18 May 2010 - Littering Behavior in America: Have you ever been outraged by the driver in front of you who threw out fast food containers or a can or a cigarette butt? While littering rates have fallen substantially over the past 40 years, littering remains an important social and environmental issue. The cost of litter is substantial, with a national cost around $11.5 billion for abatement and clean-up activities each year, and this number probably underestimates the true cost. On a local level, our state, county and township tax dollars help pay for the cleanup, so it should be of concern to all of us. Clean communities have a better chance of attracting new business, residents and tourists. Over the long term litter means less revenue to city, county and state coffers; and higher taxes. Litter also harms plants and degrades natural areas. When garbage is dumped, it can kill or stunt plant growth. Few people think about the harm to natural areas from litter. Fortunately, we can get a handle on the problem and its solutions. Our speaker, Derrick Neal, will be presenting highlights from the study, prepared for the Keep America Beautiful organization in January 2009. This meeting was held in co-ordination with Woodlands Green, and it was their event at our usual place and time.
20 April 2010 - The U.S. vs. John Lennon: The U.S. vs. John Lennon is a documentary film about English musician John Lennon's transformation from a member of The Beatles to a rallying anti-war activist striving for world peace during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film also details the attempts by the United States government under President Richard Nixon to silence him. The film makes extensive use of archival footage of John and Yoko Ono, and includes a famously hard-hitting interview conducted by anti-war reporter Gloria Emerson. The film explores the political activism that Lennon became strongly involved in with the Beatles and after the band ended. John Lennon is established as being a potential political threat to the American government, and therefore much of the film covers the theme of 'silencing' him and other popular figures that became involved in anti-war activism. Throughout the film the audience can see both sides of the situation: the audience sees the protests and events Lennon and Yoko Ono organised, such as the famous "Give Peace A Chance" rally and concepts such as bagism and bed peace. We also see the increasing fear experienced by the US government and CIA. This build-up of paranoia and fear for control led to the eventual deportation notice sent to John Lennon's house, informing him that 'his temporary stay in the USA was now over'. The film debunks and exposes the somewhat bizarre behaviour of the CIA and police department over John Lennon and other contemporary figures' behaviour, referring also to different modern issues like drug abuse. The film features a montage of various different mediums. There are videos of performances of songs and interviews of Lennon at the time, recordings of Yoko Ono both present and from the late 1960s and 1970s, as well as a basic story structure of retelling the story of John Lennon's attempts to spread a message of peace amongst the USA and, on a wider scale, the entire Western world during the Vietnam War.
16 March 2010 - Reel Bad Arabs - How Hollywood Vilifies a People: This groundbreaking documentary dissected a slanderous aspect of cinematic history that has run virtually unchallenged from the earliest days of silent film to today's biggest Hollywood blockbusters. Featuring acclaimed author Dr. Jack Shaheen, the film exploreed a long line of degrading images of Arabs--from Bedouin bandits and submissive maidens to sinister sheikhs and gun-wielding "terrorists"--along the way offering devastating insights into the origin of these stereotypic images, their development at key points in US history, and why they matter so much today. Shaheen showed how the persistence of these images over time has served to naturalize prejudicial attitudes toward Arabs and Arab culture, in the process reinforcing a narrow view of individual Arabs and the effects of specific US domestic and internationl policies on their lives. By inspiring critical thinking about the social, political, and basic human consequences of leaving these Hollywood caricatures unexamined, the film challenged viewers to recognize the urgent need for counter-narratives that do justice to the diversity and humanity of Arab people and the reality and richness of Arab history and culture.
16 February 2010 - Addicted to Plastic (Worldwide Plastics Pollution and it's Toxicity): From styrofoam cups to artificial organs, plastics are perhaps the most ubiquitous and versatile material ever invented. No invention in the past 100 years has had more influence and presence than synthetics. But such progress has had a cost. For better and for worse, no ecosystem or segment of human activity has escaped the shrink-wrapped grasp of plastic. Addicted To Plastic is a global journey to investigate what we really know about the material of a thousand uses and why there's so darn much of it. On the way we discover a toxic legacy, and the men and women dedicated to cleaning it up. Addicted To Plastic is a point-of-view style documentary that encompasses three years of filming in 12 countries on 5 continents, including two trips to the middle of the Pacific Ocean where plastic debris accumulates. The film details plastic's path over the last 100 years and provides a wealth of expert interviews on practical and cutting edge solutions to recycling, toxicity and biodegradability. These solutions - which include plastic made from plants - will provide viewers with a new perspective about our future with plastic.
