Awareness Film Night

Palestinian Hip Hop group DAM, which has spawned a cult following and a small army of imitators, is featured in the May 12 Awareness Film Night screening of “Slingshot Hip Hop”. Freedom of expression and the powers of suppression meet head-on in this gritty and infectious documentary that weaves together the stories of young Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank and inside Israel as they discover Hip Hop and employ it as a tool to surmount divisions imposed by occupation and sanction-created poverty. From internal checkpoints to separation walls to gender norms and generational differences, this is the story of young people crossing the borders that separate them.

We follow DAM, the first ever Palestinian Hip Hop group from their early awkward studio recordings to fiery sold-out shows over the world. We meet Mahmoud Shalalie, an irreverent rapper from Akka, along with R & B singer Abeer and rap duo Arapeyat, rising female artists determined to express themselves, and PR (Palestinian Raperz), trapped in Gaza, one of the most heavily populated places on Earth.

The movie shows scenes of these young rappers facing crushing poverty, daily border checkpoints and other obstacles. The filmmaker, Jackie Reem Salloum, said: “When I visit my family in the West Bank, the situation just gets worse and worse. But these rappers give me hope”. She noted that the rap groups often bring positive messages to youths encouraging them to express their anger through rhymes, not violence. “It’s having a huge effect on the new generation.” (www.slingshothiphop.com)

“Slingshot Hip Hop” will be shown in the Edward Milne Community School theatre at 7 p.m.. Bring your younger generation family and friends. Admission is by donation.

Info: http://www.slingshothiphop.com/

ALSO: Aquaculture Revolution (Science vs. Salmon Farming)

Our coastal salmon is at risk for more than sea lice infestations. The 3 Norwegian companies that own 90% of B.C. salmon farms have unleashed a deadly virus that has decimated the industry in Chile, is currently hitting Scotland and looms as a threat to wild salmon in Canada. Wild forage fish stock worldwide is being ravaged to make pelletized feed. It takes 2-5 kg. of wild fish protein to produce 1 kg. of farmed salmon protein. On April 14th, Awareness Film Night will be screening 2 short documentaries by B.C.’s Damien Gillis: “Farmed Salmon Exposed: The Global Reach of the Norwegian Salmon Farming Industry” and “Aquaculture Revolution (Science vs. Salmon Farming)”. Featuring interviews with scientists, conservationists and indigenous and labour leaders from around the world, “Farmed Salmon Exposed” reveals the underbelly of an industry now known as the “asbestos of the oceans”, a corporate agribusiness that externalizes its waste and problems onto the ecosystems and coastal residents in the countries where it operates (that would be us!). With footage and images from Norway, Scotland, Chile and B.C., these films lift the lid on facts that government and industry hoped Canadians would never learn about.  There will be a discussion after the screenings with Michelle Young of the Georgia Strait Alliance on the industry’s impact in B.C. and the propects for real change to protect wild salmon. Michelle was brought up in the Broughton Archipelago where the negative impacts from fish farms first came to light in B.C. She now lives on the ocean in Bowser where she has been working with the Georgia Strait Alliance on creating more sustainable salmon farming using closed containment.  The film starts at 7 p.m. at the Edward Milne Community School Theatre. Admission is by donation.

Info: http://farmedsalmonexposed.org/2009/multimedia.html

Have you thought about how you treat dirt? Probably with lots of fancy detergents. But what about the wonders of dirt? Soil, that is. On Wednesday, March 17 Awareness Film Night and Sooke Food CHI will present the film “Dirt! The Movie”. Made from the same elements as the stars, plants, animals and us, dirt is very much alive. “Dirt! The Movie”, narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis, brings life to the environmental, economic, social and political impact that soil has. It shares the stories and knowledge of experts from all over the world who study and are able to harness the beauty and power of a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with soil. The film takes us inside the wonders of the soil, Earth’s underappreciated source of fertility.

Dirt feeds us and gives us shelter. Dirt holds and cleans our water. Dirt heals us and makes us beautiful. Dirt regulates the earth’s climate. Most humans these days ignore, abuse and destroy dirt, but it hasn’t always been so and it doesn’t have to be that way now. This 2009 movie offers a vision of a sustainable relationship between us humans and dirt. “Dirt! The Movie” is not only about dirt; it is about feeding everyone, clean water and air, health and happiness, and, it is safe for kids!  The screening will be followed by a discussion on dirt and growing with ALM Farm-ers.  Come early to browse booths from local farms and gardening groups. There will be tea and delectables available for a donation from the EMCS Culinary Arts students. The film starts at 7 p.m. in the Edward Milne Community School theatre.  Admission is by donation.

