You may be familiar with the Galapagos Islands, which lie 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador.  They’re pretty pivotal in our science textbooks, what with Charles Darwin doing his whole, “Hey, what’s the deal with the finches on this island, and perhaps we should look into this evolution thing, no?”  It’s no surprise, then, that the Galapagos (not quite sure how to pluralize that one, so we’ll just let it be) have become a major tourist attraction.  And this, ironically, is destroying the very fragile ecological system that Darwin studied, and tourists come to observe.

The United Nations has listed the islands on its “in danger list,” so the Galapagos Islands (or, at least, the people there) are fighting back.  Officials are attempting to scale back the level of tourism and also setting checkpoints to find illegal immigrants that come to the islands to work in the tourism industry.

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Aside from pro-life demonstrations that happened daily, the biggest issue looming over the convention was immigration.

On Thursday, a large group (accounts seem to vary as to how many, with some estimates at 3000, some at 700) of protesters descended on LoDo, shutting down transit and tying up traffic. I was able to catch up with a group of high school students, many of whom have parents that are immigrants. They are calling for Immigration reform that includes more than just enforcement. Here’s what they had to say:

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Today in Wikincubate, the ever-expanding encyclopedia of ways to engage with socially conscious issues:

Green collar jobs multimedia (including this video of eco-star Van Jones sketching out his vision of alleviating poverty while greening the earth):

Hate crimes multimedia

Hazing multimedia

Prison reform multimedia

Immigration reform multimedia

Summer means sun and brightness and fun - which is great. However it’s always a good idea to step out of that every once in awhile to think about things that are a bit darker. This weekend I would recommend making that step into a movie theater to see Courtney Hunt’s Frozen River, a film that deals with immigration and poverty - two issues everyone should think about more often. The film goes to the darker places in life and forces you to consider choices you might never have to deal with otherwise.

It also features a great performance from Melissa Leo, who up to this point has always made her mark with supporting roles.

The trailer is after the jump and be sure to takepart with the National Immigrant Justice Center.

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Yesterday at 5pm Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) went into Rhode Island courthouses and rounded up 31 cleaning employees who were also illegal immigrants. This comes on the heals of a dispute between the cleaners and their contractor, he was apparently not paying wages and they were beginning to organize.

I’m sure it’s only coincidence that they were all rounded up after they started to organize and ask for their proper payment. Especially since they they were working in State run buildings - which would suggest the state probably didn’t have a problem with their working.

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The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

Katie Halper:

Necklacing Returns to South Africa, Tutu Calls for Peace, and History Repeats Itself

Ted Kennedy’s Malignant Brain Tumor: Sad News, But the Work Goes On

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Nicole Hughes:

Bush’s Food Aid Package Promotes Use of GMOs

Gas Prices Exceed Those of 1973 Oil Crisis

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Andy Kondrat:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Could Cost US 38 Trillion Annually

USDA Budget Squeeze Forces Agency to Stop Tracking Pesticide Use

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Jon Popham:

Brooklyn Bridge Birthday Celebration!

Smokey the Bear: Environmental Icon

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Giulia Rozzi:

Suicide Tourism in New York City

Kristin Davis and Her Solar Powered Home

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Gina Telaroli:

Media That Matters Film Festival Premieres on May 28th

Top 10 Ways Indiana Jones Saved the World: Part #1

Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with a Malignant Brain Tumor. Although the news is tragic, we can turn to Kennedy’s own words for inspiration and solace. In 1980, in his concession speech to Carter, Kennedy said: “For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.” So the best way, perhaps, to honor Senator Kennedy, is support the valiant work he has done for over 40 years, and continues to do today. Here are some more inspiring words from Senator Kennedy, followed by ways you can take action to ensure that the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream never dies.

1. But we do not win the war on terror by stooping to their level. We do not win by desecrating the very ideals that our soldiers are fighting for. We win by setting an example — by doing unto others as we would have them do unto us.

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 On April Fools, we wouldn’t show you anything you’d expect. But  The Job, a short comedy video made by Screaming Frogs Productions looks at the other side, or el otro lado, of immigration.

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The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. This week we celebrated some of our own favorite top 10 bloggers who work night and day to provide us up-to-date info on films, literature, and feminist news. Don’t miss these exciting and informative blogs, as well as some of our most popular stories of the week.

Katie:

“La Misma Luna Under the Same Moon,” Not the Same Old Movie

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Gadgets for Under $50

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Nicole:

Top 10 Literary and Book Blogs

NBC11 First Wind Powered TV Station

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Giulia:

Top 10 Feminist Blogs

Horton: The New Mascot for Pro-Life

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Gina:

Top 10 Film Blogs

Top 10 Films I Would See If I Was At SXSW

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Kerry:

Our Pharmaceutically Fouled Water Supply

Top 7 New Sins Against God’s Green Earth

La misma luna (Under the Same Moon) is the story of Rosario and her 9 year old son, Carlito, who are separated by the U.S.-Mexico border, but united by love. The film, directed by Patricia Riggen and starring America Ferrera (Ugly Betty, Real Women Have Curves), Eugenio Derbez (Padre Nuestro), Adrian Alonso (The Legend of Zorro) as Carlito, Kate del Castillo (Bordertown) as Rosario, and featuring music by the Golden Globe-winning Los Tigres del Norte comes out on March 19th, but has already met critical acclaim at advanced screenings. It kicked off the 25th Miami International Film Festival, The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF), The San Diego Latino Film Festival, and received a standing ovation at Sundance. In the film, Rosario leaves her son in Mexico and moves to the United States to work as a maid and to raise enough money to bring her son to The States. As Rosario searches for a better life, Carlito begins a voyage from Mexico to LA, searching for his mother. The story, in which a mother must leave her son in her native Mexico to try to build him a better life in the United States, is not mere fantasy, but is based on the countless true stories in which people risk their lives to cross a border that not only separates Mexico from the U.S., but, poverty from prosperity.

Check out the trailer below.

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