Alive in Baghdad Inspires Intern'l Pleas and Viral Shorts

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By Anthony Kaufman March 20, 2007

Time sure travels fast for Americans – can you believe it's been four years since the U.S. invaded Iraq? But for residents of Baghdad, the last 1,460 days must feel like a slow, slog through hell. On the 4th anniversary of the war that's ravaged their cities and killed their neighbors, the folks at Alive in Baghdad present their latest vlog, "Four Years Later, Speaking to Americans."

The video continues in the same vein as the award-winning vlog's weekly posts on life in Baghdad. Simple and straightforward, the filmmakers offer "some words to America and the international community" from ordinary Iraqi citizens, ranging from pleas to withdraw U.S. troops ("Don’t send your sons and kids here, prevent them from getting killed and killing other people") to calls for help ("I hope President Bush will find us jobs.")

Meanwhile, in the relative safety of the U.S., a group calling itself "the Friends of Alive in Baghdad" (which include Ask a Ninja and Invisible Engine) have crafted 13 viral video shorts to raise awareness and encourage sympathetic vloggers to donate computer and camera equipment to crews in Iraq.

The vids are featured prominently today, March 20 (the official 4-year anniversary) on several major sites such as YouTube, Veoh, Revver, LiveVideo, MSN SoapBox, MySpace Video, This Just In, BrightCove, Stupid Videos, and Blip.

Far more light-hearted than the harsh realities faced by the Alive in Baghdad team, the silly spots suggest ways to "use old computer equipment," from taking a shower with it to making a "camera bong." "Don’t trash your old equipment! Donate to Alive in Baghdad. mini dv. money. laptops," reads intertitle text at the end of every video. An edited highlights reel is available here.

Or just simply go straight to the source and donate here.