Conflict minerals: the bloody Pandora’s Box…

I usually don’t wear jewelry. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend but they are definitely not mine. So when I heard about blood diamonds years ago, it didn’t come as a big disillusion. In 2007 I posted about Hotel Rwanda, Syriana, Blood Diamond… Not only entertainment. These films are informative movies the general public needs, and ... More

BLK JKS, Amadou & Mariam and Angélique Kidjo live from Soweto

I think everyone knows that by now: FIFA World Cup will start on Friday, June 11 2010 and end on Sunday, July 11 2010. Even if I am not a big football fan, I will watch some matches. But World Cup 2010 is not only about football: the world’s biggest superstars will come together live on VEVO on June 10 from Soweto/Johannesburg, South Africa for the ... More

International Women’s Day: Ordinary Extraordinary Women

Yesterday I met with extraordinary women. It was the 100th 99th Anniversary of International Women’s Day and I was invited to talk with women coming from many different countries. There was Betti from Rwanda, Clara from Mexico, Armita from Iran and French women: Fatima, Laurence, Karima, Francesca, Caroline… All had in common a difficult life ... More

Darfur, Congo, Burma: is ‘good will’ enough?

The plights in Darfur, Congo and Burma are different on many aspects but the initiatives launched by organizations (human rights, humanitarian, etc) all have the same goal: help the people living in danger and provide them assistance when needed. As you may already know, I truly think Tall oaks from little acorns grow, nevertheless I am not naive and I know ... More

Martin Luther King Jr. and Obama’s election: Free at last?

Martin Luther King Jr. holds a special place in my life. When I was at school I studied everything he said, everything he did; I used to write articles about him for my student newspaper. I am not into religion at all so sometimes I was uncomfortable with some of his speeches but Martin Luther King’s strength, commitment and powerful discourses ... More

News cycle turnover: today’s worst enemy?

I was recently part of an interesting debate with sharp-minded people about the role of media in the society, and since some of you expressed a keen interest for my thinking over a specific issue, I wanted to share my thoughts with you on that topic. I promise my next post will definitely be on a lighter note. Every day seems to bring a new round of bad ... More

Will the Sama Water Tank save the world?

The Sama from the World Of Sama, as you may know, have a duty: protect humans and sometimes plan ahead like the Sama Water Tank does. Water will soon be an issue, if not already; it is soon to be a rare commodity… The ocean noise, the constant sound of a waterfall, a fountain shooting up water, having a tub or simply drink it; water is essential for ... More

Darfur: a World Wide Role Playing Game

I’m not talking about the Legend of Zelda here or any other MMORPG, but about the much less dreamlike crisis in Darfur in a very specific ‘real life game genre’ I dub World Wide Role Playing Game – WWRPG. Last year I wrote an article titled: ‘Darfur: History, a never ending story’and I was wondering if we could learn from ... More

Tall oaks from little acorns grow

There are only a few hours left before 2008 and this year like the year before, had its good and bad times. I already talked about non-profit organizations and peace movements on this blog, we are approaching the moment of the traditional new year’s resolutions, and this is when I look back and hope the new year coming will be better than this one. I ... More

Hotel Rwanda, Syriana, Blood Diamond… Not only entertainment

Reading your comments about my posts: Davis, Flynn, Dietrich… They did it their way, Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned The Power Of Satire and Scarface: first and second impact showed your interest into movies addressing real issues. The movies I like the most watching are the ones with strong themes, whether they are political or about social trends, so ... More