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Thursday, February 15, 2007

FOR A CHANGE OF PACE ...

The films below were selected by our committee for this weekend's (Third Annual) Social Justice Film Festival in White Rock. I highly recommend viewing them if you have an opportunity, or make it happen in your part of the world... Our complete program, in black and white:



Friday Evening - Feature Film - 7:00 PM

At First United Church
“An Inconvenient Truth” a global warning. Explores data and predictions with Al Gore regarding climate change, and what we can do. World acclaimed documentary! 2006. (88 minutes) Important community discussion following. http://www.climatecrisis.net/aboutthefilm/

Saturday Morning - 10:00AM (choose one)

At First United Church
“Money” “Money as Debt” (sanctuary) “Money” examines the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and the parallel economies emerging. Money as Debt animated film on the perverse debt-money system. 2004 (77 minutes total) Discussion following. http://www.moneyasdebt.net/

“Hoodwinked: the Myth of Free Trade” (downstairs hall) the impact of free trade on Canadians. (Wheat Board, Environment, Soft Wood Lumber, etc) (90 minutes) 2006 Discussion following. http://www.westdunn.ca/hoodwinked/index.html

At Salvation Army (15417 Roper)
“Uganda Rising” (sanctuary) for children who have never known peace, the fight for hope never ends. (82 minutes) 2006 Discussion with Pete McCormack, the film's Director and Elaine Halsall. (My top doc pick!) http://www.ugandarising.com/home.html

“Big Sugar”
(hall) the evil history and modern power of the world reigning sugar cartels. Conditions in the Dominican Republic. (90 minutes) CBC Discussion following. http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/bigsugar/filmmaker.html

Saturday Afternoon - 1:00 PM (choose one)
First United Church
“Mothers Courage, Thriving Survivors” (sanctuary) and inspiring account of how the Rwandan women survived the horrors of 1994 to reconstruct their lives and country. 200 (minutes) Discussion with South Surrey Women’s Trauma Counselors. http://www.onf.ca/trouverunfilm/fichefilm.php?id=54020&v=h&lg=en

“Iraq for Sale: the war profiteers” (downstairs hall) inside the lives of soldiers, truck drivers, widows and children who have been changed forever as a result of profiteering in the reconstruction of Iraq. It uncovers the connections between private corporations making a killing in Iraq and the decision makers who allow them to do so. (75Minutes) 2006. Discussion following: Peace Group from Bellingham, Washington. http://iraqforsale.org/

Salvation Army 1:00 PM - (15417 Roper)

“Power of Community” how Cuba Survived Peak Oil” (sanctuary) a hopeful environmental story of how Cuba survived the oil famine of the 90’s. (53 minutes) 2006 Discussion following. ( I was against this doc. Until people stop risking their lives to leave Cuba, there is no happy "sustainability" story in my book - no matter what a California Community Centre thinks and invests money in propagating - might add, this choice was otherwise unanimous!)

“Bottom Line: Privatizing the World” (hall) the consequences of the world’s submission to private interests (seed patents, water, etc) (62 minutes) 2002. Discussion with Council of Canadians. http://www.ecocinema.gr/popup2003en.asp?reqid=8

Saturday afternoon - Feature Film - 3 PM

First United Church
“Black Gold: wake up and smell the coffee” a moving and eye-opening look into the 80-billion-dollar global coffee industry, where the spoils of overpriced lattes and cappuccinos are sparsely shared with the farmers who make it all possible. Award winning documentary. 2006 (85 minutes) Discussion following. http://www.blackgoldmovie.com/

Saturday evening - 7:00PM - Free

At First United Church
“The Constant Gardener” a gripping thriller - an enthralling love story - a conspiracy story of global injustice... (120 minutes) http://homevideo.universalstudios.com/title_old.php?titleId=2611

Information Display Tables
Council of Canadians, Amnesty International, The Canadian Landmine Foundation, Kairos (Canadian Ecumenical Justice initiatives), South Fraser Women’s Resource Center, Food Bank, and others


Lunch: 12:00 to 1:00pm - Nutritious and low cost . Proceeds go to our local Food Bank -
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate (all fair market) juice, water available during the day.


