Democracy is… “empowering the individual”
Democracy is… “a movement of the people”
Democracy is… “a smoothie”
Democracy is… “the fearless man”
Democracy is… “working together as parts of one whole body”
Democracy is… “the Path”
The 2nd Annual Democracy Video Challenge was launched on September 15, International Democracy Day at the United Nations. The Democracy Video Challenge represents a unique partnership in CIPE’s 25 year history, comprising democracy and youth organizations, the film and entertainment industry, academia, and the U.S. Government. This diverse coalition exemplifies the wide-ranging commitment not only to bring new voices to the discussion of “Democracy is…”, but the actual cooperation necessary to strengthen democratic institutions around the globe.
The Democracy Video Challenge asks citizens worldwide to submit video shorts, completing the phrase “Democracy is…” In the competition’s first year, over 900 videos were submitted from 95 countries. The submissions were uploaded to YouTube and voters worldwide used an interesting mix of classical democracy and 21st century technology to choose the winners.
In a roundtable hosted by CIPE, the International Republican Institute, and the National Democratic Institute the creators of the winning videos from around the world, Chansa Tembo of Zambia, Tsering Choden of Nepal, Aissa Peñafiel of the Philippines, Rodin Hamidi of the UAE, Lukasz Szozda of Poland, and Anna Israel of Brazil gathered at CIPE on September 17 to present their videos that artistically and powerfully complete this seemingly simple phrase. The winners also presented illuminating first-hand accounts of the state of democracy in their home countries.
Democracy is…
How would you describe democracy? Let your voice be heard and enter now!
Published Date: September 21, 2009