Pepperspray Productions is an independent video activist collective located in Seattle, Washington. We formed shortly after the Seattle WTO protests in response to the Independent Media Center's call, "don't hate the media, be the media!". We believe that the Corporate Media is not telling us the whole story, and that the people must make our own media if we want our voices to be heard. As a collective we cover Seattle-area demonstrations for social and environmental justice as well as progressive/radical political conferences and events. Pepperspray members can also be seen at National and International protest actions. Don't hate the media, Be the media! www.PeppersprayProductions.org
The Seattle Times came out with an editorial calling for Watada's conviction. Lt. Watada faces not only charges of missing movement but also several "Conduct Unbecoming" charges stemming from speeches he gave. It has been a while in America since somebody went to jail for giving a speech, but that is the situation with Lt. Watada. Give a speech, go to jail. One of the "criminal" speeches he is charged with giving was to a veterans convention. We start off with that speech. You be the judge; hear the speech and decide if a crime was committed. I sincerely doubt if the editors at the Seattle Times who called for Watada's conviction had even heard the speech, or seen it in print. Yet there they were--aping, chanting for a conviction like a Greek chorus of harpies. We present the speech, uncut. Be inspired, we were. www.thankyoult.org www.couragetoresist.org We follow this up with footage from the FTA tours that occurred in the early 70s. Donald Sutherland, Jane Fonda, Holly Near, Country Jo McDonald, and oth...
On NEWSREAL, people -- not corporations -- make the news! NEWSREAL is a monthly compilation of coverage from Indymedia video producers across the nation. Indymedia US NewsReal www.newsreal.indymedia.org Segments included in this episode: * Bigger Fences, Fewer Families, Producer: DJ Lotus, www.sandiego.indymedia.org * Courting Spiritual Death, Producer: George Elfie Ballis, www.sunmt.org * Nation Rocked To Sleep, Producer: Mike Covell, Borderline Newsreals * Portland Die-In, Producer: Jim Lockhart, www.philosopherseed.org "Indymedia NewsReal" is a monthly joint project of Free Speech TV ( www.freespeech.org ) and the Independent Media Center ( www.indymedia.org ). It brings stories of progressive grassroots organizing, going on in backyards everywhere, to a national television audience. Each program covers actions taken in local communities, by ordinary people, to address critical issues like the war, air and water pollution, reproductive rights, homelessness, for-profit prisons, sweatshops, racism, polic...
Here's what is on "Indymedia Presents" #247: Northwest Neighbors For Peace hosted a presentation by Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer entitled "Where Peace & Environment Meet," Our friends from www.livingfree.org sent us the video of that presentation, which we edited into something that would fit on our half-hour show. This presentation is startling in two respects: First, it cites the top NASA climate scientist as saying that we have 10 years to SOLVE global warming, (not ten years to decide whether to do anything) or there will be irreversible changes that will lead to the hottest global temperatures in millions of years, and the die-off of 50% of the species on earth. Heavy stuff from the top guy at NASA, a fellow the Bush administration keeps trying to silence, but who apparently won't shut up. As Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer puts it, the danger is that we won't run out of oil soon enough to save the planet! But he points out that we are "fortunate" to live in the most pivotal moment in human history, that we still hav...
26:12
Citizens Hearing on the Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq: Part 2
CITIZENS HEARING ON THE LEGALITY OF U.S. ACTIONS IN IRAQ: The Case of Lt. Ehren Watada JANUARY 20-21, 2007 Tacoma, Washington, USA "In an unprecedented two-day Citizens' Hearing held over January 20-21, more than 600 citizens joined a distinguished tribunal panel in listening to testimony about the legality of the US invasion of Iraq. The Citizens' Hearing was convened to present evidence that Lt. Ehren Watada would have presented in his February 5 court martial on the question that the military ruled barred from entry on Jan. 16 - the question of the Iraq War's legality. Lt. Watada has repeatedly asserted that because the Iraq War is illegal, it is his duty to refuse orders to deploy. He is the Army's first commissioned officer to take such a stand." For complete details of the Citizens' Hearing, please see: www.WarTribunal.org For updates on Lt. Watada, please see: www.thankyoult.org www.couragetoresist.org Part 1 Tribunal testifiers: * Geoffrey Millard 8 years in Army National Guard; awarded 13 medals ...
