I Am Equal Foundation Pictures

Some of my favorite pictures from the I Am Equal photo campaign.

<3 and peace, Helena

What Does Your Signature Say About You?

Some ads put out by Amnesty International....pretty interesting, if you ask me.

<3 and peace, Helena

Stop Stereotyping

Some advertisements put out by Amnesty International in hopes of ending stereotyping.

<3 and peace, Helena

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

Some advertisements for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) advising the masses about the dangers of drunk driving.

<3 and peace, Helena

Oxfam Advertisements

Some ads put out by Oxfam.

<3 and peace, Helena

Think Before You Speak

Some advertisements for Think Before You Speak (http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/), a campaign aimed at ending the use of anti-LGBT language and verbal bullying in teens.

<3 and peace, Helena

I Am Equal Foundation

The I AM EQUAL FOUNDATION (http://iamequal.com/) global scholarship initiative is bringing opportunity, education and empowerment to youth who may otherwise languish in silence on the streets around the world. This program gives children from high-risk and depressed economic conditions a light of inspiration to continue the journey of education.

The I AM EQUAL FOUNDATION was established in response to the I AM EQUAL PROJECT (http://www.iamequalproject.org/), a world photo tour from creator Jason Beckett and international photographer Matt Spencer in an effort to focus the overwhelming response from the photo project into productive actions steps that effect the global condition.

The I AM EQUAL 100,000 PHOTO WORLD TOUR is an unprecedented project that empowers humanity to take a stand for equality and the rights of all people.  Photographer Matt Spencer captures the power and passion of individuals from all walks of life as they stand up for the causes that are near to their heart.  Some people are taking a stand for civil rights while others are protecting children. Some are here to speak up for women's rights or to end human trafficking. There are some who are standing up for gay & lesbian issues and some want to stop female genital mutilation.  It's up to each person individually to make this picture valuable. Sharing it is the first step.  When someone asks about the picture, that's your opportunity to share the cause that's most important to you and inspire your friends & family to step up with you.  This is a global vision to change the world and it truly starts with the individual. We can take the picture, but we can not give it value...that's up to you.

Starting at age 11, the students have an opportunity to choose into the I AM EQUAL FOUNDATION scholarship program and begin an 8 year journey of academic and social development. As an organization we inspire and engage with these students for many years, encouraging them to place their personal value and contribution at the forefront of their consciousness. Yearly essays, and regular communication from the students ensure they are actively engaged in reaching their goals of academic excellence and receiving the scholarship they work so diligently to achieve.

There are countless ways to contribute to the I AM EQUAL FOUNDATION. As a volunteer, your time and talents in support of these scholarship students makes a huge difference in the ultimate success of the application process. They work with a limited number of volunteers every year as student advisors for the program. Each volunteer must pass a background check and a rigorous training program. If you would like to participate as a Student Advisor, please contact their office directly.

For more information, visit their blog here:  http://blog.iamequalfoundation.org/

<3 and peace, Helena

Sex Education (Use A Condom)

These advertisements are aimed at educating teens about condom use and what that means for "safe sex".

<3 and peace, Helena

Don't Talk While He Drives

Some frightening advertisements trying to raise awareness about the dangers of talking on your phone while driving.

<3 and peace, Helena

TyrannyBook

Tyrannybook (http://tyrannybook.com/), which is currently down for the time being, is the clever brainchild of Amnesty International - Portugal, based on social networking statistics.  It takes the same idea as facebook, allowing you to create a profile and "follow" tyrants around the world.  The idea is that millions visit social networking sites in a day, so if we could get people to do that with Tyrannybook, it would shed light on the unfair circumstances for people under tyrant rule across the globe, give hope to those under tyrannical regimes, and give a voice to those who don't have their own.

Tyrannybook is a social network dedicated to the surveillance of some of the world leaders who violate Human Rights the most.  Tyrannybook was born as part Amnesty International's plan for 2010 of getting more involved in social networks, both to gain the visibility inherent to these web platforms, and to facilitate the contact between the causes it promotes and the public. The network aims to generate a global consciousness about the countless atrocities that take place across the globe.  As the name implies, the website is a Facebook clone, and looks almost exactly the same, with the familiar blue giving way to an aggressive red.



