(Free-Press-Release.com) August 30, 2011 -- A film-making couple are set to revolutionise the birth world with the launch of their new global film project, ONE WORLD BIRTH oneworldbirth.net Launching Thursday 1st September, the FREE video website features the world's leading birth experts calling for change to current birth practises.The idea is simple. Oneworldbirth.net is a free online video resource offering credible evidence-based information about birth. Featuring many of the world's leading birth experts, the videos are organised into bite-sized easily digestible clips. These clips can be shared and commented upon via social media, with the aim that these discussions raise public awareness to a tipping point to make change happen. Amongst the international experts featured are acclaimed authors Ina May Gaskin (US) , Dr Sarah Buckley (Australia) , Sheila Kitzinger (UK) , Professor Soo Downe (UK) , ]Professor Lesley Ann Page (UK) , Professor Sally Tracy (Australia) , Professor Cecily Begley (Ireland) , Professor Ngai Fen Cheung (China) , Professor Kerstin Uvnäs Moberg (Sweden) , Associate Professor Denis Walsh (UK) , Cathy Warwick of the Royal College of Midwives (UK) plus other leading midwives, doulas, birth educators, obstetricians, GP's and campaigners from US, Canada, UK, Brazil and Australia.
"It's Youtube meets Facebook all about birth."
One World Birth Co-creator and mum, Toni Harman describes One World Birth as "It's Youtube meets Facebook all about birth. It's a place where people from around the world can watch credible high-quality video based on a monthly theme. But they can also connect with like-minded people to help bring about change. Our slogan is Save Birth: Change the World"
Her Co-creator partner is Alex Wakeford; "What's unique about this project is we are approaching this as independent film-makers. We are bringing the crowd-sourcing tools from the revolution that's happening in film to galvanise and document a revolution that's gathering momentum in the birth world".Toni Harman says "We were inspired to create One World Birth by the birth of our child three years ago. Even though I had been to antenatal classes, I found myself succumbing to a conveyor belt of interventions eventually ending in an emergency caesarean section. It is an all too familiar story happening across the world where parents feel disempowered by their lack of knowledge. As documentary filmmakers, we thought we could do something about it."
Cathy Warwick, General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives said, "Childbirth is a natural and normal physiological experience and I feel privileged to have been asked to participate and be interviewed for the One World Birth project. I believe that it will provide an important global resource for midwives, mothers, babies and their families and will promote a greater understanding of childbirth.”Professor Cecily Begley, Trinity College, Dublin said "The One World Birth project was inspired by women's voices and is designed to be used by women and for women to develop a powerful movement across the globe. Maternity care is about to change....for the better."
Toni Harman added, "This is just the start. We want to continue filming, to continue collecting the pieces of the global birth jigsaw so that it becomes the world's biggest antenatal video resource. Next year, we will release a feature length documentary about current birth issues to help inspire and deliver change. The revolution has begun!"Save birth, change the world!
To visit the ONE WORLD BIRTH SITE: oneworldbirth.net
To view the ONE WORLD BIRTH launch film: http://youtu.be/8w9WNtTAVYU
Additional Information
One World Birth has been developed, created, funded and is run by Toni Harman and Alex Wakeford, who are life partners and parents to their 3 year old daughter.
Through their independent film production company Alto Films Ltd, Harman and Wakeford have produced two previous birth documentary films: REAL BIRTH STORIES (realbirthstories.com) and DOULA! (doulafilm.com). Both have been screened and sold internationally.One World Birth features many of the world's leading birth experts including:
Cathy Warwick (General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives),
Sheila Kitzinger (author & social anthropolist),
Ina May Gaskin (author & midwife)
Michel Odent (author & MD),
Elizabeth Davis (author & midwife)
Debra Pascali- Bonaro (birth educator & filmmaker)
Dr Sarah Buckley (author & GP),
Professor Soo Downe (University of Central Lancashire),
Professor Sally Tracy (University of Sydney)
Professor Lesley Ann Page (Kings College London)
Professor Ngai Fen Cheung (Hangzhou Normal University)
Professor Kerstin Uvnäs Moberg (Karolinska Institute, Stockholm)
Assoc Professor Denis Walsh (University of Nottingham)
Marilyn Curl, President, Lamaze International
Mary Newburn, Head of Research and Information, NCT
Dr Tony Kelly, Consultant Obstetrician
Dr Heather Brown, Consultant ObstetricianThe video content will be free to watch by parents and birth professionals, but more in-depth professional development video material will be available on a sister website (oneworldbirth.tv) to subscribed paid members for a small monthly fee. This is the funding mechanism that pays for the site plus continued filming and editing.
The next stage of filming later this year takes Harman and Wakeford to US and Canada for the Midwives Alliance for North America (MANA) joint conference with the Canadian College of Midwives (CAM)and American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). Then on to Brazil where the caesarean rate in some private hospitals has reached 93% and then to Australia where home birth is on the brink of being outlawed.
High quality images are available. Interviews are available on request.
http://oneworldbirth.net
Press Contact information: Toni Harman, Producer, One World BirthEmail: info@altofilms.com
http://www.facebook.com/oneworldbirth
On Twitter: @oneworldbirth
To view the ONE WORLD BIRTH launch film: http://youtu.be/8w9WNtTAVYU
http://oneworldbirth.net
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