A group of friends started a journey to Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Southern Brazil in their old and rusty Land Rover. They encountered lots of winds, emptiness, pampas, bustling cities, animals, deserts and waterfalls—all wrapped up in just under 6 minutes. Enjoy the ride!
VIDEO: The Way of Manaslu, Nepal's Eighth Tallest Mountain
Arvīds Barānovs, award winning photographer and head of Eaglewood Pictures, explores Manaslu, a mountain within the Nepalese Himalayas. Manaslu, at 8,163 meters (26,781 feet), is the eighth highest mountain in the world. The mountain stands proudly over Budhi Gandaki valley. At the peak of the mountain, one can gaze upon the adjacent Annapurna mountain range and Tibetan plateau. As one climbs the mountain, they will encounter many small tea houses along the way. Climbers often stop there to have a cup of tea and eat dal bhat, a staple dish of rice and lentils. Manaslu is inhabited by the Tsum and Nubri peoples, whose ways of life are rooted in Buddhism and Tibetan culture. The local people live traditionally and farm barley, maize and oats, in addition to cultivating nuts and fruits.
VIDEO: Ending Global Poverty Begins with Women's Rights
Women compose a disproportionate amount of the world’s poor and uneducated. Two-thirds of the world’s illiterate are women and sixty percent of hungry people are female. We are asked: how do we fight this form of inequality? The answer is straightforward. We can solve the impoverishment of women by fighting for equal rights for women around the globe.
GET INVOLVED
OXFAM is a global organization committed to ending poverty by promoting women’s rights. The organization champions equality, empowerment, inclusiveness, and solidarity as values that can transform the lives of women in poverty. By fighting for economic justice, an end to violence against women and girls, reproductive rights, climate justice and more, OXFAM believes we can change the world for the better. You can contribute by advocating, volunteering, shopping, and donating with OXFAM.
VIDEO: Journey Through Thailand
This footage of Thailand serves as the second installment in Vincent Urban’s series: “In Asia.” The video features glimpses into the vibrant streets of Bangkok and the natural scenery of Northern Thailand. He also features footage from the small but lively town of Pai, located near a mountain base in Northern Thailand. The director includes evocative imagery of Buddhist temples from his visit to the city of Chiang Mai, capital of Chiang Mai province. German director Vincent Urban, based in New York City, concludes the episode teasing his next stop, Laos, for the following installment of the series.
VIDEO: Girl's Education and Global Poverty
Global Citizen provides an array of statistics to demonstrate the power of education for girls in ending global poverty. For example, when 10% more girls attend school, the GDP of a country increases by 3% on average. The film especially focuses on India and explains that education helps to prevent girls from entering early marriages. Two thirds of uneducated children are girls. By providing girls with the education that they need, countries can both improve their economies and their standard of living for girls and women.
GET INVOLVED
Global Citizen is an organization that aims to help end poverty around the world by 2030. The foundation addresses the issues of demanding equity, defending the planet and defeating poverty. According to Global Citizen, 36% of the population currently lives in extreme poverty. To raise awareness and educate yourself about global poverty, click here.
VIDEO: Mama Rwanda
Located at the converging point between the African Great Lakes region and East Africa, the Republic of Rwanda is an environmentally, economically and culturally diverse country rebuilding its identity in the wake of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which approximately 800,000 Tutsis were killed by Hutu extremists. The country takes pride in its regional fauna, which includes elephants, gorillas, hippos, giraffes and zebras. Travelers interested in viewing Rwandan wildlife can observe it in three national parks: Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park and Akagera National Park. “Mama Rwanda” also shows Kigali, the capital of Rwanda and the heart of its economic and cultural life. The city boasts a vibrant marketplace and architecture that combines traditional and modern styles. Outside the city, Rwanda’s expansive coffee growing fields are tended by over 450,000 planters. Basket weaving has been an important aspect of Rwandan culture for centuries and is now being used by women impacted by the Rwandan genocide to pursue greater economic independence as producers within an international market. Hutu and Tutsi women have come together to weave baskets, a practice that is now a symbol of national reconciliation. These businesses sell their wares to both small stores and large department stores like Macy’s. The profits of weaving companies are often used to support Rwandan families in need of food and medicine.