New!! “Youth Coffee House”
Friday afternoon at 2:00PM at First United Church
Film and Discussion: “Black Gold”
Cost $5 (includes weekend pass)



Held at and organized by First United Church and members of Amnesty International, Council of Canadians, Kairos and others in the community.
15385 Semiahmoo Avenue
White Rock, British Columbia
V4B 1T6
604-531-4850
firstuc@axion.net
http://www.firstunitedchurchwhiterock.com/

Sunday, February 18th
Worship at First United Church 10:30 AM
“Songs for Peace and Hope”
with The White Rock Children’s Choir
Everyone is welcome to this special service.

A few that did not make it due to scheduling... also good.

"Darwin's Nightmare" - http://www.darwinsnightmare.com/

"Shadow Company" - This one was "news" to me in this context - holly cow! http://www.shadowcompanythemovie.com/ - Do Not Miss.

"Goodnight Goodluck" - http://wip.warnerbros.com/goodnightgoodluck/index1.html

And: "Shut up and Sing" - DVD being released this week. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0811136/ - this one was not screened or on the radar at all but, I like to add to my "personal" list. Two reasons. One: I wondered what would have happened if they would have been guys/cowboys. Two: What happened to freedom of speech in the US?

There is always an opportunity to make a difference. The more information we have, the better, more educated the choices we make. We are all in it together!

20 comments:

Sunflower Optimism said...

Angeldust, I saw An Inconvenient Truth and The Constant Gardener, both excellent. I think everyone should see An Inconvenient Truth, what an eye opener.

Sounds like a lot of good ones on the rest of the schedule. Thanks for sharing!

vinay said...

seems like i am an ignorant soul!!! :-((

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Dear Sunflower - they're both excellent films.

"Money as Debt" should be mandatory before releasing teens from high school... We must all catch up and familiarize ourselves with "the money fantasy" we are living - ironically, as millions go hungry... Watch the long version.

DO NOT MISS "Shadow Company", it shed new light on all the "Security" companies that provide "service" with free-lance soldiers... particularly concentrated in Iraq - I am sure momentarily until the "next one".

A multi-billion dollar industry operating as legitimate corporations with stocks traded in the market... your pension plan might own shares in any of them...
A new twist many are absolutely not aware of!
I think of myself as informed and these two caught me completely off guard.

The situation "The constant gardener" deals with, I first heard of in the early, early eighties! Not much changed ... shamefully.
Pharmaceutical companies dumping expired birth control pills in Africa and South America.

... it is getting late.

Thanks you for visit and words
Big Hug
Nite-nite

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Hello
Perhaps you get to know things we are not privy of around here - believe me, the media here self-censors...

I was in disbelief when I moved here form a "dictatorship".
We get the news interpreted already and pre-selected for impact. It is quiet absurd.
I began checking various international sources to get an idea of what really might be happening - and that is not so safe other, as they share with each other, many times erroneous/one sided info.

Nite-nite
Keep well dear Vinay :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Angeldust!
Woow! Beautiful! Thanks!
Thanks for this informs too! It is helpful.

"There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved".
Happpy Valentine's Day!

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Thanks for dropping in Krystyna, HAve a great day!

rauf said...

Dearest Angel,
Really wish I could watch these films. Believe me this would hardly make any difference. People who are running and controlling this world are deaf and blind. I trust only the evolution of human mind to bring about the changes slowly and gradually. Women should be given deciding powers right from the grassroot level. This would take hundreds of years.
I brought religion in to my series on environment, largely because religious institutions are taken seriously. A majority of the people of this world follow some faith or the other. People believe what the priests say right or wrong. It is good that religion is waking up to the realities, some are still sleeping. So far chopping a tree is not a sin, polluting the atmosphere is not a sin.
lots of love and hugs Angel.

rauf said...

Please tell me what is Darwin's nightmare all about.

Metalchick said...

