2017 NoWar Conference Will Feature Powerful Film on What War Does to the Earth

August 31st, 2017 - by admin

David Swanson / Talk Nation Radio & Scarred Lands Film.com – 2017-08-31 13:07:19

Talk Nation Radio: Alice and Lincoln Day on What War Does to the Earth

“Scared Lands and Wasted Lives: What War Does to the Earth”
David Swanson / Talk Nation Radio

David Swanson interviews Alice and Lincoln Day / Talk Nation Radio

Alice and Lincoln Day have produced an amazing film about the impact of war on the natural environment, which fits perfectly with World Beyond War’s upcoming conference on that theme. Scarred Lands and Wounded Lives was produced between 2006 and 2007 in Australia, California, Vermont, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia.

The feature-length version premiered at the 2008 DC Environmental Film Festival. Since then, the film has been screened in film festivals throughout the U.S. and some countries overseas, winning 15 awards along the way.

A shorter 56-minute version of the film was created that aired nationally on Public Television in 2011 and 2012, and will be screened at the No War 2017 Conference set for September 22-25 in Washington DC. [Read more about the Conference below.]

Scarred Lands and Wounded Lives:
The Environmental Footprint of War

HOPE FOR RESTORING A WOUNDED PLANET
The Scarred Lands Project invites you to watch and share these five short films, directed and produced by Alice and Lincoln Day, to inspire a new ethic of interdependence with the natural world. These shorts are based on the award-winning documentary Scarred Lands and Wounded Lives: The Environmental Footprint of War.

Winner, Award of Merit Special Mention:
Documentary Short, Best Shorts Competition

WATCH AND SHARE THESE SHORTS

The order of the films listed below represents a progression from the despair at what we see the Iraq war has left behind to the hope that real change is possible through creating alternatives to military force.

What We Are Leaving Behind in Iraq

7 min.) An Iraq war veteran who served two deployments tells what he saw we are leaving behind in Iraq and recorded with thousands of photos. Michael Fitzpatrick is a former U.S. Army Sergeant, deployed in Iraq from March 2004 to March 2005 and then again from October 2006 until January 2008. The 5-year stretch he was there gave him an unusual opportunity to view changes over time in the environment and activities of the American military.

He was particularly horrified by the scale of military equipment, ordnance, and dangerous munitions that were left lying around, a threat to the safety of American soldiers and to Iraqi children and adults alike. He felt strongly that Americans should be made aware of what was going on: that “they knew how to destroy, they didn’t know how to restore.” To record what he saw, Fitzpatrick took some 3,000 photos that became the inspiration and basis for this 7-minute photo essay.

Ecosystems War and Climate Change

(4 min.) Four scientists describe the impact of climate change on wildlife and fragile ecosystems, and underline the destructive role of warfare in undermining our capacity to protect and sustain our essential natural resources.

Environmental Pathways to Peace Building

(6 min.) Building peace parks, sharing common ecosystem needs, such as access to scarce potable water, and providing children and adults with first-hand experience of nature, are presented as specific, do-able strategies for maintaining peace and furthering sustainable practices toward the earth’s natural systems.

The Top Priority

(3 min.) A Lt. General (ret.) says that a top priority is raising consciousness in the military about the need for protection of the environment for future generations. As long as the national leadership is not strongly on its side, it is unlikely that the military will recognize the importance of natural security to national security.

Forging a New Ethic

(7 min.) “What we need is a new ethic in which every person changes lifestyle, attitude, and behavior.” Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UN Environment Program.


No War 2017: War and the Environment
September 22-24 Conference in Washington, D.C.

Following September 21, the International Day of Peace, and in the tradition of No War 2016: Real Security Without Terrorism, this year’s conference will focus on addressing how the antiwar and environmental movements can work together. We encourage and can help you to hold similar events in other locations, and this event will be livestreamed so that other events can watch it.

WHEN:
Friday, Sept 22: 7-10 p.m.
Saturday, Sept 23: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday, Sept 24: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

WHO:
Speakers will include: Medea Benjamin, Nadine Bloch, Max Blumenthal, Natalia Cardona, Suzanne Cole, Alice Day, Lincoln Day, Tim DeChristopher, Dale Dewar, Pat Elder, Bruce Gagnon, Philip Giraldi, Will Griffin, Tony Jenkins, Larry Johnson, Kathy Kelly, Jonathan King, Lindsay Koshgarian, Peter Kuznick, James Marc Leas, Annie Machon, Ray McGovern, Rev Lukata Mjumbe, Elizabeth Murray, Anthony Rogers-Wright, Alice Slater, Gar Smith, Susi Snyder, Mike Stagg, Jill Stein, David Swanson, Robin Taubenfeld, Eric Teller, Brian Terrell, Brian Trautman, Richard Tucker, Donnal Walter, Larry Wilkerson, Diane Wilson, Emily Wurth, Kevin Zeese. Read speakers’ bios.

MUSIC by The Irthlingz Duo: Sharon Abreu and Michael Hurwicz, and by Emma’s Revolution, and by Bryan Cahall.

WHERE:
American University Katzen Art Center
4400 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20016
All events in the Recital Hall. Workshops on Sunday in the Recital Hall, and in Rooms 112, 115, 123, and 128.

How to get there.
Lodging and rides board.

Click here to register (includes 2 catered vegan meals and a copy of the new 2017 edition of A Global Security System: An Alternative to War). The venue seats 211, and we will close registrations when we need to.

About Talk Nation Radio
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David Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, and radio host. He is director of WorldBeyondWar.org and campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org. Swanson’s books include War Is A Lie. He blogs at DavidSwanson.organd WarIsACrime.org. He hosts Talk Nation Radio. He is a 2015, 2016, 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee.