighbor. Many schools have video cameras that can be checked out for a few days too - if you're a student, check with yours.
There are an estimated 23,000 nuclear weapons in the world. Those that are launch-ready right now can kill 100 million people in about 30 minutes. Here’s the kicker: we don’t know where they all are. The new film, Countdown to Zero, lays out the facts about our global situation and presents a convincing argument to get that 23,000 down to zero.
Got chills? Good. It’s a terrifying thought, but there are things that all of us can do to change it, and sometimes that chill gives us the push we need to take action.
One of the most important things you can do is educate yourself. Grab a friend and head over to a free (yes, FREE!) showing near you. Go here or visit takepart.com/zero to find a showing in your area and reserve tickets. Better snag ‘em while you can – the film has already made the rounds at festivals like Sundance and Cannes and the first showing near our SocialVibe offices sold out!
Once you’ve reserved your tix, make sure you sign the petition to demand a world without nuclear weapons at takepart.com/zero. The US and Russia recently signed a treaty to lessen the number of nukes we’re both storing, but it can’t be enforced until the Senate passes it. It's up to all of us to sign it, share it and post it everywhere we can. Join the movement to create a safer world for all of us. Demand zero!
