Join our efforts to produce a 60-second PSA to help stop the use of rape as a weapon of war!

Our Story

New statistics show that over 400,000 women per year are raped in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where armed militias are using rape as a weapon of war to terrorize communities. 

Since this statistic does not include men and children, the actual number is much higher.

By comparison, as of the last census, the population of Portland, Oregon was about 584,000. 

Think about that:  Almost the equivalent of the entire population of Portland, violently raped.  Per year.

Seventy-seven aid organizations agree that the number one thing we can do to help stop this violence and put an end to the use of rape as a weapon of war is to convince President Obama to send a special envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo, often referred to as "the worst place on Earth to be a woman."

We are launching a hard-hitting web campaign, in the form of a public service announcement, with two goals:

• Increase awareness of these atrocities and
  
• Get people to put pressure on the White House and the State Department to do something about it
  

Behind this campaign are Director Andrew Warnecke, Executive Producer Lana Veenker, Producer Heather Harlow and Director of Photography Gary Nolton, all with years of experience in film and video production, as well as a top-notch, all-volunteer cast and crew based in Portland, Oregon.

We plan to shoot in July and complete the spot in August.  We will then set out to distribute the PSA through our networks, encouraging people to contact the White House and demand a special envoy to Congo. 

Members of our team have been involved in similar efforts in the past that have been successful in influencing policy.  And we have the connections to make it go viral in a big way.  So we're not just tilting at windmills:  Our efforts get results.

The Impact

The latest statistics reveal that the situation in Congo is 26 times worse than previous estimates:  1152 women raped every day.  48 every hour.  Not including men and children!

Every day that we do nothing, over a thousand more innocent people will be raped with guns, broken bottles and sticks.  Need the stakes be any higher?

But we have the opportunity to make a difference, to actually help save lives and prevent further torture, and so do you.  How can we not do something, now that we know?

Be forewarned that we don't plan to mince words in this campaign.  The sheer numbers are more obscene than anything we might come up with, and we're done sitting around waiting for the White House to take action.  F*ck Apathy!

What We Need & What You Get

The money we are raising for this campaign will go towards reimbursing hard costs involved in the production of a 60-second video spot, including locations, props, equipment, craft service, insurance and recording media.  Any leftover funds will go toward the creation of "F*ck Apathy" t-shirts for donors, cast and crew, which will help to continue to drive traffic to the "F*ck Apathy" website and spread the message.  If any funds still remain after that, we will pay our crew and cast members a small stipend for their time. 

If we wildly exceed our goal, we'll put the remaining funds towards future campaigns.

If we don't meet our goal, heck, we'll borrow the money to make up the difference!  We're not backing down.  (Hear that Secretary Clinton & President Obama?)

Check out our perks to find out what you'll get for joining us (besides a big fat dose of good karma)!

Other Ways You Can Help

If you're unable to contribute financially--and even if you are!--please help us to reach our fund-raising goal by spreading the word about our IndieGoGo campaign.  Use the share tools on this website to help drive traffic to our page.  Every little bit helps, and your efforts truly will make a difference in people's lives!!!