[Peace-discuss] Co-sponsor IDF Human Rights Film Series?

[Jen Tayabji]

Dear Organizational Representative:

I am contacting you to request the co-sponsorship of your organization for
an upcoming event at the Illinois Disciples Foundation.

It is my pleasure to announce that the Illinois Disciples Foundation (IDF)
will soon begin our Spring Human Rights Film Series. The series will
present important documentary films dealing with issues of human rights
and social justice. This semester's films will confront issues ranging
from the continuing war in Iraq and problems facing veterans, labor rights
and economic justice, and the use of torture.

These films will be presented to the public, free of charge, on Thursday
evenings in March and April at the Illinois Disciples Foundation. In
addition, the films will be presented by local activists and community
members who will moderate discussions about the issues presented in the
films with the people who come to the viewings.

IDF is very excited about this event, which has grown in popularity since
we began the series in 2003. In that time the series has expanded from an
annual event to now a semi-annual event. We intend to enrich the event
further this year, by linking individual films to additional events or
discussions which will expand on the issues in the films, or to provide
accompanying actions, moving people from education to becoming active on
organizing for social justice. We hope that you will join the IDF in
supporting this wonderful event for the community, organize your members
and supporters to participate and help to spread the word in the
community.

Also, in order to more easily present these wonderful, thought-provoking
films to the community, the Illinois Disciples Foundation has recently
purchased it's own video projector and high-quality screen. We believe
this is an important investment for us and the community, but this has
required a large cash outlay on our part. Whatever donations you could
make in addition to your co-sponsorship would go a long way to help us
defray our costs. We hope you realize that this is not just a great
resource for us, but for all of us working for peace and social justice in
this community, and we hope in the future you can suggest films for us to
show with this great new resource. Whatever monetary support you could
give would be greatly appreciated.

Please respond to this message by Tuesday, February 28th if your
organization would like to lend its name in co-sponsorship to the IDF's
Fifth Human Rights Film Series.  Although a monetary donation is not
required for co-sponsorship, we at IDF appreciate any support that you are
willing to give. Please send your responses to Aaron Smith at
redherng at shout.net or call the IDF office at 352-8721. Feel free to
contact me for more information about the film series.

Read below this e-mail for more complete information about the films,
dates, and event information, some information is subject to change.

More detailed information will be available in the coming weeks.  I hope
to hear from you soon, and I hope you will help us with this important
event.

In Solidarity,
Aaron Smith
IDF Assistant Director


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"The Soldiers' Heart"
Thursday, March 9th

Facilitator: Joe Miller of Vietnam Veterans Against the War

Synopsis: The military teaches soldiers how to fight, how to kill, how to
survive. But who teaches them how to live with themselves? FRONTLINE
examines the underreported story of the Iraq War: the psychological cost on
those who fight it. Today it¹s commonly referred to as Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder or PTSD. A study commissioned by the Army shows that one in six
veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering from PTSD. Yet
the fear of being labeled a ³coward² keeps many soldiers from seeking help.
This documentary features expert testimony from mental health professionals
and most importantly first-hand experiences from the veterans themselves.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/heart/

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"Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" (and "Lockout 484")
Thursday, March 16th

Facilitator: Bob Naiman of Jobs with Justice

Synopsis: WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE is a feature length
documentary that uncovers a retail giant's assault on families and
American values. The film dives into the deeply personal stories and
everyday lives of families and communities struggling to fight a goliath.
A working mother is forced to turn to public assistance to provide
healthcare for her two small children. A Missouri family loses its
business after Wal-Mart is given over $2 million to open its doors down
the road. A mayor struggles to equip his first responders after Wal-Mart
pulls out and relocates just outside the city limits. A community in
California unites, takes on the giant, and wins!
http://www.walmartmovie.com/

Lockout 484
18 minutes
Synopsis: In February 2005 Celanese, a major transnational corporation,
bought a chemical plant in the small town of Meredosia, IL. Celanese
demanded up to a 33% cut in pay and a reduction of health care benefits.
When the workers asked for an extension and more information, the
corporation locked them out and replaced them with unskilled workers.
http://www.lockout484.org/story.html

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"Navigating the New Medciare Rx Law" - Hosted by Walter Cronkite,
Presented by Families USA
"The Debate Over Plan B" - 60 Minutes/CBS News
"Unregulated, Untested, Unsafe: The U.S. Gun Industry" - Consumer
Federation of America
Thursday, March 30th

Facilitators: Claudia Lennhoff and Allison Jones from CCHCC

Synopses:
Navigating the New Medicare Rx Law, hosted by Walter Cronkite and
featuring seniors from our story bank. It includes an overview of the
low-income benefit, as well as details about the many shortcomings of the
law. Seniors will learn that, under the new law:
    * The Medicare program is prohibited from negotiating lower drug
prices;
    * There is a significant gap in coverage being referred to as the
"doughnut hole";
    * Seniors will only be allowed to purchase less expensive drugs from
Canada if the Secretary of Health and Human Services gives his
explicit approval;
    * Low-income seniors will receive special help;
    * There is a strict assets test, which will disqualify many low-income
seniors from receiving the help they need; and
    * Seniors can get a discount card this spring, and they will be locked
into one discount card for a year while the drugs covered by the card and
the amount of the discount may change every week.
http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/medicare/road-show/

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/22/60minutes/main1068924.shtml

The video, Unregulated, Untested, Unsafe: The US Gun Industry, focuses
solely on the consumer product safety approach to gun violence prevention.
http://www.consumerfed.org/topics.cfm?section=Health%20and%20Safety&topic=Gu
ns

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"The Take"
Thursday, April 6th

Facilitator: TBA

Synopsis: The Take is a political thriller that turns the globalization
debate on its head. The film follows Argentina's radical new movement of
occupied businesses: groups of workers who are claiming the country's
bankrupt workplaces and running them without bosses. With The Take,
director Avi Lewis, one of Canada's most outspoken journalists, and writer
Naomi Klein, author of the international bestseller No Logo, champion a
radical economic manifesto for the 21st century. But what shines through
in the film is the simple drama of workers lives and their struggles: the
demand for dignity and the searing injustice of dignity denied.
http://www.nfb.ca/trouverunfilm/fichefilm.php?id=51363&v=h

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"Frontline: The Torture Question"
Thursday, April 13th

Facilitator: TBA

Synopsis: In "The Torture Question", FRONTLINE traces the history of how
decisions made in Washington in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11 --
including an internal administration battle over the Geneva Conventions --
led to a robust interrogation policy that laid the groundwork for prisoner
abuse in Afghanistan; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and Iraq.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/torture/

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