See this film - At the Death House Door

"At the Death House Door" is an IFC original documentary following Carroll Pickett's 16 year transformation from prison chaplain in Huntsville, Texas to outspoken anti-death penalty crusader. Outstanding example of the power of documentary filmmaking in supporting social justice advocacy.

See this film - The Cove

Roger Ebert:

"There are many documentaries angry about the human destruction of the planetary peace. This is one of the very best — a certain Oscar nominee. It includes a great many facts about the craven International Whaling Commission and many insights into the mistreatment of dolphins; Simon Hutchins, who has specialized in the subject for the London Telegraph, is especially helpful.

But when all of the facts have been marshaled and the cases made, one element of the film stands out above all, and that is the remorse of Richard O'Barry. He became rich and famous because of the TV series, which popularized and sanitized the image of captive dolphins. He has been trying for 25 years to make amends."

See this film - Food, Inc

Yes, there are disturbing scenes of how the animals that are commonly consumed in our country are 'processed.' Thankfully, these scenes are not gratuitous. The main point I came away with is that giant corporations have taken over our food supply with a lot of help from our government. Most disturbing is how the various government agencies that are charged with oversight of food production and consumer protection are mostly led by industry insiders, people who have spent years acting as lobbists for food giants. Basically, our elected officials have been bought off by the food giants. The result is that we have a food system that has made tax-subsidized, under-regulated, and unhealthy food the foundation of the American diet. And, this is making us fat and sick.

Although I put off watching this well-made documentary, I'm glad that I watched it now. Why? Because it puts this terrible health insurance bill into greater perspective. Now I see how the government and giant corporation collusion really works. Sure, the bill includes more regulation of health insurance companies but I imagine we'll be less than thrilled with who is put in charge of overseeing the government agencies that are supposed to enforce these new regulations.

When and how are we going to take back our government from control of corporations? Will anyone in Congress and the White House ever have the conviction to put the needs of our country's citizens before the wants of oil, food, military contractors (Boeing, Raytheon, Halliburton), and health insurance corporations?

Roger Ebert's review here.

Quotable - a sad sign of the times

“There are families not eating at the end of the month,” said Stephen Quinn, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Wal-Mart Stores, and “literally lining up at midnight” at Wal-Mart stores waiting to buy food when paychecks or government checks land in their accounts.

Among the steps Wal-Mart is taking to address the changes in shopping habits, Mr. Quinn listed an overhaul of the retailer’s private-label brand, Great Value, which is promoted in commercials describing how families can fix dinners with Great Value products “for less than $2 a serving.”

~ It's Still the Economy Stupid

See this film - Trouble the Water

In the same week, I read Zeitoun by Dave Eggers, I also watched this award-winning documentary Trouble the Water:



Both the book and the film tell the first person stories of people who survived a deadly storm only to discover the aftermath would be even more devastating. Their stories make it painfully clear how much ground we have lost as citizens under the Bush/Cheney administration.

well done!

MLK

Paul Newman, Humanitarian

Paul Newman, famous Academy-Award winning actor and humanitarian has died after battling lung cancer.

In 1982, as a lark, he decided to sell a salad dressing he had created and bottled for friends at Christmas. Thus was born the Newman’s Own brand, an enterprise he started with his friend A. E. Hotchner, the writer. More than 25 years later the brand has expanded to include, among other foods, lemonade, popcorn, spaghetti sauce, pretzels, organic Fig Newmans and wine. (His daughter Nell Newman runs the company’s organic arm.) All its profits, of more than $200 million, have been donated to charity, the company says.

Much of the money was used to create a string of Hole in the Wall Gang Camps, named for the outlaw gang in “Butch Cassidy.” The camps provide free summer recreation for children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Mr. Newman was actively involved in the project, even choosing cowboy hats as gear so that children who had lost their hair because of chemotherapy could disguise their baldness.

Although Newman is famous world-wide for his acting, it is his humanitarian efforts that take my breath away.

"If you're playing a poker game and you look around the table
and can't tell who the sucker is, it's you." - Paul Newman