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The United Nations’ Short Film on Global Issues

United Nations' Short Film On September 19, 2020, the United Nations broadcasted a 30-minute short film on its Youtube channel regarding global issues and extreme poverty. The film, entitled “Nations United: Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times,” includes many big-name celebrities such as Beyoncé and Malala Yousafzai. Julia Roberts hosts a podcast version of the show. As global progress has been slowed down due to COVID-19, the United Nations’ short film sets outs the actions needed to address global issues like extreme poverty, gender equality, human rights and climate change.

Expanding Reach Using YouTube

Since YouTube’s audience includes a large number of young people, the United Nations’ YouTube channel will reach those who are not accustomed to reading articles and press statements. The channel has more than 900,000 subscribers and includes a live stream of the U.N. headquarters where viewers can stay up-to-date with current issues and events.

The UN Short Film: Nations United

The United Nations’ short film focuses on actions necessary to create change and marks the 75th anniversary of the U.N. as well as the fifth anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Writer, director and SDG advocate, Richard Curtis, produced the film. It features a multitude of activists and humanitarian celebrities.

The film’s four chapters address climate, poverty and inequality, justice and human rights as well as gender equality. Working to expose the fractures in society and ways to remedy them, this film attempts to layout valuable solutions to the problems at hand. First-hand recordings of global issues allow viewers to gain a visual understanding of the challenges plaguing the world and the consequences of not taking action.

The U.N. Sustainable Development Goals act as guideline of global progress, setting out key issues, targets and potential solutions. The transition to renewable energy, the taxation of carbon and the halt of deforestation are some viable solutions the film points out. Additive performances by musical artists like Beyoncé amplify the main messages of the film.

Derailed Goals Due to COVID-19

The launch of the Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015 involved the commitment of 193 world leaders to 17 objectives in order to “end extreme poverty and hunger, fight inequality and injustice and tackle climate change by 2030.” These goals have been completely derailed since the introduction of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the pandemic threatens global progress, the United Nations’ short film hopes to set out the actions needed to find viable solutions to address global issues and alleviate global poverty. The United Nations states that the film “will take audiences on a dynamic exploration of the times we live in, the multiple tipping points our planet faces and the interventions that could transform our world over the next 10 years.”

– Natalie Whitmeyer
Photo: Flickr

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Project Everyone and its World-Changing Goals

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Founded by Richard Curtis and launching in September 2015, Project Everyone has the goal to spread the United Nations’ global goals through every possible media outlet.

The United Nations global goals target extreme poverty and climate change. If the goals are met, they would represent a betterment for global society. The goals aim to improve health and provide the world with a bright future. This is why Project Everyone believes that it is important to let the world be aware of these goals.

The project’s goal is to spread the word about these global goals through websites, television, radio stations, newspapers, magazines, billboards, mobile phones, cinema and schools, among others. The objective is to reach 7 billion people in seven days and inform them about the global goals.

According to an article published by Bizcommunity, project creator Richard Curtis partnered with SAWA, the Global Cinema Advertising Association, to release the “first ever global cinema ad” that will release in SAWA member territories around the globe in September 25. The ad, titled “#WEHAVEAPLAN,” will screen in 30 countries and is intended to inspire the viewers to participate in sharing these global goals.

An article published by Campaign India states that the ad will be 60 seconds long. It will be an animated ad that will show animals representing the delegates at the U.N. Forum and the message will be delivered by a llama.

Project Everyone is also partnering with Global Citizen, a platform for the movement that plans to eradicate poverty by 2030. Global Citizen’s goal is to increase the number of people that engage in and join these global goals. By collaborating with Project Everyone, more people can be informed of the goals.

At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Curtis stated that we could be the first generation to eradicate poverty.

Project Everyone wishes to arm everyone with knowledge about the global goals so that individuals can search for their leaders’ support for the future of the planet.

This project teamed up with different brands and associations such as Aviva, Getty Images, Pearson, Standard Chartered, Unilever, BBC Music, Polycom, The Global Poverty Project, Royal Mail, Posterscope, Comic Relief, the United Nations Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Virgin, Penguin Random House U.K. and Blue 449, among others.

Project Everyone will launch the week of September 26 to October 2.

This project will engage people with important causes, such as the eradication of poverty and climate change, with the hope of delivering a positive outcome to the world.

The project not only wants to reach a large amount of people, but also wants to engage everyone through different forms of advertising, partnerships, teams and involvement with communication mediums, such as the Internet and television, so that everyone can have access and be informed about the United Nations 2015 global goals.

– Diana Fernanda Leon

Sources: Biz Community, Project Everyone, Campaign India,
Photo: SWARM

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Agit8 Concert Promotes Anti-Poverty Campaign

Agit8 Concert Promotes Anti-Poverty Campaign
Musicians from around the world performed in London this past Wednesday to support Agit8, a music-based campaign focused on raising awareness for extreme poverty. The group was launched by the One Campaign, a group co-founded by Bono and Bob Geldof. The idea was to get modern groups to record newer versions of famous protest songs.

The Agit8 concert hoped to put pressure on leaders attending the G8 summit in Northern Ireland next week. Musicians that participated included Angelique Kidjo, Paloma Faith, U2, Will. i. am, Elvis Costello, and Green Day among others. Artists appeared to live and online to participate in the event.

One of the artists at the event remarked that Agit8 is a movement to push leaders to fulfill their promises and to be held accountable.  Ending poverty will grow economies around the world and result in a healthier and more educated global workforce.  The artists involved in the campaign want to motivate a new generation to fight against extreme poverty and hunger.

The One Campaign gathered the extraordinary group of musicians together to show the world that protest often leads to progress. History has shown that and British filmmaker Richard Curtis produced a film showing this that will also be shown in conjunction with the event.

– Amanda Kloeppel
Sources:The Irish Sun, NTD Television
Photo: Yahoo Finance