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Mandela Turns 90
90 years ago Nelson Mandela was born. Since that time, Mr. Mandela has been one of the finest leaders this planet has ever seen. Happy Birthday indeed. 90 years ago Nelson Mandela was born. Since that time, Mr. Mandela has been one of the finest leaders this planet has ever seen. Happy... more
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Radio Therapy
Colifata Radio is a small station in Argentina, but it has something that makes it unique. This radio station is run by the inmates of a local psychiatric hospital. Colifata -which means "crazy" in Lunfardo, a local slang- was founded by psychologist Alfredo Olivera in an attempt to support people who are mentally challenged. Colifata Radio is a small station in Argentina, but it has something that makes it unique. This radio station is run by the inmates of... more
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Jokes in Auschwitz
This inspiring story is about finding laughter in the last place you would think. In 1944, Werner Reich was a teenager in the Nazi death camp known as Auschwitz-Birkenau, when the infamous Josef Mengele, "The Angel of Death," randomly "selected" 96 boys out of 5,000, saving them from the gas chamber. Werner was one of the surviving "Birkenau Boys" spared, it seems, because of a bad joke. Thank you to my friend Mikal Reich for introducing me to his courageous father who will do anything for a laugh. Today, Werner is a magician (a profession he learned in Auschwitz) and speaks to schoolchildren in hopes the Holocaust will never happen again. This inspiring story is about finding laughter in the last place you would think. In 1944, Werner Reich was a teenager in the Nazi dea... more
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Coming Out Mormon
Cody Derrick grew up in a conservative Mormon home in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, Utah. At the age of 21, shortly after returning from his mission, Cody came out that he was gay. This is Cody Derrick's coming out story; a story of religion, fear, and family. Cody Derrick grew up in a conservative Mormon home in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, Utah. At the age of 21, shortly after returning ... more
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At 13
Its tough to be a teenager, to be African American, and to be gay. Imagine being all three. Spoken word artist Kenneth Morrison dedicates this poem to his friend Devon, who committed suicide at age 13. Its tough to be a teenager, to be African American, and to be gay. Imagine being all three. Spoken word artist Kenneth Morrison ded... more
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We Belong
This is the story of two rural teens who had the courage to stand up to bigotry and intolerance in their schools and the determination to tell their stories to the world.
Homophobia is one of the last permissible forms of prejudice. Its effects are especially acute for youth, who often suffer alone and in silence. Two thirds of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth experience harassment or violence in school, and the suicide rate for this group is four times the average.
When C.J. Bills is gay bashed in the school locker room, then arrested for disorderly conduct because he protests to an administrator about the harassment he has experienced, he decides to fight back by making a documentary about discrimination. With his familys help, he also initiates an investigation by the state human rights commission and shames the school district into developing an anti-bullying and diversity training program.
C.J.s documentary project also leads him to Tim Dahle, a former high school student who challenged the years of anti-gay harassment he suffered in a neighboring town. In Tims case, the school district that failed to protect him agreed to one of the largest sexual harassment settlements in history, sending a signal to school districts around the country that such behavior can be costly.
We Belong demonstrates that young people have the power to change their communities and the world, and that helping youth to tell their stories, in their own way and on camera, is enlightening, empowering, and effective. This is the story of two rural teens who had the courage to stand up to bigotry and intolerance in their schools and the determinati... more -
Climbing One Handed
Kev Shields was born with most of his left hand missing but despite this disability he now finds escapism and satisfaction in hard bold rock climbing. Kev Shields was born with most of his left hand missing but despite this disability he now finds escapism and satisfaction in hard bol... more
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Walking Away from War
GySgt. Jack Sigman lost his leg during his second tour in Iraq, but despite his injury, he still remains active in the Marines.
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La Fabbrica di Piero
Gela, provincia di Caltanissetta, Sicilia, sud del sud dItalia. Un distretto industriale in crisi, la raffineria di petrolio che negli anni ha dato lavoro a molti operai, inizia oggi a chiudere le sue porte ai giovani. Sullo sfondo i problemi di impatto ambientale dovuti a più di 50 anni di lavoro per il petrolio. Pietro lavora alla raffineria sapendo che quella è lunica prospettiva concreta per campare in questo territorio, anzi si ritiene fortunato, da grande sogna di fare il pianista Gela, provincia di Caltanissetta, Sicilia, sud del sud dItalia. Un distretto industriale in crisi, la raffineria di petrolio che negl... more
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Iron Lady of Liberia
After nearly two decades of brutal civil war, Liberia is a nation ready for change. On January 16, 2006, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was inaugurated the country's first elected female president and Africa's first freely elected female head of state.
