Blue Whale Global Media’s Post

On March 11, the powerful voice of Ukraine was heard around the world. The Ukrainian documentary «20 Days in Mariupol» won the Best Documentary Feature award. The film «20 Days in Mariupol» is a chronicle of the first 20 days of the fierce battle for the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. The film not only shows the devastating consequences of the war but also introduces the audience to the people who found themselves in the epicenter of the tragedy. Their stories testify to their courage, resilience, and irresistible faith in victory. Everyone should watch «20 Days in Mariupol» because, unlike short news stories, it immerses the viewer in the heat of events and makes them feel the horror of war from the inside. The film makes you empathize with the characters, and feel their pain, fear, and loss. We witness the cruel reality that befalls a peaceful town and its inhabitants. The film does not hide the terrible consequences of Russian aggression. We see destroyed houses, mutilated bodies, human pain and despair. This is not just a documentary chronicle. It is a film about the value of life, the power of the human spirit, and how war destroys not only cities but also human lives. The film's Oscar win is a recognition of Ukraine's tragedy, a call to action, and a chance to tell the world the truth about what is happening. «20 Days in Mariupol» is a painful reminder that we can’t stand aside. We must unite to stop the violence, fight for justice, and build a peaceful future. #warinukraine #ukraine #ukrainerussiawar #Peace #StopTheWar

There’s been a handful of movies that left such a profound impression on me. „Green border” - the latest film by Agnieszka Holland is one of them. Poignant drama about the horrors Middle Eastern and African refugees hoping to reach EU face in the forests between Belarus and Poland: crossing the so called ‚green border’. A less often told tale of the war on the Eastern doorsteps of Europe that goes back before the full scale invasion on Ukraine. Migration is one of the most devisive issues in today’s politics. The narrative shown in this film is - I’m fully aware - only one of the narratives that exist in this heated debate. A deeply touching, at times very confronting. Aimed at shaking us up, which it certainly succeeded in in my case. As someone with social sciences background I can’t help but to recognize the impact stories like the ones told in the movie have on the social representations we are all influenced by. And leaving aside the discussion about how representative are they of the reality: it’s important to acknowledge their power in shaping our perception. It’s these type of social representations that we then carry with us into the intercultural interactions: for good and for bad. Becoming aware of our own cultural bias, recognizing it for what it is and actively limiting its impact is a critical skill of intercultural competence. As for the film: last week it made it to the Dutch cinemas. Curious to hear what you thought should you decide to see it. And let me know if you have already. #Diversity #Inclusion #InterculturalCompetency #GreenBorder #migration

🎧 You can now listen to our conversation with Worldwide Documentaries, Inc. on Evan Dawson's Connections #radio show. A few takeaways: 👉 The U.S. has a #moralresponsibility to people seeking safety, both due to its commitment to the international standards to protect refugees and its historical and current involvement in the root causes of forced migration in many countries, in particular in Latin America. 👉 If we want to have a serious discussion about #asylum, we need to emphasize that the connection between forced and so-called "economic" migration is becoming blurrier. See, for example, the cases of communities fighting for their land and water rights against multinational companies, even risking their lives. 👉 The #solutions to the current dire humanitarian conditions of people seeking safety are either expanding the definition of asylum to encompass these new realities or significantly widening legal migration pathways. None of those are on the table in the U.S. Congress. 👉 #Narratives of "invasion" are not only dehumanizing and racist but also the cause of violence in our border communities, with the El Paso shooting massacre being one of the most painful examples of it. 👉 We need a full #conversion and look into people's humanity, dignity, rights, and dreams. We will continue the conversation with incredible migrant leaders at the border and the interior in the Ewing Forum in #Rochester. Hope Border Insitute https://lnkd.in/g6xihVsw

