Friday, October 03, 2008

The Evans Visit Sweden

So Mandy, Caden and Chase came to Sweden to visit us the past couple of weeks and we had an absolute blast. I went to bed every night completely exhausted but so excited to wake up the next day and see my smiling nephew's face. He is so much fun, very expressive and a generally a good natured baby. We went on long walks with Reagan, went into town for lunch and chocolate with my American friends and relaxed a lot at our apartment. Lucky for me, my sister and I share the same idea about vacation - sitting around, drinking coffee in the morning and planning what we will cook for the day. I was so sad to see them leave but it was eased a bit with our plans to go to Dallas for Christmas and the knowledge that they WILL return next year. Caden was a "rock star" on all the plane rides - which was a huge relief to me and Mandy. We tried to take lots of pictures, but when you're just sitting around, drinking coffee - well, you're not too inspired. We did manage to capture this fantastic picture:
Quite possibly the funniest picture...ever! So glad to see Caden is just as happy about the Veuve as I was!!! :-)

Have a great weekend!
~Monica

Thursday, October 02, 2008

CALL+RESPONSE


The Film CALL+RESPONSE is a feature length documentary film that reveals the world’s 27 million dirtiest secrets: there are more slaves today than ever before in human history. CALL+RESPONSE takes viewers deep undercover where slavery is thriving -- from the child brothels of Cambodia to the slave brick kilns of rural India -- and reveals that in 2007, Slave Traders made more money than Google, Nike and Starbucks combined.

Luminaries on the issue such as Madeleine Albright, Julia Ormond, Ashley Judd, Nicholas Kristof, and many other prominent political and cultural figures offer first hand accounts of this 21st century trade. Performances from Grammy-winning and critically acclaimed artists including Moby, Natasha Bedingfield, Cold War Kids, Matisyahu, Imogen Heap, Talib Kweli, Five For Fighting, Switchfoot, members of Nickel Creek and Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers and Rocco Deluca move this disturbing information into inspiration for stopping it. Former child soldier and current African hip hop celebrity, Emanuel Jal, gives a chilling performance recounting his experiences and calling for help for others experiencing destruction in Uganda and Sudan. Dr. Cornel West connects the music of the American slave fields to the popular music we listen to today, and offers this connection as a rallying cry for the modern abolitionist movement currently brewing. To see the trailer visit: www.callandresponse.com

The New Model
Human slavery represents one of the most atrocious human rights violations in history. The CALL+RESPONSE film acts as a call to action. Awareness without action has limited impact. CALL+RESPONSE doesn’t just raise awareness, but goes on to inspire people to ask the question: “What can we do to help?”

Human rights activism is changing. The world’s issues cannot be solved alone by governments and non-profits. Solutions require community-based participation. We promote the concept of OPEN-SOURCE ACTIVISM whereby all individuals possess unique and valuable tools to fight slavery. We also provide a robust and exciting interactive platform for viewers to go after watching the film. There they will find ways to effectively respond, and to share their response with the community at large. We are currently in the process of developing a portfolio of both high impact field projects for viewers to fund as a community as well as important actions they
can take for each aspect of human slavery: sex slavery, labor slavery, child soldiers. These are all based on expert insight and advice from those working on the front lines of the issue.

The real impact of this endeavor, then, lies in what we the standing army does after they have been mobilized. We hope to not only help them answer the question of how to help, but to also connect them with the most appropriate programs. We want them to truly make a difference. We invite them to become part of the story of change and that story involves them in
exponential impact. Furthermore, because this film was funded completely through donations, CALL+RESPONSE also gives 100% of its profits to fund these global field projects.

The Movement
In addition to the stars and luminaries in the film, the CALL+RESPONSE movement has attracted a vast team: Tribeca, Myspace, MTV, The UN, US State Department, Warner Brothers, Sony Records, Salvation Army, YouthAids, International Justice Mission, Wordpress, Working Assets and Paste Magazine.

The film acts as a powerful Call. Millions around the world are Responding. Modern abolitionism must be a bottom-up movement wherein all talents, interests and skills are utilized. CallandResponse.com is a ground-breaking online interactive platform which combines the passion of justice and scope of a Presidential Campaign with the swagger of Rock & Roll.

CALL+RESPONSE’s chilling undercover footage, stunning performances and life-changing interviews expose the audience to the world’s 27 million most terrifying secrets and culminates in a single question: “What Will Your Response Be?”

WAYS YOU CAN HELP RIGHT NOW:
1. Submit to us your ideas and advice for effective & appropriate action responses.
2. Apply for project funding. Allow us to help enable your successful work.
3. Build the movement.
a. Place a trailer and/or web banner on your blog or website. You can find it at www.callandresponse.com/trailer
b. Join the film’s Facebook “causes” and MySpace page. Invite your friends to do the same.
c. Post 10 flyers at your work, school, cafe and gathering place.
4. Watch CALL+RESPONSE in the theater on opening weekend. Invite 5 friends.

FAIR TRADE PICTURES
0 510.465.2290 | F 510.465.2294
INFO@CALLANDRESPONSE.COM