Video: Burma, it can't wait

The devastation from a recent cyclone in Burma has been on the news for almost 2 months, but regrettably the devastation continues every day. Burma is currently ruled by a brutal military dictator who, among other committed atrocities, has recruited upwards of 70,000 children (starting from age 11) into the army for war against neighboring minorities, villages and even citizens. Currently the rightful leader of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, is on house arrest, illegally, according to UN interanational law.

At the website, Burma: It Can't Wait (burmaitcantwait.org), celebrity shorts with Will Farrell, Jennifer Aniston, Tila Tequila, and 10's of others, call attention to the various complexities of the situation, but bring to the attention  the realistic change of hope for Burma- by helping add your voice to the cause.

Add you voice, and join the campaign here.

Video: We Are Ellis Island

Behind the support of the Arrow clothing line, Save Ellis Island has created nation-wide buzz and attention to the hugely important role Ellis Island had in the flux of immigrants into the United States with their We Are Ellis Island campaign. Celebrities and average Americans who's lives and families began at Ellis Island have taken part in the campaign.

On DoGooderTV, Save Ellis Island has put together a compilation of their PSA's.

Go here to view the We Are Ellis Island channel on DoGooderTV, and go here to get one of those "We Are Ellis Island" t-shirts.

Video: On the Record

ONE, the huge (2.4 million members) non-profit humanitarian organization that is best known for fighting hunger has recently developed their "On the Record" campaign. The sub-portal on the ONE website, One the Record, interviews presidential candidates from Republican and Democratic parties, and briefs visitors on the candidates stance and approach to ending hunger if elected president. It also allows visitors to select and compare the responses of up to 3 candidates on questions about reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS, improving child and maternal health, universal primary education, and some others.

Visit the On the Record website

Learn more about ONE

Video: Bono's View on Changing the World

In this clip, U2's Bono accepts the NAACP Image Award’s Chairman’s Award in 2007. Says the rock star: "Where you live should not decide whether you live or whether you die." And he talks about race relations in rather open terms. Guys like Bono take a lot of hits for being celebrity philanthropists, but in my view, their public altruism works well in the realm of "aspirational philanthropy." [hat tip: Journey from Ethiopia]

Video: Water for African Wells

At the Wealth & Giving Forum's gathering at the Greenbrier last weekend - which I've blogged over on Buzz - a young entrepreneur, former New York nightclub promoter Scott Harrison, told participants how he ditched the glitz and early morning hours of Gotham's velvet-roped precincts for a lowly staff photographer's gig on a Mercy ship bringing medicine and services up and down the west coast of Africa. The experience stirred his interest in clean water, which led to the creation of charity: water - which charges $20 a bottle for spring water with 100% of the price going to dig wells for clean water in Africa. He showed this video, created at Sundance, before his talk the Greenbrier - thought you'd enjoy it:

charity: water @ Sundance - Current TV pod

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Video: Reform in Africa Needed for Change

Good video added to the TED site this week. Negative images of Africa dominate the news: famine and disease, conflict and corruption. But Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former Finance Minister of Nigeria, says there's a less-told story unfolding in many African nations: one of reform, economic growth and business opportunity. Cracking down on corruption -- and the perception of corruption -- will be the key to its success She tells how high-ranking Nigerian officials taking money illicitly have been jailed, and how citizens and prospective business partners are getting at least a partial picture now of where money flows.

Podcast: Poverty on the Streets of Cusco

Here's a moving podcast from Channel G (an interesting non-profit project with some A-list funders) about conditions on the streets of Cusco, Peru. It's the story one woman's work to create a dream for orphans in Peru by building and maintaining an orphanage called "The House of Miracles." According to the site:

Over 3,500 children live on the streets of Cusco many abandoned by families that could not feed them. Malnutrition, infrequent bathing, and inadequate care cause widespread health problems including skin infections, bronchitis, tuberculosis, rickets, and chronic intestinal infections. But the loneliness and fear experienced by these children forced to live on the street alone are the most painful afflictions of all.

An eight year-old Peruvian boy spends afternoons in the parks of Cusco with other children playing soccer and shining the shoes of tourists. Laughing and running, he appears happy just like any other boy. But at night the boy is often found in the street gutter. With blue lips, body shivering and eyes blank, he does not respond to his name. Thousands of children just like Sergio exist in a world of poverty and misery foreign to many of us. But fortunately there is a way we can help.              

Casa de Milagros provides shelter, food, clothing, basic medical care, and education and arts programs that promote self-confidence and self-worth for children in need. This is done in a truly unique environment in which progressive programs are used to foster a healthy and positive consciousness. Based on the philosophy that we must start at the root of the problem, healing and educating children so that they can give back to their community, The Chandler Sky Foundation aims to provide positive long-term benefits to the region's social and environmental problems.

Quite a moving story - and quite frankly,the idea is to move listeners to the podcast to make donations to Casa de Milagros.

• Listen to podcast            
  

Video: Slate 60 Puts Sessions Online

Good on Slate for adding the videos (and some audiocasts) of its Slate 60 philanthropy conference to the website, just a tad on the late side, but we'll take it! We're going to watch these and post selectively, but we thought we'd put up the always interesting Ted Turner as the first installment.

 

Video: Using Video for the Cause

Here's an interesting example of an organization using distributed video to bring attention to a cause - in this case, the American Jewish World Service's work with refugees and the poor in developing nations. FRom AJWS: "This clip, released to coincide with Passover, highlights our work and reminds viewers of their responsibility to help people around the world reclaim their freedom."

Video: Humanitarian Aid in Iraq

Thanks to The Moderate Voice, here are two videos from a panel sponsored by The Euston Manifesto of leading UK Ministers, MPs, and thinkers met in the Houses of Parliament in London to discuss the future of humanitarian intervention, after the conflict in Iraq.