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  • 05.10.08 | 21:25 GMT21 comments
    Coming up: a discussion with the Combatants for Peace
    Yonatan Shapira

    Coming up: a discussion with the Combatants for Peace

    Yonathan Shapira joins Bassam Aramin to share stories on brotherhood -- in spite of intractable violence.

  • 05.10.08 | 21:24 GMT7 comments
    Blogging Pangea Day in Brooklyn

    Blogging Pangea Day in Brooklyn

    Bri shares this update from Williamsburg eatery, bar, and art venue Monkey Town:

    "We're talking with people in Popayan, Colombia, Tokyo, Japan, and Nelson, and British Columbia. On top of that, we're seeing the live broadcast on 4 giant screens.

    Here in Brooklyn, I'm surrounded by filmmakers, which seems wholly appropriate on a day celebrating the power of film!

    I'm so glad that Maria invited me to co-organize this with her and as soon as Adriano in Milan mentioned being in communication on the day of the event, I knew that we could tap into the power of the internet and be live, local, and global!"
  • 05.10.08 | 21:21 GMT70 comments
    A selection from Combatants for Peace, directed by Jehane Noujaim
    FEATURED ON PANGEA DAY: Combatants for Peace

    A selection from Combatants for Peace, directed by Jehane Noujaim

    In this gripping short documentary, we meet a former Israeli soldier and a former member of the resistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territories who have renounced violence to try and find a peaceful solution to conflict through a group called Combatants for Peace. In a meeting of the organization, we see how former enemies who have lost loved ones are able to see past their tragic pasts by focusing on their common humanity.

  • 05.10.08 | 21:20 GMT7 comments
    Laughter in Vancouver and Beyond...

    Laughter in Vancouver and Beyond...

    Paul S., downtown Vancouver Pangea Day host, has more to share with us:


    "While the world stood, arms raised and laughed out loud with Goldie Hawn and others on the Los Angeles stage, here in downtown Vancouver we joined in.

    Laughing out loud in the light of the screen the audience overcame their shyness and added their voices to the global refrain.

    Yet another powerful wave of global unity seemed to sweep through the cinema. Almost as though we could here our fellow Pangea friends' laughter in New York, Mumbai, Uppsala, Cape Town, and Giza ringing in our ears!

    We have been inspired by the films and look forward to the last 45 minutes.
  • 05.10.08 | 21:19 GMT25 comments

    Discussion: How can we heal, and forgive, after violence?

    Join the Bereaved Families Forum in this global discussion of healing after terrible violence in our comment threads. What does it take to heal? To forgive?


    - "I believe that people have difficulty reconciling NOT because they don't want peace, but because they cant live with the daily suffering. They don't know what to do with the anger."

    - "There's no way to peace. Peace is the way. You do peace first without any condition."

  • 05.10.08 | 21:12 GMT0 comments

    Friends of Pangea Day in Houston, Texas

    Lee, in Houston, Texas, shares this heartwarming update: "Our entire group stood up and burst out laughing, and when we sat down eyes welled. Feelings of gratitude overwhelm. Thanks to all for making this day for all of us."


    Emerson Kids at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church

  • Coming up: The Bereaved Families Forum

  • 05.10.08 | 21:09 GMT43 comments
    A selection from Encounter Point, directed by Ronit Avni and Julia Bacha
    FEATURED ON PANGEA DAY: Encounter Point

    A selection from Encounter Point, directed by Ronit Avni and Julia Bacha

    The most important story in the Middle East is not being told on the nightly news. The true heroes of this conflict use something more powerful than bullets and bombs. This is the story of people who lost everything except the courage to face their enemies.

  • 05.10.08 | 21:09 GMT38 comments
    Queen Noor offers a message of unity...
    H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan

    Queen Noor offers a message of unity...

    ...stories that inspire across civilizations.

