Other Voices/Other Views

A film series presented twice a month by the Alliance for Global Justice, Ames Public Library, and the Ames High Progressive Club. The series is free and open to the public. The following films have been shown and are now available to be checked out at the Ames Public Library. (10-13-07)

Affluenza (VHS 381.3 AFF) 56 min. 1997. This amusing documentary uses personal stories, film clips, experts and "un‑commercials" to reveal how the social disease of consumerism spreads and affects our lives. This award winning film highlights how consumerism feeds on our fast paced society.

American Blackout (DVD 324.973 AME) 92 min. 2006. Examines the contemporary tactics used to control our democratic process and silence political dissent. Chronicles the patterns of voter disenfranchisement from Florida 2000 to Ohio 2004 while following the story of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.

America’s Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie (DVD 333.74 AME) 60 min 2005. This film tells the story of one of the world’s great ecosystems and its transformation from natural landscape to farmland. Once a prominent feature in North America, the tall grass prairie has been reduced to the vanishing point.

Arlington West (DVD) 56 min. 2004. Sixty‑four interviews, with soldiers and military families make up this moving documentary by longtime activist‑artists Sally Marr and Peter Dudar. This film is a riveting visit to a sea of crosses on the beaches of California and other locations around the U.S. Each cross symbolizes a fallen U.S. soldier. This powerful protest is recreated every Sunday by the Veterans For Peace.

Atomic Café (VHS DRAMA ATO) 92 min. 1982. This collage film focuses on the 40's and 50's, showing clips of soldiers wearing sunglasses going into areas devastated by nuclear detonation and suburban families practicing using their bomb shelters. An entertaining look at how we got where we are.

The Big Buy: Tom Delay’s Stolen Congress (DVD 320.973 BIG) 75 min.2006.

Tom DeLay, one of the most powerful figures in Congress, is investigated for his campaign fundraising and efforts to redraw Texas's Congressional districts. The Big Buy follows the investigation by one maverick district attorney into these charges.

Breaking the Silence: Truth and Lies in the War on Terror (VHS 363.BRE)

52 min.2003. Award‑winning journalist John Pilger investigates the discrepancies between American and British claims for the "war on terror" and the facts on the ground as he finds them in Afghanistan and Washington, DC.

Broken Limbs: Apples, Agriculture, and the New American Farmer (VHS 634.11) 57 min.2004. Film maker Guy Evans looks at the plight of apple farmers in his hometown of Wenatchee, WA. Using his father Danny’s business as an example, he describes how apple farming used to be, what it has become and what changes are needed for it to succeed in the future.

A Closer Walk(DVD 362.19697 CLO) 85 min.2003. This film documents the breadth and destructive power of the global AIDS pandemic as well as underlying social causes.

Control Room (DVD 070.4 CON) 84 min. 2004 This documentary examines the differences in coverage of the war in Iraq by the American media and Arab‑run television network Al Jazeera, which has been accused by Cabinet members and Pentagon officials of reporting with a pro‑Iraqi bias.

The Corporation (DVD 338.74 COR) 145 min.2005. The Corporation charts the spectacular rise of the corporation as a dramatic, pervasive presence in our every day lives. With a deft mix of humor, visual panache and seriousness, this documentary is a timely, entertaining critique of global conglomerates.

The Cost of War (DVD) 50 min. 2005. This film offers a brief glimpse into the war in Iraq and its human, personal, psychological, and social costs from those who have experienced it first hand.

Counting on Democracy (VHS 324.973 COU) 60 min. 2002. This film investigates the disenfranchisement of voters in Florida during the 2000 election.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (DVD SCI‑FI DAY) 92 min. 1951. Originally released as a motion picture in 1951 Based on a story "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates. A visitor from outer space comes with the warning that unless war is abolished, earth will be destroyed by the more advanced planets of the universe.

Deconstruction Supper (VHS 631.584 DEC) 47 min. 2002. Documentary film that looks at the way modern food is produced through genetic modification and through organic farming in Canada, Europe, India, and United States. A gourmet chef, John Bishop, leads us on an investigation of various genetically modified food products and Monsanto, the leader in genetic engineering .