19 January 2010 - Rethink Afghanistan: From Robert Greenwald, the director of OutFoxed, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, and Iraq For Sale, came this important documentary which questions our objectives in Afghanistan, now the longest war in American history. The film questions this war from several perspectives: 1) The impossibility of occupying a country of 12 million people with the tens of thousands of troops we are sending. The Russians failed to control this country with 1/2 million troops, even though they share a common border. For us, it's halfway around the world, with not even a direct supply route by sea. 2) The liklihood that our presence there will create a wider problem by radicalizing and destabilizing Pakistan 3) The financial cost of this war to the United States - likely to top 1 to 3 trillion. 4) The widely touted claim that we have improved the situation for the country's women. We have not. 5) The civilian casualties resulting from 31 million pounds of bombs, and the effect this has on the expanding insurgency. 6) Al Qaeda is not in Afghanistan any more, and the Taliban has no international objectives that threaten the United States. Why are we there? 7) Solutions: We cannot control this country and we can't reconstruct it. A continued stay will be costly and harmful. They want us out.
15 December 2009 - What Would Jesus Buy? follows Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir as they go on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse: the end of mankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt! From producer Morgan Spurlock (SUPER SIZE ME) and director Rob VanAlkemade comes a serious docu-comedy about the commercialization of Christmas. Bill Talen (aka Reverend Billy) was a lost idealist who hitchhiked to New York City only to find that Times Square was becoming a mall. Spurred on by the loss of his neighborhood and inspired by the sidewalk preachers around him, Bill bought a collar to match his white caterer's jacket, bleached his hair and became the Reverend Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping. Since 1999, Reverend Billy has gone from being a lone preacher with a portable pulpit preaching on subways, to the leader of a congregation and a movement whose numbers are well into the thousands. Through retail interventions, corporate exorcisms, and some good old-fashioned preaching, Reverend Billy reminds us that we have lost the true meaning of Christmas. What Would Jesus Buy? is a journey into the heart of America – from exorcising the demons at the Wal-Mart headquarters to taking over the center stage at the Mall of America and then ultimately heading to the Promised Land: Disneyland. Will we be led like Sheeple to the Christmas slaughter, or will we find a new way to give a gift this Christmas? What Would Jesus Buy? may just be the divine intervention we’ve all been searching for. The Shopocalypse is upon us … Who will be $aved?
17 November 2009 - A Forum on Mortgage Foreclosure Defense: A cruel and suffocating blanket of debt has descended upon this nation, condemning large numbers of Americans to a condition of DEBT PEONAGE. As to the individual, this crushing debt often manifests itself in residential foreclosure threatening the most basic tenet of family life – your home. In the past, notice of foreclosure almost always meant the inevitable coming loss of one’s home. However, there is a new day in foreclosure law which holds promise for the homeowner to resist and stop wrongful foreclosure before it occurs. New information, facts and law make this possible today. The mortgage securitization process is often reported to be laced with fraud. And the courts have seemingly taken a 180 degree turn in favor of the homeowner and against fraudulent practices in Wall Street’s mortgage securitization practices. Increasingly, foreclosures are affecting an unprecedented number of Americans. However, emerging facts and law are empowering individual homeowners for the first time to effectively resist the fraud which has in the past frequently wiped away the family’s largest asset – the family home. These issues were discussed and questions answered in a forum discussion of Mortgage Foreclosure Defense. This forum was hosted by Joseph Dale Robertson. He is a business consultant, holds a BBA in behavioral management science, and is widely read in political economics and business. His website is devoted to the subject of Habeas Corpus: http://www.habeascorpus.net.
20 October 2009 - Blood and Oil: The notion that oil motivates America's military engagements in the Middle East has long been dismissed as nonsense or mere conspiracy theory. Blood and Oil, a new documentary based on the critically- acclaimed work of Nation Magazine defense correspondent Michael T. Klare, challenges this conventional wisdom to correct the historical record. The film unearths declassified documents and highlights forgotten passages in prominent presidential doctrines to show how concerns about oil have been at the core of American foreign policy for more than 60 years – rendering our contemporary energy and military policies virtually indistinguishable. In the end, Blood and Oil calls for a radical re-thinking of US energy policy, warning that unless we change direction, we stand to be drawn into one oil war after another as the global hunt for diminishing world petroleum supplies accelerates.
15 September 2009 - HR3200 - Fact vs Fiction (America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009): In a program hosted by John Basel, we discussed and debunked the infamous 1000-page bill in Congress that created such an uproar in town hall meetings across the country. An actual copy of the bill was present for review. The bigger picture -- what is ailing healthcare and what is really needed was addressed, and several small business owners and self-employed individuals described experiences with the current system. We learned the truth about death panels, "government takeover of healthcare," rationing, and coverage of abortion and illegals.