Info: http://www.dirtthemovie.org/

AFN & Juan De Fuca Cycling Coalition team up to bring you “Age of Stupid”

The Age of Stupid stars Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite (In The Name of the Father, The Usual Suspects, Brassed Off) as a man living in the devastated future world of 2055, looking back at old footage from our time and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

Guy Dauncy, author of “The Climate Challenge: 101 Solutions to Global Warming” wil be speaking post screening.

THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD is a screwball true story about two gonzo political activists who, posing as top executives of giant corporations, lie their way into big business conferences and pull off the world’s most outrageous pranks.

From New Orleans to India to New York City, armed with little more than cheap thrift-store suits, the Yes Men squeeze raucous comedy out of all the ways that corporate greed is destroying the planet.

Brüno meets Michael Moore in this gut-busting wake-up call that proves a little imagination can go a long way towards vanquishing the Cult of Greed.

Who knew fixing the world could be so much fun?

Info: http://theyesmenfixtheworld.com/

The Canadian government, representing all of us, has sent troops to Afghanistan. We have been told that the mission there is to help the Afghan people. American filmmaker Robert Greenwald (“Outfoxed”, “Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price”, “Iraq For Sale”) decided to find out if the situation in Afghanistan after 8 years has indeed improved. The result of his own mission is the film “Rethink Afghanistan”. This feature-length documentary, completed in September of this year, will be screened on December 16 by Sooke’s Awareness Film Night.  Dr. Keith Martin, Esquimalt/Juan deFuca M.P., will be attending the screening and participating in a post screening discussion with filmgoers.

“Rethink Afghanistan” features interviews with Afghan civilians and women’s groups, former CIA operatives, journalists, U.S. veterans and policy experts. After exploring issues such as “cost of war”, “Pakistan”, “security”, “women in Afghanistan”, the film concludes with a segment called “solutions” which provides some common sense stories of people who are doing what is really needed in Afghanistan, now considered to be the third poorest nation in the world.

As the call to escalate the number of troops in Afghanistan rings out, it is time to consider the consequences of maintaining a military presence in a country that has mired and broken armies consistently throughout history. “Rethink Afghanistan” shatters many of the media-supported myths and documents the reality of the military engagement in Afghanistan. And, in a notable instance of democracy at work, there will be an opportunity to dialogue with our elected representative to Ottawa, Dr. Keith Martin, after the screening.  Showtime is 7 p.m. in the Edward Milne Community School theatre. Admission is by donation.  Proceeds to go to RAWA, an organization of Afghan women that has been working for peace, freedom, democracy and women’s rights since 1977.

Info: http://rethinkafghanistan.com

The spending season is upon us and, appropriately, on November 18 Awareness Film Night will be presenting the film “The Money Fix”, a feature length documentary that explores our society’s relationship with money. While most of us take the money system as a given, it has silent and profound implications for everyone. Have you ever wondered what money actually is or where it comes from? The truth is that all money enters the economy as bank debt. This seemingly innocuous detail is actually at the core of many of the social and environmental problems of today. Featuring interviews with Noam Chomsky, Riane Eisler, Fritjof Capra, Bernard Lietaer, Richard Albert and more, “The Money Fix” examines economic patterning and how we can empower ourselves by redesigning the lifeblood of the economy at the community level. The film documents three types of alternative money systems that focus on local exchanges that we can well incorporate into our own holiday “shopping”. This easy to understand, no frills movie will transform the way you perceive money and the resulting economy. Money is created out of thin air, yet we have agreed to give it free reign to mold our fate. Showtime is  
7 p.m. at Edward Milne Community School theatre.  By donation.

Info: http://www.themoneyfix.org/

Awareness Film Night will kick off its 16th season on October 21 with the film “Homo Toxicus”.

