N Ireland video series

Irish Northern Aid, Native American Students Association, and Seattle Central Community College are sponsoring a video series on the "troubles" in Northern Ireland. It will take place from Feb 3 - Mar 11 at SCCC Rms 1110/1111 at 6:30pm. For more info call 206-726-2306.

"Irish Northern Aid presents a video series exploring the current conflict in Occupied Ireland. Many facets of Ireland's struggle for democracy, freedom, and equality will be examined, including Ireland's history, the role of Irish-Americans in the struggle for Irish freedom, connections with other liberation struggles, and media depictions of "the troubles". Discussions will follow each showing, facilitated by local proponents for peace and justice in Ireland. Admission is free, and informational materials will be available."

Movies to be shown are:

Tues 2/3 = "Counter Terror" (30 min) and "Orange Law, Orange Order" (18 min) A different look at recent events in N Ireland, one you won't see in the mainstream media.

Tues 2/10 = "When Ireland Starved: An Gorta Mor, The Great Famine" Did the Irish really have to flee their homeland or die when the famine struck?  Or was this horror more a result of colonial exports and unequal distribution of food?

Tues 2/17 = "The San Patricios: The Tragic Story of the St Patrick's Battalion" (49 min) Originally Irish immigrants fighting with the US against Mexico in 1846, this group followed their conscience and switched to the Mexican side.

Wed 2/25 = "Michael Collins" They are hoping to have a new documentary on this historical figure, but if they can't get it, they'll show the recent Hollywood film.

Tues 3/3 = "Gerry Adams: Towards a Lasting Peace" The leader of Sinn Fein visits the US for the first time in 1994. The controversy and the results.

Wed 3/11 = "Some Mother's Son" Two women, one committed to Irish independence, the other neutral, re-examine their beliefs as both of their sons join the 1981 hunger strike.

I've had some contact with this group for a couple of years now, and went to the video series they ran the summer of 1996, it was very educational. The organization works to raise awareness of the situation in N Ireland, and to raise funds to help the dependents of political prisoners. They are definitely pro-independence for N Ireland, but they aren't obnoxious in their education efforts. If you have any interest in this topic, I strongly encourage you to go check out this video series. At the very least, it will give you some different things to think about.

Quarong
<quarong at eskimo.com>     Received on 01/19/98