Kenim O sits with @arisenewsofficial to discuss her new documentary ‘Who is the Best US President for Africa’ WATCH THE FULL DOCUMENTARY NOW on YouTube @businessinnigeria WATCH HERE: https://lnkd.in/gpPvsV5h #USElection2024 #KamalaHarris2024 #DonaldTrump This documentary examines the longstanding influence of American presidents on Africa, questioning whether any truly serve the continent’s interests or simply perpetuate the U.S.’s neocolonialist agenda. It explores how the U.S., through both Republican and Democratic administrations, continues to lead policies that exploit African resources and manipulate African politics for its own global dominance. Focusing on the stark contrast between Trump’s isolationism and the Biden-Harris administration’s imperialism, the film uncovers the deeper motivations behind U.S. foreign policy. While Democrats keep Black America placated, never advancing real progress, they simultaneously exploit Africa behind the scenes. Trump, on the other hand, may ignore Africa entirely—potentially providing the space African leaders need to realize their own sovereignty without American interference. Through expert analysis and historical examples, the documentary raises the critical question: Could Trump’s chaos actually offer Africa the opportunity to break free from Western dominance and finally achieve true liberation? The film urges viewers to reconsider the U.S. role in Africa’s future and explore how the continent can chart its own path toward economic independence and empowerment.

save the date - 18 May - Ru Paré Community (Re)thinking Displacement What can images do in the age of ongoing occupations, atrocities, militarized borders, and forced migration? How can we mobilize words, images, and bodies in the face of their forced displacement? Netherlands Kurdish Institute welcomes filmmakers/artists based in the Netherlands to send us their work (max. 20 minutes, with English subtitles) that relates to the themes below to become part of a collective conversation on displacement on May 18, 2024, at Ru Paré. Dive into your archive, dig into your memory, or share something you’ve just finished. There is no restriction when it comes to the genre or the year of production.

#Norway’s government cuts NOK 4 million for #cultural #cooperation in the #HighNorth in its proposal for the national budget 2025. #Defense policy is not the only thing that should be pursued in the North, replies major cultural institutions in #NorthernNorway.

An extraordinary event is happening two months from now in Kyiv, organised by The New Thinking School in Ukraine in association with Emerge, one of Perspectiva’s partnership projects. The event takes place from September 25-29 on the grounds of the stunning venue of the Saint Sophia Cathedral. It is a rare chance to enjoy the hospitality and inspiration of The Ukrainian Integral Community and more details can be found here. There are still tickets available. “Ukraine, a nation of 40 million people, among them the same percentages of good and bad people, brave and cowardly people, as anywhere else. But at this moment in history, something unusual is happening there. Among those 40 million, a significant number—at all levels of society, all across the country, in every field of endeavor—aspire to create a fairer, freer, more prosperous country than any they have inhabited in the past. Among them are people willing to dedicate their lives to fighting corruption, to deepening democracy, to remain sovereign and free. Some of those people are willing to die for these ideas.” - Anne Applebaum on the eve of Russia’s invasion in Feb 2022. How can we help Ukraine? National governments give weapons, non-governmental organisations provide humanitarian assistance, charities support refugees, and some offer financial donations. But what else can be done? Continuing to pay attention to the issue matters, but I confess that my engagement with the issue has ebbed and flowed. I played chess against Ukrainians for many years and visited Kyiv in 2019 so Ukraine has always been a real, vivid and valued place for me, and I know people directly affected. For a few months, I did what I could to keep the issue salient among my personal and professional networks, but as the months have rolled on the issue has slipped out of what John Vervaeke calls my ‘salience landscape’. And yet there is a good case for fighting to keep it there because the issue is not going away and remains all too real for millions of Ukrainians, with consequences for all of Europe and beyond. There is no obvious end to the war in sight, and Ukrainians have to keep living in the suspended animation of what looks increasingly like a frozen conflict. In that context, if you are particularly touched and inspired by Ukraine’s plight and bravery, you might feel moved to offer the gift of your presence, to let them know they are not forgotten or abandoned. “Nothing becomes real until it is experienced.” - Keats. As Keats indicates, it is through what we experience that an idea becomes real, and the trip to Kyiv is a chance to experience that sense of becoming more real. If you can support Ukraine’s efforts in a way that stands out and reflects a non-ordinary contribution, here is an opportunity that for the right people, at your own risk, might prove to be the trip of a lifetime. More details here: https://lnkd.in/eTzip93y

🚨 Announcing the State of Artistic Freedom Report 2024 by Freemuse 🚨 From harrowing conflicts in #Gaza and #Sudan to relentless repression in #Africa, this report uncovers urgent threats to artistic freedom. The chapter on Africa highlights regional challenges, reinforcing the importance of our mission to support and protect artists. 🌍✊ #Freemuse #SupportArtists #ArtisticFreedom #GlobalConflict

Some points to ponder given the ongoing creep of war in different modes on the international landscape.