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May 3, 2012
@ 4:47 pm
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Marine Life and Waste Management

Weekly Research Report: 4/30/12-5/4/12

The Cove: ‘The Cove’ plans dolphin swim park

The Japanese town profiled in The Cove, Taiji, is planning to open a marine mammal park in which visitors can swim and kayak alongside whales and dolphins.

The Cove, a 2009 documentary film, examines the annual event of dolphin hunting in Taiji, Japan. With clips that were secretly documented, the film reveals the gruesome process and hidden secrets of dolphin slaughter in Japan.

You can take action by contacting or writing to world leaders, learning more aboutdolphins in captivity, being aware of the levels of mercury found in the seafood you eat, volunteering with Save Japan Dolphins and other organizations to assist in monitoring activities, and spreading the word to your friends.

The End of the Line: Some question whether sustainable seafood delivers on its promise

Many consumers are looking at sustainability rankings and labels on seafood to determine what they should eat. Scientists, however, question whether these seafood certification systems actually work or have an impact on the ocean and marine life. Supporters of the certification systems believe that the labels and guides help consumers be more aware about the seafood they eat and “have a good conscience.”

The End of the Line, a 2009 documentary film, examines how modern, commercial fishing has endangered the ocean ecosystems. The film explores how the continuation of illegal fishing, overfishing, irresponsible regulations, and industrialized fishing lines can lead to a future world without fish.

You can help by making ocean-friendly choices, learning more about how certainranking systems work, raising funds to stop overfishing in the oceans, and being involved with ocean preservation organizations.

Wasteland: “The Great Recycle” launch in New York

On Monday, Honest Tea, a bottled organic tea company, launched “The Great Recycle” in New York City. The campaign aims to increase recycling rates and recycle the same number of bottles produced each year by 2020. A 30 feet recycle bin was placed in the middle of Times Square in hopes of collecting 45,000 beverage containers.

Wasteland, a 2010 documentary film, follows renowned artist, Vik Muniz, as he travels to Rio de Janeiro’s Jardim Gramacho, the world’s largest garbage dump, to develop his massive art project. The film highlights the transformative power of art and the human spirit as Muniz collaborates with the garbage pickers or “catadores.”

Join the “The Great Recycle” campaign and start recycling beverage containers. You can also take action by encouraging people you know to recycle, participating inelectronics recycling programs in your state and organizing your recycle list.

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May 1, 2012
@ 6:49 pm
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Empowering Women and Girls

Weekly Research Report: 4/23/12-4/27/12

Girl Model: Supermodel Coco Rocha’s fury after Elle Brasil airbrushes her body on magazine cover

For a recent Elle Brasil magazine cover shoot, Canadian-born supermodel Coco Rocha wore a body suit beneath a sheer dress. The body suit, however, was airbrushed out in order to give the impression that more skin was shown. In response, Rocha expressed her anger on her blog, stating her disappointment with how her contract was ignored.

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Apr 20, 2012
@ 11:45 pm
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Children’s Health and Education

Weekly Research Report: 4/16/12-4/20/12

The Greater Good:MMRV vaccine not tied to seizures in older kids

A new study found that the measles-mumps-rubellavaricella (MMRV) vaccine that is given to children from ages four and six do not cause fever-related seizures. After the release of the MMRV vaccine several years ago, scientists found that 1-to 2-year olds who were given the vaccine had the risk of fever-related seizures.

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Apr 19, 2012
@ 1:04 pm
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Environmental and Health Concerns

Weekly Research Report: 4/9/12-4/13/12

The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom: Quakes Set Off Panic, but No Tsunami in Indian Ocean

An 8.6-magnitude earthquake and an 8.2 aftershock that struck near the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday reminded many residents of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Although there were no reports of major damage and casualties, many residents panicked and relocated to higher ground. Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand also experienced tremors from the earthquake.

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Apr 10, 2012
@ 10:23 am
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Urban Culture, Black Power & Civil Rights

Planet Rock: The Story of Hip-Hop and the Crack Generation: Addicts embody cocaine boom in Brazil’s “cracklands”

Despite Brazil’s growing prosperity in consumerism and economic resources, the demand for cocaine and the number of drug addicts have been on the rise across Brazil. Reuters photographers have captured the swarm of addicts going to “open-air crack marketplaces” to get their daily dose of cocaine. Many policymakers are questioning Brazil’s drug policy and developing ways to clean up the cracklands.

Planet Rock: The Story of Hip-hop and the Crack Generation explores how crack cocaine and hip-hop became the two most influential elements on the urban street culture in the 1980s. With first-person accounts of famous dealers-turned-rappers, the documentary gives an in-depth narrative on how crack cocaine affected the hip hop industry, and how it culturally and socially changed America.

You can take action by connecting locally with organizations that provide assistance to drug users and their communities, learning more about drug policies in different states and the Fair Sentencing Act, and writing to your representative to voice your opinion about drug policies and fair sentencing in your state.

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Mar 29, 2012
@ 11:52 am
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Unique & International Individuals

Weekly Research: 3/26/12-3/30/12

Vlast (Power): Khodorkovsky Has 50-50 Chance of Parole, Deutsche Bank Says According to Deustche Bank AG and Troka Dialog, Mikhail Khodorkovsky has a “50-50” chance of being released early. The Kremlin’s human rights council has also been advocating for Khodorkovsky’s release before Vladimir Putin’s inauguration in May. Some are eager for Khodorkovsky’ release since it may help bring a positive change and make people “reconsider Russia.”

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Mar 27, 2012
@ 1:55 pm
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Social Justice, Children and Women

RTF Curated Films: Born into Brothels, Girl Model, Love Crimes of Kabul, The Flute Player, Let’s Talk about Sex.

Girl Model:Israeli law bans underweight models in ads

On Monday, a new Israeli law, banning underweight models from local advertising and publications, was passed. Encouraging the use of healthy models in local ads, the new law requires models to go for regular checkups and obtain medical reports. It also urges the disclosure of any digitally altered models who appear thinner.

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Mar 27, 2012
@ 1:54 pm
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Health, Nutrition, Sustainable Food Resources, Recycling

RTF Curated Films: Food, Inc., End of the Line, The Cove, Wasteland.

If a Tree Falls: ‘Green’ policies are part of a plot, some TN lawmakers say

Several Texan lawmakers are accusing the UN’s plan, Agenda 21, as a “scheme” to control and limit citizen’s private property rights. Agenda 21 is said to help save the environment by implementing initiatives that aim to ensure clean water, air and food. Many, however, believe the plan will stop economic growth and enable the government to have control over private properties. Campaigns like Stop Agenda 21 have sprung up to go against the UN’s plan.

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Mar 27, 2012
@ 1:54 pm
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The Environment

RTF Curated Films: If a Tree Falls, Pipe Dreams, Gasland, The Last Mountain.

The Cove: Hong Kong Airline Bans Dolphin Cargo

Hong Kong Airlines has agreed to stop its business of transporting live dolphins, which are said to be becoming from Taiji, Japan. In a letter to animal welfare groups, Hong Kong Airlines stated, “Since it is believed that transportation of this nature can result in endangering wildlife elsewhere, Hong Kong Airlines will immediately ban shipments of this kind.”

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Jan 30, 2012
@ 6:00 pm
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