anni
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Post by anni on Sept 20, 2015 9:00:42 GMT -8
I think it's important to first have my eyes open to the huge struggles that plague our times. These movies (RAPP/Vigil) are a good beginning to such knowledge. I'm afraid it's just scratching the surface. What more can I do? How can I help? What action can I take? Further research is necessary...maybe looking into other sources before I watch the movie...(just thinking out loud here). Almost all of these movies are devastating, sometimes leaving me soul sore for days. I enjoy the get together after the movie. Helps me find my bearings.
On that happy note I'd like to present the flyer for next month's movie entitled Merchant of Doubt:
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Post by Jeanne on Sept 21, 2015 9:16:37 GMT -8
I think it's important to first have my eyes open to the huge struggles that plague our times. These movies (RAPP/Vigil) are a good beginning to such knowledge. I'm afraid it's just scratching the surface. What more can I do? How can I help? What action can I take? Further research is necessary...maybe looking into other sources before I watch the movie...(just thinking out loud here). Almost all of these movies are devastating, sometimes leaving me soul sore for days. I enjoy the get together after the movie. Helps me find my bearings.
Thank you for the heartfelt post, anni. It is difficult to know what to do with the information we receive from month to month. We can't possibly solve all of the problems we learn about. The people who participate in our screenings are at different places on their activism journey. Some are already aware of the information in the films. For others, it is a big step to be at an event that dares to question the status quo and the information may be very new to them. I think that there is value in the small community we form when watch the material together and then share our responses afterwards. That is one of the immeasurable benefits. Another is how the information prepares us to witness to the community. I'm guessing that after seeing "Documented," there are several people who are now prepared to respond to comments like, "They should go home and get in the back of the line." Another benefit which moat of you don't see, is that even though a small percentage of our church members attend, many more see the preview of each film in worship the week before we show it. So at least they are getting exposed to the existence of different points of view. And we have fairly faithful guests from La Canada and Tujunga UMC's who might be sharing newly gained insights with their congregations. I hold on to these positives as glimmers of hope and remember that hope is subversive. There any many in power now who would be happy to see us lose hope, to say it's too difficult to hear about peoples' troubles. I'm pretty sure that Jose Antonio Vargas is glad that we took the time to hear his story and to open our hearts to feel some of his pain. Anyone who is aware of an action that would fit with the film of the month is welcome to bring it to us. "Merchants Of Doubt" exposes the way corporations use "experts" to influence public opinions and to further their agendas in Congress. They start with tobacco companies and finish with climate change deniers. So if anyone has any thoughts on what we can do on 10/16, please let me know. Thanks to everyone form MPV who participates. Two different communities working together is part of the peacemaking process and I treasure our partnership.
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Post by anni on Sept 28, 2015 17:32:10 GMT -8
Greetings, Thoughtful Friends,
RAPP (Read And Practice Peacemaking) and Montrose Peace Vigil have another important film for you to see in October. “Merchants of Doubt” is based on the same titled book cowritten by Erik M. Conway, Historian at JPL and CalTech. Conway also contributed to the film, which demonstrates what many of us have long suspected: that the 'debate' over the climate crisis--and many other environmental issues--was manufactured by the same people who brought you 'safe' cigarettes.
We citizens of this country and planet have varying amounts of scientific training and understanding. We do our best to inform ourselves and to trust experts who have devoted their careers to scientific observation of environment and health. "Merchants of Doubt” documents how corporate and political interests, that stand to lose from policy changes based on concensus from the scientific community have hired a small group of “experts” to cast doubt and create controversy where there is none. Nonscientists will be able to understand the film and may enjoy the running analogy provided by a magician. Participants in our democracy will be better able to sort through the facts, deceptions, and distractions repeated in the news. And then we could expect more appropriate actions from legislators and policy makers.
I hope you’ll join us on Friday, October 16, at 7:30. 2700 Montrose Avenue, Montrose. Doors open at 7.
It may be time to start doubting the doubters. Peace, Jeanne
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Post by Sharon W on Oct 1, 2015 13:35:30 GMT -8
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Oct 12, 2015 23:01:30 GMT -8
The official trailer for "Merchants of Doubt," which was released in the U.S. only last March.
The critically acclaimed documentary "Merchants of Doubt" will be shown this Friday, October 16, at 7:30 p.m. in Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church, 2700 Montrose Ave. in Montrose, CA 91020. Doors open upstairs in the sanctuary at 7. Admission is free.
CVUMC might be the best place locally to watch a movie, with two big dual screens and good sound. Pastor Steve and the Read and Practice Peacemaking group's Jeanne and Edmond, who organize the RAPP movie nights, also make the community room downstairs a great place to gather afterwards for church members, peaceniks, friends and some new folks each month. Snacks and beverages will be there too. Everybody is welcome!
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Post by Oss Rae on Oct 18, 2015 15:11:35 GMT -8
One thing that struck me during the movie was the segment about Michael Shermer, founder of The Skeptics Society. I've long thought highly of The Skeptics Society, ever since I went to their presentation about Nostradamus in '88 (which eventually inspired me to give my own presentation on Nostradamus in college). It really caused me to question things more.
However, I don't know what to think of Shermer debunking concerns/claims regarding the environmental issues in the '70s, particularly population. Maybe specific forecasts about population turned out not to be true (?), nevertheless it seems like it was very much of a real problem--I've known various people who've been involved in addressing population-- and continues to be. Any responsible human society should think about population.
Peak oil was also mentioned as something he took on. I can sort of understand that. I remember seeing a PSA in '75 predicting all oil could be used up in about 12 years. Despite miscalculations like that, oil is a finite resource (and IMO is better left in the ground anyway). Just because specific timetables aren't accurate doesn't mean the basis for concern isn't very real.
But overall, I found the movie very informative and insightful. I just hope no one comes away from it thinking the population issue is equal to the world ending in 2012, the latest interpretations of Nostradamus, etc.
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Post by Brian on Oct 19, 2015 23:01:03 GMT -8
Peak oil was also mentioned as something he took on. I can sort of understand that. I remember seeing a PSA in '75 predicting all oil could be used up in about 12 years. Despite miscalculations like that, oil is a finite resource (and IMO is better left in the ground anyway). Just because specific timetables aren't accurate doesn't mean the basis for concern isn't very real. I heard the same thing for many years. But in this century, we're squeezing oil out of tar sands, drilling deeper underwater, exploring the Arctic and fracking everywhere else. The market says we have a surplus of oil. And now the means of production destroys the atmosphere long before the oil can be burned. Speaking of 2012, that year Sharon and Bill screened "Mother: Caring for 7 Billion" at the county library in La Crescenta for Population Connection and the Glendale Human Relations Coalition. Another great movie. Here's the thread about the documentary and the event on this message board: montrosepeacevigil.proboards.com/thread/236/free-screening-aug-crescenta-libraryCoincidentally, I just received a free copy of Population Connection in the mail. Clearly, this is an issue that is not going away!
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Post by Oss Rae on Oct 20, 2015 14:12:43 GMT -8
Oh yes, I went to that with Flo. (She did a lot of work in population over the years through the Sierra Club and elsewhere and has encouraged us to emphasize population at the Eagle Rock vigil. If you ever see the rim of her license plate, it has a message about family planning to help the earth.) The documentary is quite impressive and informative. I've recommended it to many others. At various times it's been available to watch online. Alan Weisman, author of The World Without Us, wrote a book about overpopulation called Countdown. Here's an interview with him about it on Bill Maher: (There are several interviews with him about it on YouTube.)
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