Chronicle Project

DEMAND. (the sex trade)

2008-04-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

Trailer for the film DEMAND, a documentary on the worldwide sex trade that was produced by CP for Shared Hope International (www.sharedhope.org) and the US State Department. The film was released in the Fall of 2007 to educational institutions and law enforcement agencies across the country.

Details:

Client - Shared Hope International & The US State Department Trafficking in Persons (TIP) office
TRT - 2:30
www.sharedhope.org

URM - Alex

2008-03-25T23:42:00.000-07:00

A portrait of Alex. One of a series of seven videos we are doing for Union Rescue Mission on skid row in Los Angeles, CA, the largest rescue mission in the country. (March 15, 2008)

Details:

Client - Union Rescue Mission
TRT - 3:55
www.urm.org

URM - Shannon

2008-03-01T16:03:00.000-08:00

A portrait of Shannon and the Hope Gardens Family Center. One of a series of seven videos we are doing for Union Rescue Mission on skid row in Los Angeles, CA, the largest rescue mission in the country. (March 1, 2008)

Details:

Client - Union Rescue Mission
TRT - 3:54
www.urm.org

URM - Andy

2008-02-15T15:09:00.000-08:00

One of a series of short docs we did for Union Rescue Mission. This short follows Andy Bales, the CEO of Union Rescue Mission, through a day on the job in skid row. (February 15, 2008)

Details:

Client - Union Rescue Mission
TRT - 3:50
www.urm.org

Not For Sale trailer

2007-02-12T12:14:00.000-08:00

A trailer we did for the Not For Sale campaign. Focuses on sex trafficking, forced labor, and child soldiers. (February 12, 2007)

What Is Slavery?

Common characteristics distinguish slavery from other human rights violations. A slave is:

* forced to work -- through mental or physical threat;
* owned or controlled by an 'employer', usually through mental or physical abuse or threatened abuse;
* dehumanized, treated as a commodity or bought and sold as 'property';
* physically constrained or has restrictions placed on his/her freedom of movement.

What Types Of Slavery Exist Today?

Bonded labor affects millions of people around the world. People become bonded laborers by taking or being tricked into taking a loan for as little as the cost of medicine for a sick child. To repay the debt, many are forced to work long hours, seven days a week, up to 365 days a year. They receive basic food and shelter as 'payment' for their work, but may never pay off the loan, which can be passed down for generations.

Early and forced marriage affects women and girls who are married without choice and are forced into lives of servitude often accompanied by physical violence.

Forced labor affects people who are illegally recruited by individuals, governments or political parties and forced to work -- usually under threat of violence or other penalties.

Slavery by descent is where people are either born into a slave class or are from a 'group' that society views as suited to being used as slave labor.

Trafficking is a term that encompasses many types of slavery and is often incorrectly defined. It does not require any movement. The accepted international defiition according to the UN (and agreed upon by the US Government) states that trafficking is recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by improper means, such as force, abduction, fraud or coercion, for an improper purpose. Trafficking often includes forced labour, servitude, slavery or sexual exploitation.

Sex Trafficking is anyone who is being forced or coerced into having sex for an improper use. The majority of prostitutes in America are or at one point were trafficked. If they have a pimp they being trafficked. Any minor who is being used in the sex trade is automatically considered a trafficking victim.

The worst forms of child labor affects an estimated 126 million children around the world in work that is harmful to their health and welfare.

Other Resources
Links to articles outside CP

The NOT FOR SALE Campaign

A Pastor in Rwanda

2006-12-15T15:14:00.000-08:00

See how one African pastor is combating the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS in his own community. (A short film by Chronicle Project.)

How Should We Respond?
Five things everyone can do.

1. Get Educated and know the facts about HIV/AIDS. Most people have fears, stigmas, and misinformation about HIV/AIDS. Spend a few minutes and learn the truth about HIV/AIDS so you can help educate others.

2. Support a local HIV/AIDS organization or ministry. Find an organization in your community and find out how you can help support them financially or with your time.

3. Host a Screening of Dear Francis at your school, church, or other organization. Go to the website dearfrancis.org and click on the screening info tab for information on hosting a screening. Yes this is one of our films, but we really think it's a great way to educate people on this complex pandemic and to start a discussion on what you can do.

4. Donate to organizations that are making a difference in the fight. Some starting points are in the resource section below, but there are literally hundreds of groups working to end AIDS be it through education, prevention, medication, or poverty relief.

5. Pray for those who are infected or affected with HIV/AIDS as well as those who are devoting their lives to help find a cure, provide care, and offer compassion and hope to those who are suffering.

Other Views
Links to articles outside CP

Purpose Driven AIDS Plan
World Magazine
An article about the Saddleback HIV/AIDS conference for which the above video was created by CP.
Read

The Other Disaster
Sojourners
Overcoming the mythology of AIDS.
Read

Bush's Failed Global AIDS Plan
AlterNet
An opinion article on gender considerations and US AIDS initiatives.
Read

Gap Goes RED
Relevant Magazine
Gap's (RED) campaign. Helping fight AIDS or a business model?
Read article 1
Read article 2

Other Resources
On the topic

UNAIDS: www.unaids.org
Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/default.htm
AIDS.org: www.aids.org
Saddleback HIV/AIDS ministry: www.purposedriven.com/hiv
The ONE Campaign: www.one.org

Helping the Homeless

2006-10-21T22:31:00.000-07:00

See how the overwhelming homeless issue in Los Angeles provided an opportunity for one person to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people.

How Should We Respond?
According to the Los Angeles Union Rescue Mission.

1. Don't give cash to a homeless person.
If a person is hungry, give food, coupons, and gift certificates. Or refer them to an agency that can provide food and shelter.

2. Talk to them with respect.
Taking time to talk with a homeless person in a friendly, respectful manner can give them a wonderful sense of dignity.

3. Recognize that homeless people (and their problems) are not all the same.
The person you meet may be a battered woman, an addicted veteran, or someone who is lacking job skills. The list goes on. Encourage them to get help through a mission. Rescue missions offer immediate food and shelter, and many offer long-term rehabilitation programs that deal with the root causes of homelessness.

4. Support local homeless ministries your donations.
Most missions receive little or no government funding. They are supported by caring individuals, churches, businesses, and civic groups. Donations of food, clothing, personal items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, combs), diapers, toys, etc. are very needed.

5. Volunteer your time. This supports the work of homeless shelters/missions, and it allow you to get to know and love those people in need.

6. Pray for the poor and homeless in your community, as well as the residents and staff at rescue missions.

Other Views
Links to articles outside CP

To the Parks
Relevant Magazine
A congregation that takes church to the homeless.
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life_article.php?id=7217

The Government’s Strategy
Fitzpatrick Associates Economic Consultants
Review of the implementation of the government’s integrative and preventative homeless strategies.
http://www.homelessagency.ie/downloads/publications/115.pdf

The Criminalization of Homelessness in US Cities
The National Coalition for the Homeless
How some communities are trying to make homelessness a crime. Includes a list of the worst offenders.
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/crimreport/report.pdf

Don’t Feed the Homeless
Tompaine.com
Another view on feeding homeless people.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/08/30/dont_feed_the_homeless.php

Other Resources
On the topic

Union Rescue Mission: www.urm.org
Los Angeles Youth Network: www.layn.org
Housing and Urban Development: http://www.hud.gov/homeless/index.cfm
National Coalition for the Homeless: http://www.nationalhomeless.org/