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Is it Authentic? When Citizens and Soldiers Document War
On November 1, a particular video caught not only our attention at the Human Rights Channel, but also that of international observers, news outlets, and criminal prosecutors. It’s the type of video whose images have altered the discussion of the Syrian conflict, and may also revolutionize the role of citizen video in times of war.
WITNESS
November 20, 2012
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Emmanuel Jal Calls for Peace, Equality and Freedom For All Citizens
Emmanuel Jal is inaugurating this series. He recently performed at WITNESS’ 20th Anniversary Gala, moving people to dance and to take action. And he’s doing so once again with “We Want Peace,” his newest hit.
WITNESS
November 17, 2012
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President Obama Travels To Burma and Southeast Asia Amid Rising Tensions
President Obama leaves tomorrow to make a historic visit to Southeast Asia, specifically to Burma (also known as Myanmar), where he will be the first sitting U.S. president to visit the country. However, escalating violence in western Burma, where ethnic minorities have been attacked, displaced, and persecuted by civilians and state forces, undermines recent democratic progress in the country.
Matisse Bustos Hawkes
November 15, 2012
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16-year-old Climate Advocate Speaks Out on Hurricane Sandy
16-year-old Maya Faison from Queens, New York recently shared her thoughts on Hurricane Sandy and climate change in an article published by Climate Progress. Maya wrote the article on her sixth day without heat, her sixth day without power, and her sixth day with no gas in her mom’s car to escape. What troubled me most in what she shared is this: “I feel let down and disappointed that it’s taken a major storm that has taken over 40 lives and counting for my elected leaders to acknowledge the reality of climate change.”
WITNESS
November 12, 2012
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Victims of the Latin American War on Drugs Make the Case for Reform
Latin American drug policies have made no dent in the drug trade; instead they have taken a tremendous toll on human lives. In 2009, the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and the Transnational Institute (TNI) embarked on an ambitious project to document the real impact of Latin America’s “war on drugs” and to show its human cost through the video testimoniesof the victims themselves.
WITNESS
November 10, 2012
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Mexico: Peoples’ Tribunal Confirms “Gross Violations” in Dam Projects
Communities harmed by dam projects in Mexico won an important victory. A panel of international experts serving as judges for the Mexico chapter of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal (PPT) recognized a pattern of "gross and systematic human rights violations" in the construction of dams throughout Mexico over the past 40 years. More than 185,000 people have been forcibly evicted.
Priscila Néri
November 9, 2012
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Participate and Rise on Feb. 14, 2013 to End Violence Against Women Worldwide
One in three women worldwide will face rape or gender-based assault in her lifetime. "One Billion Rising," released in September, portrays a diverse set of women facing different types of attacks, effectively showing that any woman, in any country, and any social situation could become part of this statistic. But it also shows them symbolically standing up, and uniting with women across the world to oppose this wave of violence.
WITNESS
November 7, 2012
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Forced Evictions Activist To Be Honored by U.S. Secretary of State Clinton
The Global Leadership Awards honor and celebrate women leaders around the world who are the unsung heroines working to strengthen democracy, increase economic opportunity, and protect human rights. The awards were established by the organization Vital Voices Global Partnership, which Secretary Clinton co-founded in 1997. Tep Vanny joins a very distinguished group of internationally recognized women. The award ceremony will take place in April 2013 in Washington, D.C.
WITNESS
November 5, 2012
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Dam-Affected Communities in Mexico Take Government to Peoples’ Tribunal
On November 5-6, many of our local partners fighting forced evictions in Mexico will travel to the small town of Temacapulín, in Jalisco state, to tell their stories to an international panel of judges representing the Mexico chapter of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal (PPT).
Priscila Néri
November 2, 2012
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After Hurricane Sandy, Our Youth Call on Us: Be Upstanders, Not Bystanders. Vote for Climate Justice!
Over the last year, we filmed youth from across the country – literally from Boston, Massachusetts to a village just inland from the Bering Sea – whose lives have already been changed by the deterioration of our Earth’s atmosphere. These award-winning video portraits showcase how our youth are bravely taking legal action against our governments’ collective failure to take serious climate action.
WITNESS
November 1, 2012
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Running for a great future: Team WITNESS tackles the 2012 ING NYC Marathon
As a Brooklyn-based organization, we at WITNESS start to feel the buzz in the air every fall as the New York City Marathon approaches. I’ve actually been feeling the energy for quite some time – I’m lucky enough to be inspired daily by the group of runners who make up this year’s “Team WITNESS.” These eight dedicated individuals have been busy training and fundraising for the 2012 ING NYC Marathon, which is fast approaching on November 4th.
WITNESS
October 28, 2012
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#ImHere – THE CALL: A Choice No Mother Should Face
Imagine dropping your child off at school every day, afraid that you won't be back at pick-up time. Imagine staying with a violent partner because calling the cops could tear you away from your kids. Imagine arranging for a neighbor to take care of your children in case you disappear — which could happen any time. Tough to imagine? This is reality for millions of immigrant women in the United States.
WITNESS
October 26, 2012
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“Half the Sky,” or Half the Story?
I was disturbed by PBS’s new film, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women. The two-part series is inspired by the 2010 book of the same name written by New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn. Accompanied by high profile celebrities, Kristof takes viewers on a tour of the dangers that women face in the developing world.
WITNESS
October 25, 2012
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Citizen Media + Video In Pakistan: A Conversation with Blogger Faisal Kapadia
In July I had the pleasure of attending my second Global Voices Citizen Media Summit, this time in Nairobi, Kenya. The Summit is "a meeting of bloggers, activists, and technologists for public discussions and workshops about the rise of online citizen media movements worldwide."
Matisse Bustos Hawkes
October 23, 2012
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Blog Action Day: The Power of We at WITNESS
We're an organization based on the concept of partnership. In fact, last Thursday we held our annual gala fundraiser in New York City and its theme was "Co-Lab: Celebrating 20 Years of Collaborative Activism."
Matisse Bustos Hawkes
October 15, 2012