It’s June 27th, I’m Gina Telaroli and this is TakePart.com’s look at the week in social action

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!

Nicole Hughes:

U.S. Media Ignores Link Between Midwest Floods and Global Warming

Top 10 Houseplants for Removing Indoor Air Pollution

* * *

Andy Kondrat:

Dubai to Build Rotating Positive Energy Tower

Bioethicist Peter Singer Tackles World Food Shortage

* * *

Jon Popham:

Americacorps Workers Assist Flood Ravaged Town

Australians “Out-Fat” Americans

* * *

Giulia Rozzi:

Progressive Book Club

Oprah Recommends “A New Earth”

* * *

Gina Telaroli:

Human Rights Watch 2008 Film Festival Update

SilverDocs 2008 Update

So the first week of Human Rights Watch is almost over so if you’re in NYC, catch something while you still can. I’ll be posting reviews of the remaining films in the next few days before they screen so keep checking back. Each film’s screening times will be listed and I’ll leave a schedule of reviews to come here.

Also in case you’re just tuning in now, here’s a little refresher on what’s already played:

• Human Rights Watch 08 : Calle Santa Fe
• Human Rights Watch 08 : The Beytrayal (Nerakhoon)
• Human Rights Watch 08 : American Outrage
• Human Rights Watch 08 : A Promise to the Dead

Here’s what’s ahead:

• Under the Bombs : http://filmlinc.com/wrt/onsale/hrw08/underthebombs.html
• The Sari Soldiers : http://filmlinc.com/wrt/onsale/hrw08/thesarisoldiers.html
• Traces of the Trade : http://www.filmlinc.com/wrt/onsale/hrw08/tracesofthetrade.html
• Letter to Anna : http://www.filmlinc.com/wrt/onsale/hrw08/lettertoanna.html

After all is said and done I’ll post a comprehensive piece full of Takepart links that will let you connect to the issues in the film!

Calle Santa Fe - Director: Carmen Castillo; Country: Chile/France/Belgium; Release: 2007, Runtime: 163

Screening : Wed Jun 18: 7

For the documentary filmmaker that has often thought about including their own story in their film, Carmen Castillo’s Calle Santa Fe is worth considering.

A personal meditation on her time in Chile in the early 1970’s and the death of her husband, her comrade and revolutionary Miguel Enriquez, Castillo tells of her past while revisiting the scene where her husband was killed. Much of her story is told in voice-over and in turn she creates a journal of sorts surrounding her story, past and present.

Read the rest of this entry »

A group in Santa Fe, NM is suing the city government there under the claim they suffer and allergy to WiFi Internet frequencies.   The group contends that the city is discriminating against them by using WiFi in public buildings and demands the removal of the wireless technology therein.   Plaintiff Arthur Firstenburg claims he is extremely sensitive to various types of wireless technology including WiFi and cellular phones.   “I get chest pain and it doesn’t go away right away¨he says.   He and his fellow plaintiffs claim the use of WiFi in public places is a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act.  

The Santa Fe City Attorney is currently researching the possible merits of the suit and hopes to have a legal recommendation by the end of the month.   But City Councilor Ron Trujillo isn´t afraid to let his feelings be known right now:

“It’s not 1692, it’s 2008. Santa Fe needs to embrace this technology, it’s not going away,”

Read the rest of this entry »