Wednesday, December 12, 2018

SMASHED COMPASS HUMANITARIAN
ASSIGNMENTS IN THE FIELD
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NATIONWIDE POVERTY REDUCTION INITIATIVE
PRESENTED TO SOLOMON ISLANDS PRIME MINISTER (1.30)

2016/17 This is a poverty reduction project dedicated to the development of ecotourism across the Solomon Islands. The project was devised by Smashed Compass Director, Mr Bradley Rae, who met privately with, and gained the support of, the Honorable Prime Minister Mr Sogavare. The site showcased in the video is a collaboration Mr Rae began on a volunteer basis with three remote villages (400 people) on Guadalcanal Island, which included... (continue)
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PR / REBRANDING  - GOVERNMENT CORPORATION 
IN CRISIS - SOLOMON ISLANDS  (6.15) 

SIEA / SOLOMON POWER is the state owned corporation that is responsible for producing and distributing electricity across the Solomon Islands. The vast majority of the population lives in villages spread across over 800+ islands isolated in the South Pacific. It is an oceanic eden, most of which remains virtually untouched by modernization. The PR consultancy position was created to help improve public opinion, which was extremely low due to a history of corruption at the Executive level and overall poor services nationwide. The role included (i) assessing corporate operations, which required extensive travel to numerous islands & remote outstations to document field operations and the communities they serve 
(ii) providing in-depth reports, recommendations and presentations to the Board of Directors -: recommendations included, but were not limited to, a cost reduction strategy for consumers nationwide; a name change to SOLOMON POWER, and a complete rebranding of, and a public relations campaign for, the corporation ... (continue)

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NAIROBI SLUMS AND GOD'S SOLDIERS (8:56)

 is a short story about the poverty, diseases and widespread violence in a Nairobi  slum, and the wonder of orphans who thrive in its midst under the guidance and protection of a small Catholic Mission. SCP's role was to venture into the heart of the slums to document the reality of the children's lives and the mission's work. This is a vast, destitute place where police do not enter, no matter the crime or situation, due to the overwhelming presence of violent gangs and annual outbreak of diseases, like Cholera + Article/ Photos / Links 
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Based on a true story.

TRANSMOGRIFY - VICTIMS OF WAR - UGANDA (2:05)

Transmogrify : Def : to change the appearance or nature of; particularly badly, or grotesquely: to transform. The challenge - When bad publicity near completely eradicated support for this cause around the globe, SCP was faced with the job of promoting something that, at first instance, could not be referenced. The creative solution was to produce this trailer that is designed to captivate, shock, inform and incite interest through an allegorical representation of the facts.

Viewer discretion is advised



See Full Video + Article / Photos / Links that reveal the cause, and details of SCP's journey through a country devastated by war. Our mission was to conduct a field study of NGO operations; as well as conduct interviews with the victims, whose own words and experiences are featured in the trailer and documentary. 
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HAITI EARTHQUAKE - GROUND ZERO (12.12)

This video shows actual footage of the quake and photographs from the field. SCP's role was to travel extensively throughout the country documenting the devastation, as well as the operations of two NGOs in the aftermath; Amurtel and Global Grassroots. This PR presentation was created for a global audience to help raise awareness and to increase donor support for what was described by the UN as 'the worst earthquake in modern history'.

300 000 people died in this Earthquake, which lasted 45 seconds, and measured 7.0 on Richter scale. 


Stories from the field and photo gallery of the devastation
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MAN FROM SUDAN - WAR DOCUMENTARY

tells the inspirational story of one man's journey through Sudan's civil war. Forced into ten years of service with the North Sudanese Army, he witnessed atrocities and genocide being committed against the South Sudanese populace. For more information and to donate to Sudanese refugees go to SORA website
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SUICIDE PREVENTION - AUSTRALIA (6:03) 

SUICIDAL ROSE - This work takes on the conceptual challenge of breaking convention radically, yet responsibly. Created and produced as a short stylized original music video by SCP, this promotional piece is part of a social media campaign on suicide prevention, depression and domestic violence.  Targeting young adults, its message is clear and simple. 'You're not alone. Make the call.' For further information and support go to Beyond Blue websiteOriginal music for the video was written and performed by SCP's founder, Bradley Rae
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ECOTOURISM & POVERTY REDUCTION PROJECT, VIETNAM
 
(6:26)


Implemented by COHED, this project in Mai Chau Valley - Hoa Binh Province - aims to create employment in impoverished villages through tourism; noting tourism at the time of the assignment was near non-existent throughout the region. Working closely with COHED's CEO, SCP's role was to help develop and implement a marketing campaign that targeted both local and international audiences. (Location Map   / Information

