Required Viewing: Charlie Chaplin's Speech From The Great Dictator (1940)

The Great Dictator (1940) Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed, produced, starred in, helped to score the film, and SPEAKS.

Jon Rawlinson

Love For The Leafcutter Ants was shot on Ambergris Caye, Belize. The song is "The Art Of Conversation" by Alucidnation.

The main tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is the Kuroshio Sea, the 2nd largest tank in the world. The song is "Please Don't Go" by Barcelona

Jon Rawlinson is a filmmaker,cinematographer and editor residing in Vancouver, Canada.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHEN JAY GOULD

‎"I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops." - Stephen Jay Gould (September 10, 1941 – May 20, 2002). Paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, historian of science and author. Remembering Stephen on what would have been his 70th birthday.

50 Years of Charcoaler Drive-In Restaurant

(Photo by Victor Calzada/El Paso Times)

CONFLICT KITCHEN - PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

Conflict Kitchen is a take-out restaurant that only serves cuisine from countries that the US is in conflict with. Open on Sat. and Sun. from 11am to 2:30pm, and Mon. through Fri. from 11:30am-2:30pm. Located at 124 South Highland Ave. Pittsburgh, PA

The food is served out of a take-out style storefront, which will rotate identities every four months to highlight another country. Each Conflict Kitchen iteration is augmented by events, performances, and discussion about the culture, politics, and issues at stake with each country they focus on.

Currently presenting the second iteration of Conflict Kitchen via Bolani Pazi, an Afghan take-out restaurant that serves a savory homemade afghan turnover filled with either pumpkin, spinach, lentils, or potatoes and leeks. Developed in collaboration with members of the Afghan community, their bolani comes packaged in a custom-designed wrapper that includes interviews with Afghans both in Afghanistan and the United States on subjects ranging from Afghan food and culture to the current geopolitical turmoil.

Through food, wrappers, programming, and daily interactions with customers, Conflict Kitchen creates an ongoing platform for first-person discussion of international conflict, culture, and politics. In addition, the project introduces a rotating venue for culinary and cultural diversity in Pittsburgh, as future iterations will focus on North Korea, Venezuela, and more.

Conflict Kitchen is a project by Jon Rubin, and Dawn Weleski and is funded by the Sprout Fund, The Waffle Shop, the Center for the Arts in Society, and the sale of food. Graphic design by Brett Yasko. Architectural design by Pablo Garcia of POiNT. Special thanks to Illah Nourbakhsh, Sohrab Kashani, Marti Louw, Najibah Tursonzadah, Mohammed Sidky, and all of those from the Iranian and Afghan community who supplied Conflict Kitchen with their input and perspectives.

(Above text and photos from Conflict Kitchen Website. Visit them for information.)

PAX CHRISTI FILM SERIES 2011

This film series on peace and justice themes, now in its sixth year, is sponsored by Pax Christi El Paso and the Peace and Justice Ministry of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso. Admission is free. Donations are graciously accepted but not required. Light refreshments are served, and there is time for discussion after each film. Movies have been scheduled at 3:00 p. m. generally on the second Sunday of each month (but check the schedule for changes) through the end of 2011.
JULY 10TH: BONHOEFFER is a 93-minute documentary film that tells the dramatic story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the young German theologian who offered one of the first clear voices of resistance to Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer openly challenged his church to stand with the Jews in their time of need, and eventually joined his family in the plots to kill Hitler. His books, Cost of Discipleship, Letters and Papers from Prison, and Ethics, were written during the struggle and are considered classics in the world of religion and ethics.

The film, shot on location in Germany and the United States, features interviews with family members, friends, students and associates who knew Bonhoeffer personally, including the last interview given by Bonhoeffer's closest friend and biographer, Eberhard Bethge, and an interview with Ruth Alice von Bismarck, the sister of Bonhoeffer's fiancée, Maria von Wedemeyer.

It also features interviews with outstanding historians and theologians including John de Gruchy and Geffrey Kelly, as well as comments from Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Extensive research in archives both in Europe and the US yielded extraordinary archival footage, including a speech by Hitler praying for God's blessing on him and the German people and Bonhoeffer family footage that features the only known moving footage of Dietrich. The production team was also given access to never-before-seen personal and family photographs that help bring visual context to Bonhoeffer's life.

Reading for the voice of Bonhoeffer is actor Klaus Maria Brandauer (Out of Africa, Russia House, etc). The film also features an original score by Emmy-award-winner John Keltonic.

"Bonhoeffer is one of the great examples of moral courage in the face of conflict," explains director/writer Martin Doblmeier. "I believe part of the reason the film is getting attention now is because many of the issues Bonhoeffer faced – the role of the church in the modern world, national loyalty and personal conscience, what the call to being a "peacemaker" really means – are issues we continue to struggle with today."