27:45
Somalia: US Forces Have Been Conducting Military Strikes Against Civilians
Pepperspray Productions' "Indymedia Presents": While all eyes have been on the horrors of the US involvement in Iraq, and the potential for US aggression against Iran, there are other places where US forces have been conducting military strikes against civilians. One of those places is Somalia. After many years without ANY central government in the Horn-Of-Africa country Somalia, a calm moment and a ray of hope for a peaceful future came to Somalia, brought by the Islamic Courts, Somali church folks, not terrorists by everyone's estimateeveryone except the US government, that is. The Islamic Courts ran out the warlords, opened the port, established order, ended the violence, made sure relief aid got to the people, and mobilized a large portion of society to join in on the effort to rehabilitate Somalia, with plans to reopen schools, hospitals and provide all the support networks needed for a functioning society. Rampant crime and the rule of the gun disappeared, and most Somalis seemed to breathe a sigh o...
On NEWSREAL, people -- not corporations -- make the news! NEWSREAL is a monthly compilation of coverage from Indymedia video producers across the nation. Indymedia US NewsReal www.newsreal.indymedia.org Segments included in this episode: *Gigante Despierta Trailer www.gigantedespierta.org *Tasers and Lies Producer: Roger Hill Mental-Rev Productions www.mentalrev.com *Si Se Puede, Say No To STRIVE Producer: Jason Aragon Pan Left Productions www.panleft.org *U.S. After Cuba Producer: Maia and Elfie Ballis www.sunmt.org *Fiesta Binacional de Naco Producer: Steev Hise Pan Left Productions & Arizona Indymedia www.arizona.indymedia.org "Indymedia NewsReal" is a monthly joint project of Free Speech TV ( http://www.freespeech.org ) and the Independent Media Center ( www.indymedia.org ). It brings stories of progressive grassroots organizing, going on in backyards everywhere, to a national television audience. Each program covers actions taken in local communities, by ordinary people, to address critical issues li...
On NEWSREAL, people -- not corporations -- make the news! NEWSREAL is a monthly compilation of coverage from Indymedia video producers across the nation. Indymedia US NewsReal www.newsreal.indymedia.org Segments included in this episode: *Protesting Cop Brutality, Producer: Maia and Elfie Ballis, www.sunmt.org *Remembering Walter Banjamin, Producer: Mike Covell, Borderline Newsreals *Portland Fur-Free Friday, Producer: Jim Lockhart, www.philosopherseed.org *Migrant Trail Walk Begins, Producer: Sonya Angelica Diehn, www.panleft.org *Police Auditor Now, Producer: Maia and Elfie Ballis, www.sunmt.org "Indymedia NewsReal" is a monthly joint project of Free Speech TV ( www.freespeech.org ) and the Independent Media Center ( www.indymedia.org ). It brings stories of progressive grassroots organizing, going on in backyards everywhere, to a national television audience. Each program covers actions taken in local communities, by ordinary people, to address critical issues like the war, air and water pollution, rep...
27:40
Interrupting the Supply of Fresh Meat for the War Grinder
1) Before you enlist (AFSC) ~14 min This counter recruitment piece was sent to us by the American Friends Service Committee. One of the tactics of the anti-war movement is to interrupt the supply fresh meat for the war grinder. This is an excellent tactic and is by every measure having a good effect. Besides stopping the war machine, anybody who we (in the largest sense of "we") can keep out of the military, is somebody who won't be ripped off by some slick-talking "promise-em-everything" recruiter, nor will they die, get wounded, suffer from PTSD, or the horror of having done bad things to innocent people. "Before You Enlist" is a good counter recruitment piece. Show it to your high school. http://www.afsc.org 2) PepperSpray report on the April 2006 immigrant march. A reprisal of last year's big march on April 10th. We included it to build for Mayday this year. 3) Si se Peude! (José Orozco) about 10 min - in Spanish. This is the first time we have had anything on the show that wasn't in English, or sub-...
