Every year on 11th October is International Day of the Girl Child which is meant to remind us of the most marginalised, discriminated, and abused group of humans. Just being born as a girl most developing countries means that women are born into deeply ingrained inequities and inequalities that are meant to keep them disadvantaged. We don't have to look too far to see abuses against girls; just open the newspaper or scan your twitter feed, and I'm sure you'll encounter the story of Malala.

This year, we are celebrating with the documentary film GIRL RISING by global action campaign 10x10 whose mission is to raise money to educate and empower girls through social film-making. The documentary focuses on the lives of 9 girls born in the developing world, the common battles they have to face due to their gender, and how they are rising to make sure that their lives are not a mirror image of those before them. Each story is written by nine celebrated writers and narrated by nine renowned actresses. A female empowerment measure at all angles.

Share with us what you do to raise girls from a state of voicelessness. We'd love to know.

Check their site for screenings near you, and hopefully, this will inspire you as much as it has us.

Ahm! Yeah, that title means what you think it means. Thanks to a facebook post by one of my anthropologist colleagues and an interesting review by the Guardian yesterday, we are now going to get a little...ahm...scandalous with this whole "green" thing. 

F**K FOR FOREST is definitely one of "the world's most bizarre charities," as it promotes a new genre for not only NGOs but pornography as well. Based in Berlin, F**k for Forest, creates homemade erotica featuring FFF staff and random volunteer, which is then uploaded to their members only site. However, they also encourage subscribers to upload their own erotic movies and pictures. To gain access, subscribers pay about £10 a month, which is then used put towards their rainforest conservation projects in South America (In the film they are in Peru).

As their tagline "Have Sex, Save the World" and their poster is reminiscent of the 60s free love movement, it is of no surprise that this charity believes that something as organic and natural as sex should be used for the greater good of nature itself. Sex and the Environment, together? Why didn't anyone think of this before? Well not in such a purely pornography way? Well it got the attention of Polish Filmmaker, Michal Marczak, who has created the documentary [read more to see trailer] on this charity, which gives us insight into what FFF is all about and how they really function.

Documentary journalist Leah Borromeo is making a film about the real victims of fashion through her documentary DIRTY WHITE GOLD. Here she follows the social, environmental, economic, and political entities and impacts that constitute the clothes we wear, and takes us through the journey of the clothing supply chain. In doing so she wants to expose us to the realities of the clothing/fashion industry, by engaging us in the lives of the farmers, the weavers, the bankers, the manufacturers, and the consumers (amongst many). 

How does the intense use of pesticides and genetically modified seens impact the lives of those living in the poorest areas of the world? How are small farmers acquiring so much debt that many resort to suicide? And why are sustainability and ethics not the norm within the fashion industry? These are just a few of the questions this film hopes to answer, whilst acting to make a difference and get communities (local & transnational; small & large; poor & rich) on target towards a sustainable market economy that supports the small business and the poorest of the poor.

However, in order for this project to get off the ground and to make a significant impact they are looking for backers (small and large). To do so they are offering incentives which we think have real value-- you can buy a T-shirt (in organic cotton) by Barnbrook, a limited edition print from photomontage artist Peter Kennard and, of course, the first DVDs or downloads of the film. And everyone who donates will get a free download of Dr D's exclusive artwork "Rotten Cotton". Find out where how you can view a screening and more about supporting this cause HERE.