On Saturday, the finalists of the 2010 Democracy Video Challenge were announced. Contestants around the world were asked to explain in a three-minutes-or-less clip their understanding of democracy. As the Washington Post reported, more than 1,600 people submitted entries from 111 countries. Among the 18 finalists from 6 world regions selected by a jury is a clip by Joel Ben Marsden that promotes the idea of having world votes in which every man and women on the planet have an equal voice.

The clip is based on a 77-minute documentary that was premiered in June 2009 in Madrid. “The fundamental and simple idea behind the film is that if democracy is such a beneficial way to improve the governance and development of so many countries and their people, why not try it at the global level as well?” says Marsden.

The video competition is hosted for the second time by the U.S. State Department, along with ten partners like YouTube, NBC Universal, New York University and the Motion Picture Association of America.

Winners will be selected by general public

The general public is now asked to to vote online for the winning videos until June 15, 2010. The seven winners with the most votes will be invited to a trip to Washington, D.C., New York and Hollywood. Their visit will include gala screenings of the winning videos, exposure to filmmakers and representatives of the U.S. film and television industry, and meetings with democracy advocates from government, media and civil society.

“This competition is a great opportunity to spread the idea of global democracy. We would be delighted to see the clip on a world vote among the winners. Let’s bring the message of global democracy to Washington D.C.!” says Andreas Bummel, Chair of the Committee for a Democratic U.N.

Only recently, the Committee supported the “Brussels Declaration on Global Democracy” that included the provision that “We propose that the mechanisms and preconditions are explored that make it possible to conduct a global referendum on the question whether the people of the world wish the establishment of a global democratic system.”