United Nations screens TV series illuminating worldwide child issues.

• Author: Rosa, Darrell Dela
• Position: 'What's Going On?'

The United Nations Department of Public Information on 15 April hosted a screening of one episode of "What's Going On?", a ten-part series produced by the UN Works programme in collaboration with Showtime Networks and RCN Entertainment. It explores critical global issues, such as fighting, poverty, racism and environmental matters, through the eyes of a child. No matter where children live, the series portrays their shared experiences, even if they are on opposing sides of a conflict. It is a breakthrough effort to make those in the modern world more aware of the issues by bringing them into homes via primetime television.

A spokesperson for the United Nations hosts each half-hour episode on a chosen topic via one-on-one interactions with the children involved. The first episode, hosted from Trinidad and Tobago by Danny Glover, Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme, highlighted the plight of children infected with HIV/AIDS. In the second episode, screened at the United Nations, UN Messenger of Peace Michael Douglas meets with former child soldiers in Sierra Leone. Other episodes include Angelina Jolie visiting a refugee camp in the United Republic of Tanzania, Jeff Bridges covering poverty in the United States, Laurence Fishburne showing the deadly impact of landmines in Cambodia, Susan Sarandon speaking with child labourers in Brazil, and Glenn Close presenting girls' education in Morocco.

What's Going On? is broadcast on the Showtime television network and is intended for audiences of all ages. The goal is for parents and children to watch the documentaries together and learn about the origins of the problems that children of the world encounter and how the United Nations attempts to address them. In addition, through the UN Works web site, children are able to respond to the episodes. There are also online learning resources available, developed through the CyberSchoolBus, which acts as a liaison between audiences and children in the...