Pierre Terre Independent Media

Healing Rwanda: Jean Paul Samputu and the Forgiveness of Murder

6/28/2008

Singer Jean Paul Samputu speaks of the forgiveness that is healing Rwanda, as neighbors re-discover that they can live together. Mizero Children was founded by Jean Paul to help heal the 1,000,000 orphans of Rwanda from the genocide, HIV/AIDS - children who can help restore a nation.

Trash Beach

5/29/2008

Across the Pacific Ocean and the other great oceans of the world, we find huge piles of garbage collecting along the shorelines - and at the centers of huge ocean currents as they circulate.

Many animals are killed by this trash, this garbage of rope and nets and bottles and shoes - all the stuff we forget, that washes out to sea.

Pierrre and Krista find these on the South Point of the Big Island of Hawai'i

Got Bomb?

5/5/2008

Got Bomb? is a new film from Drexel filmmakers Bunker Seyfert and Heather Craig, by screenwriter Corey Jacobs - starring a Philadelphia-based cast.

The premiere of the film is Saturday, May 10th 2008 at the major national conference on Nuclear Weapons, Energy and Justice, called "Thinking Outside the Bomb - Beyond Nuclear Weapons," hosted by the Project for Nuclear Awareness (PNA).

The Khan Game - A Nuclear Fable

5/4/2008

“The Khan Game” is an innovative play and film written by Craig Eisendrath, Chairman of the Project for Nuclear Awareness (PNA), with elements of historical fact, and elements of theater.

These are Nuclear War Scenarios, taken from real-life possibilities - What if there were an actual nuclear confrontation between Iran and Israel, or Pakistan and India, or an extremist faction procured a nuclear bomb from a rogue proliferator the likes of A.Q. Khan, the man who peddled Pakistan’s nuclear secrets to North Korea and Iran?

Used as a teaching tool, The Khan Game Scenarios are a powerful introduction to world affairs.

Following each section, there is an audience discussion with nuclear experts. The first performance of “The Khan Game” was held at Haverford College on Saturday, November 3, 2007, at Marshall Auditorium.

The Khan Game is a departure from typical discussions and performances about nuclear issues. It emphasizes new hope over the old fear-based approach some politicians have promoted - we've all got questions, and we're looking for answers to avoid new wars.

Our solemn conviction is that in doing such exercises in "What if?" we can learn to make sure of "Never Again," for a nuclear war or holocaust. Contact the Project for Nuclear Awareness (PNA) if you seek a performance at your univerrsity or club, of KHAN GAME, CRISIS GAME, or future innovative performances or films by PNA.

It Belongs to Everyone

4/5/2008

The many efforts of groups around the world are converging for justice, peace, the end of poverty, the achievement of the Millennium Develpment Goals, and the restoration of a healthy planet.

The Coalition for the Global Commons is leading a two-year global dialog to shape how all of humanity would like to see our world. The Global Marshall Plan Initiative, Civicus, and many other groups have joined this effort, for the Global Commons belong to no one - they belong to everyone.

Features live music by the amazing Jean-Paul Samputu of Rwanda, used with permission.

State of the Union 2008 (our version - this film got 230,000 hits in 3 weeks...)

1/26/2008

READ THE ENTIRE SPEECH on the special website we set up for State of the Union 2008 - stateoftheunion2008.com.

We asked ourselves, what would the President of the United States say, if all the best ideas were stated as U.S. action, U.S. direction, and U.S. policy? What would happen if the President re-directed our nation towards all that we hold dearest?

Excerpt from State of the Union 2008

"....Because the destiny of our nation is tied to the destinies of all other nations, I will speak primarily of the world situation, for that is where America must now lead.

On our planet, our greatest thinkers tell us that for the first time, it is possible to achieve that world long foreseen, a world of safety, where everyone's needs are met, where justice prevails, where prosperity is normal, and where our planet is healthy.

Yes, it is a new world, and many things are now possible.

A World of Prosperity, Justice and Sustainability

To reach that world of prosperity, justice and sustainability,

    first we must be safe
    then we must provide for everyone's basic needs
    then we must provide justice and rules that work fairly
    then we must create an economy that benefits everyone on a sustainable planet
    then, with relief, we can remember why the Creator gave us life

But despite this incredible promise, our world situation is dire.

    We are not feeding two billion of our own people, when we could feed them.
    As I speak, US military forces are in more than 100 nations, and 10,000 nuclear weapons are on hair-trigger alert.
    Dozens of our generals and admirals have stated that poverty, climate change, energy depletion and environmental damage are now central national security threats to the United States of America.
    World oil production has already peaked, so gasoline prices are rising steadily, and we have not planned well for what to do next about our energy supplies.
    Hurricane Katrina and drought in Georgia are just the beginning of many climate-driven disasters
    We are running out of renewable resources faster than they are being replenished. In just 30 years, one third of all renewable resources on Earth and in the oceans have vanished.

The Vital Interest of the United States, Together with All Nations

Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot emphasize strongly enough that because of the simultaneous occurrence of these threats; it is in the vital interest of the United States of America and all nations, to work together, today, to establish the wise and effective global rules that will work for everyone to protect our shared and sacred planet.

Where we must start our work is now clear, because there is no longer doubt..."

The Story of Stuff

12/4/2007

What is the Story of Stuff?

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

Be sure to check out Annie Leonard's website at: www.storyofstuff.com

Re-broadcast with the permission of Annie Leonard.

Genie In A Bottle: UNLEASHED

11/20/2007

An amazing, award-winning video (v2.0) by child-filmmakers Stephen and Trace, about nuclear weapons.

Please watch with your children, please forward so children see this wonderful short film, re-broadcast with permission from Trace's Mom.

Pierre

The Khan Game Premiere with Meghan

10/14/2007

Meghan introduces the premiere performance of The Khan Game.

The Khan Game is a new kind of media - interactive theater on the nuclear threat. One act is about Pakistan, one about Iran, and one about weapons in space. After each act - which stops the action at a critical moment - audience members can participate in the scenario, on what follows next, or what are the solutions?

Women Leaders Gather for Peace: Celebrities Include Christie Brinkley, Marian Hobbs and Alexa McDonough

10/12/2007

At the United Nations, women leaders from around the world gathered for peace. The Global Security Institute and the Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament hosted a special panel event at the United Nations entitled "Amplifying the Moral and Practical Missions of the United Nations: Parliamentarians, diplomats and concerned citizens working to abolish nuclear weapons." The all-women panel featured speeches by US supermodel Christie Brinkley, senior parliamentarians Marian Hobbs and Alexa McDonough - from New Zealand and Canada, respectively - and Cora Weiss, a leader in the peace movement the past five decades. Rhianna Tyson, Senior Officer from the Global Security Institute, chaired the event. Thumbnail image L to R: Rhianna Tyson, Christie Brinkley and Cora Weiss.

Held at the United Nations during the deliberations of the General Assembly committee which deals with matters relating to disarmament, the all-women panel was also intended as a way to commemorate the upcoming anniversary of the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325, which called for greater participation by women at all levels of conflict prevention and peacemaking. Such an All-Women Leadership Panel on Nuclear Weapons reflects the leadership of women in the movement to abolish nukes, which, as Chairwoman Rhianna Tyson noted, has historically been led by women since the dawn of the atomic age.

Re-Broadcast with permission from Extra TV and the Global Security Institute.

More information can be found at: http://www.gsinstitute.org/gsi/archives/000303.html