The People Speak is a new documentary film premiering on HISTORY December 13th 8/7c. The film highlights the lives and experiences of ordinary Americans who spoke up for social change throughout history with dramatic performances from their letters, songs, diaries and speeches. Produced by Chris Moore, Matt Damon, Anthony Arnove and Howard Zinn, the film is based on Zinn’s books A People’s History of the United States and Voices of A People’s History. Featured artists include Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Marisa Tomei, Danny Glover, Bruce Springsteen, and John Legend.

THE PEOPLE SPEAK COLLEGE TOUR is bringing the film’s producers and cast members to eight universities across the country for live readings, clip screenings, and in-depth discussion! The college tour begins tonight at Boston University. We will be featuring blogs and videos from students on each campus right here. So be sure to check back in with us!

Watch the trailer!

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as you might have noticed, TakePart has had it on the brain. There was Giula’s post Fight Breast Cancer, Take Photos and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Then there was Megan’s post on self-exams, Feel Your Boobies, Save Your Life. And, on a more somber (though hopeful) note, Ciara’s post, Breast Cancer Struggle a Financial Nightmare.

Well, we’ve also been thinking about it back at the lab. Today TakePart launched a new page on breast cancer where you can get your questions about breast cancer answered, hear stories from survivors, and learn what you can do to help.  Check it out–the life you save may be your own.

On October 15, the 2009 Alliance of Youth Movement Summit will bring together individuals, government officials, academics entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders from over 15 countries including Columbia, India, Saudi Arabia, and UK to discuss best practices and ways to use social media and technology to further grassroots movements and causes. The majority of the speakers are youth activists and leaders, or nonprofit/technology experts, making for an awesome international dialogue.

Speakers include Carlos Pascual (United States Ambassador to Mexico), Jason Liebman (CEO, Howcast), Jack Dorsey (Founder, Twitter) Jared Cohen (U.S. Department of State), Steve Grove (Head of News and Politics at YouTube) and both executive directors, creative directors, writers and marketing managers for organizations including Full Court Peace, Invisible Children, Genocide Intervention Network, Stand, Witness, Blue State Digital and Sri Lanka Unites.

The conference will be livestreaming and Alliance of Youth Movements is looking for bloggers to help spread the word and partner in providing coverage to their communities. Key speakers at the AYM Summit will answer questions from online submissions during their speeches and panels, and via the widget below, anyone can submit a question then tune in to see it answered by watching the live stream from Mexico City.

Beginning 8:15am on October 15th through 3:30pm on October 16th you can watch the Live Stream of the 2009 AYM Summit.

Dolphins’ best friend (and our favorite oceans hero) celebrates his birthday today! Give Ric O’Barry a birthday hello by fulfilling his greatest wish: to finally shut down the cove in Taiji.

Here’s how:
-Sign the petition on Causes, and share it with 5 friends
-Support his organization, SaveJapanDolphins.org

Like what we do here?  Join us!

TakePart is looking to bring on interns who are interested in writing and editing for the web.  It’s mandatory that you are passionate about leveraging the power of media to create social change. Knowledge of the film industry, blogosphere and social networks a plus.

Full Description:

Participant Media, the leading provider of entertainment that inspires and compels social change, is looking for blog interns for the TakePart.com website. Participant’s film releases include The Soloist, The Visitor, Darfur Now, The Kite Runner, Charlie Wilson’s War, Good Night and Good Luck, Syriana, and Academy Award®-winning An Inconvenient Truth. Participant’s website, TakePart.com, also tackles socially relevant issues and strives to find creative ways to educate and inform.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about new media and sharpen your online research and writing skills. Students must receive school credit and be able to work a minimum of 16 hours per week. Interested students should send an email to Careers at Participant Media and copy Megan Bedard. In your email, please include a resume and cover letter.

URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Broome, Australia is holding a meeting tomorrow to consider reversing its decision to sever sister city ties with Taiji.  If they do, the slaughter will likely continue.  Tell them to stand strong! Please send a message here.

Barb Kowalcyk  knows the horrors of the food industry all too well.  A hamburger eaten on a family vacation became the death sentence for her son and a tragedy for Kowalcyk’s family. Now an avid food safety activist, she talks in the documentary Food, Inc. about her fight to ensure that other families do not have to experience the same hardship.

Tomorrow, October 6, she will be on The Dr. Oz Show to talk about the deadly bacteria that America’s agricultural system has a hand in spreading.

You can catch the show in New York on Fox 5 at 3:00 p.m EST. The episode will repeat the following morning at 11:00 a.m. EST (also on Fox). If you’re not in New York, find out when to watch here.

Editor’s note: We’re working with NBC.com and Law & Order: SVU to create ways for viewers to get involved with the issues presented in each episode. Come back next week for a sneak peak of the next episode and how you can TakePart.

After realizing that the victims of recent sexual assaults match a handful of cases from 10 years ago, the detectives determine that the wrong man has been doing time for the last decade. But getting him exonerated—and putting the real criminal in the slammer—might be just as difficult.

Watch a TakePart exclusive clip from tonight’s show:

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The Cove was profiled on Good Morning America earlier this week in a segment about the suspended slaughter and the release of 70 dolphins.

You can watch the full report on GMA’s website. (ABC doesn’t let you embed their videos so we included this lovely screen shot that will take you to them!)

Part 1: ‘The Cove’ Brings International Outcry to Japanese Dolphin Slaughter

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