BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

Bang For Your Buck from ShootingPoverty on Vimeo.

This is one of three films that is a finalist in the Oxfam shooting poverty competition. It's currently in four languages and being screeened around the world. So far it's been viewed in 68 countries. You can vote for this film until February 15th at

http://shootingpoverty.org/

SUDAN

The new Sudan 365 film is being launched on YouTube. The film is now live on www.sudan365.org

Some background on Sudan and the 365 campaign:
Ten years ago the brutal civil war in Sudan which claimed over 2 million lives ended wit the Comprehensive Peace agreement which stated that in January 2011 a referendum would be held to decide if Sudan would become two countries or stay as one.

A year ago on January 9th 20101, Sudan 365 launched a popular campaign with the "Beat For Peace" video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJMzB48r8rI featuring drummers from around the world and celebrities like, Will Champion from Cold Play, Richard Jupp from Elbow, Maxi Jazz from Faithless, Evelyn Glennie, Hugh Masakela, Angelique Kidjo and a host of other stars.

Since then the momentum has built with Sudan 365, launching another film Keep the Promise in September.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=keep+the+Promise&aq=f

This campaign has engaged over 200 000 people who have watched the video with thousands of click throughs to the campaign website. Drumming events have been held all over the world, beating for peace, from London to Sao Paulo, from Nairobi to Washington DC, Sydney to Sudan. Barack Obama and Thabo Mbeki have watched the film and the international engagement has been sustained in this critical year.

Most importantly there has been no return to war.

The referendum takes place this Sunday, the campaign finishes with the third and final instalment, which thanks politicians and the public for staying engaged and asks everyone to stay focused on Sudan, to ensure that what ever the result of the referendum violence is averted and that that the needs of Sudan are met. If the world's newest country "South Sudan" is created it will be one of the poorest countries in the world and the threat of violence remains high. The video. also calls on the Leaders of Sudan to ensure that they make sure that Sudan has a peaceful future.

Sudan 365 will continue beyond Sunday, and after the referendum to remind people that January 9th 2011 is not the end but also a new beginning.

The film can be seen at http://www.sudan365.org on Sunday 9 January. Please help get the word about through your blog posts, facebook and twitter updates.