May 18, 2009
RELEASE: Enough Launches “Come Clean 4 Congo” Video Contest
Leverages YouTube’s New Video for Change Program to Raise Awareness Online
WASHINGTON, D.C., and SAN BRUNO, CA – Enough, the anti-crimes against humanity project at the Center for American Progress, is joining with YouTube™ today in announcing the launch of the Come Clean 4 Congo video contest, which empowers individuals to create compelling messages that highlight the link between “conflict minerals” used in cell phones and the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – the deadliest since World War II. (www.youtube.com/enoughproject).
The creator of the winning video will be flown to Los Angeles (from within the United States), where the video will be screened at an entertainment industry event; it will also be featured on the Enough Project’s websites and YouTube page. Judges for the contest are Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling, actress Sonya Walger from ABC’s "Lost," and Oscar-nominated director Wim Wenders.
“Much of the violence in eastern Congo is driven by armed groups competing to dominate the illicit minerals trade,” said Enough Project Executive Director John Norris. “These are the same minerals that ultimately end up in our personal electronics devices such as mobile phones, laptops and digital cameras. It seems only fitting that we can use something like YouTube and the huge creativity of its users to help end the scourge of conflcit minerals.” Enough has called on electronic companies to pledge that they will certify their products are ‘conflict free’ and subject their supply chains to transparent audits.
Come Clean 4 Congo marks the first installment of YouTube’s new Video for Change program, which leverages the reach of the video-sharing site to spotlight the most pressing social causes that are important to YouTube’s nonprofit partners and users.
"Activism today doesn’t just happen through letter-writing, petitions, or protests in the town square – it also takes place online.” said Steve Grove, Head of News, Politics and Nonprofits for YouTube. “We’re launching Video for Change on YouTube to highlight the most pressing social causes our users care about, and The Enough Project’s Come Clean 4 Congo contest is a great example of an innovative nonprofit using YouTube to empower citizens to raise awareness around the conflict in Congo "
The video contest is part of Enough’s RAISE Hope for Congo campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the crisis in the Congo and empower the women and girls who continue to be targets of horrific sexual violence in that country.
For details about how to enter the Come Clean 4 Congo video contest, and about the RAISE Hope for Congo campaign, visit www.RAISEHopeforCongo.org/comeclean4congo.
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ABOUT YOUTUBE VIDEO FOR CHANGE
YouTube’s Video for Change initiative highlights pressing social causes that are important to the YouTube community. Partnering with YouTube’s top Nonprofit partners, each Video for Change initiative empowers individuals to raise the volume on causes they care about, using video. To learn more about the YouTube Nonprofit Program visit www.youtube.com/nonprofits.
ABOUT THE ENOUGH PROJECT AT THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS
Enough is a project of the Center for American Progress to end genocide and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, Enough focuses on crises in Sudan, Chad, eastern Congo, northern Uganda, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. Enough’s strategy papers and briefings provide sharp field analysis and targeted policy recommendations based on a “3P” crisis response strategy: promoting durable peace, providing civilian protection, and punishing perpetrators of atrocities. Enough works with concerned citizens, advocates, and policy makers to prevent, mitigate, and resolve these crises. To learn more, visit www.enoughproject.org.
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts
The Enough Project
Eileen White Read, 202.741.6376
[email protected]
YouTube™
Spencer Crooks, 650.214.1304
[email protected]
Center for American Progress, 1333 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20005-4707 United States