A couple of months ago, we invited you to submit your photos and videos to produce a crowd-sourced video set to an acoustic version of Coldplay’s “In My Place.” Now, we can share the resulting film, which is drawn from footage submitted by thousands of fans in 55 countries:

The concept and film was created by award-winning director Mat Whitecross to echo the dislocation and displacement thousands of families experience as a result of land grabs. (For one example, see this compelling series of photos of families affected by land grabs in Cambodia).

The film shows people from Argentina to Indonesia moving something favorite, personal, or familiar from their home to somewhere it doesn’t belong. Others show people doing something personal and familiar totally out of place, such as actor Dominic Cooper taking a nap outside in the freezing city of Budapest and the band Wolf Gang jamming in the street. Singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran also makes an appearance holding a sign in support.

Coldplay, who have been working with Oxfam since 2003, said they were happy to break new ground with a crowd-sourced video. “Not only are Coldplay fans very good-looking but they’re also incredibly creative,” said the band. “We’re proud that they’ve dedicated their collective talent to this important cause.”

Sometimes people ask me why Oxfam is involved in pushing for an international Arms Trade Treaty. What’s it got to do with righting the wrong of poverty? Everything.

The massive and uncontrolled global trade in weapons causes misery and suffering beyond comprehension. Guns and ammunition in the hands of war criminals and extremists can destabilize whole regions, forcing countries to squander resources they should be spending on things that would improve people’s lives—like schools and medical clinics, clean water and roads. For poor countries that have yet to develop durable education, health, and transportation systems, armed conflict is particularly devastating. It feeds poverty.

To help you understand what the treaty is all about and why we need it now, we’ve put together the short video above. Take a good look, share it with your friends, and then tell President Obama to support a strong international Arms Trade Treaty.

It’s no secret that chocolate companies like Mars, Nestlé, and Mondelez target women with their advertisements. But when it comes to how the companies deal with women in their supply chains…it’s a mess.

Women in chocolate supply chains face, inequality, hunger, and poverty. They are often paid less than men and have less access to training and other resources that would make their lives better. When they face discrimination or abuse at work, many women have no way to complain or fight back. But companies are doing little to address these problems.

To really drive home this disconnect, here are some of the lamest, most patronizing chocolate ads that target women. Did we miss any?  Share your favorite examples in the comments section and take action to tell Mars, Mondelez, and Nestlé to shape up: www.behindthebrands.org/actnow

1. Remember Oreo mini-Cakesters? Yah me neither.

(Oreo mini-Cakesters, owned by Mondelez)

2. This product seems to have been named through a word-association game. “Quick say 5 words that will appeal to women. GO!”

(Skinny Cow Dreamy Clusters Candy, owned by Nestle)

3. Technically this Twix spot appears to be trying to reach men.  But never miss a chance to offend women in the process!

(Twix, Owned by Mars)

4. Wherein we show that ads can be condescending (and super awkward) in any language.

(Nestlé Grand Chocolat, owned by Nestle)

DOVE is really a repeat offender…

5. We pretend that these ads don’t make us want to hurl. We’re only human.

(Dove chocolate, owned by Mars)

6. Did you know that the smoke monster from Lost does endorsement deals…

(Dove chocolate, owned by Mars)

7. Or that he is a professionally trained dancer…

(Dove chocolate, owned by Mars)

8. Apparently he also knows how put the moves on.

(Dove chocolate, owned by Mars)

IN CONCLUSION.

9. Presented without comment, Stories from the Sweet life…

SPECIAL BONUS!

These Dove “Chocumentaries” manage to hit nearly every cliché about women and chocolate:

Longtime supporters of Oxfam’s work know that we have a long and creative history of working with our global ambassadors, Coldplay. This week, we’ve taken this collaboration to new creative heights with the announcement of a crowd-sourced project that asks fans of the band to contribute to a video highlighting the global injustice of land grabs. Every two days, an area of land the size of Chicago is sold to foreign investors in developing countries; two-thirds of those investors plan to export everything they produce on the land – in some cases, destroying local food supplies in places where food insecurity is already dangerously high and forcing many people to go hungry.

For their contributions to the video, participants will move a favorite, personal, or familiar item from their home to somewhere it doesn’t belong, or do a personal, everyday, or familiar activity that they’d usually do at home, in totally the wrong place.The video, which will be set to an exclusive just-for-Oxfam acoustic version of the classic “In My Place,” will be stitched together by Coldplay’s music video and film director Mat Whitecross.

The project has already received quite a bit of attention in the mainstream media, the music press, and on Sirius/XM Radio. For more information on how to participate in the project, check out the widget above.

As a Radiohead fan, I’m always proud to count the band among the list of great artists supporting Oxfam America. Ever since Haiti was devastated by a major earthquake in January 2010, Radiohead and their fans have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Oxfam’s Haiti earthquake relief and recovery efforts, via a benefit concert, fan-sourced concert videos, and more.

Just last week, a group of fans released a new concert film of Radiohead’s show at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom on September 29, 2011—one of only two US shows the band played that year. (I was lucky enough to be there that night, along with a group of Oxfam concert volunteers who reached out to Radiohead fans before the performance.) The crowd-sourced video was created with the blessing of the band, who even contributed audio from the soundboard of the show.

The film, below, is free, but they are asking those who watch and download it to give to two great causes: Hurricane Sandy relief in the US and Oxfam America’s Haiti Earthquake Fund. As Oxfam’s programs in Haiti move more toward long-term rebuilding and recovery efforts, it’s good to know that Radiohead and their fans are still supporting the cause.

