Docudharma:: This Brave Nation

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This Brave Nation

by: NLinStPaul

Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 17:29:36 PDT
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(9:00AM EST - promoted by Nightprowlkitty)

I've just gotten home from my first day of attending the National Conference on Media Reform that is taking place here in the Twin Cities this weekend. Over 3,000 people from all over the country have convened to talk about how we can restore both our democracy and the media. It was a good day. My hope is to share some of what I've learned over the course of the weekend in several essays. And this is the first.
I'd like to start by highlighting the screening of a film I saw that was sponsored by The Nation magazine and Brave New Films. They have produced five short films pairing activists in conversation about their motivations, struggles and dreams. They are calling them This Brave Nation. Here's the trailer:

NLinStPaul :: This Brave Nation

This afternoon we watched the episode with Tom Hayden and Naomi Klein. It was fascinating, but won't be released on the web site until June 29th. Once a week, starting on Sunday, one of the 5 episodes will be available on their website for a week - or you can get 2 copies of the whole dvd (one for yourself and one to give to a library/school) for $15 plus shipping.
The episode that is available today is a conversation between Carl Pope (founder and director of The Sierra Club for over 30 years) and Van Jones (founder and director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights as well as founder of Color of Change). You can watch that one here right now. Tomorrow (Sunday) the episode that will be available will be Bonnie Raitt talking with Delores Huerta.
I highly recommend that you take a few minutes and watch these as they are released. I think these conversations will bring you both hope and challenge. These are all folks who have been and continue to be involved in the same struggles we all face together. Of the two episodes that I have been able to watch, I find many of my inner thoughts and questions discussed by these people who are honestly talking about what it means to commit yourself to making positive changes in our world.
And one more thing, Brave New Films will also be releasing another set of films in July called Meet the Bloggers (a bit of a play on "Meet the Press"). Here's that trailer.

Tags: National Conference on Media Reform, This Brave Nation, (All Tags)

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More to come later (4.00 / 19)

on an amazing keynote by Lawrence Lessig and a great session on How Independent Media Creates Change.

Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi

by: NLinStPaul @ Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 19:31:54 PM CDT

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SoftCialis (0.00 / 0)

Hey These are all folks who have been and continue to be involved in the same struggles we all face together. we have to be united and we survive to everything also let me advise you to a great medicine softcialis this medicine will a sure you energy in bed .

by: SoftC @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 15:19:56 PM CDT

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SoftCialis (0.00 / 0)

Hey people two episodes that I have been able to watch, I find many of my inner thoughts and questions discussed by these people who are honestly talking about what it means to commit yourself to making positive changes in our world. to achieve a change in the world we need to be united and thing in a plan to change the world .also another important matter is the mens health with softcialis many men can a front this sickness with confident .

by: SoftC @ Fri Oct 09, 2009 at 15:25:03 PM CDT

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Suggestion. (4.00 / 14)

I think this series deserves maximum exposure, so maybe tag all of them "This Brave Nation"?

Original reportage at Docudharma! Yay!

by: Nightprowlkitty @ Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 19:59:10 PM CDT

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I just tagged them (4.00 / 10)

"National Conference on Media Reform."

It was funny, of course there were people with their laptops EVERYWHERE today. In one session, I sat near 3 people who all looked to be "blogging" the event. I tried real hard to see where, but never could get a sense. It was definitely "our kind of crowd."

But I decided that I don't want to "blog" there. It would be too distracting for me. I'm just going to try to absorb as much as I can and then come home to write about it.

Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi

by: NLinStPaul @ Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 20:04:18 PM CDT

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Yeah ... (4.00 / 8)

... I can see that. And this way it really is reportage, not specifically blogging.

Whatever it is you're doing ... keep doing it!

by: Nightprowlkitty @ Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 20:05:29 PM CDT

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maybe start your titles with (4.00 / 6)

Nat'l Media Reform Conf: Brave Nation, or whatever the session is...

and we can make mention in the ponies and the news that you're there and reporting, on behalf of DD. and to look for the essays.

i wish i was in the states to attend this... enjoy it!!!

Well the first man comes along that can read Latin is welcome to rob us, far as I'm concerned. I'd like a chance t' shoot at a educated man once in my life. Gus McCrae, Lonesome Dove

by: pfiore8 @ Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 06:24:04 AM CDT

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Thanks NL, (4.00 / 10)

bring it home ....

by: crossroads @ Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 20:04:45 PM CDT

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Bill Moyer's Journal on right now... (4.00 / 7)

...Bill's discussing Scott McClellan's assertions about the press should have asked "tougher questions". He's talking to Greg Mitchell, Walcott & Jonathan Landy from McClatchy.

Interesting discussion. A couple of points:

1. "They asked the right questions, of the wrong people."

2. Celebrities & high profile govt. type cable news soundbites trumped the more objective reports: Rice's "smoking gun turning into a mushroom cloud"...

They are having a thorough discussion of the media, Iran, Iraq. Landry mentioned that some of the people that hyped Iraq are the same people that are now gettin on TV talking about Iran.

by: serendipity @ Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 22:08:38 PM CDT

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Excellent citizen journalism. (4.00 / 6)

by: chesapeake @ Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 09:12:07 AM CDT

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"We have met the bloggers and they are us" nt (4.00 / 4)

Visit The Dream Antilles, a Lit Blog.

by: davidseth @ Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 10:25:30 AM CDT

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Don't know why -- but that struck my funny bone, because (4.00 / 2)

I immediately thought you were doing a take off "Meet the . . . . . . . !

Must be desperate for some humor!

Say "YES" to Generation We Go there, read the Petition and sign, if you agree! Say "YES" to GENERAL STRIKE

by: tahoebasha3 @ Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 17:54:27 PM CDT

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Thanks for this, NSP! (4.00 / 4)

Sounds very interesting! It's good that you're able to attend and bring back information to us in your enlightened and enthusiastic way!

Say "YES" to Generation We Go there, read the Petition and sign, if you agree! Say "YES" to GENERAL STRIKE

by: tahoebasha3 @ Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 16:01:41 PM CDT

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wow (4.00 / 4)

:-) i can't believe you've been able to attend this conference and still been able to write this much so soon, NL. you have an amazing ability to process information, synthesize it, and get it "out there." truly impressed.

intersted in these videos. wonder if some of us should review them here on the blog?

No ponies, but
"Please pass the lotus flower..."

by: kj @ Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 19:38:00 PM CDT

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I actually have (4.00 / 5)

really terrible short-term memory. My fear is that if I don't write something right away, I'll totally forget everything. LOL

Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi

by: NLinStPaul @ Sat Jun 07, 2008 at 19:49:47 PM CDT

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Here's the conversatin between Bonnie Raitt and Delores Huerta (4.00 / 3)

Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi

by: NLinStPaul @ Sun Jun 08, 2008 at 22:08:17 PM CDT

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thanks NL (0.00 / 0)

this is exciting and encouraging. Can't wait to see them. Isn't Brave New Films an indie movie production house? Boy does the corporate media need reform! I hope the future media is web based as it is way more democratic and open.

by: Shaharazade @ Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 13:13:31 PM CDT

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This Brave Nation | 17 comments

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