Pangea Day

Several nights ago, my sister and I were talking about our love of movies, and the power of film to inspire. If you know me at all, you know that I am driven by the “human element,” emotional, physical, and spiritual. My roots are in sociology, psychology, and theodynamics, and as a Professional Futurist, I am very concerned about the connection between driving forces (technological, environmental, economic, political, information, etc.) and social change - in both directions. (How one has an effect upon the other.) So, I am very excited about Pangea Day, being held May 10th. I look forward to watching the short films made by people from all over the world, dealing with the personal prespectives as well as the global web of human experience. I expect that thinking about individuals viewing these films at the same time I am seeing them will be a moving experience in itself, and I hope you will be watching as well.

You can view the films online, at hosted events in your locality, or at several major events worldwide. For information, visit the website here. For starters, I include this description from the website:

The Pangea Day Mission & Purpose

Pangea Day is a global event bringing the world together through film.

Why? In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it’s easy to lose sight of what we all have in common. Pangea Day seeks to overcome that – to help people see themselves in others – through the power of film.

The Pangea Day Event

Starting at 18:00 GMT on May 10, 2008, locations in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked via satellite for a live program of powerful films, live music, and visionary speakers. The entire program will be broadcast – in seven languages – to millions of people worldwide through the internet, television, and mobile phones.

The 24 short films to be featured have been selected from an international competition that generated more than 2,500 submissions from over one hundred countries. The films were chosen based on their ability to inspire, transform, and allow us see the world through another person’s eyes. The winning films will be announced in late April.

The program will also include a number of exceptional speakers and musical performers. Queen Noor of Jordan, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, musician/activist Bob Geldof, and Iranian rock phenom Hypernova are among those taking part.

What Will Happen After Pangea Day

People inspired by Pangea Day will have the opportunity to participate in community-building activities around the world. Through the live program, the Pangea Day web site, and self-organized local events, everyday people will be connected with extraordinary activists and organizations.

Many of the films and performances seen on Pangea Day will be made available on the Web and via mobile phone, alongside open forums for discussion and ideas for how to take social action.

A Pangea Day documentary will be created to catalyze future activities, and dozens of talented filmmakers will make strides in their careers.

History

In 2006, filmmaker Jehane Noujaim won the TED Prize, an annual award granted at the TED Conference. She was granted $100,000, and more important, a wish to change the world. Her wish was to create a day in which the world came together through film. Pangea Day grew out of that wish. Watch Jehane Noujaim’s 2006 acceptance speech now.