A group of people practiced yoga Sunday on both sides of the wall between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego.

The international group stretched and meditated together before exchanging hugs through the fence bars. The session was organized by the Border Meetup Group, which promotes cross-border understanding by staging social events on the divided beach. Coordinator Dan Watman said the group aims “to make friends across cultural, political, societal, even emotional barriers.”The Tijuana beach is a popular destination for families who come to chat through the fence with loved ones on the other side. [Associated Press]  

The Border Meetup Group activities consist of events in which people from both sides of the San

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Sesame Street fans have a reason to be sad, Kermit Love, the man who helped create Big Bird and Snuffleupagus (Bird and Snuffy for those in the know) died this past weekend. He actually built the now famous bird costume, making the big orange feet and applying the feathers. And did you know that there is actually a television monitor inside the costume so that Caroll Spinney can see the set. Love was 91 years old and was living in Poughkeepsie at the time of his death.

So takepart and support Sesame Street today - I know I wouldn’t be who I am without the show and I’m guessing many feel the same way. And while I am sad about Kermit Love, I have to admit that I’m happy that I have an excuse to post Sesame Street videos on the blog - enjoy!

This one is good for you folks stuck at work today…. All you have to do is imagine!

More videos after the jump!

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As the election draws nearer it’s becoming more and more important to encourage everyone to vote this go around.

In regards to the youth vote, The Nation has an interesting piece up about the influence of Rock the Vote on the election this year:

While RTV held the biggest name brand in youth politics, youth turnout declined in 1996 and 2000, and a lot of political minded folks concluded that Rock the Vote wasn’t getting the job done. As described in [the] book, Youth to Power, the vacuum left in youth organizing by the failures of Rock the Vote in part inspired the boom in youth organizing that occurred between 2003 and 2007.

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A Photo Diary

I know I promised some behind the scenes Silverdocs photos - so here you go. Enjoy and be sure to takepart and learn about how the Brooklyn Museum is using the power of digital cameras to curate an exciting new exhibit:

Me pretending to be the Silverdocs logo = laser eyes!

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The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) Director: Ellen Kuras & Thavisouk Phrasavath, Country: US/Laos; Release: 2008, Runtime: 100

Screened : Sat Jun 14: 6:30 and Sun Jun 15: 8:30

Ellen Kuras has been shooting other people’s movies for years and it turns out she has also been shooting her own. The Betrayal, which she made with and about her friend Thavisouk Phrasavath, takes it’s audience from Laos to New York from the 1980s to the present. It’s a film that deals with family, war and the bonds that we keep and the bonds that we break.

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I’ve been keeping up with most of the Burma Can’t Wait videos (we’ve previously blogged about videos from Sarah Silverman , Will Ferrell, and Ellen Page) and I really like that they are using humor to discuss a heartbreaking issue.  Check out this recent video featuring Hank Azaria and Billy Baldwin.

takepart and visit http://www.burmaitcantwait.org to join the cause.

Individual, community and corporate efforts to better the environment are necessary and effective, but solutions for our environmental and energy crises have to come from systematic changes in our political system too. Want to know what’s going on behind the closed doors of those mysterious white buildings? Check out the week in green politics, and see for yourself:

**Worried about water safety? You should be. Billions of gallons of water for drinking can be moved without discharge permits under the Clean Water Act, says the EPA, even though the Bush administration says the water could contain pollutants.

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A slew of celebrities including Harrison Ford, Bo Derek and Robert Duvall have come together to support the World Bank on Monday in their mission to help save tigers from becoming extinct. The World Bank is mostly known for its efforts to mitigate poverty around the globe, but it has also taken on wildlife conservation efforts with the help of governments and scientists. Their new Tiger Conservation Initiative aims to tackle threats to tigers like the illegal trade of their skins, meat and body parts, which are used in traditional Asian medicine.

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Social Action + Cinema Videos of the Day:

1) Climate Security Fight Not Over!

For the Cinema YouTube Video of the Day, Click here >>>

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Social Action + Cinema Videos of the Day:

1) Media that Matters presents The Countdown

For the Cinema YouTube Video of the Day, Click here >>>

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