[LCM Events] FW: [bostononestate] Sat Nov 8, 2pm, MFA Film, Lebanon, impact of cluster bombs

Mon Nov 3 19:29:01 EST 2008

Hope that some of you might want to attend. Elaine Antonia

From: amyh at texnology.comTo: brookline-announce at lists.riseup.net; bostononestate at lists.riseup.netDate: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:29:57 -0400Subject: [bostononestate] Sat Nov 8, 2pm, MFA Film, Lebanon, impact of cluster bombs

[I saw this on its first showing and found it very moving-- understated but
exposing the outrage that was committed by Israel and the US with our taxdollars
supporting the millions of cluster bombs dropped on Lebanon in the last 3 days,
as the ceasefire was being negotiated. For shame! -- AH]

Saturday, November 8, 2:15 PM 

Postcard from Lebanon by Jocelyn Ajami (2008, 35 min.) In 2006, six weeks after the war between Israel and Lebanon, a group of American political leaders and journalists visited Lebanon to assess the destruction. Postcards from Lebanon is an eyewitness report of their visit and underlines some of the consequences of war, including the impact of cluster bombs on civilians. Director present. 

Postcard from Lebanon, A New Documentary by Jocelyn Ajami

Photo by Bill Harper        

POSTCARD FROM LEBANON is a new documentary by Boston based artist and filmmaker, Jocelyn Ajami. It will have its North American Premiere and official release October 29 of 2008 at The Museum of Fine Arts, Remis Auditorium, Boston, Massachusetts. 

We are showing Postcard From Lebanon during Action Week Against Cluster Bombs and we welcome your attendance.  
Wednesday October 29, 6:30 PM
Saturday, November 8, 2:15 PM 
Tickets available Online: www.mfa.org
or by calling the box office: 617 369 3306
(Or at the door)
POSTCARD FROM LEBANON was shown at The Dublin Diplomatic Conference by The Cluster Munition Coalition on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at Filmbase, Dublin, Ireland. We were able to show the film and campaign against cluster munitions during the conference in Dublin through a grant from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. On May 30, 2008, 107 nations adopted an international treaty banning cluster bombs. 

SHORT SYNOPSIS: In 2006, six weeks after the war between Israel and Lebanon, a group of Americans visited Lebanon. Postcard From Lebanon is an eye witness report of this visit and underlines some of the consequences of war, including the legacy of cluster bombs. What price war? 35 minutes, Video. 

TITLE AND DESCRIPTON: Postcard from Lebanon, The title refers to a 10 day time frame, in October of 2006, six weeks after the war between Israel and Lebanon when a delegation of Americans including Arab American leaders, congressional staffers, clerics and journalists visited Lebanon, particularly South Lebanon, to assess the destruction in the aftermath of the war. The director had no affiliation with any of the members of the delegation. This 35-minute program gives a basic framework of the aftermath of the 34-day war between Israel and Lebanon including interviews with major Lebanese officials juxtaposed to the facts on the ground and to the destruction of South Beirut and Southern Lebanon. These interviews will leave many questions unanswered as a springboard for discussion. The program will also ask fundamental questions regarding the effects of war, in particular the legacy of cluster bombs on civilians. A portion of the program will highlight a press conference with Chris Clark, program manager for the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Center, South Lebanon. 
CLUSTER BOMBS: HELP US BAN THEM!
ON MAY 30, 2008 in Dublin, Ireland over 107 nations adopted an international treaty banning cluster bombs. The USA was not among them. This is the most significant humanitarian disarmament treaty of the decade. 

Cluster bombs are weapons that are designed to deploy and release submunitions over a widespread area. They are non-
discerning weapons with an indiscriminate kill radius. Also, they fail to explode 5% to 40% of the time and become landmines. They pose unacceptable harm to civilians. At least 30% of the victims are children.

These weapons were first used in World War II and we (the US) used them in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. More then 30 years later, today, these bombs are still exploding and killing people because of their “dud” rate. Had we signed a treaty in 1973, w e could have saved thousands of lives. The United States is the greatest producer, stockpiler and manufacturer of cluster bombs. Over 30 years ago we dropped 250 million bomblets on Laos they are still exploding. So far, thousands people have been killed. 

Unfortunately, in 2006 when Israel dropped 4 million bomblets on Lebanon, more than 300,000 submunitions became landmines and one million were projected to be cleared . This was the most extensive use of cluster bombs since the Gulf War and it catalyzed the initiative towards drafting a treaty banning cluster bombs. 
BUT NOW, 107 nations have adopted the treaty to ban cluster bombs forever and although the US has not endorsed the treaty, Senators Leahy (Vermont) and Feinstein (California) have championed a resolution to have the US sign the treaty. Help us raise awareness on this topic.

JOCELYN AJAMI, PAINTER, FILMMAKER, BIOGRAPHY
ajami at mindspring.com, (617) 266-0190
Director, Jocelyn Ajami, is a multi-faceted filmmaker. Ajami was an abstract painter for many years when she turned to writing and producing video in order to reach a wider audience with socially conscious work. Among her award winning videos are JIHAD, a short informational on the true meaning of the word, OASIS OF PEACE which chronicles the efforts of a community in Israel where Jews and Palestinians coexist; GYPSY HEART a bittersweet story featuring dancer, Omayra Amaya., and QUEEN OF THE GYPSIES, the first international biography of Romani dancer and genius, Carmen Amaya. Queen of the Gypsies has won four awards including Best Documentary, North America at the Latino Film Festival, San Francisco. 
Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Ajami speaks five languages. She holds BA degrees in French literature and in Studio Art from Manhattanville College and MA degrees in Art History and Painting from Rosary College. She was awarded a Leadership Foundation Fellowship from the International Women’s Forum in Washington DC in 1996 and has received major grants from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, and the Mass Council for the Arts. In conjunction with her screenings, Jocelyn Ajami is a fee paid speaker on issues of leadership, conflict management and Romani culture. She is a member of Latin Roots, The Gypsy Lore Society and the Radius of Arab American Writers. 

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