This week was interesting because me and Mauro, the director of one of the videos, met up mid-week to edit. Unfortunately the footage was shaky, the audio was too quiet, and the first part of the video and the second part didn’t really connect. So instead of editing we put our heads together and made a guillon that would connect the two parts and decided that though our last Saturday was meant for editing that we would film again on Saturday (and I would supervise the whole thing this time) and then we would get together again Sunday to edit. I was really pleased that Mauro was committed to making a good product and willing to put in the time to meet with me again.

Today was our last day and since I would be filming all day with Mauro’s group I had to trust that Michelle’s group would be fine editing on their own. Luckily Paulina had a friend, Brenda, come to help with editing if they needed it. Emmi and Nelgi spent the day taking interview footage of the students and mentors so I could make a short vide about the project to show at the premiere. The interview questions were:

• For you, what is the Revolutionary Filmmaking Project, Guatemala?

• How has the Project affected you?

• What have you discovered in the Project?

• What was your favorite part of the Project?

The shortened version of the Interview Video with English subtitles

Mauro, Vilma, Ester, Nereida, Flaviana, Karla and I had a great time filming the short scenes for their video, especially in the beginning when we kept having to change locations because there was super loud music all over the University. After we finished filming I checked on the interviews and made sure everyone got theirs done. Finally we returned to the room and I checked on the editing of the other group. Their video was much longer than I had asked for. Instead of being 3-5 minutes it was 15. I knew I would be helping to edit more than one of the films, but I expected to do that so it was fine. Once everyone was settled we stood in a circle and the mentors handed everyone a candle. I read a little speech I prepared that basically said how grateful and proud I was and how important it is that all the project participants keep in touch and keep trying to change the world. Then each of us had to make a compromiso of something we were going to do or change and once we said it the person next to us lit our candle with their candle.

After we all made our compromiso we went outside and took a bunch of group photographs in every combination imaginable. Finally I told them all to be at the auditorium at noon on thursday, September 29, 2011 for the presentation, I spoke to Mauro and Michelle about editing, and we left. I cannot believe that the presentation is only in five days!

Hi all,

Finally after hurdle after hurdle with the Kickstarter people I have an Amazon account that is verified, a video, and a project description that they approve of!

We are attempting to raise $900 in 20 days so we need to start spreading the word to our networks ASAP. That means emails, facebook posts, website posts, text messages, whatever will get people to pledge. The link is below, please write back with any questions or concerns. Thanks!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marinawood/the-revolutionary-filmmaking-project-guatemala

Marina Wood

Coordinadora de Educación Preventiva

marina at miamericas dot info

MIA, Mujeres Iniciando en las Américas

909-242-3432

–

Cada vez que liberan a una mujer, que liberar a un hombre. – Margaret Mead

FOR DONATING ITEMS FROM THE WISHLIST, CLICK HERE.

Or here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html?ie=UTF8&type=wishlist&id=1OA5X0DWK2OD

…

The Central American state of Guatemala is one of the most dangerous countries on earth. It is the major transit route for drugs from Colombia to Mexico and on, into the United States, a trade that involves vicious gangs from Guatemala itself and the region.

There are fears inside and outside the country that Guatemala is in danger of becoming Latin America’s first failed state, with organised crime corrupting many national institutions. Zeinab Badawi reports from the capital, Guatemala City.

Watch video here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_today/9107861.stm

….

From: noticias.nl
Subject: vídeo testimionio Mindy
To: miamericas.info
Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2010,

Estimadores editores y miembros del sitio Mujeres Iniciando en las Americas, en lazo con el articulo que publicaron el primero de noviembre 2009, hemos
realizado un reportaje con el testimonio de Mindy.

Queremos compartir nuestra producción, la pueden publicar en su sitio internet si lo desean.

http://www.laruta.nu/es/video/la-pesadilla-de-mindy

Aquí es disponible el vídeo con subtitulos ingleses:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnGcwyVgvUc

con subtitulos franceses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6fJuPeE9JI

Quizás este vídeo sobre las condiciones de vida de las mujeres en el penal de Sensuntepeque en El Salvador les puede interesar también,

http://www.laruta.nu/es/video/detras-de-las-rejas-en-el-salvador

Pertenecemos a la Agencia de Prensa independiente Noticias.nl de Amsterdam, Países Bajos (http://www.noticias.nl) En estos momentos realizamos un proyecto  llamado LA Ruta en el cual informamos sobre los temas mencionados en los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio (ODM’s) desde una perspectiva de la sociedad civil y movimientos sociales. Hemos realizado un viaje por México y Centroamérica publicando una serie de
artículos, reportajes y vídeos en nuestro sitio web (http://www.laruta.nu).

Saludos Fraternales
www.noticias.nl
www.laruta.nu

US testing that infected hundreds of Guatemalans with gonorrhoea and syphilis more than 60 years ago was a “crime against humanity”, Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom has said.

President Barack Obama has apologised for the medical tests, in which mentally ill patients and prisoners were infected without their consent.

Mr Obama told Mr Colom the 1940s-era experiments ran contrary to American values, Guatemala said.

The US has promised an investigation.

“We deeply regret that it happened, and we apologise to all the individuals who were affected by such abhorrent research practices”  Statement from US secretaries of state and health

‘Shocking, tragic, reprehensible’

Syphilis can cause heart problems, blindness, mental illness and even death, and although the patients were treated it is not known how many recovered.

Evidence of the programme was unearthed by Prof Susan Reverby at Wellesley College. She says the Guatemalan government gave permission for the tests.

No offer of compensation has yet been made, but an investigation will be launched into the specifics of the study, which took place between 1946 and 1948.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Friday the news was “shocking, it’s tragic, it’s reprehensible”.

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Colom said the test subjects were “victims of rights abuses”.

Professor Susan Reverby: ”They saw these subjects as soldiers in a war”

“There’s been a very strong reaction in the Guatemalan media and by my compatriots,” he said.

“Of course, there may have been similar incidents in other countries around the world, but speaking as the president and a Guatemalan, I would have preferred that these events had never happened on this soil.”

The joint statement from Mrs Clinton and Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said: “Although these events occurred more than 64 years ago, we are outraged that such reprehensible research could have occurred under the guise of public health.

“We deeply regret that it happened, and we apologise to all the individuals who were affected by such abhorrent research practices.”

In his phone call to President Colom, Barack Obama reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering commitment to ensure that all human medical studies conducted today meet exacting US and international legal and ethical standards, the White House.

President Obama also “underscored the United States’ deep respect for the people of Guatemala and the importance of our bilateral relationship”.

Unaware

Syphilis can cause blindness, insanity and even death.

The study by Prof Reverby shows that US government medical researchers infected almost 700 people in Guatemala with two sexually transmitted diseases.

The patients – prisoners and people suffering mental health problems – were unaware they were being experimented upon.

The doctors used prostitutes with syphilis to infect them, or inoculation, as they tried to determine whether penicillin could prevent syphilis, not just cure it.

The patients were then treated for the disease, but it is unclear whether everyone was cured.

Prof Reverby has previously done research on the Tuskegee experiment, where the US authorities measured the progress of syphilis in African-American sharecroppers without telling them they had the disease or adequately treating it.

The experiment ran from 1932 to 1972, with President Bill Clinton eventually apologising for it.

SEE VIDEO HERE:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11457552