For more information, call (915)532-0527
Show time: 3:00 p. m.
Mother Tesesa Hall of Dioscesan Migrant & Refugee Services
2400 E. Yandell Dr.
El Paso, TX
(Between Piedras and Cotton St.- From I-10 take the Piedras exit, go north on Piedras turn left on Yandell.)

Schedule for 2011
February 13 - AT THE RIVER I STAND
March 13 - UP TO A CERTAIN POINT (HASTA CIERTO PUNTO)
April 10 - EARTH DAYS
May 15 - COLLAPSE OR PIRATE RADIO (To Be Announced)
June 12 - UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU!
July 10 - BONHOEFFER

Tentative Schedule:
August 14 - COUNTDOWN TO ZERO
September 11 - WETBACK: THE UNDOCUMENTED DOCUMENTARY
October 9 - BREAKING ROCKS
November 13 - (To Be Announced)
December 11 - WHERE LOVE IS: THE STORY OF THE CAPUCHIN SOUP KITCHEN

EARTH DAYS APRIL 22, 1970 TO APRIL 22, 2011

Watch the full episode. See more American Experience.

EARTH DAYS AMERICAN EXPERIENCE’s Earth Days looks back to the dawn and development of the modern environmental movement through the extraordinary stories of the era’s pioneers — among them Former Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, biologist/Population Bomb author Paul Ehrlich, Whole Earth Catalog founder Stewart Brand, Apollo Nine astronaut Rusty Schweickart, and renewable energy pioneer Hunter Lovins.

Watch the full episode. See more American Experience.

PBS NEWSHOUR CONVERSATION ON EARTH DAYS Where does the environmental movement find itself today, and where might it be heading? From PBS Newshour.

POGO - EARTH DAY

EARTH DAY 1970

EARTH DAY 1971

Easter Greetings

When Easter Eggs Hatch....

IT'S KITE SEASON! HANDMADE KITES BY DANIEL FROST

The creative illustrations of Daniel Frost have quite literally taken off and are flying high above Copenhagen. His beautifully crafted handmade kites are currently on exhibit at The Big Kit Show.

TALL PAINTING by HOLTON ROWER

Tall Painting by Holton Rower.

EVERYINGHAM ROTATING HOUSE

Built largely of glass and steel, and powered by an electric motor “not much bigger than a washing machine motor”, the Everyingham Rotating House is a brilliant testimonial to the ingenuity of its owner/builders. It also encapsulates many aspects of ecologically sound building principles, such as optimising natural light and heat, while rotating 360° to take advantage of sunshine and shade at different times of the day and year.

60+EARTH HOUR MARCH 26 8:30 PM

Earth Hour 2011 Official Video from WWF on Vimeo.

EARTH HOUR 2011 will take place on Saturday 26 March at 8.30PM (local time). Earth Hour is the largest mass participation environmental event in the world and every year, WWF encourages people all over the world to turn off their lights for one hour in a symbolic gesture to pledge their commitment to combating climate change. This Earth Hour we want you to go beyond the hour, so after the lights go back on think about what else you can do to make a difference. Together our actions add up.

REQUIRED VIEWING: CIVIL RIGHTS ROUNDTABLE 1963

In a television studio in Washington, DC on August 28th, 1963, a small group from Hollywood, California join to give their own personally held views of the civil rights gathering which took place on that day. Here as citizens committed to the cause of civil rights are James Baldwin, Harry Belafonte, Marlon Brando, Charlton Heston, Joseph Mankiewicz, Sidney Poitier, the moderator David Schoenbrun.

REQUIRED VIEWING: ZEITGEIST: MOVING FORWARD

Zeitgeist: Moving Forward by Peter Joseph should be Required Viewing by everyone on the planet. In fact on Jan. 15th, 2011, it got off to a great start accomplishing that when it was released theatrically to sold out crowds in 60 countries; 31 languages; 295 cities and 341 Venues. It has been noted as the largest non-profit independent film release in history.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. - MAN OF PEACE IN A TIME OF WAR

Watch more free documentariesA rare and candid TV interview with Martin Luther King, Jr. - unseen in 40 years - is the centerpiece of this timely tribute, featuring exclusive interviews with such notables as Jesse Jackson and Colin Powell that provide fresh insight into the life and personality of the late civil rights leader.

"I would hope that the president (President Johnson) means what he says when he says that there should always be room for dissent. And we have come to a tragic period in our nation when we equate dissent with disloyalty. I believe firmly that it is necessary to have these moments of dissent in order to challenge something that may be leading the whole nation down the wrong path."

