Danny Jensen
December 12, 2008 | 8:51 pm EST
Amnesty International USA has just released a new video that beautifully captures their Top 10 Words for 2008, highlighting the triumphs and tragedies of the past year. As we approach the new year with a new administration let’s hope that next year we will see even more success stories in efforts to protect human rights.
takepart by signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and join Amnesty International USA’s Protect the Human Campaign.
Does the thought of a Happy Meal leave you anything but? Well, the Ontario-based group Gaiaisi shares your frustration with fast food in their song Enjoy Your Meal, a wake up call to those munchin’ on McDonald’s Big Macs and an anthem for those who are fed up with our unhealthy industrialized food system. Check out their new music video:
Catchy, huh? The “RAGE” t-shirt might give you a clue to the band’s musical influence, if you didn’t catch that already. It’s about time someone picked up the torch that Rage Against the Machine dropped just as things went from bad to worse back in 2000 (despite a brief reunion).
takepart by cooking up a delicious, locally-sourced feast this weekend using the Eat Well Guide, and keep an eye out for Food, Inc.
To help get you into the spirit of the UDHR’s 60th Anniversary, here is a new music video from Amnesty International. The song is performed by artists from all over the globe, some of whom escaped oppressive regimes themselves.
I’m a big fan of Chali 2na, so I’m glad he made an appearance.
Now, with that song in your head, takepart with Amnesty International’s Protect the Human campaign.
Radiohead joined forces with Mtv’s EXIT campaign against human trafficking to create the “All I Need Video.”
(Radiohead frontman) Thom Yorke has never been one to keep his political views to himself. And when he was contacted by MTV to take part in a campaign against human trafficking, he decided to play things close to the vest. Because, as he sees it, the issue isn’t a political one at all.
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Rising singer-songwriter Ben Jelen is very passionate about the environment so much so he formed The Ben Jelen Foundation to support green initiatives around the world that work to battle climate change and promote sustainability. Check out his latest video touching upon the theme of global warming and the environment:
and get involved at www.benjelen.com/foundation
Reports were circulating around the web yesterday that the new Gnarls Barkley music video Run was banned from MTV.
However it’s controversy wasn’t due to language, sex, or violence it was because of the intense psychedelic graphics and effects that occur mid-way thru the video which you can view here:
Apparently the trippy swirls and flashes of shapes are potentially dangerous to those suffering from epilepsy.
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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. Don’t miss these excellent posts on some very engaging and thoughtful topics - from going green at the office to Julian Beever to dystopian film telling us to take action now. Check out our most popular articles of the week on a variety of subjects, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites.
Katie:
Katoucha’s Body Found: Model Helped African Women Escape Mutiliation
Julian Beever Brings Art to New Orleans Sidewalks
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Nicole:
Heath Ledger Nick Drake Video for “Black Eyed Dog” Hits Web
Top 10 Ways to Go Green in the Office
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Gina:
Top 10 Dystopian Future Films Telling Us to Take Action Now
Going to “The Edge of Heaven” with Fatih Akin
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Kerry:
One of Heath Ledger’s last creative endeavors was a short film/video for Nick Drake’s “Black Eyed Dog.” Ledger admitted to being “obsessed” with Drake, a 1970s folk singer, who also died from a prescription drug overdose at a young age. Ledger was the actor, director and cameraman for this previously little known project. Although Ledger’s death has been ruled an accident, the video has prompted further speculation about his state of mind leading up to the incident.
According to Defamer.com, before last week the video was only screed twice: “Labor Day weekend at the Bumbershoot festival in Seattle and a second time in October at ‘A Place to Be,’ an event honoring Drake held in L.A.” It was shown again on Wednesday, February 27th on the Australian “A Current Affair.” The clip is below.
Affair reports that the final scene, which is “too graphic for them to broadcast,” depicts Ledger succumbing to the “dog” (Winston’s Churchill’s well-known description of depression) and drowning himself in a bathtub. The melody itself, however, is quite beautiful and hauntingly complimented by Ledger’s black and white images.
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Giulia:
