Flying Focus Video Collective
PMB #248
3439 NE Sandy Bv
Portland, OR 97232
ffvc@agora.rdrop.com
http://www.rdrop.com/~ffvc
Using video as a tool for social change
July, 2001
The
medical research establishment tells us that research on animals is necessary
to obtain information about human conditions and cures for human illness. In
"The Human Cost of Animal Research" (VB#39.8&9), Dr. Ray
Greek, a physician, medical school instructor, and former animal researcher,
debunks that myth. In his talk and slide show, he describes the fallacies
involved in extrapolating the results of animal experimentation to humans. He
explains why animal research is so prevalent, even though it does not
contribute to human health and is actually a waste of taxpayers' money.
William Upski Wimsatt, the author of Bomb
the Suburbs and No More Prisons spoke last year at a benefit for the
Active Element Foundation and the Independent Publishing Resource Center. An
impassioned proponent of the hip-hop culture, he covered a variety of issues,
including community organizing, the need to bring different groups together,
rape, how the prison industry is like lip balm, and the cool rich kids'
philanthropic movement (Check out
VB#38.3&4, "No More Prisons").
Comedian
Kevin Nealon hosted the first annual Non-Fatal Bite held in Portland in August,
2000, on behalf of the IDA-Africa Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Sanctuary. "Benefit for the Chimps of
Cameroon" (VB#38.6) features Dr. Sheri Speede who spoke about the
origins of the sanctuary and the history of the rescued chimps. The program
includes Speede's footage of the chimps in the sanctuary's jungle habitat and
bits of Mr. Nealon's wry humor.
John
Robbins rejected the opportunity to benefit from his family's Baskin-Robbins
ice cream business, and instead became the Pulitzer Prize-nominated author of
books such as Diet for a New America, May All Be Fed, and Reclaiming
Our Health. He is the founder of EarthSave International, a nonprofit
organization that supports healthy food choices, preservation of the
environment, compassion for all life, and consumption of local organic produce.
Robbins spoke at Portland’s First Unitarian in April 2001. In "John Robbins: Take a Stand" (SE
#99), he talks with humor and compassion about the need today to take a
stand - for the sake of our health, the animals, and the earth.
In
October 2000, activists Will Seaman and Edith Mirante spoke at a symposium on
genocide at Portland State University (PSU). Mr. Seaman of East Timor Action
Network-Portland described the 1975 Indonesian invasion of East Timor, and
detailed U.S. involvement under the guidance of then-Secretary of State Henry
Kissinger.
Shortly
before Seaman’s presentation, the new Indonesian government agreed to elections
on the question of Timorese independence. In response, militia forces trained
and supported by the Indonesian military engaged in brutality that forced
hundreds of thousands of Timorese to flee to West Timor. Seaman points to the
Clinton administration's renewing ties with the Indonesian military as the chief
factor responsible for the surge in violence.
He concluded with a call for U.S. citizens to transform their foreign
policy into one that rejects aggression and chauvinism for values of a genuine
democracy.
Edith
Mirante, long time activist and authority on Burma, described the human rights
crisis imposed by the military regime there. Killings, rapes, forced
relocation, burning of villages and forced labor of indigenous people are used
by the military to suppress dissent and acquire wealth. Ms. Mirante detailed
ways activists are working to free their country. She finished by quoting Aung
San Su Chi, spiritual leader of the Burmese people: "We shall prevail. All
they have are guns." Hear both speakers in our recent program, "Human Rights in Focus: East Timor and
Burma," (VB #38.1).
Ann Wanjiku Gathumbi is
president of the Coalition on Violence Against Women in Kenya, an organization
that supports victims and advocates for changes in the Kenyan legal system. Women
in Kenya are legally second-class citizens. Only men can bequeath citizenship
on their spouses and children. Police do not typically intervene in incidences
of domestic violence. Most cases are not reported, police records are often
incomplete, and prosecutions are rare. In a March lecture at PSU, Ann Gathumbi
spoke out against "Domestic Violence
in Kenya" (VB #39.12), as part of an Amnesty International campaign to
reframe violence against women as a human rights issue to be addressed by all
governments. "Violence against women whether in private or in public is a
human rights issue," says Ms. Gathumbi. "One of our goals is to
empower women survivors of violence through counseling to enable them to bring
social and political change in their lives and in their communities." She
addresses the importance of international legislation in protecting women from
violence. The program also addresses
how Kenyan women are combating the practice of female genital mutilation and
discusses the cultural background of this practice.
