BEYOND NUCLEAR Event in DC

I just returned from Washington DC, where POISON WIND was shown on Friday Feb 27th. Actor James Cromwell and Beyond Nuclear, a group dedicated to environmental issues and human rights violations, hosted the screening. I am happy to mention that POISON WIND was shown to a packed room. We were honored to have Physicians for Social Responsibility (a group awarded the 1985 Noble Peace Prize) in attendance and Senator Russ Feingold's staff came to view the film, along with many other concerned citizens who are want to learn more about the contamination and human rights violations on our Earth. Manny Pino and I had a chance to address the audience afterwards with a Q&A. There were also 2 clips shown focusing on the subject of uranium mining and resulting devastation in Africa. One of our fellow panelists, Sidi-Amar Taoua (Touareg from Niger) spoke on this to the audience. Sidi has worked hard to focus attention on the environmental situation in Niger and preserve the rights of the Touareg nomadic people in the Sahara Desert.
One of the highlights of he trip was a whirlwind of politicking on Capitol Hill Friday afternoon.
There were appointments scheduled with 5 US Representatives and one Senator. Everyone on Capitol Hill received a copy of POISON WIND and a dvd of our clip from the upcoming WOMEN and the MINES, which addresses the health issues women endure as a result of these human rights abuses.
Our group was divided into two teams. You basically have 5 minutes each to present information on your subject and hopefully educate someone on the topic of uranium mining on
Indigenous lands. As Manny Pino said, "We'll have 5 minutes to present 50 years!"
Backtracking a bit Beyond Nuclear held a press conference, Thursday at the National Press Club in Washington, where there was an opportunity to speak out on these issues. Surreal is the only way to describe being in DC like this!
Actor James Cromwell attended all of the events and his passion as a humanitarian and environmental rights activist is nothing short of inspiring. Forever dedicated to this work and speaking out about land and human rights abuses. One quickly forgets he is an actor and views him only as a fellow human rights campaigner who cares deeply about our planet and the treatment she endures.
I met some wonderful people! Our panel included: 2 powerful women (Natalie Wasley and Mitch) from Australia who are dedicated to saving Aboriginal Homelands, Indigenous people and the lives of those who are most affected by enviornmental contamination. Also joining Beyond Nuclear was Dr. Bruno Chareyon, who is a Nuclear Physicist from France, Sidi-Amar Taoua (an activist from Niger), Robert Tohe "who is a Diné leader, advocate, and environmental justice organizer" and Manny Pino from Acoma Pueblo, NM, who received the Nuclear-Free Future Award in 2008 in Munich, Germany. It was an honor to be with this passionate and
focused group.
The POWERSHIFT ’09 Conference took place on Saturday at the DC Convention Center. Over 11,000 youth from all over the world represented and enthusiastically attending workshops and panel discussions. The energy was high and focused on the future of our planet. Obama speaks to them, whether he is present or not. What a difference a President and new administration can make! Hope Lives!
Our panel had a room, that seats 500 people and it was packed, with the convention center turning people away due to fire regulations. The other discussions and workshops experienced the same overflow.
I ran into fellow filmmaker Myron Lameman who had attended the POISON WIND screening, in San Francisco, during our showing at the 33rd Annual American Indian Film Festival in NOv of 2008. He is getting ready to shoot a feature in Canada and recently appeared in Cowboy SmithX's film CHANCE, which also screened in the same category as our film.
The 5 days are still a blur but what a fantastic one! Once I stepped on the conveyor belt at the airport, it felt as if I never got off until placing my feet back in my driveway.
A wild ride and hopefully the bottom line is that we made a difference.