Rapvalg-09 and "Use your right to vote!" campaign, September 10-13, 2009
On September 10, OMOD (Organization against Public Discrimination) and The Immigrant Council held a concert and competition called “Rapvalg 2009” aimed at promoting increased voter participation among the minority community in Norway in the upcoming elections. After a summer-long, web-based competition with thousands of voters ranking the rap songs on political themes submitted by local bands, ten finalists were identified and took the stage before an electric crowd at Club Blå and listeners on live web-TV and radio. Arshad and Kaveh with Mitt Land were named the winners and got the grand prize: 10 000 kr and the making of a music video.
Throughout the competition and continuing into a follow-on campaign, organizers are using President Obama’s image and words, citing his ability to connect with people across social divides, as a mobilizing force to encourage Norwegian youth and minorities to vote. The group used the slogan "Bruk stemmeretten din - Ja vi kan, vi også!" (Use your right to vote - Yes we can too!), stressing the importance of voting without promoting any particular party. The U.S. Embassy is a proud sponsor for the campaign and emphasizes the critical role that youth and minorities can play in elections. We remind all Norwegians to get involved, get informed, and get out to vote.
The campaign to vote continued throughout the weekend leading up to the elections on Monday, September 14. OMOD representatives then drove a van around the streets of Oslo, handing out general voting information, t-shirts and flyers to encourage people to participate.
Check out more about Rapvalg 2009 on www.rapvalg.no
See photos from Rapvalg 2009 on the U.S. Embassy Facebook profile.
See photos from the "Use your right to vote" bus tour on Facebook.
See video from the "Use your right to vote" bus tour on YouTube
Radio Latin America reported live from the campaign bus.