The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with MTV Exit, is hosting Calle 13 at 11am on Monday November 21st in UNICEF House Danny Kaye Centre Visitor’s Centre, 3 UN Plaza 44th Street between First and Second Avenue, for a press conference to launch MTV EXIT Latin America, a multi-media campaign to increase awareness of human trafficking and exploitation in the region. Previews for a new video featuring the song dedicated to UNICEF and a documentary on Child trafficking and exploitation will be shown. The event will be streamed live through UNICEF’s Live-stream channel, http://www.livestream.com/unicef as well as the http://www.facebook.com/MTVEXITLA FB Page.
Watch this video: Mother: Caring for 7 Billion
The world population has recently reached 7 Billion people, that’s 7 times what the population was just 200 years ago. This subject of population growth is the focus of the film Mother: Caring for 7 Billion.
The film follows Beth, a mother and a child’s rights activist, as she uncovers the complexities of the “population issue.”
Additionally, the film aims to highlight the fact “that overpopulation is merely a symptom of an even larger problem ‘A Domination System,’ that for most of human history has glorified the domination of man over nature, man over child, man over woman.”
Click here to see more information on the film!
Almaty: Digital Art and the World at 7 Billion
The symbolic date and time of 11/11/11 at 11:11 was chosen to open the digital art exhibition “Blue Symphony”, by artist Amir Shayesteh Tabar, on the premises of the UNFPA Sub-Regional Office in Almaty. The exhibition is organized by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI) in collaboration with UNFPA to celebrate the World at 7 Billion.
“Many would wonder what links digital art and the World at 7 Billion … in both cases it is not so much about digits and numbers, but about unleashing human creativity to make the most of our world of 7 Billion”, said Nikolai Botev, Director of the Sub-Regional Office. “It is symbolic that the exposition is co-organized by DPI and UNFPA; this is both within the spirit of One UN, and points out that the 7 billion milestone transcends the mandates of UN agencies, funds and programmes”, he added. The opening was well attended by UN staff in Almaty.
Digital art is a new form of expression explored by Amir Shayesteh Tabar based on using computer techniques to create unique geometric forms inspired by words and letters from holy scriptures. A special printer is used to print the forms on a large canvas.
“Digital art gives a chance to people all around the world to enjoy the original at the same time, in different places, which in past centuries was not possible, and that is the one of the main aim of digital prints of Blue Symphony art works”, said the artist. “It is a stark reminder of how we are all interconnected”, one of the visitors commented. The exhibition will be on view for UN staff for a week.
Photo Credit: Karlygash Mizanova
Text Credit: Julien Pellaux
Check out the article, Global Urbanization As Investment Opportunity, published in Trading Desk. The article begins by saying, “With an estimated 7 billion people and counting now on the planet, global demand for everything from electricity to mobile phones is likely to shoot up.” The article has unique insight from the chief market strategist at U.S. Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management’s Joseph Quinlan.
Quinlan asks important questions in the article such as, “Globally, what is going to happen when even a fraction of the 3.5 billion people still on the farm today move to the cities tomorrow?”
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Watch this Video: 7 Billion: How Did We Get So Big So Fast?
This unique video, ‘7 Billion: How Did We Get So Big So Fast?’ produced by National Public Radio (NPR) illustrates the answer to how the world’s population grew so much in such a short period of time.
Nigeria: Commemoration of the Day of 7 Billion
The world’s population reaching 7 Billion was marked in many ways around the world. In Nigeria, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) organized many events such as: a Welcome Ceremony for Newborns, a Press Conference, the Launching of the 2011 State of the World Population Report, a dinner for Diplomats and Partners, and a youth forum focusing on the implications of Nigeria’s Youthful Population, all of which were held between October 30th and November 1st.
To read the detailed outline of the activities that took place in Nigeria click here.
Seven Billion Actions partner, and adviser to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Don Bulmer writes about the power of relationships, and how individuals relate to causes, people, work, culture, beliefs, and issues in his blog-post published in Social Media Today.
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Moldova: 7 Billion Day Event Celebrations
The world’s population hitting the 7 Billion milestone was observed differently throughout the world. In Moldova, the day was celebrated in many ways, beginning with a Flash Mob. The Y-PEER network organized a Flash Mob called “We are 7 Billion People on Earth” in the center of the Capital. After the Flash Mob the Y-PEERS distributed informational materials in the streets, with demographic data related to the current and future state of Moldova.
There was also a press conference held in the Government House, where the UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, Programme Coordinator, Boris Gilca launched customized stamps which were designed exclusively for the 7 billion day.
Lastly, Mr. Marian Lupu, The President of the Republic of Moldova, visited one of the Maternity hospitals in Chisinau to congratulate mothers of newborns and present them with the official anniversary certificates designed for the celebration of the 7 billion babies in Moldova.
Lao PDR: 7 Billion Essay Competition
Meet Mr. Thongsouk Somphouviseth (known as Souk). He is 21 years old and he is the winner of the 7 billion actions essay competition, which was organized by The Ministry of Planning and Investment in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Souk is in his fifth year at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences in the National University of Laos. His post-graduation plans include staying in Vientiane to look for a job in the area of population and development.
Souk believes that 7 Billion “is a big opportunity for socioeconomic development because people will have more access to new technologies and better quality jobs will be required.”
Read more about Souk’s thoughts on the challenges and opportunities that 7 Billion poses to Lao PDR here.
Our 7 Billion Action’s campaign was recently highlighted in MTV’s Act Blog. In the article, MTV Act acknowledges that as we commemorate this milestone, it’s once again the perfect time to build a healthier and sustainable world.
Read more at their blog
A photo from UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, Country office in El Salvador. To see more photos from their Facebook fan page click here.
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Ouagadougou: Couverture Photos Ceremonie Commerative 7B
As we reached 7 billion, gender equality continues to be a topic of strong importance. Women are key players to a nation’s economic growth. Please take a look at this Thomson Reuters infographic, highlighting gender inequality and its detrimental effects on human development.