The assignment was executed in several phases: (i) Extensive travel throughout Vietnam for cultural study purposes and filming, ; and thereafter onto Hao Bing Province - (having fully utilized motorcycle, 4wd, planes, boats, canoes : ) over  a two month period (ii) Engaging with local communities at length to gain their support and confidence in the program (iii) Mapping out tours to undiscovered locations (iv) Production of promotional video (v) design and construction of 2 E commerce websites with local IT team, who spoke no English!  (vi) design of marketing material including posters and postcards (vii) forming affiliations with major hotels and travel agencies in Hanoi (viii) Capacity Building; that is teaching/ training local NGO staff on all facets of marketing; and (ix), advising local communities and tourism operators on hospitality and customer service. This project was a huge success.... In September, 2016, Government statistics showed 15000 tourists a month were visiting the region. Prime Minister Nguven Xuan Phuc announced the Government's intent to promote Mai Chau Valley and Ho Binh Province as a new tourist hotspot for 2017/18! Mission accomplished!      
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SMASHED COMPASS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY
from around the world 
 (4:03)


Part of a fundraising endeavor to support the humanitarian work that Smashed Compass Productions is committed to. Fine Art Photographs are by SCP Director, Bradley  Rae. Featured Locations include Kenya, Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, New York & Las Vegas. 
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RED CROSS/ AUSAID - UGANDA (3:43)

Through the Avid Program, Australian professionals are placed on long term assignments in developing countries for the purpose of capacity building and training. SPC's role was to research and document the operations of local affiliate organizations, conduct interviews and provide PR material to help promote the program run jointly by Red Cross & AusAID   

 
Article / Photos / Links 
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GIANTS AND BEASTS
 
(01:15)


shows the brutal chronology of the whaling industry in a 60 seconds blitz. Viewer discretion is advised. To get involved in the fight to protect these magnificent creatures, go to Sea Shepherd Conservation Website
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ACTIVISM (2:28) 
This clip dramatically depicts the reality of a world without wisdom. Viewer discretion is advised. 
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STORIES FROM THE FIELD

Haiti - A Layer Cake of Disaster - article / photo 
Faced with 300 000 dead, 300 000 injured and 1 million people left homeless, NGOs and the UN scrambled to managed an unprecedented situation as the hurricane season loomed on the horizon, promising more devastation. SPC job was to document the devastation nationwide and in Port-Au-Prince, the capital.
Medicins Sans Frontiers in Papua New Guinea
Assignments included (i) covering MSF operations in Lae during the cholera epidemic, and documenting MSF's medical and counseling centers that deals with victims of domestic and tribal violence.(ii) Experiencing  NGO operations as MSF managed teams flying in and out of remote highland regions during on-going tribal rioting; rioting that ignited over tribal land rights/ acquisition and alleged inadequate compensation for a gas pipe line being built through the moutainous and jungle dense region.  + Article / Photos / Link
Prisoners of Evil - War in Uganda 
SCP journeyed into the far north of Uganda to interview child soldiers who had escaped from Kony's Lord Resistance Army. The LRA is a force that has brutally terrorized Uganda for over 20 years, and still it remains at large. And still the people are fearful, for Kony hovers near, just across the mountainous border region of Rwanda. These child soldiers, after many years of war, of extreme violence and abuse by men, of the sort they inevitably become, have now returned home to their families and communities; the very communities that fell prey to them and their leader Kony. Kony is a butcher responsible for the annihilation of 100 000s of innocent civilians. THe future for these children, now adults, is bleaked, feared and despised for the atrocities they were forced to commit. Tragically, they were committed in order to bring a halt to slaughter of their families and villages . Photos and article.
Queensland Floods, Australia  
This is how one of the worst natural disasters in Australian history played out. Armageddon was the term used by survivors. + Article / Photos
Papua New Guinea - NATIONAL COVERAGE
Working with local Media Haus Productions; projects include World Bank and UN initiatives, Government programs and NGO field operations; as well as filming villages and communities in remote highland regions accessible only by chopper. + Article / Photos / Links
Red Cross / AUS AID - Uganda
The Avid Program places Australian professionals on long term assignments in developing countries for capacity building / training of local NGO personnel.  + Video / Article / Photos
War On The Streets - USA
When the US nosedived into a recession, major budget cuts for public services occurred. As police force numbers decreased, crime dramatically increased in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the USA.  SCP went on patrol in an area where armed gangs now ruled the streets, engaging in an all out war against each other... with no police back-up in sight.... They'd all been fired due to budget cuts, but for three vehicles patrolling 100 000 people. + Article / Photo

Short adventure travel story  
SCP's Director, Bradley Rae, hitched a ride on a dredge boat to check out the humpback whales migrating along the Queensland coast. Within hours of leaving shore, all hell broke loose on the high seas. Photos
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