What is a CSTS screening?

A CSTS screening is a charity screening of Joss Whedon’s ‘SERENITY’ to support Equality Now.

It started back in 2006, CSTS events were held in 47 countries across the world. These events were special screenings of Joss Whedon’s feature film “Serenity”, and were held to raise money for Equality Now on and around Mr Whedon’s birthday as a thank you for having created both the TV series Firefly and then the film Serenity.

 In 2006, CSTS raised over $65,000; in 2007 over $100,000 was raised.

Last year Warwick School was the first place in the UK to hold a screening and was soon followed by Leicester and then London.

With your help, we hope to be just as successful in 2009.

Why Equality Now?

In 1992, Jessica Neuwirth founded Equality Now along with Navanethem Pillay and Feryal Gharahi, to address the gender disparity in the human rights movement, which had grown to dismiss violations as “cultural” or “private”. Issues such as domestic violence, rape, female genital mutilation, trafficking, and reproductive rights were not part of the agendas of established human rights organizations.

Neuwirth was a student of Lee Stearns, who founded the first Amnesty International chapter run exclusively by high school students. Stearns is Joss Whedon’s mother.

Whedon has been outspoken in his support of the organization and gender equality initiatives. You can hear his remarks on why equality is paramount in this YouTube clip, where he accepts a special recognition award from Equality Now.

In picking Equality Now as the organization receiving the proceeds of the global screenings, the organizers of Can’t Stop The Serenity voice their support of the work done around the world by EN.