EchoChamber//Afghanistan

Last year we premiered Ian Old's powerful documentary The Fixer in association with HBO and The Asia Society. This November, we are excited to present another film on Afghanistan, Carol Dysinger's Camp Victory, Afghanistan.

See you at the show!

The EchoChamber Team

24 hours to save Sakineh

Dear Friends, 

Iran could execute Sakineh Ashtiani tomorrow. We saved her from stoning, now we have 24 hours to get key powers to take emergency action to stop this shameful killing.

Tomorrow, Iran could execute Sakineh Ashtiani. 

Our global outcry stopped her unjust stoning sentence in July. Now we have 24 hours to save her life. 

Iran's allies and key UN powers are our best hope -- they could persuade Iran of the serious political cost of this high-profile killing. Click below to send them an urgent call to action and send this to everyone -- it only takes three minutes and we are her last chance: 

http://www.avaaz.org/en/24h_to_save_sakineh/?vl 

Sakineh's adultery case is a tragic sham stacked with human rights violations. First, she was to be stoned to death. But the Iranian government had to revoke the sentence after her children generated a worldwide outcry against the farcical trial -- she could not speak the language used in court, and the alleged incidents of adultery took place after her husband's death. 

Then her lawyer was forced into exile, and the prosecution conjured up a new trumped-up charge for which she would be executed -- the murder of her husband. Despite this being double jeopardy, as she is already serving time for alleged complicity in this crime, Sakineh was tortured and paraded on national television to 'confess', and was found guilty. Since then the regime has arrested two German journalists, her lawyer and her son, who has bravely led the international campaign to save his mother. All remain in prison and Sakineh's son and lawyer have been also tortured and have no access to lawyers. 

Now Iranian human rights activists state an order has just been issued from Tehran to implement her killing immediately. She is on the list and tomorrow is execution day. 

Our persistent campaigning led Iran to drop Sakineh's stoning sentence and captured the attention of leaders in countries with influence on Iran, like Turkey and Brazil. Now let's urgently raise our voices to stop her killing and inhumane treatment and free her, her lawyer, her son and the jailed German journalists. Send a message and share this emergency call with friends and family: 

http://www.avaaz.org/en/24h_to_save_sakineh/?vl 

A massive public outcry has the moral authority to stop heinous crimes. Let's use these 24 hours to send a clear message -- the world is watching and we all stand together today to save Sakineh's life and against injustice everywhere. 

With hope and determination, 

Alice, Stephanie, Pascal, Giulia, Benjamin and the whole of the Avaaz team 

Sources: 

The Islamic regime of Iran plans to execute Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani immediately
http://stopstonningnow.com/wpress/4194

Sakineh hanging imminent
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/fears-that-alleged-adulterers-execution-by-hanging-is-imminent/story-e6frg6so-1225946610965

Iranian woman could be stoned Wednesday
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hipKgm5UqJOxciOi1f07BwbfRgFg?docId=CNG.6ef6de7af5f33847d19e690e61087c73.811

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani: A life in the Balance (Amnesty International)
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/089/2010/en/589bd56b-49ac-4028-8dc6-abd903ac9bac/mde130892010en.pdf 


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Budrus and you!

Director Julia Bacha and EC's Shruti Ganguly 

Dear friends,

We are thrilled to have presented a screening of Budrus, and that the fabulous director Julia Bacha was present for a Q&A after the film.

Below is an email we got from our Just Vision colleague Nadav Greenberg...and we're excited that Budrus will be playing at the Quad Cinema till November 4th!

XO

The EC team

Dear Friends, 

Thank you so much for joining us for a recent screening of Budrus and signing up for Just Vision's mailing list. It's been an incredible few weeks as we've begun to bring Budrus to theaters around the US, and we're thrilled so many of you came out to see the film and express your support.

We're happy to announce that Budrus has been extended for additional runs in New York and Los Angeles, and we are getting ready to open in many more cities across the country in the coming weeks. Exciting news also continues to pour in every day, with the village of Budrus recently winning an $8500 prize from the government of Norway (you can watch Ayed's acceptance speech here), Just Vision founder and Executive Director Ronit Avni winning the Seeking Common Ground - Circles of Change Award, and more great coverage in the New York Timesand Los Angeles Times to add to the incredible response that Budrus has received so far in the press.

Below are some of the main places Budrus will be playing over the next few months (you can see a full list with showtimes here). Because we use almost no traditional advertising and marketing, we rely on your help and word of mouth to get the film and its message to audiences around the country. 

The next few weeks will be extremely crucial to our ability to bring Budrus to additional cities and communities across the country, so help us pack the theaters by spreading the word to your friends, family and colleagues in the cities below: 

• New York - Quad Cinema - Extended! Playing now until November 4th. 
• Los Angeles - Extended! Playing at the Music Hall until October 28th, and then moving to the Monica 4-plex for the weekend. 
• Denver - Starz FilmCenter - Extended! Playing now until October 31st.
• Washington, DC - West End Cinema - Opens October 29th. 
• Traverse City, MI - State Theater - Opens October 29th. 
• Chicago - Facets Multimedia - Opens November 19th. 
• Minneapolis - Landmark Cinemas - Opens November 26th. 
• Boston - Coolidge Corner - Opens December 3rd. 
• Seattle - Landmark Cinemas - Opens December 17th. 
• San Francisco & Berkeley - Landmark Cinemas - Opens January 14th.

And many more to come... Join us on Facebook and Twitter, or check the events section of our website to get the latest.

If you know of groups in any of these that would want to coordinate trips to the theater and set up special Q&As with Just Vision staff and the filmmakers, please have them email nadav@justvision.org. E-flyers are available upon request for most of the cities listed above. 

Also - our theatrical release is just the beginning! Starting in the late winter and spring of 2011, we will begin to bring the film to university campuses, schools, organizations and religious congregations across the country. Please be in touch with nadav@justvision.org if you're interested in setting up a screening\workshop for your community. 

Thanks again for taking the time to join us and for your enthusiastic support. We're looking forward to being in touch with more exciting news in the coming weeks and months. 

Warm regards,

Nadav

P.S. Just Vision relies on the generous support of individuals in order to carry out its mission. Help make sure that the voices of Palestinians and Israelis working towards nonviolent solutions to the conflict are heard by making a tax-deductible donation today. Thank you.