Cross-posted from the Idealist.org homepage blog
As I write this post, it’s 2:19p.m. in Portland, Oregon. Over the last 24 hours I’ve played Bananagrams, eaten bulgogi, walked through a rose garden, read a few pages from a novel, wrote a paragraph in my short story, and was introduced to zumba. But what about the rest of the world? What did my friends in Buenos Aires do? Or the Guyanese host family I used to live with when I first started the Peace Corps? On 10/10/10, thanks to One Day on Earth, I’ll be able to find out.
One Day on Earth is asking you, me, and the rest of the world to film something you’re inspired by on that day, with the hope of creating a time capsule that documents our collective struggles and triumphs. You don’t have to be a seasoned filmmaker to participate—cell phones and digital cameras work just as well—and everything is fair game. The collected footage will then be archived in a database for anyone to access at anytime, with select footage to be used in a feature documentary.
If you’re passionate about social change, One Day on Earth might just be the platform for you. One goal of One Day on Earth is to highlight stories that can have a potential impact. For individuals, it’s a great way to raise awareness about issues you care about and provide nonprofits with media they can use in the future. For organizations, it’s a great way to gain support, promote your mission, benefit from media creation, and of course, showcase all the amazing work already being done. Rally for Iraq, for example, will be filming challenges faced by Iraqi students. The Red Cross, on the other hand, will be reaching out to their community in a call to action called My Day, My Impact.
Sure, coordinated international movements aren’t a new thing. (Think everything from Pangea Day to simultaneous dancing of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” to 350.org’s Global Work Party.) But while One Day on Earth is still very grassroots right now, its scope is wide and its heart big. “We are creating a unique collaborative global venue and community dedicated to gaining a better understanding of humanity,” says director Kyle Reddick. It’s citizen journalism on a truly worldwide scale—and it’s it’s no surprise that almost 3,000 participants from over 150 countries are already on board. There are also more than 200 schools around the globe whose students will have a lens in hand.
As for me, I’ll be in New York on October 10, having friends film my wedding. What about you? Which story will you tell?
If you know any individuals and/or nonprofits in Latin America that might want to participate, please help spread the word.
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