On August 1st we’re having an event. We’re calling it Banquäla; it’s just a funny little word we made up. It will be the first in a series of annual events we hope to have every year to let you guys hear and see a little more about what we do. Even more than that we want to let you in on a conversation about the potential of media change the world.
So here’s your invitation. Come join us for a night of art, food, music and discussion about the power of media and the responsibility that comes with that power:
6:30PM Saturday August 1st, 2009
Woodrow Hall 5504 1st Ave North Birmingham, AL
I know it’s been a while since we’ve talked about Haiti or HIPH (Humanitarians Initiating Progress in Haiti), but I really wanted to share with you the final product from the photography that we shot on that trip. If you remember, we traveled to Haiti last september (2008) only days after Ike leveled a large part of the country. We landed in the midsts of what was a very chaotic time for Haiti. Our goal there was to capture the struggles of the people in Haiti, and to also capture the hope that HIPH has brought them in a small vine hidden away in the northern Jungles of the country: Vanilla.
We filmed for days and produced a broadcast length movie entitled “Caribbean Gold” and I was photographing the whole time. When we returned, we took the photographs and the audio from the trip and built a multimedia presentation for HIPH to use that included many of the stories that didn’t make the main movie. Today I want to share that project with you.
01:38:00 tells the story of Haiti through the eyes of several individuals. I hope you find it compelling, and I hope it encourages you to make a difference. HIPH is constantly collecting anything and everything and shipping containers to Cap Haïtien full of supplies for the people there. Visit their site HERE to find out how you can get involved.
Recognize those words? Paul and I were talking the other day about media. It’s been on all of our minds over here for a few years now, but lately has been the topic of discussion every day. With our Banqüala coming up we’ve been thinking a lot about why we’re doing this, and where we’re going with it (this and it being Bedouins International). So Media. We’ve decided that media is a force to be reckoned with. Just in the past weeks we’ve watched twitter become a megaphone for the ongoing political turmoil in Iran. It’s obvious that media can have a huge impact on social issues, and any issue really. So what does that mean? I think it means that media is now a power and no longer just a spectator sport. A great power even. Anyone can use media. It’s right there at your fingertips, literally. And like any form of power there is potential to make great positive change, but also a very huge potential to do great harm. I think that’s the responsibility part.
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
I know it’s from Spiderman, but I agree. Uncle Ben knew what he was talking about.
