Diana Tung's Media

Interview with Joe Berlinger - Director of CRUDE

Diana Tung — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:45:19 -0700

In this interview with WITNESS, Berlinger discusses his new film CRUDE, a documentary that tells the story of 30,000 Ecuadoreans that are suing U.S. oil giant Chevron-Texaco for allegedly causing one of the worst environmental and humanitarian crisis in the world. Berlinger talks about why he chose to make this film and what impact he hopes CRUDE will have. CRUDE - a finalist in WITNESS 2009 Silverdocs Award - opens in NYC on September 9.

Here's more on the film from CrudeTheMovie.com:

"...[CRUDE] is the epic story of one of the
largest and most controversial environmental lawsuits on the planet.
The inside story of the infamous “Amazon Chernobyl” case, Crude is a
real-life high stakes legal drama, set against a backdrop of the
environmental movement, global politics, celebrity activism, human
rights advocacy, the media, multinational corporate power, and
rapidly-disappearing indigenous cultures.

The landmark case takes place in the Amazon
jungle of Ecuador, pitting 30,000 indigenous and colonial rainforest
dwellers against the U.S. oil giant Chevron. The plaintiffs claim that
Texaco – which merged with Chevron in 2001 – spent three decades
systematically contaminating one of the most biodiverse regions on
Earth, poisoning the water, air and land. The plaintiffs allege that
the pollution has created a “death zone” in an area the size of the
Rhode Island, resulting in increased rates of cancer, leukemia, birth
defects, and a multiplicity of other health ailments. They further
allege that the oil operations in the region contributed to the
destruction of indigenous peoples and irrevocably impacted their
traditional way of life. Chevron vociferously fights the claims,
charging that the case is a complete fabrication, perpetrated by
“environmental con men” who are seeking to line their pockets with the
company’s billions.

The case takes place not just in a
courtroom, but in a series of field inspections at the alleged
contamination sites, with the judge and attorneys for both sides
trudging through the jungle to litigate. And the battleground has
expanded far beyond the legal process. The cameras rolled as the
conflict raged in and out of court, and the case drew attention from an
array of celebrities, politicians and journalists, and landed on the
cover of Vanity
Fair. Some of the film’s subjects sparked further controversy as they
won a CNN “Hero” award and the Goldman Award, the environmental
equivalent of the Nobel Prize."

TED Talks: Sophal Ear: Escaping the Khmer Rouge

Diana Tung — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:17:09 -0700

TED Fellow Sophal Ear shares the compelling story of his family's escape from Cambodia under the rule of the Khmer Rouge. He recounts his mother's cunning and determination to save her children.

Sourced from: http://blog.ted.com/2009/07/escaping_the_kh.php

Local solutions on a sinking paradise, Carterets Islands, Papua New Guinea

Diana Tung — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:09:16 -0700

In December 2008, the low-lying Carterets Islands were badly damaged by king tides and violent storm surges. Nicholas Hakata, a local youth leader and community representative, explains that he and his family have been surviving on mainly fish and coconuts, and battling the swamp mosquitoes that have brought malaria.
With the local government's food aid ship coming once or twice a year, the relocation plans are equally as slow. Hungry and unwell, the islanders have set up a relocation team and have begun a series of urgent tasks to move families closer to security.

Made in collaboration with Nicholas Hakata, Tulele Peisa and Ursula Rakmova

Camera/Editor by Luis Patron

Producer/Editor by Citt Williams

Support Tulele Peisa relocation program - tulelepeisa.org

To see other stories in the UNU's Indigenous Perspectives of Climate change videobrief series:ourworld.unu.edu
unutki.org/news.php?news_id=51&doc_id=7

Health Care For America Now! Rally DC - June 25, 2009 - Preview

Diana Tung — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:13:29 -0700

Preview of clips from the forthcoming longer videos to be released next week of the Health Care For America Now Rally in DC on June 25, 2009. Featuring crowd shots, Howard Dean speaking, and a group of people visiting their Representative in their office on Capital Hill. Tune back to our Channel next week to see all the videos!

Sourced from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrCFpRrrk78

A Rally to Protest Post-Election Violence in Iran - June 26, 2009

Diana Tung — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:37:31 -0700

A rally to protest post-election violence in Iran, organized by The Green Wave starting from Union Square to Amnesty International's Vigil for Iran at Columbus Circle, New York City.
Friday 26 June, 2009

Hong Kong Protest March July 1, 2009

Diana Tung — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:36:37 -0700

Under the bridge downtown... 100,000 Hongkongers - most attired in the traditional funeral colour of white - demonstrate their unhappiness with the city's government.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbDjGeLFqpw

Hong Kong Protest March July 1, 2009

Diana Tung — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:14:26 -0700

100,000 Hongkongers of all creeds and grievances stand up for what they believe is right: Universal Suffrage, Minimum Wage, Star Ferry Bus Terminal, Mui Wo Rehabilitation School - the government must listen to its citizens. We have every right to protest.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwHyM4GptUc

School Strip-Search Case Before Supreme Court

Diana Tung — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:41:23 -0700

The Supreme Court heard the Savana Redding case today. When Savana was 13 years old, she was strip-searched for allegedly possessing prescription-strength ibuprofen. School officials violated Savana's rights and called into question basic constitutional protections for all students in schools across America.
Sourced from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9QQCiT1e_w

Edie Falco for Health Care for America Now

Diana Tung — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:32:17 -0700

Join us on June 25 to tell Congress, "Health Care Can't Wait!" Text HEALTH to 94553 or go to http://www.healthcare09.org.
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-89Is9Bl2ZA

Solving the Middle East Water Crisis

Diana Tung — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:08:27 -0700

Source: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2905218/solving_the_middle_east_water_cris...