"Reporter" HBO documentary film featuring Nicholas Kristof

I was lucky enough to attend an advance private screening of the HBO documentary, "Reporter" featuring the New York Times op-ed columnist, Nicholas Kristof. Most of the film takes place following Kristof on assignment to The Democratic Republic of the Congo. He took with him one lucky teacher and a student to accompany him on his journey.

Not only should this be required viewing for every journalism student out there, but also once again to raise awareness to the atrocities still taking place in this conflict region.

To date, 5.4 million people have been killed in the Congo over the last decade, according to the website www.reporterthefilm.com. Kristof writes, and rewrites and rewrites again about the genocide taking place, because there is still not enough being done to stop it.

New York Times journalist Gail Collins says she admires how Kristof isn't afraid to be repetitive with his stories. To him, even though it's not "new" news, it's still happening. And until something changes, he will continue his reporting.

Kristof notes "psychic numbness"--a term referring to the lack of compassion--as the reason why people don't seem to care. He says in the film it's not visually gruesome enough to make the average reader care and do something to stop it. He says people are dying from starvation and disease and that isn't what grips your attention. But the truth of the matter is people are still dying in massive numbers. What he tries to do is seek out the most miserable, individual heart-wrenching stories to strike a chord with his readers.

In a particularly touching scene Kristof is interviewing warlord General Nkunda who admits there are no human rights, only "strong rights". The weak do no survive.

Actress Mia Farrow in the film says reading Kristof's column in the New York Times changed her life. She says, "With knowledge comes responsibility," and has been active ever since as a passionate spokesperson for the people of Darfur.

Kristof admits in the film he doesn't know what the future of journalism will be. He says it's expensive to send someone out there, but that's what needs to be done. If you want to report on what's happening you have to go out and find the stories.

"Reporter" will air on HBO in 2010.

GO Campaign rocks at The ROXY in Hollywood!

GO Campaign rocks at the ROXY!

Ziggy Marley, Dennis Quaid & the Sharks, Glenn Frey from the Eagles and others all came out to support the GO CAMPAIGN:

Giving
Opportunity

to children!

Musicians rocked out on stage alongside teenagers from Crossroads High School and raised money for vulnerable children around the world. Go Campaign is powered by youth and raises awareness to help children in need. Community service + a rockin' good time=success!

For more info on the GO CAMPAIGN check out their website:

www.gocampaign.org

Scott Fifer from GO CAMPAIGN for GQ magazine's "Better Men World Search"

Last year I nominated Scott Fifer for GQ magazine's "The Gentlemen's Fund Better Men World Search" 2008. He made the top 100 submissions on the website! He has continued his efforts and successfully launched the GO CAMPAIGN. I plan to nominate him again this year and send out an email asking all of you to vote for him!

GQ magazine "The Gentlemen's Fund Better Men World Search"

After a life-changing volunteer vacation to Africa, Scott Fifer dedicated himself to making a difference for children around the world. Scott is difficult to place in a category or “pillar” for GQ’s Better Men World Search because he fits them all: OPPORTUNITY, ENVIRONMENT, MENTORSHIP, EDUCATION and HEALTH.

He created The TunaHAKI Foundation, a non-profit organization for former street children in Africa. He provides shelter, food, clothing, health care and education for abandoned children. Scott is expanding his efforts working with grassroots organizations worldwide. He gives of himself completely, is now fluent in Swahili and is currently involving local communities in Tanzania, Kenya, Cambodia, Rwanda and Malawi. He is working tirelessly to add China, Peru and other countries through an initiative called the GO campaign, an expansion of the successful TunaHAKI Foundation.

After seeing, “Hotel Rwanda,” he signed up for a Cross-Cultural Solutions volunteer vacation in 2005. He was randomly placed in a small town near Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. There he met the children of TunaHAKI. The smiling children changed forever this former attorney and screenwriters life. He now dedicates himself to helping vulnerable children, giving 100% of donations raised to those in need.

Scott provides OPPORTUNITY. He marvels at how talented and friendly the children are despite the adversity they have faced. He believes they should be given a chance to succeed. The children of TunaHAKI are incredible acrobats. Scott arranged for them to train in the United States with Cirque du Soleil. They returned home having learned amazing skills and showmanship enabling them to perform and raise money for themselves.

Scott has provided a better ENVIRONMENT for these children. He has partnered with Architecture For Humanity and a “green” home is being built for TunaHAKI where self-sustaining practices–usable gardens, farming, brick-making, saleable crafts, a theater for performing– can be put into use. This orphanage will serve as a model for children’s facilities he is implementing around the world.

Scott provides MENTORSHIP for children bringing volunteers to help with reading, writing, arts, photography, and acrobatics programs. Some of the children say they want to be a teacher, an architect or a nurse. Scott thinks why not make that happen? Give them a chance and provide them with an opportunity they would not otherwise have.