The Corporate media treated Watada's mistrial like it was a flat tire, or some other technical problem rather than the victory that it was. We were right there front and center, in the inner court room, and we knew that the mistrial of Ehren Watada, first officer to refuse to go to Iraq, was a big victory for our side. We saw how the judge pulled the plug on the trial rather than risk a Watada victory. Our court-room observer heard one juror mutter "at least somebody has some principles around here." We saw the prosecutor bury his face in his hands when the judge began to bail out of the case that had become an airplane on fire, careening towards the earth. Our cameras were at the gates, at the rallies, and at the press conferences. And because NO cameras are allowed in any kind of federal court, including military courts-marital, we got the court artist sketches, and with animation, sketches, and live footage we bring you the story that corporate media glossed over. There was no "mistrial." The prosecuti...
Indymedia Presents this week is a compilation of 5 short pieces which ends with the comical Discs of Fury question, 25,000 years of evolution leads to this? The show starts with a short piece about the Mothers March in Washington DC of parents who lost their children in Iraq. It is set to Michaels Gone to War the song by local indy composer, Brian Kinsella. Filmed by Amy Flannary in Washington DC. Produced by Patricia Boiko and Winning Pictures, LLC. Then the show moves us with the award winning film, Everything Upside Down. In this short film, courageous Jesuit University students from across the country commemorate the lives of the priests, nuns and local people slaughtered by trainees from the School of the Americas located in Fort Benning, Georgia. Seattle University students take us on their journey from Seattle to Fort Benning in their heartfelt effort to close down the terrorist training. The film was produced by Phil Duncan and Erin Foran. Next, is The Corporals Boots another award winning film. "...
27:37
Expert Witnesses Testifiy the Iraq War is Illegal / Lt. Watada Hearing and Speech
Continuing our coverage of the Watada case, we provide an update on Lt. Watada's Article 32 hearing, using court artist sketches. This pre-trial hearing is the closest the Lt. got to putting the war on trial. Expert witnesses testified that the war was illegal, a violation of US and International law. sometime after this update was completed, the Army decided to not admit into evidence ANYTHING that suggested that the war might be wrong, stripping the stalwart Lt. of any reasonable defense against the charges. Then we take you to one of the last speeches Ehren Watada gave before his court martial began, his Langston Hughes speech of 1/27/7. Lt. Watada has become a powerful and uplifting speaker, and this is one of his best presentations. www.thankyoult.org www.couragetoresist.org Pepperspray Productions formed shortly after the WTO protests in Seattle, in response to the Independent Media Center's call, "don't hate the media, be the media". We believe that the Corporate Media is not telling us the whole s...