18 August 2009 - Street Outreach Program: We met Margie Taylor, Coordinator of Montgomery County Youth Services Street Outreach Program, and learned the real stories and the real needs served by this community program. Ms. Taylor explained, "The MCYS Street Outreach Program assists and empowers runaway, homeless and/or street youth to move to a safe alternative living environment, to remain in school, and to build on inner strengths in order to achieve positive changes in his/her lifestyle, attitude and behavior. Our services are based on what the youth identifies as their needs and goals. We firmly believe that each youth can be resilient and is the expert in knowing how we can best help them." MCYS currently provides the ONLY services to "at-risk" and homeless youth through the State-funded Services to At-Risk Youth (STAR) program, the federally funded Basic Center Program, the Transitional Living Program (TLP) and the Street Outreach Program (SOP). MCYS services include crisis intervention/counseling, mentoring, screening, assessment, provision of emergency shelter and long term placement, referrals to needed community resources, and comprehensive street outreach services for youth who have run away, are homeless, and/or living on the streets. If MCYS cannot reunite a youth in crisis with his/her family or place the youth at the MCYS BridgeWay Youth Shelter or the MCYS Fairway Home Transitional Living Program, MCYS must transport the youth to an appropriate shelter in Houston. The closest shelter is approximately 60 miles south of Conroe in Houston (Harris County). Often the shelter's space, availability, admission requirements and the youth's own transportation issues make it difficult to guarantee access to admission on an emergency basis. In most cases, it is in the youth's best interest to remain in Montgomery County. There are approximately 450 homeless youth a night in Montgomery County and the number is rising. Many teens are sleeping on another friend's couch, in a car, in a park, in a shelter, or with a temporary relative.
21 July 2009 - Basic Gardening, Water Conservation & Rainwater Harvesting: Robert C. Dailey, Environmental Education Specialist, hosted our discussion of the looming worldwide shortage of fresh water. Only a very small percentage of the earth's water is suitable for drinking, as most of it is ocean salt water and much of the remainder is polar ice. Much of the world's population does not have clean water to drink. In regions of the United States, fresh water comes from underground aquafers and they are rapidly depleting. The dominant use of fresh water in residential areas is for watering gardens and lawns, and The Woodlands leads the nation in per capita water use. We discussed methods by which this water could be conserved: by limiting the amount of water used, and using methods of water recycling. Most of the water that drains from our homes (everything with the exception toilet water) can be recycled and used to water lawns and gardens. This is "grey water", which can combine with storm drains and other runoff. Drinkable (treated) water should be used only for drinking, cooking, bathing & swimming (pools). Homes need to be engineered to have two water inputs (pure and grey), and two outputs (grey and sewer), where the grey water is recycled back into the community via the storm drains.
16 June 2009 - How Cuba Survived Peak Oil: When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced and survived such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope. Moderating our discussion was Randall Cade. He is a petroleum engineer, and a 12-year resident of The Woodlands.
19 May 2009 - Consuming Kids - The Commercialization of Childhood: Consuming Kids throws desperately needed light on the practices of a relentless multi-billion dollar marketing machine that now sells kids and their parents everything from junk food and violent video games to bogus educational products and the family car. Drawing on the insights of health care professionals, children's advocates, and industry insiders, the film focuses on the explosive growth of child marketing in the wake of deregulation, showing how youth marketers have used the latest advances in psychology, anthropology, and neuroscience to transform American children into one of the most powerful and profitable consumer demographics in the world. Consuming Kids pushes back against the wholesale commercialization of childhood, raising urgent questions about the ethics of children's marketing and its impact on the health and well-being of kids.
21 April 2009 - Food Matters: "Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine, And Thy Medicine Be Thy Food." (Hippocrates) - That is the message from the founding father of modern medicine echoed in this brave new documentary film brought to you by Producer/Directors James Colquhoun and Laurentine Bosch. ‘Food Matters' is a hard hitting, fast paced look at our current state of health. Despite the billions of dollars of funding and research into new so-called cures we continue to suffer from a raft of chronic ills and every day maladies. Patching up an over-toxic and over-indulgent population with a host of toxic therapies and nutrient sparse foods is definitely not helping the situation. In a personal quest of discovery James and Laurentine together with a film crew and the editorial and production expertise of Enzo Tedeschi have set out on an independent mission to uncover the wholesome truth. The filmmakers have interviewed several world leaders in nutrition and natural healing who claim that not only are we harming our bodies with improper nutrition, but that the right kind of foods, supplements and detoxification can be used to treat chronic illnesses as fatal as terminally diagnosed cancer. ‘Food Matters' seeks to uncover the business of disease and at the same time explore the safe, cheap and effective use of nutrition and supplementation for preventing and often reversing the underlying causative aspects of the illness. With the premise of the film being: access to solid information helps people invariably make better choices for their health. The ‘Food Matters' duo have independently funded the film from start to finish in order to remain as unbiased as possible, delivering a clear and concise message to the world. Food Matters.
