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!

TakePart Gang:

Everything I Know About Climate Change, I Learned in the Fifth Grade by Martin Musatov

When Torture Is Condoned, Is FISA That Shocking? by Wendy Cohen

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Nicole Hughes:

Baltimore Woman Turns Tragedy Into Art

Why Don’t We Do More to Stop Global Warming?

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Andy Kondrat:

Foods You Should and Shouldn’t Buy Organic

Paper or Plastic? The Environmental Impact

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Jon Popham:

The Energy Independence Bill: A Filibuster Odyssey

“Bruno” Fools Mossad Agent

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Gina Telaroli:

While Iran Tests Missiles, Test These 5 Iranian Films

Mao’s Out, Time to Capitalize On the Olympics

Iran is all over the news.. Headlines about the testing of missiles are on the front page of most major publications. And of course the candidates differ on how to deal with Iran. Should we engage in civil discourse with them or not? How evil are they, how dangerous? These are the questions on the tips of the article’s tongues.

Instead of delving into the politics of Iran and the US (for a strikingly honest look at that you should head on over to TomDispatch), I want to delve into the people of Iran And what better way to do that than taking some time to look at the cinema of Iran. Here are 5 films that are not only amazing artistically, but also highlight those who get left out of big alarmist news stories, the citizens:

1) The Wind Will Carry Us : Directed by Abbas Kiarostami, one of the best filmmakers not in Iran but in the world, this is a simple story of family and community. The film looks at a man who goes to a rural community for family reasons and in turn immerses himself in the community. It’s a beautiful film and as Jonathan Rosenbaum says, it explores “who owns this world and who deserves to.”

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Persepolis, the animated film that was based on Marjane Satrapi’s comic books, was a hit here in the US. It played at the New York Film Festival and was nominated for an Oscar.

What’s really awesome though is that the film appears to be connecting with young Iranian girls:

The movie’s critical attitude toward the Iranian revolution and the Islamic republic led Iran’s government to denounce it. Many who have watched the movie say they identify with the film’s main character, a young woman who struggles to maintain her mental stability, as Iranians live through tumultuous times. [NPR]

Listen to the rest of this story at NPR : ‘Persepolis’ Strikes a Chord with Young Iranians.

Also, to learn about the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and First Amendment rights

The Oscars honored several films which highlighted several worthy causes worth paying attention to and taking action for.

If you like the Oscars and taking action, then follow this Top 10 list of actions inspired by the films, the speeches, the parties, and the outfits featured during the Academy Awards.

1. Julie Christie, who was nominated for her amazing performance in the amazing film Away From Her, directed by the Amazing actor/filmmaker Sarah Polley, wears an orange ribbon, representing the “campaign to close Guantanamo,” which Julie says is “a very, very important issue” It’s affecting the whole world.”

with Amnesty International’s online interactive Tear It Down campaign.

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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. 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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