Dear John,

In one week, we're kicking off our "Water & War" Virtual Film Festival, in honor of World Water Day.

The impact of war on water is one of the most insidious consequences of militarism. In the U.S. alone, the military is among the top 3 polluters of U.S. waterways, not to speak of its polluting footprint across the network of 750+ American bases abroad. Fifty years later, Agent Orange still contaminates water in Vietnam. And more recently, the cholera outbreak in Yemen has contributed to what the UN called "the world's worst humanitarian crisis," due to Saudi-led strikes that damaged water supplies and sanitation. The list goes on and on. And beyond stories of contamination, the "Water & War" virtual film festival from March 15-22 will also explore intersections of militarism and water in unique ways, such as the perilous journey to safety for Syrian war refugees fleeing by boat across the Mediterranean. Learn more and reserve your spot.

Day 1 of the festival on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:00pm Eastern Daylight Time launches with a discussion of the sweeping water contamination caused by U.S. military bases worldwide with screenings of No Defense & The Empire Files' A Battle for Water in Hawai’i. No Defense exposes the first known U.S. military site with PFAS pollution, the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan. First-hand accounts from community members detail the health impacts caused by PFAS, known as a "forever chemical" due to its lasting legacy. A Battle for Water in Hawai’i tells the story of water contamination caused by the infamous leak at the U.S. Navy’s Red Hill fuel tanks and how Native Hawaiians are campaigning to #ShutDownRedHill. The post-film discussion will include Craig Minor, Tony Spaniola, Mikey Inouye, and Vicky Holt Takamine.

Day 2 on Saturday, March 19 at 3:00pm Eastern Daylight Time features a screening of the film The Crossing. A rare, firsthand account of one of the most dangerous journeys of our time, this timely, nail-biting documentary follows the grueling plight of a group of Syrian refugees as they cross the Mediterranean Sea and travel across Europe. The panel discussion will feature director George Kurian and Niamh Ní Bhriain, coordinator of the Transnational Institute’s War and Pacification Programme. Our discussion will explore the intersections of the "war economy" and the "wall economy" — and how the same companies profit off of both fueling violent conflict and then militarizing borders against the refugees fleeing war zones.

Day 3, the festival finale on #WorldWaterDay (Tuesday, March 22 at 7:00pm Eastern Daylight Time), features Berta Didn’t Die, She Multiplied!, a celebration of the life and legacy of Honduran Indigenous, feminist, and environmental activist Berta Cáceres. The film tells the story of the Honduran military coup, the assassination of Berta, and the victory in the Indigenous struggle to protect the Gualcarque River. The insidious agents of the local oligarchy, the World Bank, and North American corporations continue to kill but that will not stop the social movements. From Flint to Standing Rock to Honduras, the water is sacred and the power is in the people. The post-film discussion will feature director Sam Vinal and other special guests to be announced.

Learn more and get tickets! Tickets are priced on a sliding scale, starting at $5 USD for the entire film festival. With your ticket you will get the Zoom link to access the virtual festival. Ticket proceeds go to support World BEYOND War's international war abolition work.

In peace & solidarity,

Greta Zarro
Organizing Director
World BEYOND War
[email protected]

World BEYOND War is a global network of volunteers, chapters, and affiliated organizations advocating for the abolition of the institution of war.

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