17 March 2009 - Health Care for All Texas; The United States is the only industrialized county that finances healthcare with profit driven insurers. Insurance companies make profit primarily in two ways: they deny care to the insured and exclude those who are most likely to need care from insurance coverage altogether. Additionally, in a profit-driven system, someone must pay for the colossal cost of resources from marketing, profits and huge bureaucracies that insurance companies and health providers need to keep up with the paperwork generated by over 1300 insurers. This cost amounts to 31 cents out of every healthcare dollar in the United States. What does this cost contribute to actual healthcare? American healthcare is ranked number 37 in the world by the World Health Organization. We spend nearly $8,000/yr per person on healthcare, have 48 million uninsured and 50 million underinsured while other industrialized countries spend about half as much, insure everyone and have better health outcomes. After a brief film and presentation by Health Care For All Texas, all guests were invited to share personal stories of good and bad healthcare experiences, including interaction with insurance and healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical companies.
17 February 2009 - The World According to Monsanto; Monsanto is one of the most controversial corporations in industrial history. It is the world leader in genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In agriculture, the GMO "innovation" centers around the development of strains of food crops that survive an insecticide (theirs) which kills all other plants. There are also seed products that produce their own insecticides. Serious efforts are directed toward marketing the products to farmers, which creates a dependence upon Monsanto Corporation for both the seed and the insecticide. Monsanto is also known for its work modifying dairy cows to produce more milk, with controversial results. Governmental regulatory agencies charged with declaring whether the milk products are safe for consumption have relied primarily upon research supplied by Monsanto in making their decisions. Genetically modified products are encroaching upon agricultural societies on most continents - even cross pollinating to domestic species that have provided food for centuries. This French documentary shows how the clean, green image conveyed by the company's advertising in the quest for market supremacy belies some detriments to global food security and environmental stability.
16 December 2008 - The New Rulers of the World: We featured John Pilger's documentary which tackles the injustices and double standards inherent in the politics of globalization. It sets out to explain something of the "new" order--the unholy alliance of business interests, media magnates and imperial repression--and the importance of breaking the silence that protects great power and its manipulations. The focus of this film is on american foreign policy toward Indonesia.
21 October 2008 - Public Education in Texas: We held an open forum, and extended an invitations to:
We discussed current issues affecting Texas public schools and children, including...
19 August 2008 - Freedom from Surveillance ACLU Freedom Files: Maida Asofsky, Houston ACLU Regional Director, spoke on the subject of "Freedom from Surveillance." There was a short filem, and discussion centered on the subject of the federal government's policies toward increased surveillance, especially in light of legislation passed since 9/11. From warrantless wiretapping of phone calls and monitoring of emails to the creation of a national identity card, the government is using "national security" as a justification for encroaching upon our right to privacy and freedoms of speech and association. But the initiatives are stirring intense opposition from many groups across the political spectrum. For more information, including a list of top ten myths about illegal NSA Spying on Americans and FISA myths and facts, visit http://aclu.tv/surveillance. This topic should be of interest to any citizen concerned about encroachment into our private lives.
15 July 2008 - Winter Soldier, Iraq and Afghanistan - Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupations: Winter Soldier featured testimony from U.S. veterans who served in the current occupations, giving an accurate account of what is really happening day in and day out, on the ground. This four-day event brought together veterans from across the country to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan - and present video and photographic evidence. In addition, panels of scholars, veterans, journalists, and other specialists gave context to the testimony. These panels covered everything from the history of the GI resistance movement to the fight for veterans' health benefits and support. Our program featured highlights of this testimony, and was hosted by Jim Rine, a Vietnam era Captain in the U.S. Army. He is currently the President of the Houston Chapter of Veterans for Peace.
20 May 2008 - Earthlings is a feature length documentary about humanity's absolute dependence on animals (for pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and scientific research) but also illustrates our complete disrespect for these so-called "non-human providers." The film is narrated by Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix (GLADIATOR) and features music by the critically acclaimed platinum artist Moby. With an in-depth study into pet stores, puppy mills and animals shelters, as well as factory farms, the leather and fur trades, sports and entertainment industries, and finally the medical and scientific profession, EARTHLINGS uses hidden cameras and never before seen footage to chronicle the day-to-day practices of some of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit. Powerful, informative and thought-provoking, EARTHLINGS is by far the most comprehensive documentary ever produced on the correlation between nature, animals, and human economic interests. There are many worthy animal rights films available, but this one transcends the setting. EARTHLINGS cries to be seen. Highly recommended! For more info, see http://www.isawearthlings.com/.
15 April 2008 - Ouch! The Temperature Is Rising!: Ron Hayden, Sierra Club (Houston Chapter) leader on Energy Policy and Global Warming shared some useful information with us. During the presentation Ron answered the questions, "What is global warming? What causes global warming? What can we do to solve the problem of global warming?" Ron helped us sift through the disinformation that often confuses the average person when making decisions about elected officials' actions, policy-making, and what an individual person can do to most effectively implement change. The verdict is in from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), the UN mandated panel of 2500 climate scientists working on this issue since 1990. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from human activity causes global warming.