Dreams (DVD FOREIGN DRE) 120 min. 1990. Subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Thai & Korean. Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this film features eight episodes that explore the cost s of war, the perils of nuclear power and humankind’s relationship with nature.

The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream (DVD 338.2728 END) 78 min. 2004. With brutal honesty and a touch of irony, this film explores the American way of life and its prospects as global demand for fossil fuels begins to outstrip supply.

Escape from Affluenza (VHS 381.3 ESC) 56 min. 2001. This video shows audiences how to declare their independence from the epidemic of rampant consumerism and materialism ailing Americans and our environment by adopting the practices of simple living. With stories of real people from Seattle to the Netherlands who have altered their lifestyles and re‑discovered the joy of living, Escape from Affluenza offers the antidote to debt, stress, time pressure and possession overload.

Eyewitness for Iraq: Dahr Jamail, An Unembedded Report (DVD) 28 min. 2005. After eight months among the people in Iraq, unembedded independent journalist Dahr Jamal details the situation on the ground.

Fahrenheit 9/11 (DVD 973.931 FAH) 122 min. 2004. One of the most controversial and provocative films of the year, Fahrenheit 9/11 is Academy Award‑winning film maker Michael Moore’s examination of the Bush administration’s actions in the wake of the tragic events of 9/11/01. The film takes viewers in side the war in Iraq to tell the stories we haven’t heard, illustrating the human cost of war to U.S. soldiers and their families.

The Fourth World War (DVD 355 FOU) 76 min. 2004. While American airwaves are crowded with talk of a new world war, the human face of war is rarely seen. This documentary weaves together the images and voices of the war on the ground ‑ from the front lines of struggles in Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Palestine, Korea, ‘the North’ from Seattle to Genova, and the ‘War on Terror’ in New York and Iraq. Spanning five continents, filming took over two years to document the story of how men and women are working to resist getting caught up in the current global conflict.

Frankensteer (DVD 394.12 FRA) 48 mins.2005. Frankensteer is a disturbing documentary that investigates dangers to human health posed by feedlot‑raised beef and discusses how recent changes in inspection rules have shifted the responsibility for food safety.

Fury for the Sound (DVD 333.75 FUR) 86 min. 1997. . This powerful film shows how a small group of dedicated women came together to save the rainforest at Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island.

The Ground Truth (DVD) 72 mins. 2006. Join us for an encore presentation of The Ground Truth, a documentary following the lives of young Americans as they experience recruitment and training, combat, homecoming, and the struggle to reintegrate with families and communities.

Harvest of Shame (DVD 920 Murrow,E.) Part of the Edward R. Murrow Collection Harvest of Shame, produced by David Lowe, was the final documentary in the career of broadcasting news legend Edward R. Murrow. Originally aired on CBS Reports in 1960, this controversial documentary about the plight of farm laborers in rural Florida, some of whom worked for as little as a dollar a day, shocked viewers with its stark images of desperate poverty and the callous greed of big growers.

Henry A Wallace (DVD 920 Wallace, H.) 57 min. 2004. This film profiles Henry Wallace’s journey from Vice President of the U.S. to political pariah. During a presidential bid on a third‑party ticket in 1948, Wallace was branded a communist sympathizer. He was egged and his running mate jailed for their unwavering stand on civil rights. Wallace was a successful scientist and businessman.

Hidden in Plain Sight (DVD 327.73 HID) 71 min. 2003. Feature‑length documentary that looks at the nature of U.S. policy in Latin American through the prism of the School of the Americas, the controversial military school that trains Latin American soldiers in the USA. The film presents different points of view on the School, US policy, and US involvement in Latin America. It includes interviews with a variety of scholars, legislators and activists as well as victims of the violence and repression in Latin America.

Hotel Rwanda (DVD Drama HOT) 121 min. 2004. Hotel Rwanda tells the remarkable true story of one man’s brave stance against savagery during the 1994 Rwandan conflict.

Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train (DVD 920 SINN,H.) 78 min. 2004. You Can’t Be Neutral tells the story of Howard Zinn, renowned historian, activist, and author of A People’s History of the United States. Created by Deb Ellis and Denis Mueller and narrated by Matt Damon, this film features rare archival materials and interviews with Zinn and colleagues such as Noam Chomsky.

