Pangea Day was a global event of short films, music and speakers ounded by Jehane Noujaime, TED Prize winner and director of the award winning film Control Room. It was broadcast live in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro. It was also shown at grassroots screenings in cities, communities, and private homes around the world and was streamed live on the internet. Most people don't know other cultures or societies and some don't even know their neighbors. Noujaime states, "By sharing stories, we've started the process of turning strangers into friends." She believes that if people from all around the globe start trying to understand each other, then we can move a few steps closer to world peace. Since many aren't willing and others aren't able to travel, Noujaime concludes that we can use film to share stories and overcome the obstacle of distance.

The first part of the program seemed a bit light, like it was oversimplifying major social and political issues. It focused on broad themes such as love, hope, anger, dreams. However, as the program continued, the content became increasingly powerful. It seems as if the organizers purposefully chose to use apolitical/palatable material to captivate many different types of people and prepare them for the climax: the critical perspectives of the conflicts in Iraq and Israel/Palestine. After short films and music by Rokia Traore and Gilberto Gil, came Ali Abu Awwad and Robi Damelin of Parents' Circle Families Forum. Both are bereived family members who spoke about the reality of the Israeli occupation and its consequences.

Damelin's son was shot by a Palestinian freedom fighter when he was serving in the Occupied Territories. During Pangea Day, she asked for all people to "look for a way through mutual understanding and empathy to live a life free of violence." Awwad is a Palestinian refugee who lost his brother and was wounded by a settler. He boldly stated that, "occupying a nation by building walls and barriers will not secure another nation. Maybe this will bring a psychological solution, but it will not bring a human being solution – that people can live together or side by side." He also sent a message out to all Jewish people stating, "you are not my enemy; your fear is my enemy. I am attacking today your fear, so please don't throw your problems to the sea because those problems learn how to swim. You cannot ignore the whole reality by taking a side or being right. I remember that Gandhi once said that there is no way for peace, peace is the way. You first do peace without any condition."

Next was a short film made by Noujaime about Combatants for Peace (ex-IDF soldiers and ex Palestinian militants working together to end the region's cycle of violence). It told the stories of Yonatan Shapira and Bassam Aramin, two founders of the organization, and how they came together to work against the Israeli occupation. They appeared live from the London stage. Shapira, an Israeli Air Force pilot who refused to fly missions in occupied territories, mentioned that coincidentally on this same day his mother and brother were shot by Israeli soldiers while participating in a peaceful protest in Shufa, West Bank to remove a roadblock obstructing the Palestinian villagers' freedom of movement, and, thus, the peace movement had a long way to go. The fact that these four voices from the region were heard internationally without interruption was an incredible achievement in itself.

Despite the lack of publicity for an event of this scale, the fact that several of the MCs seemed uber mainstream and uninformed about world events, and the abysmal post event news coverage, it was a total success for the first run. The intentions are for Pangea Day to recur every 2 years. With Noujaime's vision and the mass of people who have mobilized behind it, the 2010 event should have even more of a worldwide impact and resonance. Visit the event's website to find out more or view selected films and highlights.

(written for and originally published on artthreat.net)

Mark your calendars and organize a screening in your community. Let this Winter Soldier gathering March 13-16 in Washington D.C. be the most observed and talked about event this year.

The four-day event will bring together veterans from across the country to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan – and present video and photographic evidence. In addition, there will be panels of scholars, veterans, journalists, and other specialists to give context to the testimony. These panels will cover everything from the history of the GI resistance movement to the fight for veterans' health benefits and support.

The first Winter Soldier investigation was held in Detroit in 1971 marking the first time Vietnam vets gathered to inform the public of the atrocities and war crimes they witnessed or were ordered to commit. The event was well attended by mainstream media, but they chose to almost completely ignore it. The documentary film Winter Soldier was first released in 1972 but was only screened at two venues. It took over 30 years for the film to resurface and make it's way around independent cinemas in the U.S.

With participatory media on the rise, the testimonies given at this gathering should not suffer the same prescribed censorship. Though the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are headed into their fifth year, a full-scale national mobilization and cultural upheaval seems unlikely, especially since soldiers today haven't been drafted. However, one has to maintain hope that gatherings such as this will fuel the public's fire to hold politicians and generals accountable for destroying countries, cultures, and lives.

For those interested in watching or organizing around the proceedings at Winter Soldier, there will be a number of ways to watch and listen to the event.

• Live television broadcast via satellite TV, accessible through Dish Network as well as public access stations that choose to carry our broadcast – Friday and Saturday only
• Live video stream on the web – Thursday through Sunday
• Live radio broadcast via KPFA in Berkley California and other Pacifica member stations – Friday through Sunday
• Live audio stream via KPFA's website – Friday through Sunday

Though the event is closed (invitations are only for testifiers, members, their families, and some media outlets), independent journalists and bloggers can apply to cover the event by filling out this media registration form.

(written for and originally published on artthreat.net)

The Pinky Show has given me continuous food for thought since I first stumbled upon the episode The Iraq War: Legal or Illegal? a few months ago. These online video, radio and interview programs focus on a wide range of topics, most of which are marginalized, distorted or excluded from mainstream media and dialogue. During these lo-tech, hand-drawn shows, a cat named Pinky asks obvious questions that are rarely raised or answered by popular news outlets. She and her inquisitive cat friends then scour the earth in search of documents and experts to clarify misrepresented or ignored issues

In the new episode Kicking the Apartheid Habit, Pinky ponders segregation and inequalities. This keen cat concludes that refusing to benefit from unjust institutions is a powerful way to get equal rights for all. She then poses a simple question that would be unthinkable to most:

Hey, what about marriage? Because that's also something that doesn't allow everyone to participate equally, right? Like gay people. They're not allowed to participate. In fact there's a whole bunch of states that have laws that ban homosexual people from ever being able to have that kind of equality. That's not fair.

So yeah, I'm kind of wondering – how is it that otherwise ethical people, who would never even think of doing the other stuff – how come they just get married without even thinking twice about it?

Isn't that weird? Why is that?

With a simple aesthetic and a childlike voice, Pinky incites viewers to reflect on their actions and critically engage those from a different perspective with compassion and openness. The deadpan humor, amateur narration and animation, and astute social critique keeps many intrigued animals coming back for more. To view their programs, fan mail, hate mail, daily musings, and more, visit their blog or tune into their youtube channel.

You won't find a gentler cat to pick your brain.

(written for and originally posted to artthreat.net)