18 march 2008 - Environmental Double Feature (BTW - both of these documentaries can be
viewed on-line simply by clicking on the link):
The Story of Stuff:
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities
at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute,
fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of
Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us
together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you
laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
Bogotá - Building
a sustainable city:
a look at how a major South American metropolis dealt with its serious problems, such as traffic
congenstion, high crime and population density. There are many huge cities in the less developed world that
have drawn masses of impoverished people from the surrounding countryside into high density shantytowns and slums.
Cities fitting this description exist on several continents. This documentary is a study on how one city of
7 million re-invented itself. After getting an estimate on what it would take to solve its gridlock in
transportation with expensive new infrastructure, it chose the opposite approach. It banned cars on
many streets, converting them to bike paths and walkways. The busses which clogged its streets (and
were owned by organized crime) were replaced with a new public transportation system. And during the
decade of the 90's, crime was reduced by 71%.
19 February 2008 - Uncounted: The New Math of American Elections This is an explosive new documentary that shows how the election fraud that changed the outcome of the 2004 election led to even greater fraud in 2006 - and now looms as an unbridled threat to the outcome of the 2008 election. This controversial feature length film by Emmy award-winning director David Earnhardt examines in factual, logical, and yet startling terms how easy it is to change election outcomes and undermine election integrity across the U.S. Noted computer programmers, statisticians, journalists, and experienced election officials provide the irrefutable proof.
15 January 2008 - School to Prison Pipeline: Maida Asofsky, Houston ACLU Regional Director, spoke on the subject of the "School to Prison Pipeline." A short video was viewed, and discussion centered on the subject of Zero Tolerance in schools, which tracks minority students into institutions that are anything but educational. This topic would be of interest to parents, teachers and school administrators, people working within the legal system and many concerned citizens. Bio: Maida Asofsky graduated from Smith College in 1964, earned a master's degree at Columbia University in biology in 1967. She graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1979. From 1979 until 1990, she practiced as a trial attorney in the New York State Attorney General's office, from 1990-1992, in the City of Houston, Department of Law. She had a small private practice from 1992 until 2004 when she took her current position as Houston Regional Director for the ACLU of Texas. She is currently on the boards of the Houston Ballet, the Jewish Community Center, and the Friends of Women's Studies.
20 November 2007 - We - Featuring the words of Arundhati Roy: We is a fast-paced 64 minute documentary that covers the world politics of power, war, corporations, deception and exploitation. It visualizes the words of Arundhati Roy, specifically her famous Come September speech, where she spoke on such things as the war on terror, corporate globalization, justice and the growing civil unrest. It's witty, moving, alarming and quite a lesson in modern history. We is almost in the style of a continuous music video. The music used sets the pace and serves as wonderful background for the words of Ms. Roy and images of humanity in the world we live all in today.
16 October 2007 - Thirst - The Coming Worldwide Shortage of Fresh
Water:
The rush to privatize water is underway across the world. With an increasing population and a decreasing
supply (due to pollution), the onset of this crisis will be sudden. Wars will be fought as violently as
those over oil. Yet, international corporations are positioning themselves to profit from this scenario.
Free market? Hardly, not when monopoly access to all available sources (public and private, above and
below ground) are granted by governments and backed by police power. The documentary focuses on Stockton,
California (where grassroots opposition was mobilized and defeated), and the desert region of Rajistan,
India (where the price of water is now higher than milk).
18 September 2007 - Black Diamonds - Mountaintop Removal and the Fight for Coalfield Justice: Black Diamonds charts the escalating drama in Appalachia over the alarming increase in large mountaintop coal mines. These mammoth operations have covered 1200 miles of headwater streams with mining waste; demolished thousands of acres of hardwood forest; and flattened hundred of Appalachian mountain peaks. Citizen testimony and visual documentation interwoven with the perspectives of government officials, activists, and scientists create a riveting portrait of an American region fighting for its life -- caught between the grinding wheels of the national appetite for cheap energy and an enduring sense of Appalachian culture, pride, and natural beauty.
21 August 2007 - Sir! No Sir! - The Suppressed Story of the GI Movement to End the War in Vietnam: The Vietnam War has been the subject of hundreds of films, both fiction and non-fiction, but this story - the story of the rebellion of thousands of American soldiers against the war - has never been told in film.This is certainly not for lack of evidence. By the Pentagon’s own figures, 503,926 “incidents of desertion” occurred between 1966 and 1971; officers were being “fragged” (killed with fragmentation grenades by their own troops) at an alarming rate; and by 1971 entire units were refusing to go into battle in unprecedented numbers. In the course of a few short years, over 100 underground newspapers were published by soldiers around the world; local and national antiwar GI organizations were joined by thousands; thousands more demonstrated against the war at every major base in the world in 1970 and 1971, including in Vietnam itself; stockades and federal prisons were filling up with soldiers jailed for their opposition to the war and the military. If you missed this program, check the website for the availability of the DVD.