In Whose Interest (VHS 327.73 IN) 28 min. 2002. This documentary focuses on U.S. intervention in Guatemala, Vietnam, East Timor, El Salvador and Palestine/Israel.

Incident at Oglala: The Leonard Peltier Story (DVD 364.1523 INC) 90 min. 1988. Examines the 1975 incident where armed FBI agents illegally entered the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, resulting in the deaths of a Native American and two FBI agents. Explores the controversy and potential abuse of justice surrounding the case of Leonard Peltier, who was the sole person in the incident convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

An Inconvenient Truth (363.7387 INC) 96 min. 2006. An Inconvenient Truth offers a look at Al Gore’s crusade to halt global warming in its tracks by exposing the myths and misconceptions that surround it.

Invisible Children (DVD 967.61 INV) 55 min. 2006. In Uganda's long‑lasting civil war, many children have been abducted to be trained as child soldiers. This film documents the children's life and general social conditions in Uganda in 2003.

Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers (DVD 956.7044 IRA) 75 min. 2006.

Exposes the monetary cost of war and reveals the truth behind the misuse of funds that were intended for Iraq's reconstruction.

Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media (DVD 302.23 MAN)

167 min. 2002. Funny, provocative and surprisingly accessible, Manufacturing Consent explores the political life and ideas of Noam Chomsky, world‑renowned linguist, intellectual and political activist. In a dynamic collage of new and original footage, biography, archival gems, imaginative graphics and outrageous illustrations, the film highlights Chomsky’s probing analysis of mass media.

Mission Against Terror(DVD 327.73 MIS) 48 min. 2004. Mission Against Terror is an Irish‑Cuban co‑production that follows the case of the five Cubans currently serving sentences in U.S. jails on charges of conspiracy to commit espionage and related offenses.

Not for Sale (VHS 660.65 NOT) 32 min. 2002. This film looks at farmers, indigenous people, and global justice activists who oppose patents on life and advocate for a world where life is not a commodity but something to be treasured. This is the third film in a series about the risks and benefits of the new biotechnology. The other two are Risky Business: biotechnology and

The New Rulers of the World (VHS 303.3 NEW) 53 min. 2001. This film examines the use of sweatshop factories by famous brand names, and asks some penetrating questions. Who are the real beneficiaries of the globalized economy? Who really rules the world now? Is it the governments or a handful of huge companies?

Oil on Ice (DVD 363.7382 OIL) 90 min. 2004. Oil on Ice connects the fate of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to critical decisions America makes about energy policy. Caught in the balance are the Gwich’in Indians and the migratory wildlife in the fragile ecosystems.

Orwell Rolls in His Grave (DVD302.23 ORW) 84 min. 2003. Director Robert Kane Pappas’ film is a critical examination of the Fourth Estate, once the bastion of American democracy. Asking whether America has entered an Orwellian world of doublespeak where outright lies can pass for the truth, Pappas explores the role of the media in our society.

Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism 78 min. 2004. 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 result of ever‑enlarging corporations taking control of the public’s right to know.

Palestine is Still the Issue (956.94 PAL) 53 min. 2002. In 1977, journalist and film maker John Pilger made a documentary called Palestine Is Still the Issue. In this 2002 Documentary, he returns to the Middle East and questions why there has been no progress towards peace.

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil( 972.91 POW) 53 min. 2006 This film tells the story of the Cuban people’s hardship and ingenuity when loss of access to Soviet oil in the early 1990's forced them to create a low‑energy society.

Rights on the Line: Vigilantes at the Border

Salt of the Earth (DVD DRAMA SAL) 94 min. 1954.

A semi‑documentary of the year‑long struggle by Chicano zinc miners in New Mexico striking against unsafe working conditions. When an injunction is issued against the workers from picketing, the wives take up battle with a fury, leaving the husbands to care for home and children. They finally overcome the forces of the mine owner and the law that backs them up.

