Playing For Change: Connecting The World Through Music

Changing the World through the universal language of music is the goal of "Playing for Change", a movement that started as a documentary about musicians from different countries and blossomed into a project that tries to use music to communicate a message of peace and understanding. Playing for Change gathers musicians from different levels and from all around the world (including Manu Chao, or U2 member Bono) in a joint effort to transmit their message and make a real change. Their efforts have been successful, and thanks to Youtube and internet social networks, what begun as a documentary is now a widely spread and well-known movement able to launch its own foundation. The Playing for Change Foundation has suffered an amazing expansion in its short life. They have programs in 5 countries (Nepal, South Africa, Ghana, Mali and Rwanda), teaching music to 600 students and have created 130 jobs... And they are still growing. Besides, their music videos are some of the most powerful and touching versions of songs I have ever heard, so I encourage you to take a look at their videos and I bet you will have a delightful time with their unique style and their awesome talent.

- David Nebreda

SOURCE: Playing For Change

"Go Ethnics Go" And "Beat It"!

Inspired by Michael Jackson's hit song "Beat It", an anti-poverty group from Ontario, Canada has created an Youtube video, titled "Go Ethnics Go" in order to make politicians care more for reducing poverty. The group, "Colour Of Poverty" describes itself as an organization that works to “build community based capacity to address racism, the growing racialization of poverty and the resulting increased levels of deprivation, social exclusion and widespread marginalization of racialized individuals and communities across the province of Ontario.”

The video is a mock of the tactics of politicians belonging to different political parties of courting so-called “ethnic” voters during the 2011 Canadian federal election. Some people believe that in some key ridings in large urban centres like Toronto and Vancouver, swaying key blocks of ethnic voters could be the key to victory.

The lyrics of the video tries to motivate the "ethnics" to take actions against bad governance:

“They never ask you what you do around here
Don't wanna know your name, or if you really care
See the truth behind the lies, and reject their words of fear
So beat it, just beat it!

You have a choice, you better speak when you can
Don't wanna be an ethnic, be Canadian
It's time to take a stand, get a ballot in your hand
So beat it ! You want a fair and equal chance!”

Then the chorus goes on like this, “just eat it, eat it, spring rolls, samosas, chopped up or sliced, it doesn’t matter, cassava or rice, just eat it, eat it…..”

Charming, isn't it?

-Nisha Noor

SOURCE: GLOBAL TORONTO

TEDxChange Videos

TEDxChange is a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and TED sponsored initiative aiming to organize TED Talks-like events locally, so they can reach deeper into their communities. As other TED Talks, TEDxChange is recorded and shared with the world community, following their motto: "ideas worth spreading."

"In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x=independently organized TED event."

Check out their video gallery in search of ideas worth spreading to fight global poverty!

- David Nebreda

SOURCE: Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation

New Borgen Project Intern's Video!

Crowd Waits To Hear Clint Borgen Speak

Clint Borgen Travels To Africa

Foreign Aid 101

TV PSA - The Borgen Project

The Story Behind The Borgen Project

The Borgen Project In 60 Seconds

Bring Peace to Sudan

In early 2011, the people of South Sudan will vote to be an independent nation, which could put them at risk of war with North Sudan again. South Sudan's conflict with North Sudan claimed approximately 2.5 million lives, leaving millions of families to mourn the loss of their loved ones. Both North and South Sudan suffer from the harsh conditions of poverty, and another war will only exacerbate this. George Clooney and the Enough Project recently spent time along the border between the north and south to show the challenges South Sudan faces in working to hold a peaceful referendum. The Enough Project's video (see above) is an attempt to get the international community and the U.S. government more involved in diplomacy efforts between the north and south of Sudan. Another effective method to get the U.S. government involved is to put pressure on your Senator or Representative to support this cause and increase spending on foreign aid. Take action! Call your district's Representative!

-Clare O.

SOURCE: New York Times

8 Goals for Africa

Quiz yourself. Can you list off the 8 Millennium Development Goals?

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
Goal 5: Improve maternal health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Helen Clark, the chair of the UN Development Group launched 8 Goals for Africa, a campaign song by 8 of Africa's best known musicians. The Millennium Development Goals are a set of 8 internationally agreed goals designed to reduce poverty, hunger, disease, ensure environmental sustainability,and universal primary education by 2015. You can sing along in the video above.

In case you were wondering, here is the last one:

Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

For more information on MDG's, visit www.un.org/millenniumgoals/

-Shereen Alibhai

SOURCE: 8 Goals for Africa

Got $5 and 5 minutes? Make a Difference!

The Borgen Project has launched a fundraiser through IndieGoGo, an innovative website that makes it easy for you to help us advocate for the world's poor. Our goal: to raise $2,000 by December. Wondering what we can do with $2,000? Watch the video above to see how The Borgen Project makes the most of your contributions.

Through IndieGoGo, it is quick and easy to make a secure, tax-deductible donation to The Borgen Project. It takes less than 5 minutes to donate using your credit card -- no registration, no spam, no fuss. Visit the link below to contribute to the cause. Every dollar makes a big difference!

http://www.indiegogo.com/The-Borgen-Project

As always, thank you for your continued support of The Borgen Project.

-BP Staff

Measuring Poverty in the U.S.

Here's an interesting video from "GOOD" examining the way the United States measures poverty. Melissa Boteach of the Center for American Progress discusses the Federal poverty measure and the adjustments required for better accuracy of poverty in America. There are high hopes for President Obama's new measurement system that takes geographic location and effective poverty programs into account. Take a look.

-Nick Mohazzabfar

Source: GOOD.is, Poverty Measure

LIVE Debate Tonight

Dambisa Moyo, author of the controversial book, Dead Aid, will be taking part in a debate later tonight about the effectiveness of giving money to fight poverty. Also on her side of the argument will be economist Hernando De Soto. Stephen Lewis and ONE organization's Paul Collier will be on the opposing side of the debate, arguing that foreign aid is, in fact, the solution to poverty. You can watch a live streaming of the debate online here, at 6:45PM EST.

Make a Hero Call

Sanitation Improvement Project

A lack of sanitation throughout impoverished countries can lead to severe cases of cholera and other diseases. Practical Action has been working to solve this issue by improving local conditions.


Source: PracticalAction.org

Senator Lugar Discusses Global Food Security Act

The Uncultured Project

A former Notre Dame student took it upon himself to travel to Bangladesh and document the effects of poverty on people's lives and their everyday struggles. In one of his videos, he talks about a young boy who works hard every day to collect plastic bottles from his community and make a profit of only about $2 each day. Getting out of poverty is not just a matter of hard work. Many people, like this young boy, earn only a small amount each day despite their hard work and dedication.

Proven Successes in Global Health