VIDEO: Growing Up in a Megaslum in Kenya
Joseph Djemba grew up in Kibera, Kenya, the largest urban slum in Africa. Djemba found himself there when his mother became unable to support her eleven children after the death of her husband. Djemba describes his childhood sleeping outside and begging for food, detailing the psychological impacts of living in poverty. He also notes the large gap between the rich and the poor in Kenya and discusses how impoverished people help each other survive. Djemba is the main character in “Megaslumming,” a book by Adam Parsons. In his work, Parsons explores how the settlement of Kibera came into existence and documents what life is like for those who live in slums.
Get Involved:
Touch Kibera Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to uplifting children who live in Kibera, Kenya through sports programs, sexual health programs, education support and mentorship opportunities. Donations are accepted online, and more information can be found here.
Polycom Development Project is a foundation which seeks to provide educational and athletic opportunities to girls and women in Kibera. The organization is also devoted to promoting sanitation and public health. Donations are accepted online, and more information can be found here.
St. Vincent de Paul Community Development Organization aims to provide support to orphaned and other vulnerable children in Kibera. The organization supports families and seeks to intervene on behalf of children at an early stage in their development. Donations are accepted online, and more information can be found here.
VIDEO: Experience Southeast Asia
In his trailer for “In Asia,” German director Vincent Urban highlights memorable experiences in his trip to Southeast Asia. Over two months, Urban traveled to Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Laos. We are transported to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, a city with night skies full of fireworks and streets teeming with music. Urban next introduces us to the Southeast Asian landscapes he encounters. He highlights the tropical climates of Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Laos with footage of waterfalls, aquamarine waters, beaches and coral reefs. Urban also highlights Buddhist culture by featuring images of the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia, the largest temple complex in the world. The individual episodes of “In Asia” provide greater context for the footage within this trailer and are certainly worth viewing if you would like to learn more about Thai, Cambodian, Malaysian and Laotian cultures.
VIDEO: Angkor Wat to Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Set to a mesmerizing soundtrack, this footage of Cambodia highlights the natural beauty of the country’s tropical landscape, as well as provides insight into the daily lives of its people. As viewers, we travel from surrene Angkor Wat—the world famous Buddhist temple complex—to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s lively and bustling capital city. German director Vincent Urban, who is from Munich now based in New York City, concludes the episode teasing his next stop, Thailand, for the following installment of his series: “In Asia.”
Social Action Muralist
Social justice can take many forms, and the arts are one way to spread activism into mainstream media. This video showcases the work of one such artist, Joel Bergner, who creates street murals in low-income or at-risk areas to highlight certain social issues. Many of his projects engage local youth, exposing them to both activist and artistic worlds they can stay involved even later in life.
His most recent project was in a Jordanian Syrian refugee camp, in which he invited camp residents to take part in the murals — just one example of how Bergner aspires to give a voice to those he makes art for. Blending traditional themes of mythology with current issues, Bergner’s art has and will continue to make an impact in not just local communities, but the wider world of social action.
Angola: A Video of Culture, Diversity, and the Lasting Legacy of Civil War
Having been ravaged by civil war from 1975-2002, Angola is a country still reckoning with its complex history. This legacy of colonization means that Angola has had to rely largely on raw natural resources for economic development. However, it’s been slowly stabilizing for the past decade, recovering from its past and getting ready to face the world of today. Although there has been significant strides in modernization, Angola retains much of its cultural and geographic diversity, boasting both crowded cities and remote salt flats and sea cliffs. This video takes you through many different regions of the country, showing the diversity present in both the people and their environment while giving information about the nation’s history. Each group of people interact differently with their surroundings and cultural influences, emphasizing something westerners often forget: Angola, and Africa itself, is far from a monolith.
Video: The Amazing Perseverance of Girls in Kibera, East Africa’s Largest Slum
Kibera is a slum in the heart of Nairobi, Kenya, and is rife with poverty, economic inequality, and gender disparities. However, the future is far from dark for young girls living in Kibera, many of whom dream of getting an education and improving their communities. The path out of poverty is incredibly difficult, but as more awareness is being given to communities in need, young people are beginning to receive the resources they need, such as safe housing and free education. This video shows the daily life of Eunice Akoth, a fourth grader at the Kibera School for Girls who aspires to one day become a doctor. Eunice has faced many obstacles throughout her life, especially due to the preferential attention given to the education of boys. However, her fun-loving spirit and determination to succeed have helped her overcome these challenges, inspiring hope not just in her, but in the community she calls home.