17 July 2007 - A Crude Awakening - the Oil Crash: OilCrash, produced and directed by award-winning European journalists and filmmakers Basil Gelpke and Ray McCormack, tells the story of how our civilization’s addiction to oil puts it on a collision course with geology. Compelling, intelligent, and highly entertaining, the film visits with the world’s top experts and comes to a startling, but logical conclusion – our industrial society, built on cheap and readily available oil, must be completely re-imagined and overhauled.
19 June 2007 - While Others Were Silent (a movie about Dennis Kucinich: You were right. You knew that invading Iraq would damage our country's reputation and ruin our economy. You pleaded for our government to stop the war, to stop the funding, and to put a stop to the illegal quest for oil. It's been 5 years since your warnings were left unanswered. Our country is bleeding money and bleeding lives, yet our legislators continue to approve plans that string out occupation and continue to line the pockets of war profiteers. Many people of this country were blinded by the flash of fear brought on by 9-11. but their vision is returning and they see the damage that has been done, the loss of life, the loss of liberty, and the loss of the American Dream. You know this person. It could be a family member, a friend, a co-worker, the shop owner at the corner, or someone from the gym.
15 May 2007 - Money as Debt: "I have worked for a long time looking into monetary reform and after 10 years, finally someone has produced a DVD entitled "Money as Debt". It is a fabulous fun yet powerful introduction to the issue of monetary reform. It's the best over view I have seen so far; the best by far. ESSENTIAL! Everyone should watch it! The topic of DebtMoney is THE issue of our times. It forms the basis to every nation's areas of core material and spiritual concerns such as economic development, employment and environmental sustainability. If only government officials, civil society organizations, environmental groups, unions and well meaning international development strategists trying to eradicate poverty really understood this topic. The world would be a much better place. Only 47 minutes long, this DVD is ideal for public education in schools, colleges and universities, as well as individual or family viewing, with lots of juicy re-useable quotes from prominent bankers, economists and presidents." Elizabeth J. Kucinich. Use the link above to obtain this important economics lesson if you missed the meeting.
19 October 2006 - 911 Press for Truth: Tis the Season! The 5th anniversary of September 11th had just past, and with it the barrage of media coverage trumpeting the official version of the story and justification for war. Through it all, our “War President” was milking the tragedy for election year brownie points and a lame excuse to “stay the course”. There are a lot of 911 conspiracy documentaries, and the quality of the research varies. We have all heard the one about what hit the Pentagon, which is the first issue the media jumps all over when they want to discredit all inquiry into the events. For more on how the media discredits 911 research, click here. The documentary we screened is very different. There is no discussion at all about the physical evidence at the crash scenes, which is probably good since there are too many variables involved in getting this evidence into court. “911 Press for Truth” follows a research methodology more closely related to a criminal investigation. It uses the public record of statements made by government officials to prove that they are lying. This documentary does a good job at that, and clearly shows the link to Pakistan’s ISI in funding the attacks and protecting bin Laden (even during the Afghan War).
15 August 2006 - Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price: This is the documentary film sensation that's changing the largest company on earth. The film features the deeply personal stories and everyday lives of families and communities struggling to survive in a Wal-Mart world. It's an emotional journey that will challenge the way you think, feel... and shop. It hits hard at the retailer from many angles, showing how it uses government aid domestically, and takes advantage of oppressive dictatorships abroad. There is clandestine footage taken inside Wal-Mart affiliated factories in China which is especially revealing.
18 July 2006 - The Concept of Community Radio:
We viewed the documentary, "KPFA on the Air". This award-winning film followed the origin of
KPFA – the first listener-sponsored, commercial-free radio
station. There was live footage of Lew Hill (who originated the concept) and many historical audio moments
only available through the Pacifica Radio Archives. The film actually begins with footage of KPFT's Garland
Ganter, holding a megaphone to announce the arrest of everyone at KPFA. Those were dark days.
Programmer Testifies to Rigging Florida Voting Software:
We had time after the KPFA film to view the court testimony of
Clint Curtis, the Tallahassee computer programmer who was directed in 2000 by his supervisor, Republican
Speaker of the House Tom Feeney (now a U.S. Congressman) to rig voting machines in south Florida to
flip the vote. He says he can make ANY election come out 51% / 49% in favor of the Republican, and the
tampering would never be detected. He is currently running for Feeney's House seat, personally attesting
to the corruption he witnessed behind closed doors. You can click the
link now to view this testimony.
20 June 2006 - Nobelity: A stunning look at the world's most pressing problems through the eyes of Nobel Laureates, Nobelity follows Austin-based filmmaker Turk Pipkin's personal journey to find enlightening answers about the kind of world our children and grandchildren will know. Filmed across the U.S., and in France, England, India, and Africa, Nobelity combines the insights of nine distinguished Nobelists with a first-person view of world problems and the children who are most challenged by them.
