Can’t Stop the Serenity: 2007 Charity Screenings

The Browncoats are still making a difference, fighting for what’s right even though that may not be the most popular cause in the world.

“Can’t Stop the Serenity” is a global charity event whose proceeds benefit Equality Now, an organization that works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure. Some of the issues Equality Now addresses are female genital mutilation (FGM), women’s rights in Third World countries and suffrage in the Middle East.

The charity event is fully supported by “Firefly” and “Serenity” creator Joss Whedon, and in his honor, the screenings are scheduled around his birthday, June 23rd.

From the CSTS FAQ:

Why Equality Now?

In 1992, Jessica Neuwirth founded Equality Now along with Navanethem Pillay and Feryal Gharahi, to address the gender disparity in the human rights movement, which had grown to dismiss violations as “cultural” or “private”. Issues such as domestic violence, rape, female genital mutilation, trafficking, and reproductive rights were not part of the agendas of established human rights organizations.

Neuwirth was a student of Lee Stearns, who founded the first Amnesty International chapter run exclusively by high school students. Stearns is Joss Whedon’s mother.

Whedon has been outspoken in his support of the organization and gender equality initiatives. You can hear his remarks on why equality is paramount in this YouTube clip, where he accepts a special recognition award from Equality Now.

In picking Equality Now as the organization receiving the proceeds of the global screenings, the organizers of Can’t Stop The Serenity voice their support of the work done around the world by EN.

There will be screenings in almost 50 cities around the world, so check the website to see if there’s one near you, then go out and support “Can’t Stop the Serenity”.

The Slice of SciFi team will be supporting and helping the AZ Browncoats with the Tempe screening on June 21, and the Tucson screening on June 23, so come out and join us!

Link: Press Release Global Sci-Fi Charity Event Returns in June 2007: Screenings of ‘Serenity’ Benefit Women’s Rights Advocacy Group