Take a Video Tour Through Australia’s Underground Homes
Many societies are moving away from the typical household structure as overcrowding, climate concerns, and high maintenance costs incentivize people to create housing that works in tandem with the environment instead of against it. Coober Pedy, located in the remote South Australian desert, is one such community. Instead of building infrastructure in the scorching heat above ground, residents have repurposed old mine shafts into living spaces. The town’s primarily subterranean location makes it difficult for a passerby to spot, but it boasts underground restaurants, churches, and even nail salons. This video, narrated by one of Coober Pedy’s residents, takes you through some of the most interesting underground homes in the town while providing more information about its complex history.
New Zealand: Innovation Meets Nature
Despite its small size and remote location in the southwest Pacific Ocean, New Zealand boasts diversity of all kinds and is exploding with culture, innovation, and beauty. Although today most of its inhabitants are of European descent, its Maori culture shines through, as well as the influences of recent immigrant groups. Additionally, while New Zealand is incredibly developed, with populous cities, it still has incredible geographic diversity. A traveler can find mountains, marshes, valleys, and coastal cliffs all without leaving a single island. The preservation of New Zealand’s nature is a testament to its people’s dedication to maintaining a balance between technological innovation and preserving the climate. Any traveler there will enjoy the best of both worlds and get a taste of a life unlike any other.
VIDEO: Indonesia's Mentawai Tribe
To give Joshua Cowan’s film even deeper meaning, it’s important to understand context. Mentawai is an archipelago found off the west coast of Sumatra (Indonesia) consisting of approximately 70 islands and islets. The history of the people is often debated, but as early as 1954, under Indonesia’s goal of national unity and cultural adaptation, the National Government began introducing civilization programs designed to integrate the tribal groups into the social and cultural mainstream of the country. This, for native Mentawai, meant the eradication of Arat Sabulungan — the animist belief system that links the supernatural powers of ancestral spirits to the ecology of the rainforest — ; the forced surrender, burning and destruction of possessions used to facilitate cultural or ritual behavior; and their Sikerei (shamans) being disrobed, beaten, and forced into slave labor and imprisonment.
Under Pancasila — the official, foundational philosophical theory of Indonesia — the Indonesian state should be based on the Five Principles: Indonesian nationalism; Internationalism, or Humanism; Consent, or Democracy; Social prosperity; and Belief in One God. Based on the Indonesian notion ‘belief in one God’, there are officially only five religions recognized: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Which, for the Mentawai Islands, resulted in an immediate influx of missionaries and an increase in violence and pressure on the people to adopt change. In the end many chose Christianity due to its flexible views on the possession and consumption of pigs, which play an integral role in Mentawai history and culture.
By the late 1980’s loggers had devastated the forests of Sipora, North and South Pagai. In 1980, WWF (World Wildlife Fund) published a report entitled ‘Saving Siberut’ which, along with the support of other organizations – primarily UNESCO and Survival International – and other additional international interest, helped persuade the Indonesian government to cancel logging concessions and declare the forests of Siberut a biosphere reserve. With this, the people in the Mentawai found that they were once again free to practice their native cultural activities – at least in areas away from the villages.
However, by this point, and as it remains today, the number of Indigenous people still actively practicing the cultural customs, rituals and ceremonies of Arat Sabulungan had already been limited to a very small population of clans primarily located around the Sarereiket and Sakuddei regions in the south of Siberut Island.
Raeann Mason
Raeann is an avid traveler, digital storyteller and guide writer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Comm & Media Studies from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication. Passionate about a/effective journalism and cultural exchange, she is an advocate of international solidarity and people's liberation. As the founder of ROAM + WRITE and EIC of Monarch Magazine, Raeann hopes to reshape the culture of travel and hospitality to be ethically sound and sustainable.
NOW IS THE TIME: Totem Poles and the Haida Spirit
When internationally renowned Haida carver Robert Davidson was only 22 years old, he carved the first new totem pole on British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii in almost a century. On the 50th anniversary of the pole’s raising, Haida filmmaker Christopher Auchter steps easily through history to revisit that day in August 1969, when the entire village of Old Massett gathered to celebrate the event that would signal the rebirth of the Haida spirit.