  • 05.10.08 | 21:07 GMT8 comments

    Reporting on Pangea Day from China

    Organizers in Shanghai write, "So after weeks of plotting, scheming and ceaseless fretting, our Friends of Pangea Day event in Shanghai has gone off without a hitch. For those unfamiliar with the situation, a brief explanation: the Chinese government has launched a serious crackdown on cultural events in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics. Case in point: two weeks ago, exactly one week before the event was scheduled to begin, the government announced that it was cancelling China's largest music festival this year. The 'official' reason? Local police would not be able to provide adequate security for the event. The real reason? Government anxiety surrounding current pro-Tibet sentiments worldwide.

    As such, putting on a film event in China -- especially as the content was not known beforehand -- is tricky business. No venues would touch it (we finally got an artists' warehouse in an industrial zone in south Shanghai), trying to figure out how to get a secure internet connection caused many sleepless nights (The Panopticon's Great Firewall is the bane of our existence), we had to keep our events out of Chinese media (we told all Chinese journalists it was a private event to cover ourselves and make sure there were no repercussions after), and we had plans b, c, d, e and f in place for the 4-hour broadcast. We tried rerouting our connection through the US, were considering a Hong Kong option as well; had dealt with StarWorld Asia (a Pangea Day broadcaster in Asia) but with little luck; had techies in Vancouver helping us out; had Slipbox hook-ups in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal -- basically, everything we could think of. Last minute (two hours before the global broadcast started), we got an illegal satellite connection to the Philippines, with a link to StarWorld. Praise be.

    So yeah, it's been a ride. We have learned more about computers than we could have ever imagined learning in a three-day period, but the result was worth it. We held an 8-hour marathon showcasing local filmmakers -- there is no forum for Chinese filmmakers to show their work here, due to government regulation, as such we felt this was especially important -- prior to the 4-hour broadcast we're all seeing now. In total, we've got a 12-hour marathon. We've had roughly 1000 people come through our dingy little warehouse space, and we're loving being able to participate in the global phenomenon.

    So cheers from Shanghai -- despite all the barriers, we're seeing Pangea Day, along with all of you, in China.

    Signed, Two very exhausted, but very relieved, organizers."

  • 05.10.08 | 21:02 GMT24 comments

    Pangea Day founder Jehane Noujaim

    A wish come true! Pangea Day founder and organizer Jehane Noujaim speaks out on the efforts that made it all happen:

    "By sharing stories we've started the process of turning strangers into friends."

  • Coming up: Jehane Noujaim, founder of Pangea Day; Queen Noor of Jordan

  • 05.10.08 | 20:57 GMT19 comments
    Soaring, heartfelt song from Rokia Traore
    Rokia Traore

    Soaring, heartfelt song from Rokia Traore

    Malian singer Rokia Traore blends the traditions of her Bamana heritage with a modern singer-songwriter's approach to music-making. Her smooth vocals mix with the soulful sounds of traditional instruments to create intoxicating music.

  • Coming up: Rokia Traore

  • Coming up: A Global Laugh: Dr. Kataria leads the world in laughter

  • 05.10.08 | 20:48 GMT71 comments
    Film: Laughter Club, by Neil Davenport
    FEATURED ON PANGEA DAY: Selections from Laughter Club

    Film: Laughter Club, by Neil Davenport

    People around the world are gathering in Laughter Clubs -- to share one of the most profound human universals.

  • 05.10.08 | 20:45 GMT29 comments

    Discussion: What makes you laugh?

    Join the discussion on joy and laughter in our comments. What makes you laugh?

  • 05.10.08 | 20:44 GMT0 comments
    More from the Friends of Pangea Day, Greenwood Collective

    More from the Friends of Pangea Day, Greenwood Collective

    Just over an hour left to go and more updates from Chris M. in Seattle:

     

    People keep filing in, friends, friends of friends, new friends. It's pretty amazing to watch the word spread, across the room and across town.

    "You should totally come up here - these films are pretty rad, and they have a tiki lounge... yeah, for real."

