In over 20 years of teaching media and message strategies, this video is among the most memorable and effectively powerful pieces of film I've seen. It's successful on many levels. It tastefully and respectfully shares one child's tragic "hero's" journey within a context of historical collective action to advance our own humanity. They've personalized and magnified the message in the written copy by placing it in the context of group agreement. It is, like blogging, both a call to action and invitation to join in sharing the message, using the available new technologies to distribute the video. As that message to share and spread the message is imbedded and implied in the message itself it contains a viral component that magnifies it's effective power. I also find it interesting as an example of how the message itself is far more important than the technical "quality" of the imagery. Much of the footage was shot with consumer grade camcorders clearly captured by ordinary people involved in the movement. That too humanizes the message widening it's appeal over a more commercial slick presentation. Seeing the video I will want to share it, with many communities. And thank you for having posted it here, which also is deverving of accolades. I"ve been wandering through your site, devouring tidbits of useful information and learning about you and the community that is being grown here for hours, in spite of other pressing issues I should also be attending. Good stuff, here.

I'm not so impressed. The clean white banners unfurled in demos by young WASP demonstrators appear to be a set-piece. The switch to hairless, pre-ado youth in Africa is a cliché. That is why I, personally, would avoid the book . . probably choc-a-bloc with cliché content, especially image candy for the soul.