Economic Difficulties Update Media That Matters Stories
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The current economic crisis has led to some interesting developments in recent news and many of these issues relate to our latest Media That Matters films.
Recently, there has been coverage about a number of Chicago workers and their occupation of the factory, Republic Windows and Doors. Workers were fired from their jobs with little notice; denied health care and 60 day severance pay as required by federal law. The Chicago workers fight to secure their economic rights and liberties most closely relates to the struggle depicted in Argentina Turning Around.
In this film, directors Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young portray the story of hundreds of workers who gained control over their factories during Argentina’s economic downtown a few years ago. Dworkin explains, “Argentina Turning Around tells the story of the success of hundreds of such factories, where workers not only sat in but resumed production and went into business for themselves. This (recent news of Chicago) reminds me of what happened in Argentina after their economic collapse several years ago.”
As we know, harsh drug laws have led to the incarceration of thousands of first-time offenders across the country, including Perversion of Justice‘s Hamedah Hasan.
Perversion of Justice, directed by Melissa Mummert, introduced us to Hammedah Hasan and her struggle to raise three children while serving a 27-year sentence for a first time drug offense. Her story exposed us to the outlandish statues and sentencing practices associated with the sale and possession of narcotics. Since her imprisonment, Hasan has joined the ranks of individuals and organizations working to reduce prison sentences for first time non-violent offenders.
Now, elected officials such as NY State’s Governor Paterson are beginning to question the role of drug policy reform in alleviating the state’s financial woes. The Legal Action Group, a non-profit group that has long been in support of drug-related policy reform, recently released a study suggesting that an overhaul of NY States’ Drug Policy would not only help first time offenders but also save the state billions of taxpayer dollars.
Read more about this news at Hudson Valley Press or WNYC.
Then, watch festival winners Argentina Turning Around and Perversion of Justice, along with the rest of the eigth annual collection, and find out ways you can make a direct impact on the future of these issues.
- Sarata Toriola
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| Posted on December 19, 2008
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