27:40
Alternate Focus: Christian Peacemakers Teams in Israel/Palestine
Christian Peacemakers in Palestine http://www.cpt.org This program was sent to us by our friends down in San Diego, who put out an excellent access series called "Alternate Focus." This particular episode is about the Christian Peacemakers Teams in Israel/Palestine. http://alternatefocus.org http://alternate-focus.blip.tv/?view=album&sort=popularity ]]>
Our man in Portland sent us up an hour-long presentation by investigative reporter Greg Palast, produced by Jim Lockhart. We edited it down to fit on our half-hour show. Palast's speaking tour, the "Armed Madhouse Tour," is funny and very sharp politically. In the portion we present, he speaks about how the last two presidential elections were stolen, with considerable attention to what were the smoking gun details of how it was done. With the presidential election campaigns already off and running, it is not too early to remind people that the electoral system is broken. Greg Palast is a very watchable speaker with important things to say. As more and more people turn away from the conservatives and toward our side, the issue isn't will they come to us, but rather what will we tell them when they arrive. This is some of the important stuff we have to say. www.gregpalast.com
This week we feature "Sourcecode," a great program on Free Speech TV (which broadcasts on channel 9415 on the DISH satellite network www.freespeech.org). This episode begins with a report from Baghdad by independent journalist Dahr Jamail. Then the show covers the rise in resistance among active duty soldiers against the continued US presence in Iraq, then it moves to the horror of being a soldier "in harms way," with a report on the "signature" wounds of the US war against Iraq. It ends with a bit of culture. The PepperSpray Collective contributed footage to this episode of "Sourcecode," which is why they sent it to us, allowing us to bring it to you now. "Sourcecode" is an outstanding typical example of the kind of programming that you can find on FSTV. Its enough to make you want to get one of those satellite dishes. Of course, if you are watching "Indymedia Presents" on cable, then chances are you don't get FSTV. Which is why sharing the good stuff makes so much sense. www.freespeech.org
On NEWSREAL, people -- not corporations -- make the news! NEWSREAL is a monthly compilation of coverage from Indymedia video producers across the nation. www.newsreal.indymedia.org "Saving the Sandhill Cranes" Producer: Steev Hise www.arizona.indymedia.org "Free Mumia" Producer: George and Maia Ballis www.SunMt.org "Tribal Journeys" Producer: Randy Rowland www.PeppersprayProductions.org ]]>
On NEWSREAL, people -- not corporations -- make the news! NEWSREAL is a monthly compilation of coverage from Indymedia video producers across the nation. Segments included in this episode: "Tucson Activists and La Otra" Producer: Steev Hise, www.arizona.indymedia.org "Ya Se Pudo" www.peppersprayproductions.org "Sacred Species" Seventh Generation Fund, www.7genfund.org ]]>
The first in a new batch of programs sent to us from Alternate Focus, out of San Diego. This one is from a great speech by Greg Palast, investigative journalist. "I'm not cynical enough to believe we went in for the oil, but we sure as heck ain't leaving without it!" he says in his tongue-in-cheek way, and later "Do not fight for a dying regime, it is not worth your life." (quoting Bush) This guy is funny and insightful at the same time. Just how naked does aggression have to get? We were entertained when we saw this piece, we think you will be too. www.gregpalast.com www.alternatefocus.org
Author David Korten speaks at the Veterans For Peace convention in Seattle, Washington. From www.davidkorten.org: "Following the ... all » September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States, the administration in power in Washington, DC invaded Afghanistan, began a campaign to build support for an invasion of Iraq, and spoke openly of a U.S. policy of using the full power of U.S. military forces to impose imperial order on the world. These actions made overt a larger imperial agenda and triggered recognition of the extent to which contemporary relationships between people and nations are shaped by the same dominator patterns that became established with the rise of the first empires in the Tigris Euphrates and Nile river valleys some 5,000 years ago."
"KPCN--Radio Movemiento" is PepperSpray Collective member Bill Birney's piece on the efforts to build a low power FM station in the Chicano town of Woodburn, Oregon. Bill traveled to Woodburn three times to make this piece. He led the first PepperSpray team which went to Woodburn and out into the fields to interview farmworkers, making an advance video that served to build media interest in the Radio KPCN project. Then he went back to cover the Prometheus "barn-raising" weekend, where activists converged and merged with the community, to build the station in a single weekend. Finally, Bill returned to Woodburn for the final occasion, the celebration of the station commencing regular programing. His excellent and uplifting report fills this week's whole program, and is the final of three pieces PepperSpray has produced on this topic.
This show features the Mohawk IMC's piece, "Independent Media in a Time of War." As Bush's poll ratings plummet and support for the war crumbles, it occurs to us that there are a lot of Americans out there who are wondering "how they could have fallen for the lies?" What went wrong to make them believe there were weapons of mass destruction or that Iraq was responsible for 9/11? Americans are wondering, how did I ever believe in this Administration? With that in mind, we are revisiting this classic piece featuring Amy Goodman, which examines the role of the media in bamboozling the American public. This piece came out early in the Iraq war, but, now we are 3 years into the war and it is time to revisit it. There are real answers to the question,"how did we get tricked?"
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