A child rolls a tire through the countryside and then trips a landmine. A family is threatened by gun-wielding youngsters. People at an outdoor market in a village disperse when a grenade is thrown.
These three violent scenarios, though, are rendered harmless and yield positive results. The explosion from the landmine sprays colorful papers and picture for as far as the eye can see. The lead youngster’s gun jams when he pulls the trigger. What’s wrong with his weapon? Turns out that instead of bullets, the firearm is loaded with crayons. And the grenade releases bubbles and results in lots of smiles throughout the village.
A message appears on screen which reads, “Where childhood thrives, war does not.”
This approximately minute-long video introduces us to War Child which gives children in war-torn areas access to the education, support and resources they need to reclaim their childhood and break the cycle of poverty and violence.
“Our programs address a wide range of issues in a number of different countries,” explained War Child COO Lorna Read. “But everything we do stems from the belief that protecting childhood itself is the key to helping these communities move towards sustainable peace.”
Toronto agency john st. created the video, which was directed by Henry Lu via bicoastal Moxie Pictures and Toronto-based Soft Citizen.
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More