Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc. and New England Newspaper Group Inc.
By The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Massachusetts)
The Global Issues Resource Organization [GIRO] and Peace and World Order Studies program at Berkshire Community College will sponsor a showing of Tom Jackson’s new film “Worlds Apart: 9/11 First Responders Against War” on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in BCC’s Melville Hall, Room 201.
The 59-minute film follows 9/11 first responders as they travel to Afghanistan to meet and speak with Afghan first responders. The film will be shown again that evening at 7:30 in the Unitarian/Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave., under the sponsorship of Berkshire Citizens for Peace and Justice. Jackson will be present at each showing to lead a discussion. Both showings are open to the public.
“Worlds Apart” focuses on the lives of a small group of first responders who survived 9/11 where more than 300 first responders died.
The group, known as Ground Zero for Peace, has called for nonviolent responses to the attacks. It is their belief that violence will only breed more violence. Reaction to their stance has been mixed, but never mild.
The documentary features footage from a peacemaking delegation that brought Jackson, the producer of Joe Public Films, and Megan Bartlett, an emergency medical technician who was a first responder on 9/11, to Afghanistan in May 2004. There they met with Afghan first responders in an attempt to establish ties of friendship, and to see if Afghan rescue workers were any different than those in New York City.
The film includes exclusive Afghan battle and rescue footage by award-winning cameraman M. Yousuf Jonnesar. It also features traditional Afghan music and songs from David Rovics, Emma’s Revolution and others.
The program is made possible through cooperation with AFSC of Western Massachusetts. Forum credit is available for BCC students.