16 May 2006 - Enron, Smartest Guys in the Room: This documentary is based on the best-selling book of the same name by Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, a multidimensional study of one of the biggest business scandals in American history. The chronicle takes a look at one of the greatest corporate disasters in history, in which top executives from the 7th largest company in this country walked away with over one billion dollars, leaving investors and employees with nothing. The film features insider accounts and rare corporate audio and video tapes hat reveal colossal personal excesses of the Enron hierarchy and the utter moral vacuum that posed as corporate philosophy. The human drama that unfolds within Enron's walls resembles a Greek tragedy and produces a domino effect that could shape the face of our economy and ethical code for years to come.
21 March 2006 - Houston Climate Protection Alliance: Nan Hildreth gave a slide show entitled "The Emperor's New Clothes: What the authorities aren't saying about energy prices, climate disruption, and our future, but is obvious enough. Also, what you can do about it." The program was about rising gasoline prices, peak oil, transportation and land use, climate disruption, empire, how they are all connected. She talked about what you can do about it. Nan has been learning about peak oil with Texas oil professionals in Houston Peak Oil Progressives. She is a founding member of Houston Climate Protection Alliance.
21 Feb 2006 - Montgomery County Peace and Justice Network: Stever Harr is the founder of a new non-partisan group locally. They have already held two major events. The first featured Colonel Ann Wright, the high-ranking State Department diplomat who resigned her post in protest of Iraq war. The second event featured Cindy Sheehan. Both events were held at Montgomery College here in the Woodlands. The new group has a dedicated core of activists based in local churches, and holds a weekly Peace Vigil on the bridge over the lake on Lake Woodlands Parkway.
17 Jan 2006 - School of Assassins: A
documentary narrated by Susan Sarandon explores the School of the Americas
in Fort Benning, Georgia (renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute
for Security Cooperation). They train personnel as latin american proxies to extend America's influence in
Central and South American countries. Graduates have included many military leaders accused of human rights abuse
and death squad activity.
Fallujah - The
Hidden Massacre: A second documentary was shown at this meeting. It documented the use of chemical
weapons by American troops in Fallujah - especially White Phosphorus. The footage was very compelling and
disturbing. This video is in the public domain, and can be downloaded or viewed online by clicking on the
link.
20 Dec 2005 - The Good War, and those who
refused to fight it: 40,000 Americans refused to shoulder weapons in "the good war"
because their conscience would not allow them to kill another human
being. In the face of criticism and scorn, the men challenged the limits of
democracy in wartime. Many participated in the social movements that
transformed America in the generations that followed.
FEMA Camp Video: A 6 minute video was shown that was recorded from the parking lot of a FEMA
installation near Indianapolis. It convincingly shows that this installaion is intended for the
mass internment of civilians. Sound far-fetched? Click here for details.
18 Oct 2005 - The Education of Shelby Knox: Two photographers follow a high school girl, Shelby Knox, as she explores her school and extra-curricular environment in Lubbock, Texas. Despite differing personal opinions, Shelby's parents support their daughter's involvement in a student organization that advises the mayor's council. Her minister responds to probing questions on religious matters that affect students' lives. This movie provides an intimate study of parent-child relationships, the cultural and political aspects of sex-education in public schools and the impact of religion on secular society.
20 Sep 2005 - Beyond Treason: This documentary reports on the exposure of hundreds of thousands of troops to nuclear and biological hazards, experiments, and modern toxic weaponry (especially depleted uranium). This documentary is very well done, and shows that an unacceptable percentage of our troops end up permanently disabled as a result of their service.
16 Aug 2005 - Cultural Creatives- How Fifty Million Americans Could Change Our World: Our speaker was Nan Hildreth. Nan says, "It's not just you and a few friends who are concerned about our common future. A fourth of Americans are part of the emerging subculture named Cultural Creatives by demographer, Paul Ray." A short video of Ray was also be shown. To test if you are a Cultural Creative take this questionnaire: www.culturalcreatives.org/questionnaire.html.
19 Jul 2005 - You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train: Howard Zinn is inspiring a new generation. This documentary examined the amazing life of the renowned historian, activist and author. Following his early days as a shipyard labor organizer and bombardier in World War II, Zinn became an academic rebel and leader of civil disobedience in a time of institutionalized racism and war. His influential writings shine light on and bring voice to factory workers, immigrant laborers, African Americans, Native Americans and the working poor.
21 Jun 2005 - Did God Feng Shui America? Our speaker was Master Lam Quan. Why is America the most powerful country in the world? Aside from our political and military power, Feng Shui has another answer to this question. Our lands's natural positioning gave birth to a super country.
17 May 2005 - The Yes Men: The documentary "Yes Men" began as a parody website which lampooned the World Trade Organization. However, some banker types took it seriously and invited the leftist geeks to speak at major conferences of international bankers as WTO representatives. They accepted, and caught it all on video.
19 Apr 2005 - Training Session from Americans for Democracy: Learn how conservatives think and how to counter their arguments. Progressives need to go beyond using facts to argue their side; they need to "reframe" the debate. This session, led by a debate coach, helped us learn how to communicate effectively. (Based on the book, Don't Think of an Elephant, by George Lakoff.)
