Friends - this is the number of people who have responded to our pleas for help for making this documentary about Pine Ridge Rez so we can inform the Obama administration and the world what life is like living in the poorest place in the United States. Nine people out of nearly 1800 have helped. I was looking at how many times the bulletins have even been read each time they are put out... often it's ZERO times.
I've always said that apathy is a killer. We know times are extremely hard, we know that you read titles for numerous bulletins on Myspace pleading for help for various things--all worthy causes. We know that in the eyes of many--this doesn't seem like a big deal to make a documentary. But this statistic--Nine out of 4529 is representative of how few people care about Pine Ridge Reservation in the outside world--and how fewer still, do anything about helping to make a change.
WE ARE EXTREMELY THANKFUL TO THOSE WHO HAVE DONATED TO THIS EFFORT AND TO THOSE WHO ARE SPONSORING CHILDREN ON PINE RIDGE. BUT -- as wonderful as those efforts are and continue to be -- unless all our friends and supporters help directly and spread the word...our efforts to bring awareness and education about Pine Ridge won't get any farther than what has been managed thus far...and we that know--know this simply isn't good enough.
Apathy and ignorance will continue to take precious lives on Pine Ridge reservation unless we ALL make it our personal mission to change that fact. Please help! Please click on the Chip-In button or go to our website and make a donation now -- anything you can. And please repost this bulletin far and wide--you can make the difference.
All of us at SOTY
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Rick
To: Ayleeann
Date: Mar 12, 2009 6:44 PM
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME HELP THE LAKOTA OF PINE RIDGE!!!
PLEASE COPY AND REPOST THIS BULLITEN OFTEN, AND WIDELY!!!!<
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Friends: I am about to embark on what I hope to be the most rewarding and important journey of my life. I am producing a documentary w/ Crawford Multi Media & S.O.T.Y - Save Our Tribal Youth about the devastating third world conditions on the Pine Ridge Reservation. It is not going to cost alot to produce this film, and the good it will do will be beyond measure. So far however, I am personaly invested to the tune of $1,000.00 for travel expenses to get Shaun and I out to South Dakota with our Red One Digital Cinema gear to film for a few days at the end of the month. We estimate it shouldnt be more than another $9,000 beyond that for camera rentals, editing, and so forth. TO DONATE SPECIFICLY TO THE MAKING OF THIS FILM PLEASE USE THE ABOVE WIDGET. THE MONEY WE RAISE GOES DIRECTLY TO "SAVE OUR TRIBAL YOUTH", WHO THEN REIMBURSES US FOR COSTS INCURRED. ANY MONEY RAISED BEYOND THE PRODUCTION COSTS WILL STAY WITH S.O.T.Y.Below you will see two videos. The first depicts life on the res, and there is much more info below. The conditions are beyond horrific. The second video is Pres. Obama shortly before election day, promising the Native Americans a "seat at the table", "a voice to be heard", the honoring of treaties, and yes, CHANGE. We seek with this film to paint for the President, and the world, in graphic cinimatic quality, just how bad it is, so we can bring about change. We will show what a strong, proud people the AMERICANS of Pine Ridge are, along with soultions to the situation such as putting native AMERICANS to work building the "Green Energy Infrastructure" of the future. We aim to give a voice to these voiceless AMERICANS who our ancestors, both ancient and recent, have shoved into a forgotten corner of AMERICA, to be forgotten about by AMERICA. The responsibilities we hold to our ancestors sins, can only be judged by our reaction, or inaction to the consequences of those actions. If I and my father are one, then so must I and my brother be. I believe that if Americans knew, REALLY KNEW the situation in an inescapable way, change would come swiftly. Let's make it happen!
PLEASE GIVE WHATEVER YOU CAN, AND REPOST THIS BULLITEN DAILY, FAR AND WIDE.Thank you all, Rick Kline - 3/11/09.Life on Pine RidgePres. Obama's Message for First Americans Info from the S.O.T.Y. Myspace page myspace'>http://myspace.com/saveourtribalyouth">myspace. com/saveourtribalyouth
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WWW'>http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vV1dXLlNBVkVPVVJUUklCQUxZT1VUSC5DT00=">WWW. SAVEOURTRIBALYOUTH. COM
Pine Ridge is the largest reservation in South Dakota, so the need is greatest there. The living conditions on Pine Ridge Reservation is our national shame! As a nation of people who, as a whole, think themselves superior to any other country and their concern for others—above all others—we should be ashamed of ourselves!! Apathy is perhaps the single most criminal state of mind that a human being can have. Apathy allows death, disease, crime, hate and just about every other negative emotion known. It’s a killer! By doing nothing—we allow this third world to exist in South Dakota. Apathy is contagious—and we as a nation have become truly apathetic to their plight. It’s never too late to change the tide, but it’s been growing since 1868—when is enough, enough??
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In 2008, donations from the supporters and friends of SOTY helped us to: • send garden seeds for a youth garden project to the Northern Cheyenne of Montana • send truck loads of new and used clothing, blankets, coats and other items to Pine Ridge • send boxes of clothing, coats, winter gear, diapers, formula, batteries, flashlights, candles and assorted other emergency needs to the Crazy Horse School in November after one of the worst blizzards in decades • send clothing, winter gear, baby needs and other items to the Cangleska Shelter on Pine Ridge. • send school and other new supplies to the Wolf Creek School • send dozens of new caps, thermal gloves, knitted scarves and portable heat to the Big Foot Riders for the annual Wounded Knee memorial ride • pay for several loads of firewood for elders and families on Pine Ridge • find sponsors for nearly 100 children on Pine Ridge Reservation