Category Archives: PSA

What Happened to Private Danny Chen?

What Happened to Private Danny Chen?

U.S. Army Private Danny Chen, of Chinatown, NY, was killed in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan on October 3rd, 2011. His funeral was held in Chinatown on October 13th, 2011, although official cause of death has not been listed. Two months ago, Private Danny Chen of the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division was deployed to Afghanistan. On October 3, 2011, Private Danny Chen died, but not from combat injuries. He was found dead in the living quarters of the army base where he was stationed in Afghanistan with an alleged gunshot wound below his chin. The community deserves to know the truth in a timely manner as to the circumstances leading to Private Chen’s death and the cause of his tragic death.

Community leaders, family, and friends are demanding a fair, thorough, and transparent investigation into Private Danny Chan’s death. This list of people gathered together to get your support to find out what happened:

Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez
Kelly Tsai
Hayato Watanabe
YaliniDream
Claire Baldi
Lily Woo, Principal of PS 130 in Chinatown, NY
Tom Lee, Retired Veteran
NYU Students
Danny’s family and friends
OCA-NY

To support their cause and learn more, read and sign their petition here.

update: 8 Charged in Death of Fellow Soldier, U.S. Army Says

update #2: Private Chen’s Family Learns More About Hazing by Fellow G.I.’s

update #3: Asian-American soldier was forced by comrades to crawl 100m on gravel while being pelted with rocks hours before he killed himself

Eight soldiers are of 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division that were charged:

First Lieutenant Daniel J. Schwartz
Staff Sergeant Blaine G. Dugas
Staff Sergeant Andrew J. Van Bockel
Sergeant Adam M. Holcomb
Sergeant Jeffrey T. Hurst
Specialist Thomas P. Curtis
Specialist Ryan J. Offutt
Sergeant Travis F. Carden

What Happened to Private Danny Chen?

update: News report on What Happened to Private Danny Chen?

Give a S**t about Cancer with Aziz Ansari

Give a S**t about Cancer with Aziz Ansari

Actor/comedian Aziz Ansari and Chris Pratt from Parks and Recreation want you to give a s&*# about cancer. Chris left his glasses at home and doesn’t quite get giving a spit about cancer. Luckily, Aziz Ansari is there to clarify things.

Bet you never thought you could save lives just by giving a spit (and cheek cells). All it takes to sign up for the Be The Match registry, and potentially save the life of a blood cancer patient, is a cheek swab. *NOTE: YOU MUST BE 18 OR OVER TO JOIN THE REGISTRY. Run a bone marrow registry drive in your school to find donors for blood cancer patients. Give a spit about cancer and save lives!

Also see Star Wars : Stand Up To Cancer with Aziz Ansari x Ken Jeong

Give a S**t about Cancer with Aziz Ansari

Twilight’s Booboo Stewart for PETA

Twilight's Booboo Stewart for PETA

Actor Booboo Stewart has captured the hearts of Twilight fans with his portrayal of wolfpack member Seth Clearwater. Offscreen, Booboo’s pack isn’t complete without his rescued pooch Pookie. Booboo stars with Pookie in a public service announcement for PETA to spread the message, “Buying Animals Is Killing Animals. Save a Homeless Dog or Cat—Always Adopt and Never Buy.”

“If you guys are interested in getting any kind of animal, definitely go and adopt,” Booboo shares in an interview with PETA. Adopting a dog or a cat from a shelter gives animals a second chance at life. Every year in the U.S., more than 7 million lost, abandoned, or unwanted dogs and cats enter animal shelters and more than half of them must be euthanized because there are not enough homes for them. Every dog or cat purchased from a pet store or a breeder takes away a home from an adoptable animal—meaning that one more animal in a shelter will die.

You can also catch Booboo Stewart in the upcoming film White Frog.

Twilight’s Booboo Stewart for PETA

My Asian Americana

My Asian Americana

A group of Asian Americans gather in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to share favorite memories of their Americana. Featuring Kosal Khiev with Anida Yoeu ALI, Sokha CHHIM, Vinh DAO, Phyrak KHUN, Ryan TONG, Vanna SANN, and Thea SOM. Exiles and ex-pats unite as a community to present images of an Americana they left behind. One half live outside the US by choice while the other half has been forcibly returned. All are Americans. Each raised with the memories, mannerisms, and a distinct cultural identity of growing up Asian in America. This piece is both a short film and a PSA to remind the public of untold stories about Asian Americans ordered into exile. These are the narratives of Cambodian Americans impacted by US deportation policies.

Watch more videos about deportations: Resident Aliens, Undocumented Students and the DREAM Act, Ordered Deported, Jose Antonio Vargas.

My Asian Americana

Bowls For Humanity

Bowls For Humanity

Advertising agency Ogilvy out in Asia has been cranking out some high quality tearjerkers in commercials. They did Silence of Love : Thai Life Insurance Commercial and Dream Rangers. Their latest ad for “Bowls For Humanity” is another touching story about orphans. With every 10kg (about 20lbs) of rice you buy, “Bowls For Humanity” will give 25gm (about 1 oz) of rice towards feeding orphans in Malaysia.

Learn more here

Bowls For Humanity

2011 APIAVote PSA – What do you want?

2011 APIAVote PSA - What do you want?

Ready to empower your community this election season? Let your voice be heard with your vote. What do you want?

better education for your kids
laws to protect your civil rights
access to affordable healthcare
jobs
retirement security

Take action and vote in your local election this November.

Look at these other older voting PSAs from Asian Americans: Far East Movement wants you to vote, Get Out the Vote PSA, 10 minutes with Aziz Ansari and Kal Penn, Reel in the Vote with Preschoolers, Officer Bart Kwan wants you to vote, Reel in the Vote with Randall Park, Embrace Your Power with Kelly Hu and George Takei, Power of the Swing Vote

2011 APIAVote PSA – What do you want?