    We had no idea what to expect; I think we were imagining a bunch of people milling around chatting - which we have, but the real surprise has been the films - people walk in and are completely rapt; we have to tell them that there's beer and food, and even then the whole room is smiling and cringing together at these wonderful stories.

    It's really powerful to see all these friends and neighbors together, and the good vibe is palpable in the air. The next steps are already happening too - I've heard several conversations about other opportunities to get people together and working towards a more compassionate world.

    "I was wondering what we could do to help the situation in Myanmar... we could totally throw an event next weekend."

    "This would be a great place to host a fundraiser..."

    Sometimes just a little spark can ignite a group of people in an unexpected way, and if our little party is any indication, I think Pangea Day is going to light a huge fire, and it feels really great to be a part of it and to look forward to really continuing this dialog.

     

  • 05.10.08 | 20:44 GMT11 comments
    Eboo Patel on perceptions of race; overcoming bias, and stereotype
    Eboo Patel

    Eboo Patel on perceptions of race; overcoming bias, and stereotype

    "It's time for the pattern of pluralism to prevail over the pattern of fear."

  • Coming up: Eboo Patel

  • 05.10.08 | 20:35 GMT14 comments
    Live from Rwanda...
    Jean-Paul Samputu

    Live from Rwanda...

    Rwandan singer-songwriter Jean-Paul Samputu is a cultural ambassador -- bringing traditional African singing, dancing and drumming, and a message of peace, hope and reconciliation, to the world.

  • Coming up: Jean Paul Samputu

  • 05.10.08 | 20:24 GMT22 comments

    6 Billion Others: Anger

    What makes you angry? Join the discussion on our comments pages, and visit 6 Billion Others on PangeaDay.org.

  • 05.10.08 | 20:20 GMT139 comments
    Film: Inja (Dog), directed by Steve Pasvolsky
    FEATURED ON PANGEA DAY: Inja (Dog)

    Film: Inja (Dog), directed by Steve Pasvolsky

    In South Africa, a long-brutalized dog comes between a white landowner and his young black farmhand.

  • 05.10.08 | 20:18 GMT23 comments
    A former child soldier speaks out on violence and healing
    Ishmael Beah

    A former child soldier speaks out on violence and healing

    A simple life was transformed by violence when Ishmael Beah was recruited, at age 13, to fight as a child soldier.


    "We have a repsonbility to expose ourselves to our world, to see our common humanity, tolearn about other people -- not only in times of war, but in times of peace."

  • Coming up: Ishmael Beah, child soldier

  • 05.10.08 | 20:14 GMT21 comments

    6 Billion Others: Fears

    What are your fears? Join the discussion on our comment pages.

  • 05.10.08 | 20:12 GMT27 comments
    Film: Meninos (Boys), directed by Ernesto Molinero
    FEATURED ON PANGEA DAY: Meninos (Boys)

    Film: Meninos (Boys), directed by Ernesto Molinero

    Boys in a Brazilian school deal with the daily trials of childhood -- and emerge better friends.

  • 05.10.08 | 20:08 GMT16 comments
    Jonathan Harris harvests human feelings from the web
    Jonathan Harris

    Jonathan Harris harvests human feelings from the web

    Artist and computer scientist Jonathan Harris makes online art that captures the world's expression – to show off a world that resonates with shared emotions, concerns, problems, triumphs, and troubles.

    "Whether you're a billionaire or a refugee, a prisoner or a president, you have feelings," Harris says. And his website "harvests" feelings from the Web. A sample of how people are feeling right now: "I feel like a hack... I feel I could be doing more... I just want to feel alive for the first time in my life... I feel so much of my Dad in me that there isn't room for me."

  • 05.10.08 | 20:01 GMT108 comments
    Film: Sili (The Slap)
    FEATURED ON PANGEA DAY: Sili (The Slap)

    Film: Sili (The Slap)

    A soldier, a young woman, a colonel, and an old woman board a train. Nobody, save one of them, can explain what happens next.


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