The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Several topics really stood out this week, including the Oscars as social advocacy inspiration, civil rights and Black History Month, and lots of hot news on entertainment going Green. Check out our most popular posts of the week on these subjects, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites.

Katie:

Happy Belated “Freedom to Marry” Week!

Rosa and Raymond Parks: Valiant Valentine #5

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Nicole:

Top 10 Oscar Picks to Inspire Social Action

Cornel West: Black Thoughts On Black History Month

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Giulia:

H&M’s “Fashion Against AIDS”

Ed Begley Jr. Goes Green

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Gina:

Top 10 Best Picture Winners That Inspire

Remixing “Chicago 10″

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Kerry:

How To Set the World On Fire Without Burning Out

Eco-Brokers Cater to Green Homebuyers

The 80th Annual Academy Awards are almost upon us, and I’m sure you all have your favorite films that you’re routing for. We here at TakePart have our fave films too, of course based on their relevance to social action and advocacy. Check out our picks for these top 10 Oscar categories, and how these films have left the world a bit of a better place than before they arrived on the big (or little) screen!

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Actor in a Leading Role: Tommy Lee Jones in In the Valley of Elah

Tommy Lee Jones gives an incredible performance as a war veteran searching for his son, a soldier who recently returned from Iraq, but has now mysteriously disappeared. The shadow of the Iraq war is cast across several films that have been nominated this year, but Jones’ moving performance highlights the emotional and spiritual battles soldiers and their families must face long after they’ve come home from the combat zone.

and find out what you can do to help Veterans for Peace seek justice for veterans and victims of war, and to abolish war as an instrument of national policy.

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Angelina Jolie made a surprise visit to Iraq Thursday as a United Nations goodwill ambassador, in an effort to promote awareness and action to assist over two million displaced Iraqi refugees. Jolie had lunch with US troops, and held meetings with General David Petraeus and senior diplomats, including Iraq’s minister for displaced people. The actress is also scheduled to meet with Nuri al-Maliki, Iraqi Prime Minister. Said Jolie in an interview with CNN today:

“There are over two million displaced people and there never seems to be a real coherent plan to help them”Of the two million internally displaced, it’s estimated 58% are under 12 years old. It’s a very high number of people in a very, very vulnerable situation and a lot of young kids.

by visiting the International Rescue Committee to see what you can do to help them step up assistance to Iraqi refugees through community outreach, education activities, health care and counseling.