The single biggest mobilization of free (non-uniformed!) people in human history?
It was February 15, 2003, when people in 800 cities all over the globe took to the streets to cry out against George Bush's impending criminal invasion of Iraq: "Not in our names!" Estimates vary widely of course, but it seems plausible that 15 million people came out and stood up on that bittersweet day.
So FEW people wanted that war, and so very MANY were opposed. If only -- just imagine, if only, we'd been able to stop it. 650,000 Iraqis, the 4700 Coalition soldiers, the injuries, the cost -- now greater, I read, than the total we spent on WWII, can that really be true? The incalculable costs of all kinds, which will continue to extract their toll over generations.
I am mostly a lurker here (intimidated a bit) but I really value this site and all the smart and compassionate Kossacks, and thought many of you might be interested in a new documentary film-in-progress about that one day, its how, what, why, where, who, when -- and its meaning and legacy.
The film is called WE ARE MANY (from a poem by PB Shelley actually). The director, London-based filmmaker Amir Amirani, offers a radical reassessment of Feb 15 as a hugely important event. He sees it as the advent of a new kind of 21st Century People Power, a democratic crowd with direct links to the Arab Spring and the Occupy movement.
There's a 6 minute trailer here, on the Kickstarter page.
http://www.kickstarter.com/...
Where you there? How have you viewed the day since? Do you have a story or video or stills that you'd like to share? (We're collecting for a global archive.)
The Kickstarter campaign to raise production funds has gone crazy with enthusiasm -- there's still 1 day left if you might like to jump in for a dollar or more. [I am proud to be one of a team of producers -- so I must give you that opportunity to give no? :)]
I'd love to hear your thoughts and feelings about the film and the protest. Thank you!