Filmmakers Siatta Scott Johnson and Siatta Scott Johnson and Daniel Junge take us behind the scenes of this groundbreaking administration as President Sirleaf known as the "Iron Lady" works to prevent a post-conflict nation from returning to civil war. From the feature documentary "Iron Ladies of Liberia," airing on the PBS Independent Lens series. After nearly two decades of brutal civil war, Liberia is a nation ready for change. On January 16, 2006, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was ina... more -
Exiled for Poems
City of Refuge/Pittsburgh provides sanctuary to writers exiled under threat of death, imprisonment, or persecution in their native countries.
Writer/painter Huang Xiang is considered to be a pre-eminent post cultural revolution poet of China. His unceasing bravery, in the face of sure re-imprisonment, and further torture, forced him to leave his homeland.
Huang Xiang was born in Hunan Province, China.
Huang began writing poems in the 1950s and has been imprisoned repeatedly for his work. In 1978, he founded "Enlightenment", the first underground writers' society, and started a literary magazine with the same title. In exile in the United States since 1997, he was resident poet in Pittsburgh under the Cities of Refuge program.
TODAY, YOUNG WRITERS IN CHINA FACE THE SAME DESTINY. City of Refuge/Pittsburgh provides sanctuary to writers exiled under threat of death, imprisonment, or persecution in their native cou... more -
50,000 Lives
A boy with heart problems jumps his motorcycle beyond anyone's expectations and lives despite his own doings of pushing all limits...this is a must see to believe story! A boy with heart problems jumps his motorcycle beyond anyone's expectations and lives despite his own doings of pushing all limit... more
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Vets Run with President
The President ran alongside Sgt. Neil Duncan and Spc. Max Ramsey who lost one and two legs respectively while serving the United States in combat. What wasnt lost however was their sense of patriotism and optimism in the face of challenging odds. The President ran alongside Sgt. Neil Duncan and Spc. Max Ramsey who lost one and two legs respectively while serving the United State... more
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Legs of Steel
Katy Sullivan was born without legs. March of 2006 she found herself some carbon fiber legs and started running. She is now training and hopeful of winning a gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics. Katy Sullivan was born without legs. March of 2006 she found herself some carbon fiber legs and started running. She is now training ... more
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Coming Out in L.A.
To escape the discrimination of being gay, Cory moved to Los Angeles from his conservative hometown. Now, he truly feels at home and able to be himself. To escape the discrimination of being gay, Cory moved to Los Angeles from his conservative hometown. Now, he truly feels at home and a... more
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Cantor and Klansman
This is a story that deals directly with hate and prejudice, and offers a solution. Facing direct attacks of discrimination the family in the story confronts the problem directly hoping for some resolution. The result is a complete 180 degree turn, changing a situation of hate into one of love and understanding. Hate crimes happen everyday, this story shows one example of how to stand up against it and create change. This is a story that deals directly with hate and prejudice, and offers a solution. Facing direct attacks of discrimination the family... more
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Seeing With Sound
Blind teen Ben Underwood "sees" the world around him by using echolocation, the same method that dolphins use to navigate their world. Blind teen Ben Underwood "sees" the world around him by using echolocation, the same method that dolphins use to navigate th... more
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Randy
Seeds of tolerance are nurtured by seeing the inside of a person rather than the outside, the heart and soul of a person rather than their appearance. Not many people have suffered the kind of intolerance that Randy has faced since childhood. Because of a severely disfigured condition, Randy has endured a lifetime of intolerance, yet this has not dampened his love of life or his faith. His courage and spirit is an inspiration to his friends and others. Meet Randy and be inspired too. Produced, directed, and edited by Michael Bovee, Chris Karcher, and Charles Parker. Music by Diamonds of Dust. Seeds of tolerance are nurtured by seeing the inside of a person rather than the outside, the heart and soul of a person rather than t... more
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Rest When You're Dead
Garth Stewart is a freshman at Columbia University. He is 23 and fought in the invasion of Iraq. This pod follows Garth as he speaks of his time in Iraq, his schoolwork, and his political aspirations. Garth Stewart is a freshman at Columbia University. He is 23 and fought in the invasion of Iraq. This pod follows Garth as he speaks o... more
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MLK: Life & Death
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. His life work had an immense impact on the furthering of civil rights in the United States. Even forty years after his untimely death, Dr. King's legacy places him amongst some of the greatest leaders in American history. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. His life work had an immense impact on the furthering ... more
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