On Saturday, May 10, people across the world were united through a series of films shown in cities and villages throughout the world. For the first time in history, thousands of people from the United States, England, Brazil, India, Egypt, and Rwanda congregated in auditoriums at exactly the same time for four hours to watch twenty-four specially selected films that were written and directed by various people from all over the world. Countless others spanning the globe, including a small group of Choaties, gathered around computer screens, TV’s, and even cell phones to be a part of it.
The program also included numerous speakers, including British author Karen Armstrong, UPenn psychologist Robert Kurzban, Queen Noor of Jordan, and former child soldier Ishmael Beah, author of the book A Long Way Gone. Each addressed specific social and political issues facing our world and emphasized the need for global cooperation. In some countries the event lasted into the wee hours of the morning, but broadcasters reported that most people stayed the entire time to experience the enthralling event.
It all started with a wish. In 2006 Jehane Noujaim, an Egyptian-American filmmaker, became one of the TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) Prize; this gave her $100,000 and the granting of “One Wish to Change the World.” She wished to bring the world together for one day through film, and thus Pangea Day was born.
Within the Choate community, the event did not attract as many people, most likely due to various conflicting sporting events rather than a lack of interest. But a few students, intrigued by the idea of seeing the world from different perspectives, gathered at the SAC Saturday afternoon to join the world in this event.
Marla Spivack ’08 had the idea to make Choate a part of Pangea Day and organized a SAC viewing of the conference with Mr. Yanelli. For the few who watched it on campus, it was well worth the effort. “It was really cool to think that people all over the world were seeing this at the exact same time as me,” said Julie Sophonpanich ’08. “We were all enchanted by a film about Indian laughter clubs, and the five Choaties watching at the time joined in the first worldwide laugh.”
Another poignant moment happened during the “Reconciliation” segment: Israeli co-founder of Combatants for Peace Yonatan Shapira found out his mother and younger brother had been shot in a peaceful demonstration in Israel that very morning, yet he still shared his views on a peaceful resolution to the Palestine-Israel conflict. His strong faith in Pangea Day only strengthened his message of peace.
Finally, the conference ended with the “Global Heartbeat,” a concert of different drums—everything from African marimbas to Japanese taikos—playing all over the world at the same time, in harmony.
The unity the world experienced that day does not have to end just because the program has is over; there are countless ways to work for a more united world. It all starts by “entering into the mind and heart of the other” as Karen Armstrong said on Pangea Day.
For more information about Pangea Day or how to get involved, visit www.pangeaday.org.