In
the past year, a lot of attention has been put on Portland's police review
system (formerly known as PIIAC), in which civilians file complaints and can
appeal the Police Bureau's Internal Affairs Division (IAD) findings to City
Council. In "Racial Profiling: The
Case of Dora McCrae" (VB #39.1&2), an African-American grandmother
and community volunteer brought her case before Council. It involved a Portland
officer who pulled her forcibly from her car at a traffic stop in 1998. Three
years after the incident, the allegations of "excessive force"
finally got to Council after two civil suits failed to reconcile the case.
McCrae's testimony was taken after police and police-friendly witnesses spoke
at length; the only other eyewitness died of old age during the investigative
process. Members of the PSU NAACP put
on a forum prior to the Council hearing, excerpts of which also appear on the
program. The students and their supporters walk out after Mayor Katz casts the
deciding vote to find "insufficient evidence" in the case.
A
second program revolving around PIIAC demonstrates the danger of having police
investigate complaints against other police. In this show ("Police Investigating Police? Portland's Review Board Feb.
2001", VB #38.7) IAD Lieutenant Steve Bechard defends police actions
in a case where a suspect was taken forcibly to the ground.
Lt.
Bechard first states that IAD detectives did not ask leading questions,
then changes his mind, but says it is OK for police to ask leading
questions.
Recently, there has been
a strange phenomenon in the world of prostitution, an industry in which many
women and children and some men have been subjugated, exploited, and then
discarded by pimps and tricks. Lately, people in this industry have been
organizing as "sex workers" and suggesting that the progressive
community support this work. Patricia Barrera, MA and Joe Parker, RN have both
worked with survivors of sex industries for many years. In "Should We Support Prostitution?" (VB #39.4&5), they
say no, we should not support an industry which depends upon the sale of
others' bodies. They describe the pimps and tricks who profit from it, the
devastating effects on those prostituted, and call on us to condemn this
practice.
"Challenges of Alternative
Media" (VB #38.10)
was a featured panel discussion at the May, 2000 End Corporate Dominance
Conference at PSU. Flying Focus Video Collective's own PC Peri, Kathleen
Stephenson of KBOO Radio, and Portland Alliance editor Dave Mazza
discussed alternative media's audience, its relationship with mainstream media,
and paid staff vs. volunteers. They
also explained how they deal with discouragement and setbacks, and considered
the purpose of advocacy journalism.
Flying
Focus is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. We are planning a public
celebration later this year, perhaps including a live cablecast. If want to
help plan such an event, have a house party, or do something else to help this
fall, let us know.
New
technologies at Portland Cable Access (PCA) have created opportunities and
challenges for producers. For the most part, our shows look and sound better
than they used to. However, due to the rare type of equipment being used
(Digital-S, or "D-9"), we have a limited number of tapes to record on
(a 64-minute tape costs about $30!) and no way to play them back in our office.
We need to find some way to transfer our old programs to a stable, accessible
digital format as well as to keep up with changes at the various access
facilities in town. Also, PCA has posted a few "Busiversaries" on its
website as RealMovie streaming video, bringing us closer to the ideal of
getting our programs out to more people www.pcatv.org/
streaming_test.htm. If you have equipment, money, tapes, money,
ideas, money, time, or money to donate to help us keep up in this dot-com
world, please let us know. Especially if you have money to donate. Our recent
fund-raising letter was designed to bring in $1000, but so far only $490 has
come in. Thanks for your support as we
continue to put out programming not influenced by sponsors, corporations, or
the government. We know you have a lot of people asking for your support, but
by supporting Flying Focus, you help so many other groups and causes. Just look
-- Animal Rights, Feminist Issues, Police Accountability, Alternative Media,
International Human Rights--all are represented on our shows with contact
information so people can get more involved!
We
hope to hear from you soon.
Watch the Flying Focus Video Bus weekly:
AT&T Portland - Mon. 8 PM, Ch. 22
Wed. 11PM, Ch. 23
City Wide - Fridays, 9:30 PM, Ch. 11