Released by Amnesty, the profiles of the tyrants are updated both by the organization itself and by the users, according to the current situation of the countries where they lead. However, as time goes by, it will expand by the addition of new profiles from the Amnesty. It’s up to each user to decide which leaders they are most interested to watch. Between them, users can even become allies, exchanging points of view and discussing current issues.

In this first phase there are ten tyrants in the site: Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan, Kim Jong Il of North Korea, Than Shwe of Myanmar, Hu Jintau of China, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Radovan Karadzic of Serbia, Aleksandr Lukashenka of Belarus and Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov of Chechnya.

<3 and peace, Helena

Indifference Kills

I like these ads put out by SamuSocial to raise awareness about homelessness.  The tagline reads "Indifference Kills"....

<3 and peace, Helena

Without Recycling, Garbage Remains Garbage

I love these Tetra Pak advertisements about recycling.

<3 and peace, Helena

Ignore Us, Ignore Human Rights

I love these advertisements put out as part of Amnesty International's "Ignore Us, Ignore Human Rights" campaign.

<3 and peace, Helena

Think Before You Speak

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) teens experience homophobic remarks and harassment throughout the school day, creating an atmosphere where they feel disrespected, unwanted and unsafe. Homophobic remarks such as “that’s so gay” are the most commonly heard; these slurs are often unintentional and a common part of teens’ vernacular. Most do not recognize the consequences, but the casual use of this language often carries over into more overt harassment.

The rate at which students use and hear negative language about lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people is huge. Over half of all students report hearing homophobic remarks often at school.

The common use of anti-LGBT language is directly related to an even bigger problem – the bullying and harassment of LGBT students.  9 out of 10 LGBT students report being harassed at school in the last year. Over one-third of LGBT students have been physically assaulted at school because of their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.  Such frequent harassment results in LGBT students being more likely than others to:

-  Feel unsafe
-  Miss school
-  Receive lower grades
-  Not attend college

Creating a safe environment for all students - LGBT and straight alike - begins with one simple act: thinking before you speak.  A lot of anti-LGBT language is said carelessly, and isn’t intended as negative or hurtful. Understand what you’re saying, and think about the potential consequences of the words you choose.
This campaign, Think Before You Speak (http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/), aims to raise awareness about the prevalence and consequences of anti-LGBT bias and behavior in America’s schools. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce and prevent the use of homophobic language in an effort to create a more positive environment for LGBT teens. The campaign also aims to reach adults, including school personnel and parents; their support of this message is crucial to the success of efforts to change behavior.

If you find that you are passionate about this cause, and would like to do more, I would suggest:

-  Say Something Original and pledge to be an ally to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students. In becoming an ally, you promise not to use homophobic words and phrases – such as “that’s so gay” – and to educate others when you hear them being used. Once you’ve taken the pledge, invite your friends to do the same!  Find the pledge here:  http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/SignThePledge
-  Join (or start!) your school's GSA.  Participating in Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) and similar clubs are a great way for students to make their schools safer. These student-led clubs work to address anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in their schools and promote respect for all students. To find out if your school already has a GSA or to get information on how to start one, register at http://www.studentorganizing.org/.
-  Participate in a Day of Action.  Each year, hundreds of thousands of students around the country participate in GLSEN’s four national Days of Action: the Day of Silence, Ally Week, TransAction! and the Dr. MLK Jr. Organizing Weekend. During these Days of Action, students organize events, hold rallies and take other actions to draw attention to the problem of anti-LGBT bullying in schools. To find out more, visit http://www.dayofsilence.org/.
-  Get involved with a GLSEN chapter.  Local GLSEN chapters are working everyday to make schools safer in their communities. By volunteering with a GLSEN chapter, you can make a difference beyond your hallways and improve the safety of every school in your community. To find a GLSEN chapter near you, visit http://www.glsen.org/.

<3 and peace, Helena