Garbage Dreams - a personal note about a great new documentary

[Molly Murphy]

From: RecycleWorlds

Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 9:36 AM

Subject: A Personal Note About a Great New Documentary

 

Last month, the UW's Nelson Institute in Madison had its second environmental film festival where I saw Garbage Dreams, the most inspiring film I have seen since Seeing Red (about aging American communists searching for a noble purpose in the Reagan years).

 

This new film is about the search for human dignity writ large by the real life story of children among Cairo's garbage pickers. From age 7, the Zaballeen, a Coptic Christian sect on the fringes of Egyptian society, go to work picking garbage and sorting out the recyclables, only to be looked down upon with disdain by Cairo's mainstream society. As they wrestle with how to summon dignity to their lives, now they are also threatened by international garbage titans threatening to take away their work with automated collection vehicles, even though the Zaballeen recover 80%, while the Western behemoths, only 20%.

 

You do not want to miss this incredible documentary, recently short listed for an Oscar Award. Director, Mai Iskander, is looking for people who are affected by and passionate about the film's message to host screening events tied to efforts around environmental justice, zero waste, and recycling.

 

There are two ways you can get involved –

 

If you live in one of the 55 cities listed in the attached document, get involved in a free PBS Community Cinema screening scheduled in these areas in January

 

OR

 

Sign up to host your own screening of the film and use it to get people involved in your local efforts. Folks anywhere in the country are eligible to host community based events with the film. Just go to www.workingfilms.org/buygarbagedreams. 

 

Working Films' Anna Lee is coordinating screenings. If you are interested in either of these opportunities shoot her an email at al...@workingfilms.org or give her a call at 910-342-9000.

 

The film will also be broadcast on PBS in March 2010. Anna or I can share more information about ways to leverage the broadcast to advance your work on the ground.

I tried to get the film uploaded onto a password accessed website for you to be able to see the whole thing, but unfortunately PBS’ broadcast right's contract restricts this.  The links below are some snippets – though they only convey about 5% of the incredible power that this film has to offer.

 

Trailer http://www.youtube.com/independentlens#p/search/1/UxVC-kE0p0Q

Clip 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-gAzez4Oh0 (1:38)

Clip 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLhrz4YlDaQ&feature=related (2:34)

Clip 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrOzoyYuaUY&feature=related (1:24)

Q&A with filmmaker and Adham (character in film) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQCCe6ix-8c  

 

This is an experience that you simply do not want to miss. God knows, after all the setbacks that we suffer under, we inwardly cry out to be inspired by noble experiences such as this, of how mere children grow up fast to confront the assaults of adult realities in order to recharge our batteries and summon the energy to keep plowing ahead, not knowing if we'll live to see the promised land.

 

Peter

______________________________________
Peter Anderson, President
RECYCLEWORLDS CONSULTING
313 Price Place - Suite 14
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 231-1100 - Fax (608) 233-0011
ande...@recycleworlds.net

[Molly Murphy]

I just realized that when this was sent out a couple of weeks ago, it did not include an attachment to the cities in which Garbage Dreams will screen for FREE in January. If you are interested in participating in this or hosting your own screening, please contact Anna Lee at al...@workingfilms.org.

 

A new accolade for the film along side the recent Oscar short-listing - it recently won the Independent Documentary Associations' Humanitas Award, which recognizes films that "strive to unify the human family".

 

We're anxious to have the put the film to use in efforts to advance zero waste and recycling initiatives, as well as international learning and solidarity!

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When I dare to be powerful - to use my strength in the service of my vision - then it becomes less and less important whether or not I am afraid. -- Audre Lorde