Friday, October 05, 2007

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Don't miss the showing of a new film, "Breaking Ranks," about AWOL GI's in Canada on November 14, 2007, 7-9 pm, Curtis Hall, Sierra 2, 2791 24th Street, Sacramento. Gerry Condon, a war resister advocate, will lead a discussion afterwards.
For Immediate Release: October 2, 2007
Contact: Jan Fleming (916) 944-3191
WAR RESISTER ADVOCATE WILL VISIT SACRAMENTO ON NOVEMBER 14TH
Will Show New Film About AWOL GI's in Canada
During the last four years, more than 20,000 U.S. military personnel have gone AWOL. A couple hundred GI's headed to Canada rather than deploy to the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq. Gerry Condon knows what these young men and women are going through. In 1969, he deserted from the U.S. Army after refusing orders to Vietnam. For six years, Condon lived in Canada and Sweden, where he organized for amnesty for all war resisters.
Now, as Director of Project Safe Haven, Gerry Condon travels throughout the U.S. and Canada to drum up support for a new generation of war resisters. On November 14, Condon will visit Sacramento, where he will show a new film about U.S. war resisters in Canada and speak out on their behalf. His visit is sponsored by Central American Action Committee and Sacramento Peace Action.
"It's deja vu all over again," says Condon. "It's really tragic that our nation has been dragged into another unjust, unnecessary and unwinnable war. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed for no good reason.
"This war is also illegal," says Condon. "It violates the Nuremberg Principles, the Geneva Conventions on War, the UN Charter, and U.S law. President Bush and his entire war cabinet should be impeached and tried for war crimes. Unfortunately, this is not likely to happen. But those who refuse to be part of this illegal war should definitely not be punished.
"War resisters are obeying international law and following their own consciences," says Condon. "They need and deserve our support."
During the Vietnam War, as many as 100,000 U.S. citizens immigrated to Canada. Pierre Trudeau, Canada's prime minister at the time, welcomed the war resisters, saying, "Canada should be a haven from militarism." But Canada's immigration laws are much tighter now.
So U.S. soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen are seeking to remain in Canada as political refugees. The Supreme Court of Canada is expected to make a landmark ruling in November.
"Iraq War resisters are getting a lot of love and support from the Canadian people," says Condon. "Now it's time for people in the U.S. to step up to the plate."
BREAKING RANKS is a one hour film that tells the stories of four young AWOL soldiers who are seeking sanctuary in Canada. This poignant new film was co-produced by the National Film Board of Canada and has been nominated for many awards.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007 7-9 p.m.
Curtis Hall, Sierra 2
2791 24th Street, Sacramento
Gerry Condon will lead a discussion afterwards. The event is free. Donations will be accepted for Project Safe Haven and war resisters in Canada.
For more information, or to arrange a media interview, please contact: Jan Fleming (916) 944-3191

That's Dan Bacher's "War Resister Advocate Will Show New Film about AWOL GI's in Canada on Nov. 14" (Bay Area Indymedia). That's a PR release so it's noted in full. Breaking Ranks is an amazing documentary -- directed by Michelle Mason. Zach noted the above and, as the event gets closer, we'll note it again if someone will e-mail a reminder.

Last night we noted Susan Cornwell (Reuters) reporting that:


Widespread corruption in Iraq stretches into the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, an Iraqi investigating judge told U.S. lawmakers on Thursday, and an American official said U.S. efforts to combat the problem are inadequate.
Judge Radhi Hamza al-Radhi, who was named by the United States in 2004 to head the Iraqi Commission on Public Integrity, said his agency estimated corruption had cost the Iraqi government up to $18 billion.


This morning, Amanda notes Renee Schoof's "Iraqi judge tells of government corruption" (McClatchy Newspapers' Kansas City Star):

Iraq’s top corruption fighter told a congressional panel Thursday that rising corruption cost Iraq $18 billion over the past three years.
Enormous sums of oil revenues ended up in the hands of Sunni and Shiite militias, he said.
Radhi Hamza al-Radhi, who is seeking U.S. asylum because of death threats against him, said that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his government prevented al-Radhi’s U.S.-backed Commission on Public Integrity from taking action against top national officials.

Heads up on PBS' Bill Moyers Journal (this Friday in most markets, check local listings -- and it's a listen, watch and read online after the episode airs) when Moyers explores the group Christians United for Israel and also speaks to Rabbi Michael Lerner and Dr. Timothy Weber on the topic of? Should the US strike Iran. A YouTube preview is up and, at the program's website, essays on the topic will be posted as well. Again, the hour long show begins airing on most PBS markets on Friday (check local listings -- and at the website, you can also locate the airtime for your local PBS station). Also Friday on most PBS markets, NOW with David Brancaccio airs their latest half hour installment and this week interview Michael Apted about his owngoing documentary where he tracks a group of British people every seven years, energy conversation will be addressed with a report on Decorah, Iowa and Ken Burns will be interviewed about his latest documentary The War. On October 12th, NOW with David Brancaccio will air a one hour program, "Child Brides: Stolen Lives" documenting "the heartbreaking global phenomenon of forced child marriage, and the hope behind breaking the cycle of poverty and despair it causes." They've created an e-Card you can send to friends and family or to yourself to provide a heads up to the broadcast (and there is no cost to send the e-Card).

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