15 Mar 2005 - Mosquito Borne Diseases vs. Commonly Used Pesticides: Lynne Aldrich (Environmental Service Manger of Community Association of The Woodlands) explains the real risks. New, more environmentally safe efforts can change the way we control mosquitoes in Montgomery County. Grassroots support for this initiative is imperative because people are reluctant to give up their addiction to dangerous pesticides.
18 Jan 2005 - Post Election 2004: Dr. John Domino, professor of Political Science at Sam Houston State University was our featured speaker. His topic was "Strategies for Democrats, Moderates, and Grass Roots Groups. Idealism vs Realism and the hard fight ahead with the use of SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS."
21 Dec 2004 - The Perfect Storm for America's Economy? A confluence of problems is closing in on our country: Peak Oil, runaway budget and trade deficits, derivative bubble, housing bubble, export of our manufacturing base, and more. Our occupation in Iraq is doomed to fail, and would likely result in a loss of American influence throughout the middle east (where 70% of the world's remaining oil resides). Will our economy fall gently into recession, or will the shock be more sudden?
16 Nov 2004 - End of Suburbia: The world will consume the world's remaining oil supply within the lifetime of most Americans alive today. Our nation, economy and lifestyle is not only dependent on oil: it is dependent on CHEAP oil. The crisis will NOT commence when we use the last drop, but when world demand overruns production capacity. This is happening NOW. We currently consume a billion barrels every 11 1/2 days, and 5 barrels for every new one that is discovered in reserves. The documentary examines the consequences of "Peak Oil" - the point where production levels off and goes into permanent decline.
19 Oct 2004 - Conspiracy Night! Well, we screened 911 in Plane Site. It uses the actual TV converage of that day to point out some of the many anomalies that need an explanation. We followed with an audio clip by Michael C. Ruppert regarding the confluence of military exercises held on the morning of 9/11 (including a hijack drill), which had our air defenses deployed over the arctic and otherwise unprepared for a response to the attacks. He claims complicity.
21 Sep 2004 - OutFoxed - Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism: "Outfoxed" examines how media empires, led by Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, have been running a "race to the bottom" in television news. This film provides an in-depth look at Fox News and the dangers of ever-enlarging corporations taking control of the public's right to know. The film explores Murdoch's burgeoning kingdom and the impact on society when a broad swath of media is controlled by one person.
17 Aug 2004 - Clean Up Congress Without DeLay: Richard Morrison was the Democratic challenger against Tom DeLay in 2004, and came to speak before our group during campaign season. Turnout for this event was the largest of any meeting of Concerned Citizens, at about 95. It was standing room only. Morrison was very upbeat, and confident that an upset victory over DeLay was possible. Well, maybe in 2006.
15 Jun 2004 - Uncovered: The War on Iraq: Filmmaker Robert Greenwald chronicles the Bush Administration's determined quest to invade Iraq following the events of September 11, 2001. The film deconstructs the administration's case for war through interviews with U.S intelligence and defense officials, foreign service experts, and U.N. weapons inspectors -- including a former CIA director, a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia and even President Bush's Secretary of the Army. This was a groundbreaking documentary when we screened it. Now it is all old news.
18 May 2004 - Afghan Massacre - The Convoy of Death: This documentary tells of the horrific forced journey undertaken by thousands of prisoners who surrendered to America’s Afghan allies after the siege of Konduz. Eye witnesses tell of the disposal of the bodies in an operation controlled by American Special Forces. We screened this documentary prior to the start of the Iraq War. So much has happened since.
20 Apr 2004 - Computerized Vote Fraud: We were priviledged to have as our guest, Assistant Professor Dan S. Wallach of the Department of Computer Science at Rice University. His specialty is computer security, and he was on the team that examined the source code written for Diebold's new voting machines now widely installed throughout the country. His conclusion is that the software is poorly written and that elections can easily be hacked. More on this at www.blackboxvoting.org
16 Mar 2004 - Unprecedented - The 2000 Presidential Election: This documentary tells the riveting story about the battle for the Presidency in Florida and the undermining of democracy in America. Filmmakers Richard Ray Pérez and Joan Sekler examine modern America's most controversial political contest: the election of George W. Bush. What emerges is a disturbing picture of an election marred by suspicious irregularities, electoral injustices, and sinister voter purges in a state governed by the winning candidate's brother. George W. Bush stole the presidency of the United States, and got away with it. Discussion followed, and the meeting was hosted by Professor Jim Good and Attorney Linda Good. Of course, we now know that 2004 was much worse, with Bush stealing a minimum of 5 "battleground" states: Ohio, New Mexico, Nevada, Iowa, Florida and probably also Colorado. When a definitive documentary covering all the problems of this election is released, we will show it at Concerned Citizens.