Happy Valentines Day Angeldust!

Those all look like good movies, I will be sure to check them out whenever I can.

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Dearest Rauf
“Sometime in the 1960's, in the heart of Africa, a new animal was introduced into Lake Victoria as a little scientific experiment. The Nile Perch, a voracious predator, extinguished almost the entire stock of the native fish species. However, the new fish multiplied so fast, that its white fillets are today exported all around the world.”
Please click on the link (I placed with each film) It will tell you much better than I’ll ever be able to – it is a really comprehensive site

This quote from that same site does not begin to tell the story of what is actually happening on and around the lake… I found this to be a “strong” documentary – not for the faint of heart (or stomach). The reality is brutal. But a must see… as part of our education.

We had debated how “raw” of a film can we actually include in the festival as apparently some people felt “uncomfortable” last year. I actually felt nauseous and found myself curled up on the pew in the fetal position half way through one of them….

I don’t know how you get your information in India. Ours comes rather “censored” and “prettied-up” and extremely limited (as if we would be the centre of the universe).
We may have freedom of speech, of press, etc. but we are not always well informed.
Too much “spinning”, propaganda and general BS in a glossy package, often clouds any possible semblance of truth.

The NA arrogance spills over the media perspectives – generally speaking. Therefore we must rely on documentaries made by independent filmmakers – as a rule – to find out what’s what around the world.
Without that information, we are living mindless and ignorant of other peoples plight, such as the slave salaries paid to the farmers … you know where I am going with this example.
We live in a consumer driven society where most people think things come out of a box… from the supermarket or the mall. Generally, there is neither conscience nor knowledge beyond that.

To give you an example of how insulated and sanitized we live our lives, up until three years ago there was no graffiti in our peninsula (which I was really happy about) – our “reality” is an “accident of grace”, even in our region, which is pretty good – so, a lot of people go about their lives, oblivious (also due to their rushed lifestyles) to what goes on in other parts of the country and the world.

Film Festivals like this bring on the opportunity to get informed and make political and consumer choices that will contribute to a more even distribution of wealth around the world – and you now what that does…

The global village is getting tighter and tighter – don’t go further than the two of us – look at the bond and the bridge we are building through the net!

I hope the above does not read like nonsense as its been a loooong day for me.

Lots of love and hugs

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Hello sweetie -

hope all is going well in school with you know whom....


Happy Valentines to you too!

Please do, have a group of friends and organize your own "Film Festival"

Love, joy and laughter

Deepak Gopi said...

Hi
I wish I cold be at the festival.
Thanks for the info.
Happy film viewing :):)

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Deepak - you made it!

Visit the sites (link at film) and see if you can have them sent...
We found those we contacted we "more than aproachable".

Given the Social Justice angle, are there any suggestions you might have for next year?

Some of us are already gathereing tittles - screening by committee takes a long time and it is a good idea to have all view the proposed ones - it could be quiet a job!

Take good care

vinay said...

check out my blog!!!who dares wins!!!

Margie said...

Finally I am back!
Missed you lots!
Wonderful post!
I will call you tonight!

Very windy day here...I almost got blowm away on a walk!

BIG BIG HUG....

Margie

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

I'll sneak over vinay -
SHE who dares wins - I like that, you are also a fast learner...he-he-he-he

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Oh dear MAtgie
so nivce to hear fro you.
Trust you are well.

- I will be "unavailable" until Monday, as I am involved with the Festival Commitee and we all have taken on responsibilities for its smooth run. -

Looking forward to chatting with you and getting up to date.
Have a great weekend!

Big hug

Paul said...

I think Gore deserves an award for helping to raise awareness about global warming - or another award if he's already gotten one. A real public service.

Alicia M B Ballard StudioGaleria said...

Absolutely!

Tracy said...

Hi Angeldust,

Thank you for your comments on my post. Where do I email you at?

My email is season_for_angels@yahoo.com.

I am doing much better, and my gallery showing was a success. I shall write a post soon. :)

Thank you for caring!

Hugs and blessings
Mysti