New Zealand: Aotearoa
“Rich greenery, rough landscapes and unreal scenery. Footage shot over a time period of eight months features New Zealand in a way never seen before. German electronic music artist “The Road up North” exclusively created surreal soundscapes to accentuate the unique mood of this journey through territory and changing seasons.” -Birk Poßecker
The Truffle Kingpin And Young Entrepreneur Based In New York City
At first glance, 24-year-old Ian Purkayastha seems like any other entrepreneur: he's motivated, crafty, disciplined, and personable. But behind the facade of a clever businessman lies a youthful energy and a passion for selling some of the rarest food on the planet: truffles. Purkayastha sells all kinds of truffles to 90 percent of New York's fine dining restaurants and has been peddling the fungi out of his backpack to the likes of Eleven Madison Park, Le Bernadin, and other Michelin-starred restaurants for nine years now.
THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GREAT BIG STORY
Meet the Helpers Rising Up During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Mister Rogers taught us that when things feel scary, “look for the helpers.” Today, people all over the world are stepping up to help their fellow human beings during the COVID-19 pandemic. This one’s for them—for the doctors, nurses and paramedics risking their own lives to keep us healthy; for those in the garment industry making masks for the workers on the front lines; for the chefs, the kitchen and delivery workers making sure no one goes hungry. These are the everyday heroes showing kindness and strength when we need it the most.
There are so many ways you, too, can help. If you’re looking to lend a hand, here are just a few ways you can make a difference.
Make Masks
The folks at the Minnesota Opera costume shop, EquiFit (a company that designs gear for horses and riders), Stitchroom (a custom home goods outfit) among so many others are retooling their operations to make and deliver masks to those working on the frontlines. If you’ve got a sewing machine and some free time, you can, too. Here’s what you would need.
For supplies, the most effective household materials to transform into masks include vacuum cleaner bags, dish towels, T-shirts, and pillowcases. Find more information about the efficacy of different materials right here.
There are many different types of masks you can create, from double-layered, to those with a pocket for a reusable filter. Here’s a tutorial to one of the simplest masks you can make from home. Find more mask-making resources here.
There are many different places you can donate your masks, including your local hospital. If you are looking for organizations that are helping to distribute, check out Stitchroom, and join their Facebook group for more maker resources.
Give Food
Chefs like José Andrés and Marcus Samuelsson are working to bring relief to those affected by COVID-19 through World Central Kitchen. So many other small restaurants and businesses in the US and beyond are donating food to make sure no one has to go hungry.
Save the Children and Blessings in a Backpack have teamed up with school districts to provide meals to students. You can donate to Save the Children here, and Blessings in a Backpack here.
Older adults are also among the most vulnerable right now. Meals on Wheels provides home delivery of food to seniors, and needs resources now more than ever. You can donate here.
Food banks are also facing an increased need during this time. Feeding America has set up a COVID-19 Response Fund to support its 200 food banks nationwide, and has set up mobile, drive-through distribution points.
Support Healthcare Workers
People like 16-year-old pilot TJ Kim and the motorcyclists at Masks for Docs are going the distance to deliver PPE to healthcare workers. Here’s how you can help, too.
The World Health Organization, the UN Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation have come together to create the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund to finance diagnostic tests, buy supplies for healthcare workers and fund research efforts. You can donate here.
International Medical Corps is working with WHO to provide training, supplies and emergency medical response planning in high-risk locations. You can donate here.
Direct Relief is supplying health authorities in the US and China with protective equipment they need right now. You can donate here.
THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GREAT BIG STORY
Bloom: Japan
In April this year, director Julian Lucas went on holiday to Japan - his camera came with him.
The result is the film Bloom.
He discovered a peculiar sense of quiet, desolation, and loneliness among the people.
In a country so packed with lights and trains and crowds and experiences, from the theatrical to the serene to patently bizarre, Bloom captures this lovely dichotomy between the people and the cities they inhabit. Inside the noise and the chaos, Julian captures people alone, wandering the streets, buried in telephones - a dull, menacing and peaceful nothingness below the surface.
What’s most inspiring about the footage is the way that it doesn’t struggle or form its way into any kind of narrative - Julian just lets the film be exactly what it is. But in that loose process, which is unlikely an accident, there’s this dizzying repetition that tells us something quite profound about Japanese culture. The score, too, by Matt Hadley, dances with the vision. At times intense and jarring, edited cleverly to interplay with the captured audio. At times serene and beautiful, with layered synths and string lines that dance softly up and down the keyboard.
“I wanted the soundtrack to be it's own character,” says Julian. “I wanted the viewer to be as audibly stimulated as they are visually. And I wanted sounds from the real world to contribute to the rhythm and pacing of the piece.”