Two months after the US launched its biggest ever assault on Fallujah, what exactly happened inside the city has, until now, remained a mystery. Now, for the first time, Guardian films reveals the true story.
It was billed as a resounding military success. Over 1,200 insurgents were meant to have been killed and another 2,000 trapped inside Fallujah. But now this version of events is being challenged. Far from being crushed, rebels claim they left the city in an organised withdrawal. “It was a tactical move,” explains insurgent leader Alazaim Abuthe. “The fighters decided to redeploy to Amiriya.” Before they left, fighters booby-trapped many bodies. People are too scared to move them so the corpses lie rotting all over the city. Rabid dogs feed off them and then attack returning residents. Far from stabilising Iraq in preparation for this month’s election, the assault on Falluja has fanned the flames of civil war. Today Fallujans are too busy trying to stay alive in freezing refugee camps to worry about ballot papers that haven’t arrived for an election they have no intention of voting in. As one resident comments, “We’re not interested in this sort of democracy.”
Guardian Films
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Vanuatu - Saving Nemo
- 22 min 35 sec [10 January 2005]
Since the success of the film ‘Finding Nemo’, demand for tropical fish has soured. But the seas of the Pacific are literally being emptied to feed this frenzy.
Tropical fish are now virtually worth their weight in gold. “Everybody wants one because of this Nemo film,” explains SRS Manager Larry Dacles. His company has a monopoly on tropical fishing in Vanuato, home to some of most popular tropical fish in the world. Former workers claim it got this monopoly by bribing government officials. In just three years, SRS has alienated local tourism operators, who depend on the tropical fish as an attraction, scientists, fear an ecological disaster in the making, and the traditional owners of the reefs. “They take anything and everything,” complains one local. “It’s out of control.” Already there has been a 50% fall in tropical fish from the reefs. Now, it’s not so much a case of finding Nemo as saving him.
ABC Australia
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Angola - America's New Frontier
- 25 min 00 sec [10 January 2005]
Revenue from Angola’s oil reserves should be aiding the country’s development. But instead, it’s being used as a slush fund for government corruption.
Deep in Luanda’s sewers, a group of boys show us around their home. “I’m desperate for help,” begs one. “I’m eating rubbish, surrounded by others who are sniffing glue.” According to the latest calculations, 9% of the country’s GDP is siphoned off. Even the US ambassador admits that oil revenues are not going to “the Angolan people.” Ordinary Angolans know they’re being ripped off by their leaders. They’re seething with resentment. In the Angolan enclave of Cabinda, this discontent has fuelled a separatist movement which has been fighting for years. With more and more Angolans asking awkward questions, there’s a risk the country will collapse into anarchy again if the corruption problem isn’t addressed.
See full film at: www.booserver.com/#main=Global&keywords=america%27s%20new%20frontier Mentorn
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Japan - Ageing Economy
- 6 min 38 sec [10 January 2005]
Japan’s population is shrinking faster than any other developed nation’s. Hostility towards immigrants is preventing it welcoming in the foreign workers who could revitalise its economy.
Already many industries are struggling to find workers willing to do dangerous or demeaning jobs. Foreign workers could fill these positions but many Japanese distrust them. They blame immigrants for the rising crime rate and worry they will dilute Japanese culture.
ABC Australia
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DVD/VHS sales not available on this item
Indonesia - Aceh and Sri Lanka Archive
- 46 min 14 sec [10 January 2005]
We offer you unique archive of the separatist movements in Aceh and Sri Lanka and footage of Tamil Tigers and GAM fighters.
Includes footage of the Tamil Tiger stronghold in Vanni, a savage battle fought by the Sea Tigers and a GAM ambush in Aceh. Also includes interviews with rebels, soldiers and villagers caught in the middle.
ABC Australia,
Mentorn,
SBS
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