Michael Borum is the web manager at Oxfam America.

Has there ever been a better time in history to really bring stories to life inexpensively, with the narrative impact of film, and the reach of the Internet? Oxfam has for years embraced video as a storytelling medium. When done well, it’s hard to do much better to connect our audiences with the work we do. In the age of YouTube, it’s inevitable, and it’s consistent with the tried and true storytelling mantra: show, don’t tell.

This is one of the ideas underpinning the campaign Why Poverty?, which kicked off earlier this month. The unaffiliated campaign (Oxfam is not a participant), supported by more than 20 worldwide partners and broadcasters, has commissioned award-winning filmmakers to produce eight documentaries about poverty, along with some new and emerging voices, for a total of 30 shorter films. They’re taking on big issues and asking difficult questions through stories that are thought-provoking, nuanced, and utterly creative.

Most of us are by now familiar with the “KONY2012” phenomenon that was one of the most viral videos in recent memory. I think the Why Poverty? approach is often more subtle, and broadens the scope of poverty as a systemic, complex global issue that touches all of us in ways mere “viral” videos can’t or perhaps shouldn’t. I appreciate how these films illustrate stories that can be difficult to put solely into words or sound bites.

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In my quest to be the best-informed citizen I can be, I, like much of America, have been glued to the recent presidential debates. I’m smart enough to recognize that in addition to the actual debating of important issues, there’s a certain amount of gamesmanship and strategy employed by candidates at these events. However, like many people, I’ve been dismayed and disappointed with the blatant careless attitude both candidates (and their spokespeople) have had with being truthful and accurate. Trustworthiness, I would think, is the most basic quality a candidate for any office would want to display when given the chance.  Sadly, it seems this year that bluster is better strategy than honesty.

To prove my theory that I’m not the only one who feels this way, Oxfam supporter and cellist Ben Sollee released a new video today for his very timely song, “A Few Honest Words”.

“Like nearly everyone,” explained Ben, “my attention this week has been focused on Sandy and all of her devastating effects … There are so many people dealing with fundamental challenges in their lives at this moment: food, shelter, clean water, etc. These are things that are not debatable or points of policy; they are human needs. And as the country inevitably shifts its gaze back to the final stretch of the election, I’m hoping we can keep the human-to-human conversation going.”

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It’s not surprising that Mistura—Latin America’s most famous food festival, and one of the largest in the entire world—takes place in Peru. If you’ve ever been there, or even eaten at a Peruvian restaurant elsewhere, you know that the country’s cuisine is varied and unique (I’ve never tried chicha morada, or purple corn juice, anywhere else), and makes delicious use of fresh, seasonal ingredients.

But even though most of Peru’s food is produced within its borders, a lack of investment in rural areas–combined with other factors, like climate change—has left many Peruvian farmers facing poverty. In rural San Martin, for example, the Kichwa women I met earlier this year grew an amazing array of crops in their communal gardens, yet they said they had few opportunities to sell their produce and earn much-needed income for their families.

Oxfam’s GROW campaign (CRECE in Spanish) is working to increase the opportunities for small-scale farmers, especially women, in Peru and beyond. Here’s what Giovanna Vásquez, campaign coordinator in Perú, said about this short video, below, filmed by CRECE at Mistura last month:

“Close to half a million people attended the fifth edition of the Mistura food festival this September in Lima, Peru. For 10 days, Mistura featured the best dishes from renowned Peruvian cuisine, as well as thousands of products offered directly to consumers from more than 300 Peruvian producers.

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Did you have your photo taken by an Oxfam volunteer at a Coldplay concert this summer? Were you drawn into a compelling conversation with someone dressed as a tomato, taco, or giant banana? If so, you might just make a cameo appearance in an exclusive Coldplay tour video. The brand-new video, released today, features special tour footage shared by Coldplay as a way to say thank you to all of the fans who supported Oxfam on their recent world tour:

Here in the US, you may have caught the multiple-Grammy-winning Oxfam ambassadors as they trekked across the country on this summer’s “Mylo Xyloto” tour. Coldplay invited Oxfam America volunteers to join them at every date as a way to spread the word about Oxfam’s GROW Campaign for food justice.

Nearly 600 volunteers joined Coldplay at 28 concerts from coast to coast. Some even took the plunge and dressed up in food costumes, which served as a great conversation starter and helped draw attention to the cause. Thanks to the volunteers’ efforts, 13,000 new US supporters took Oxfam’s GROW pledge this summer. They’ll now be part of the Oxfam community, and will have the opportunity to take action against hunger and tell companies and governments to make our food system fairer for everyone. And that’s an accomplishment well worth celebrating—taco suit not required.

Just in time for World Humanitarian Day, we received this short video profiling a day in the life of Oxfam plumber Silas Kipsang. True, fixing water leaks, maintaining pipes, and digging wells may not be the most glamorous aspects of humanitarian aid work. But for thousands of people seeking shelter in Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp, the efforts of people like Kipsang are what keep the clean water flowing. And that’s an accomplishment to celebrate, no matter what day it is.

Oxfam aims to reach 3 million people with a variety of support, including food aid, clean water, and veterinary care for animals. We are drilling and repairing wells and distributing fuel vouchers to ensure that pumps on the wells can keep operating—even if people have no money. We are also campaigning to change the root causes of this crisis. Find out how you can support our efforts.