Scott provides EDUCATION. School in many countries is a luxury, not a right. Fees must be paid; books and study materials must be bought. Scott finds a way to provide this for all of the children.

Scott provides HEALTH care and medical necessities, clean water, sanitation and promotes an overall healthy life-style.

Scott and The TunaHAKI Foundation he created gives children hope for a future. He meets weekly with Coalition For A Sustainable Africa. Scott was asked to become a member of Barack Obama’s Child Policy committee. He is one person dedicated to making an enormous difference in the lives of so many and therefore I believe he should be GQ’s Better Man Agent of Change.

Information about GO CAMPAIGN can be found at: www.gocampaign.org

Here is the link to GQ's website where you can find this story:

http://www.thegentlemensfund.com/view_nominations.asp?msg=1&page=9

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at UCLA

The annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books takes place this weekend, April 25-26, 2009!

A great event not to be missed. Here is an article I wrote last year:

Freedom of speech prevails at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on the UCLA campus. Where else can you find a booth promoting “Destiny’s Damned & Satan’s Scat,” next to a woman handing out “Jews for Jesus” literature, and the Book Zone selling Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama bobble-heads?

“What exactly is the Festival of Books?” says newcomer Phil Beron upon arrival to UCLA’s campus, dumbfounded at the crowds. An estimated 140,000 people attend the event throughout the weekend. The goal is, “to bring together the people who create books with the people who love to read them,” according to the Festival of Books webpage.

The festival is about so much more than volumes of manuscripts. Although paperbacks and hardbacks on seemingly every topic imaginable are found as far as the eye can see. 20 percent off! Half price! Only $5! Bookstores such as Border’s are found near independent publishing companies selling their literature at discounted prices. An author can often be found autographing copies for customers.

Over 500 author’s—famous as well as new writer’s—can be found signing books and answering questions on stage. Julie Andrews, Maria Shriver and Ray Bradbury are among the many participants. Over 100 indoor lecture panels were scheduled as well as storytelling occurring at temporary booths set up outside throughout campus.

All ages are spotted enjoying the festivities. An elderly couple dancing arm and arm in front of live performance on a stage sponsored by the South African tourism industry. Hundreds of children gathered around a performance by a man on stilts at the Jumbo Shrimp Circus tent.

Temperatures soared as children splashed and played in decorative water fountains on college grounds. Entrepreneurs took full advantage selling lemonade for $5. Lucky passers-by received free Smart Water bottles handed out by company spokespeople. To collect waste, see-through bags, “Recyclables only!” were found throughout campus.

Variety and entertainment catered to those of all ages. The festival began almost a decade ago in 1994, and is dependent largely on volunteers. To continue the tradition, people are encouraged to volunteer and can contact the following website http://www.troutco.com/fob to help out for next year’s festivities.

LOVE LIFE Hiker Steve Fugate

I was driving up to Mammoth on Thursday April 16, 2009, on a long stretch of desolate road, and saw a man walking with a "LOVE LIFE" sign above his head. We sped past, anxious to get to the ski slopes, but I couldn't stop thinking about who he was or why he was walking.

LUCKILY, four days later on Sunday April 19, we were driving back to Los Angeles, and again saw the same man still walking north on the 395! We pulled the car over, I ran up to him and the first thing he said to me was, "Slow down, I'm not going anywhere, I'm only 62, I've got a good 'nother twenty years in me!"

At first I wasn't sure if he was maybe a little crazy, or really was walking with a purpose. Come to find out, Steve Fugate, has walked over 21,000 miles across the United States. It all started in 1999 when Steve was first walking a thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail. Halfway completed, he found out his son Stevie had committed suicide. Several months later, he went back and completed the trail from the same place he had stopped when hearing the devastating news.

He says he wanted no other parent to ever go through the indescribable pain of losing a child, especially one to a "selfish" act of suicide. He continued walking as part of his "trail therapy" but again received devastating news just a month short of completing a walk around the country. He had lost his only daughter Shelly, to an accidental drug overdose. She suffered from M.S.

Again forging on, he continues to walk the roads spreading his "LOVE LIFE" message. It's only been 24 hours since we met, and I can't seem to stop thinking about this man on his mission. I hope to see him again, maybe meet up with him on the trail, and write a more in-depth article. For now, I wanted to be sure and get the word out and photos posted about this incredible man's journey.

You can find out all about Steve at his website: www.trailtherapy.com

Wow, now I understand what all the fuss is about. Go see Slumdog Millionaire. I now want to see every Danny Boyle film ever made. 

U.S. President Barack Obama Takes Office

While it would have been great to witness this historic event in person, Romeo and I had the best seat in our house as we witnessed the first African American, Barack H. Obama, become the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009.