Keep Pushing
Here is a video of the Global Lives Project (featuring professor Harris) that explains the purpose and starting point of the project. Started in San Francisco, the project has now expanded to many different countries. I think the project is very interesting because it showcases stories from different parts of the world, which is often times difficult to get to in person.
The above is the video that is most viewed in the channel. It features a Japanese lady, Rumi Nagashima, who grew up in a suburb in the outskirts of Tokyo and attended an all-girls university away from her family. In 2005, an accident caused her to have to travel in a wheelchair. Growing up, she was actively involved in Girl Scouts activities so this accident was certainly difficult for her. However, she remained strong and independent after the accident and dream to be able to walk again without assistance. She also started working at Fujitsu as a system engineer after graduating from college. (More detailed story in the caption of the video)
The Global Lives Project explores “the diversity of human experience through the medium of video, and encourage discussion, reflection, and inquiry about the wide variety of cultures, ethnicities, languages, and religions on this planet.” This video of Rumi, for me, not only showed displayed culture, ethnicities, languages, but also a message to other disabled people and non-disabled people. The “new approaches to education and media arts can shape a more inclusive world”, according to this Huffington Post article, and I think the video has definitely done that by gaining audience’s empathy and encouraging them to be inclusive to everyone, regardless of physical abilities.
For the disabled people, it is a video of encouragement to show that although it might be more difficult than usual, life could function normally even in a wheelchair; for the non-disabled people, it is a video showing how no one should discriminate disabled people or think that they are any different. One thing that is not captured in the subtitle but I think is worth mentioning is when Rumi kept pushing herself in the wheelchair when commuting from city to city, she kept telling herself, “it’ll be okay, it’ll be okay.” It is ashamed that the youtube subtitles didn’t capture it because I think it shows that being disabled is not easy, but no one should give up because of that. Rumi has gone through a lot more than a lot of us, but has stayed stronger than a lot of us -- I think that itself is a very strong message that Rumi functions just like everyone else, and no one should treat her differently.
On another note, the NY Film Fest recently tweeted this:
Definitely excited about the film that Global Lives is about to bring to the world: Lives in Transit. I definitely want to see what kinds of videos and stories will be showcased and how they show the similarities and differences of people at the same time. I think Twitter would be a great way to promote this film: it’s all about the ratios and the likes and the followers! If Global Lives can leverage this platform like @malalafund does, the project would be much more impactful. Another way is to get #GlobalLivesMatter trending on the internet. A hashtag goes a long way.