Save our Land, Save our Towns

Secret Ballot (DVD FOREIGN SEC) 105 min. 2001. This mellow comedy by Iranian director, Babak Payami, tells the persevering tale of a civil servant dedicated to making the world a better place by trying to get the inhabitants of an Islamic island to vote on Election Day. Accompanied by a reluctant soldier, this dedicated woman faces many challenges in her mission including language barriers, sexism and mechanical problems. Through this story, viewers are provided with a look at Islamic culture.

Sex and the Holy City (DVD 262.12 SEX) 50 min. 2003. In this unique documentary, BBC reporter Steve Bradshaw investigates the impact of the late Pope John Paul’s position on sex and reproductive health, particularly on poor women and families.

Sir! No Sir!(DVD 959.704 SIR) 84 min. 2006 Recalls the unprecedented movement by American GI’ s against the Vietnam War, staged through demonstrations, underground newspapers, combat refusals and more, rocking the foundations of the American military. Includes archival material and interviews with key participants.

Stealing a Nation (the Diego Garcia story) (VHS 969 STE) 56 min. 2004. This is about the plight of the people of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, who were secretly expelled from their homeland by the British government, to make way for an American military base.

The Take (DVD982 TAK) 87 min. 2004.

In the wake of Argentina's spectacular economics collapse, Latin America's most prosperous middle class finds itself in a ghost town of abandoned factories and mass unemployment. Explores how Argentina's 2001 economic collapse, where a prosperous middle‑class economy was destroyed during 10 years of IMF policies, impacted the lives of ordinary workers. Follows 30 unemployed auto‑parts workers, who stage a protest against their bosses and economic globalization by occupying their closed factory and refusing to leave.

Taliban Country (DVD 958.1 TAL) 45 min. 2004. This documentary is a disturbing expose of American actions in Afghanistan. Journalist Carmela Baranowska spent three weeks embedded with the Marines. She then returned in secret to document what was really happening. It’s a story of prisoners abused and villagers humiliated. This report prompted a U.S. inquiry.

Too Hot Not to Handle (DVD 363.73874 TOO) 53 min. 2006. This cautionary documentary offers a guide to the impacts of global warming on the U.S. and measures that can be taken to reverse this trend.

Unconstitutional: The War on Civil Liberties (DVD 342.085 UNC) 68 min. 2004. Discussed how the USA Patriot Act has taken away checks on law enforcement and continues to endanger the civil liberties of all Americans under the guise of being part of the war on terrorism, and how paranoia, fear and racial profiling have led to gross infringements on freedom and democracy without strengthening national security.

Uncovered: The War on Iraq (DVD 956.7044 UNC) 2003, 84 min.

Top CIA analysts, UN weapons inspectors, Pentagon officials, politicians, and many others from both sides of the aisle dissect the evidence and evaluate the Bush administration's case for leading the United States into war with Iraq.

Wal‑Mart: The High Cost of Low Price (DVD 381.149 WAL) 97 min. 2005. Wal‑Mart: The High Cost of Low Price takes you into the real lives of workers and their families, business owners and their communities, in an extraordinary journey that will challenge the way you think, feel...and shop.

The Weather Underground (DVD 322.42 WEA) 90 min. 2004. Outraged by the Vietnam War and racism in America, an organization called the Weather Underground waged a low‑level war against the U.S. government through much of the 1970s, bombing the Capitol building, breaking Timothy Leary out of prison, and evading one of the largest FBI manhunts in history. The Weather Underground is a feature‑length documentary that explores the rise and fall of this radical movement, as former members speak candidly about the idealistic passion that drove them to "bing the war home" and the trajectory that placed them on the FBI’s most wanted list.

Winter Soldier (DVD 959.704 WIN) 96 min. 1972. Winter Soldier documents the "Winter Soldier Investigation" conducted by Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) in Detroit in the winter of 1971.

Women and War (VHS 355 WOM) 52 min. 2000. Interwoven with footage from recent conflicts in the Middle East, Bosnia, northern Uganda, and South Africa, this program captures women’s personal experiences of military violence, explains how they survived, and reflects on their growing resistance to war. The women’s feelings of loss, uncertainty, and anguish are expressed through stories of cruelty, degradation, and psychological trauma, while their attempts to achieve reconciliation and rebuild shattered communities demonstrate their positive efforts to create a more peaceful future for everyone.

10-13-07

GMcK