Every day tons of chemicals are released into the environment without anyone ever knowing how toxic they are in the long term to living organisms. In a hard-hitting investigation carried out with intelligence and humour, Canadian director Carole Poliquin has her own blood tested and then explores the winding trail blazed by her alarming results. Her findings strongly challenge our chemical-laden way of life. She examines the lack of proper testing of the 100,000 molecules developed since World War II that are found in products we use daily and discovers that up to 247 toxic substances have been found in newborns. From the astounding health concerns in Canadian communities situated in heavily industrialized areas to hermaphrodite fish, this film investigates the links between these toxic substances and rising health problems such as cancer, asthma, hyperactivity, infertility and other gender concerns. Interviews with Health Canada whistleblowers and a compelling array of health researchers open Ms. Poliquin’s and the filmgoers’ eyes to the serious nature of our chemicallized world. The viewer will come away with a sense of what products we need to avoid in order to decrease our toxin burden and that of future generations. Moviegoers are encouraged to stay after the film to discuss ideas on how best to live without many of these toxic chemicals and any other topics brought forward by the film.

Awareness Film Night has been showing monthly films on topics normally disregarded by the mainstream media since 1994. The library of previously screened films is available for public borrowing at Video To Go.  “Homo Toxicus” will be shown in the Edward Milne Community School theatre at 7:00. Admission is by donation.

Info: http://www.homotoxicus.com/english/index.htm

What do secrecy, police provocateurs, an assault on democracy and infringements on citizens’ rights have in common? The Security Prosperity Partnership (SPP). Never heard of it? Exactly.  On June 17, Awareness Film Night will present the film “You, Me and the SPP: Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule” This feature length documentary, released in March, is the latest film from Nanaimo director and producer Paul Manly, who brought us “Sombrio”. Paul will be in attendance at the screening. 

Negotiated away from public scrutiny, the SPP is billed as a mere trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, but, in fact, it threatens the sovereignty of these 3 nations through the integration of military, security structures and regulatory regimes. The SPP undermines our democratic rights and the ability of our elected representatives to pass laws and regulations that safeguard the environment, protect workers rights and control the economy in the interest of ordinary citizens.  In short, our parliamentary democracy could become an empty shell.

Manly starts the film with random interviews on the street asking people if they have heard of the SPP and its close cousin TILMA (Trade Investment Labour Mobility Agreement). No one has, of course, and he wonders why. Unable to obtain interviews with the government ministers responsible for these two agreements, he sets out to find out what all the silence is about and what these agreements will mean to the citizens of Canada. 

Murray Dobbin, Canadian author and journalist explains: “what the SPP really represents is a parallel government, so that the important decisions are…made outside of parliament and outside of legislatures”. Also featuring interviews with Naomi Klein, Maude Barlow and others and music by French Beach resident Daniel Hanneson, “You Me and the SPP: Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule” will be the season finale for Awareness Film Night.  Showtime is at 7 p.m. at the Edward Milne Community School theatre. Paul Manly will be in attendance to answer questions from the audience after the screening.  Admission is by donation.

Info: http://www.youmespp.com/

In every corner of the globe, we are polluting, diverting, pumping and wasting our limited supply of fresh water. On May 13, Awareness Film Night will present the film “Blue Gold – World Water Wars”. Playing to sold-out crowds around the world, this award-winning documentary is a must-see for everyone on the planet. The film’s director Sam Bozzo explains: “In the science-fiction film ‘The Man Who Fell To Earth’, David Bowie famously portrayed an alien from a planet running out of water. He left. We cannot. Ironically, it was while researching and writing a sequel to that film, where we imagined a futuristic earth itself running out of water, that my producer Si Litvinoff found the book ‘Blue Gold: The Battle Against Corporate Theft of the World’s Water’ (by the Council of Canadians’ Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke). I was horrified to discover that what was happening on our planet now was worse than what we were dreaming up for science fiction”

Bozzo based his film on Barlow and Clarke’s book and travelled the world to examine what life with little or no water is like. He follows numerous worldwide examples of people fighting for their basic right to water, from court cases to violent revolutions to local protests at grammar schools.  The film examines corporate giants forcing developing countries to privatize their water supply for profit, corrupt governments using water for economic and political gain and the emerging scenario of military control of water, setting the stage for possible world water wars. But “Blue Gold” is not about hopelessness. The final chapter of the film, titled “The Way Forward” presents ideas that will help the world avoid water-related catastrophes.

Winner of the “Audience Choice Best Environmental Documentary” at the recent Vancouver International Film Festival, “Blue Gold” is produced by Mark Achbar (“The Corporation”) and Si Litvinoff (“The Man Who Fell To Earth”) and is narrated by Malcolm McDowell. Living in Canada, we need to pay special heed to this issue because Canada is home to a large percentage of the Earth’s fresh water. “Blue Gold – World Water Wars” will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Edward Milne Community School theatre. Admission is by donation.

Info: http://www.bluegold-worldwaterwars.com/