An Inconvenient Truth

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I know a lot has already been said about this Academy Award winning film, so I will keep this brief considering I just saw it. Who knew that Al Gore and a MacBook could make such an important film? I’m actually surprised that MORE has not been made of this. I guess it must be easy for Americans to ignore the destruction of their planet…

The Corporation

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I’m surprised this movie has not gotten more play in the United States. Anyway, here is a description of The Corporation from Wikipedia:

The film charts the development of the corporation as a legal entity from its origins as an institution chartered by governments to carry out specific public functions, to the rise of the vast modern institutions entitled to some of the legal rights of a person. One central theme of the documentary is an attempt to assess the “personality” of the corporate “person” by using diagnostic criteria from the DSM-IV; Robert Hare, a University of British Columbia Psychology Professor and FBI consultant, compares the modern, profit-driven corporation to that of a clinically diagnosed psychopath. The film focuses mostly on the corporation in North America, especially in the United States.

I have always been very critical of corporations, and this documentary puts it all in to one nice, neat little package. As the description explains above, it looks at the history of corporations and examines how the destruction they have cause in our modern day society. The arguments are compelling. The examples are jaw-dropping. Although this is an historical example, I was surprised to learn that IBM used to sell tabulation machines to Nazi Germany so they were able to keep track of people in the internment camps during the Holocaust. Or, that Coke could not actually sell Coke during that time so they specifically created Fanta Orange to sell to Nazi Germany. It makes me shudder to think what corporations might get away with today…oh yeah, environmental dumping, sweat shops, corporate layoffs…

Loose Change and 9/11: Press for Truth

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I’m not going to talk about these movies at length since they are at best controversial and at worst a reason to move to another country and never look back. Basically, I think they should be watched, but I’ll save my own commentary. Loose Change I actually watched a while back, but it definitely sticks with you. From Wikipedia:

The video claims that the September 11 attacks were planned and conducted by elements within the United States government. It bases these claims on perceived anomalies in official explanations of the attacks.

Nothing further. 9/11: Press for Truth is little less controversial, but it still carries a heavy impact. Once again, from Wikipedia:

9/11: Press for Truth follows three of the Jersey Girls (widows of individuals killed in the attacks) as well as other family members in their search for answers about what really happened on 9/11. Among their questions were:

  • Why had NORAD failed to protect the known terrorist targets, the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?
  • Why did the World Trade Center Towers, including Building 7, completely collapse when no other steel-framed skyscraper had ever previously totally collapsed due to fire?
  • Why did George W Bush stay in a Floria classroom for over 10 minutes after he had been told that the second Tower had been hit?

The film uses archive news footage, press conferences and newspaper clippings to document the unwillingness of the George W. Bush administration to provide answers to the families’ questions or support a full independent investigation. It also shows how the mainstream media avoided asking the politicians the toughest questions.

Not your typical feel good movies, but I would suggest that if you can find these movies online…give them a chance.