The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring an environmental justice video contest that challenges professional or aspiring filmmakers to create videos that capture the faces of the environmental justice movement. The Faces of the Grassroots contest is an opportunity to publicly exhibit creativity with environmental justice stories, and connect with others working to raise awareness of the movement.

“Faces of the Grassroots will help EPA expand the conversation on environmentalism and work for environmental justice,” said Charles Lee, director of EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice. “Participants can make a difference for the historically underrepresented in their community by using motion pictures to show the struggles and triumphs they have endured to advance environmental justice.”

Videos can focus on any environmental justice activity, issue, or topic.
Examples would be a music video about climate change, or a video recording a successful environmental justice project that has made a community a healthier and happier place to live.

Awards will be given to the winning submissions in each category. The videos will also be featured on EPA’s Web site and may be used as public service announcements. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, April 8, 2010. EPA will announce winners in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

Below are the categories and prize money:

Public Service Announcements (30 or 60 seconds) 1st Place – $2,500 2nd Place – $1,500 3rd Place – $1,000 Student Winner – $500 (13-18 years old)

Informational Video (3-5 minutes)
1st Place – $2,500
2nd Place – $1,500
3rd Place – $1,000
Student Winner – $500 (13-18 years old)

More information:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/events/video-contest.html

Informational video on the contest:
http://www.epa.gov/multimedia/playercontents/video/EJVideoContest/index.html

There is no doubt that a picture is worth a thousand words. So how many words does that make a video worth? Video has the ability to capture not only a moment in time, but the voices, emotions, and personal stories of the individuals in front of the camera. For this reason, video makes a great tool for promoting change and bringing awareness to the day-to-day struggles of people all over the world.

WITNESS, an independent non-profit organization, promotes the use of video documentation as a tool against injustices such as sexual abuse, dehumanizing conditions, illegal imprisonment, and sweatshops, among many other human rights violations. They have realized that there is nothing more powerful in bringing change to people’s attitudes, beliefs and behavior than being able to see such injustices with ones’ own eyes.

By donating camcorders, and providing training and support to human rights groups around the world, WITNESS is a pioneer of using video for advocacy which has resulted in public action and policy change. They also have developed The Hub, a website where anyone can “upload, view, share, and connect with others around media that can serve as a catalyst for social action.” Read the rest of this entry »