"The important thing is that I not lose favor with truth and with what conscience tells me is right and what conscience tells me is just. I am much more concerned about keeping favor with these principals than keeping favor with a person who may misunderstand a position I take."

"We are either going to have peaceful co-existence or violent co-annihilation."

PAX CHRISTI EL PASO FILM SERIES 2011

This film series on peace and justice themes, now in its sixth year, is sponsored by Pax Christi El Paso and the Peace and Justice Ministry of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso. Admission is free. Donations are graciously accepted but not required. Light refreshments are served, and there is time for discussion after each film. Movies have been scheduled at 3:00 p. m. generally on the second Sunday of each month (but check the schedule for changes) through the end of 2011.

JANUARY 16th: MAHATMA GANDHI: PILGRIM OF PEACE

His pacifist philosophy brought one of the world's great powers to its knees. He proved that violence is not the only road to change.

Mahatma Gandhi's life was a study in contrast and paradox. He saw himself as doing God's work, yet recognized only personal conscience as the highest authority. He was a charismatic leader of millions who confounded intellectuals. He took a vow of abstinence, but in old age welcomed young women into his bed! BIOGRAPHY® profiles the small man who took a great nation on his shoulders and changed the world. Trace his rise to power and fearless campaign of truth, non-violence and non-cooperation with injustice that defeated the British Empire. Biographers offer insight into his surprising personal life, while historians explore his remarkable accomplishments. Hear from his grandson, Arun Gandhi, and, in a rare interview, the Dalai Lama reflects on Gandhi's incredible life and enduring legacy.

From the formation of his philosophy to changing the face of the world, this is the complete saga of the Pilgrim of Peace Mahatma Gandhi.


FEBRUARY 13: AT THE RIVER I STAND
AT THE RIVER I STAND chronicles the tumultuous events that unfolded over two fateful months in 1968. It began as a local strike by African American sanitation workers for human dignity and a living wage . The story eventually captured national attention and drew Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis, along with the assassin who would kill him. The results marked a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement and the national struggle for racial and economic justice..

A Free online screening of "At The River I Stand" is available for a limited time.

CHICAGO 10
At the 1968 Democratic National Convention, anti-Vietnam War protestors who were denied permits for demonstrations repeatedly clashed with the Chicago Police Department. Tensions mounted, and an already fraught week culminated in riots broadcast live to a television audience of more than 50 million, further polarizing the nation.

Seeking a scapegoat for the riots, the U.S. government held eight of the most vocal activists accountable for the violence and brought them to trial a year later. Brett Morgen's CHICAGO 10 explores the explosive build-up to—and the eventual unraveling of—the Chicago Conspiracy Trial.

The trial’s defendants represented a broad cross section of the anti-war movement in the late Sixties, from counterculture icons and Yippie leaders Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin to renowned pacifist David Dellinger. Seven of the defendants were represented by Leonard Weinglass and famed liberal attorney William Kunstler, who went head-to-head with prosecution attorney Thomas Foran. The eighth defendant and co-chair of the Black Panther Party, Bobby Seale, insisted on defending himself; Judge Julius Hoffman responded by binding, gagging and handcuffing him to his chair. From the start, the trial was a media circus, with the defendants on a collision course with governmental authority.

A parable of hope, courage and ultimate victory, CHICAGO 10’s unique and unconventional style uses motion-capture animation to portray actual events from the trial, recreating courtroom dramas based on transcripts and interviews. CHICAGO 10 moves from the streets of Chicago to the courtroom at an accelerated pace, giving the audience a ringside seat for one of the most controversial trials of the period.

For more information, call (915)532-0527 or (915) 497-0384
Show time: 3:00 p. m.
Mother Tesesa Hall of Dioscesan Migrant & Refugee Services
2400 E. Yandell Dr.
El Paso, TX
(Between Piedras and Cotton St.- From I-10 take the Piedras exit, go north on Piedras turn left on Yandell.)


Schedule for 2011
January 16 - MAHATMA GANDHI: PILGRIM OF PEACE
February 13 - AT THE RIVER I STAND
March 13 - UP TO A CERTAIN POINT (HASTA CIERTO PUNTO)
April 10 - EARTH DAYS
May 15 - COLLAPSE OR PIRATE RADIO (To Be Announced)
June 12 - UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU!
July 10 - CHICAGO 10
August 14 - COUNTDOWN TO ZERO
September 11 - WETBACK: THE UNDOCUMENTED DOCUMENTARY
October 9 - BREAKING ROCKS
November 13 - BONHOEFFER
December 11 - WHERE LOVE IS: THE STORY OF THE CAPUCHIN SOUP KITCHEN