Annie Machon

Upcoming New York Conference: how the world changed after 9/11

Looking forward to speaking at this conference next weekend!

A timely and necessary debate about the vital, but increasingly fragile, state of our democracy and basic civil rights.

And what a great line up - well done to the organisers! 

Some of the other speakers are old friends I've worked with before, some I look forward to meeting for the first time.

New Film by Ryan JW Smith

I had the pleasure recently of working with a talented film maker called Ryan JW Smith, and his partner/producer, Brianna. 

Brianna is an artist by training, and also a mean hand at producing. Ryan seems a bit of a renaissance man - film maker, poet, writer, actor.  In fact, he wrote a play called "New World Order" in, I believe, iambic pentameter, and performed it to packed audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe a couple of years ago, and recently had a short film called  "Army Strong" screened at a Polish film festival.

Anyway, they are in the middle of making a feature-length film about the post-apocalyptic, post-9/11 world we all share - the lies of intelligence and government, the illegal wars, the erosion of our democratic rights.  Just the sort of light material that I like to work with - and certainly what I think is of vital importance. 

I'm working on helping to promote the film later this year, and organise some screening tours for them across Europe and North America.

I think it's going to be a very powerful wake-up call to us all.  Watch this space for more news.

Here's a trailer Ryan and Brianna cut from my interviews with them called "Using Her Intelligence".  I like:

FBI Whistleblower Sibel Edmonds

I strongly recommend you take the time to watch this film about FBI whistleblower, Sibel Edmonds. 

"Kill the Messenger"  joins some interesting dots, not just about what might have been going on round Sibel's case, but also adds a different perspective to the notorious outing of CIA officer, Valerie Plame.

Of course, a film that investigates how the might of the state can be used to stifle the legitimate dissent of a whistleblower will always resonate with me. 

Same message, different country.

 

9/11 Hero in London

Last week 9/11 hero William Rodriguez was back in London, speaking at the Global Peace and Unity Conference in London's Docklands. William is invited every year, and addressed an audience of thousands last Sunday.

William was the last survivor to leave the Twin Towers on 9/11. He survived being buried alive by the collapsing North Tower after he ran from the building and dived under a firetruck. After he was pulled from the rubble, miraculously with few injuries, he was immediately interviewed by CNN, before returning to help with the rescue effort. Since then, he has become a spokesperson for the families of the victims and the survivors.

William is recognised in America as a national hero. He had one of the few master keys to the WTC complex, and repeatedly re-entered the North Tower after the attacks to unlock security doors and help the firefighters rescue trapped people. For his bravery he has been recognised at the White House.

He was instrumental in lobbying for the 9/11 Enquiry and, when the commission failed to address a wide range of evidence and questions from the survivors, eyewitnesses and families, he began campaigning for a new, independent enquiry on behalf of these groups.

He now travels the world doing interviews, meeting politicians and heads of state, and recounting his amazing story of survival and hope. He also campaigns against the overt politicisation of the 9/11 tragedy, which has been used and abused by governments to justify the wars in the Middle East, the unending war of terror, and the resulting roll-back of our freedoms and civil liberties. His is an amazing story and acts as an inspiration to many people.

Over the last 2 years I've organised three national and international speaking tours for him across the UK and much of Europe - sadly not yet reaching Ireland despite reports to the contrary! - and his experience has touched thousands of people, both at the events themselves and via the extensive media coverage he has received. On this visit to London I arranged interviews for him on Sky News and Press TV.