“Torturing Democracy” to be shown in Bethlehem
Posted September 18th, 2009 by April | Bethlehem
“Torturing Democracy”, a documentary on U.S. interrogations in the war on terror, will be shown at 7 p.m., September 30 at Central Moravian Church’s Christian Education Building in downtown Bethlehem. This evening of film and discussion is sponsored by Amnesty International Group 347 of Bethlehem.
Dr. Christian Rice, visiting assistant professor of Philosophy and Religion at Ursinus College, will moderate the discussion following the showing.
The 90-minute documentary examines how coercive interrogation methods were used by the CIA and then adopted for military interrogations at Guantanamo Bay and in Iraq. Amnesty International USA is sponsoring showings of the film across the country as part of its “Counter Terror with Justice Campaign”, to help stop the use of torture in American’s fight against terrorism. Amnesty International is calling for an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the use of torture in America’s “war on terror” and for those responsible to be held accountable.
This documentary is particularly relevant since in late August US Attorney General Eric Holder opened a “preliminary review” of whether CIA operatives broke the law in their use of coercion when interrogating suspected terrorists after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Bill Moyers of the Bill Moyers Journal says, “You’ll see and hear some things hard to bear but you’ll also meet some government insiders who refused to go along, who stood up and said, ‘This is wrong.’”
A discussion of the pros and cons of calling for an investigative commission will follow the film. “We are very pleased to share this film with the Moravian community and to have Dr. Rice guide the follow-up discussion,” says Karen Berry of the Amnesty group which has been meeting at Central Moravian since 1998.
Refreshments will be served. The Christian Education Building is on the Church campus between Church, Market and New streets. Access to the building is from New Street, a half block north of the Bethlehem Library, on the left. Call 610-866-2655 for more information. All are welcome.
Amnesty International UK’s new film “Stuff Of Life” depicts waterboarding
Posted April 22nd, 2008 by April | Amnesty News
Amnesty International in the UK has produced another enlightening and disturbing short film about the use of torture, in this case waterboarding. The film was released today at unsubscribe-me.org, and will be shown at British cinemas. Unsubscribe-me.org encourages Amnesty UK supporters to reject, or unsubscribe from, the use of torture.
Film: “Screamers” (University of Pennsylvania)*
Posted April 22nd, 2008 by April | Other Human Rights News, University of Pennsylvania
*This is not an Amnesty International event, but may be of interest to AI supporters.
April 22, 8:15 pm
The Armenian Student Association at the University of Pennsylvania is holding a film screening as part of Genocide Awareness Week.
Screamers is a 2006 documentary by director Carla Garapedian. The film explores why genocides have recurred into the modern day, and involves the band System of a Down, Serj Tankian’s grandfather (who is an Armenian Genocide survivor), the human rights activist and journalist Professor Samantha Power, and various people involved with genocides in Rwanda and Darfur. Screamers also examines genocide denial in current day Turkey, and the trend of neutrality that the United States generally holds towards genocide.
University of Delaware Film Festival
Posted November 7th, 2007 by April | Delaware, Student Groups, University of Delaware
Apologies for the short notice, but I just found out about this and wanted to share it in case there’s still time for you to attend.
The University of Delaware Amnesty International chapter is holding a film festival entitled “Bare Witness…To Human Rights.” This has been going on since Monday, but the films yet to be shown are:
- Wednesday, November 7 – Theme “Terror” – “Lest We Forget,” “Punjabi Cab” and “Crossing the Line”.
- Thursday, November 8 – Theme “Children” – “The Price of Youth” and “The Day My God Died.”
- Friday, November 9 – Theme “Hope” – “Books not Bars” and “Waiting for Quds.”
All films are 7:00 – 9:00 pm in Willard Hall 007. Free and open to the public.
“Darfur Now” starts November 9 in Philadelphia
Posted October 30th, 2007 by April | Amnesty News
Darfur Now is a story of hope in the midst of one of humanity’s darkest hours – a call to action for people everywhere to end the catastrophe unfolding in Darfur, Sudan. In this documentary, the struggles and achievements of six different individuals, from Hotel Rwanda actor Don Cheadle to a Darfuri woman who joined rebel forces. The film hopes to bring to light the tragedy in Sudan and show how the actions of one person can make a difference to millions.
The film opens to the general public on November 9th at the Ritz Five, 214 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. 99 minutes.
Learn more and view a trailer at myspace
Wrap-up on “The Devil Came on Horseback” Panel Discussion
Posted October 8th, 2007 by April | Amnesty News, Bethlehem
Karen Berry writes:
Yesterday’s panel on Darfur following a showing of “The Devil Came on Horseback”, established clearly that the killings and turmoil in Darfur continue. Sarina Berlow moderated a discussion with both bad and good news: OxFam (refugee help) moved out; the UN World Food program has been temporarily suspended, both due to continuing pillaging and aggression by both rebels and government. On the upside, Stephen Spielberg and other prominents have pressed China, who recently voted for the 26,000 UN-AU forces inside Darfur by year’s end. Also elder statesmen Jimmy Carter and Desmond Tutu are working on Khartoum to settle this.
What still can be done is support both state and federal Senate legislation to divest from enterprises supporting Sudan’s military. Make calls to: State Sen. Browne (head of the Finance Committee) at 610-821-8468 and US Sen. Specter at 202-224-4254 and US Sen. Casey at 202-224-6324. Both federal and state bills call for divestment in part from Sudan. And that’s all you have to say—I ask you to move legislation that divests, in part, American money from enterprises that helps Khartoum before it stops the killing in Darfur.
But most chilling was the film itself which spared no sensitivity to scenes of dead and mutilated bodies. After all, it is the story of ex-marine Brian Steidle’s observer mission there in 2005. It is not like Darfur Diaries which was not in the thick of it. Today’s Morning Call review of “The Devil. . . “ says, “It is not an easy film to watch, nor should it be. It is, however, beautifully made.”
Yesterday’s panel was comprised of Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell, Charles Vaccaro and Dr. Hans Wuerth.
Film: Ghosts of Abu Ghraib (First Prebyterian)*
Posted October 2nd, 2007 by April | Other Human Rights News, West Chester
First Presbyterian Church
Miner and Darlington Streets, West Chester
Oct. 24, 7:30pm
This is not an Amnesty International event, but may be of interest to AI members.
West Chester group member Marlou encourages everyone to go see the film, “Ghosts of Abu Ghraib.” For more information about the film, please see the HBO Documentary website.
Acclaimed filmmaker Rory Kennedy investigates the psychological and political context surrounding the torture that occurred at Abu Ghraib through interviews with both Iraqi victims and the guards directly involved in the torture at the prison. Through these interviews, the film traces the events and the political and legal precedents that led to the scandal, beginning with the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sep. 11, 2001. “How could ordinary American soldiers come to engage in such monstrous acts?” Kennedy asks. “What policies were put into place that allowed this behavior to flourish while protections granted to prisoners under the Geneva Conventions were ignored?”
Presented by the Chester County Religious Campaign Against Torture.
The Bethlehem and Allentown Groups encourage supporters to see the film “The Devil Came on Horseback,” showing October 7-13 at the 514 Theatre in Allentown.
“The Devil Came on Horseback” explains how Brian Steidle left the marines to look for a job and found a calling. As an observer for the African Union in the Sudan, Steidle spent six months watching as a nation consumed itself — as the Sudanese Arab-controlled government enacted systematic genocide against its black African citizens in Darfur.
Complete details here:
October 7, 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 pm
October 8, 7:30 pm
October 9, 7:30 pm
October 10, 7:30 pm
October 12, 8:15 pm
October 13, 5:00 and 8:15 pm
514 Theatre
514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA
The Bethlehem Group encourages its supporters to see the film “The Devil Came on Horseback,” showing October 7-13 at the 514 Theatre.
“The Devil Came on Horseback” explains how Brian Steidle left the marines to look for a job and found a calling. As an observer for the African Union in the Sudan, Steidle spent six months watching as a nation consumed itself — as the Sudanese Arab-controlled government enacted systematic genocide against its black African citizens in Darfur.
On Sunday, October 7th at 1:30 pm, the film will be followed by a panel discussion.