Burp! Pepsi Versus Coke

John Pilger’s first collaboration with fellow Australian director Alan Lowery, looks at the worldwide struggle for soft drink supremacy by the Coca Cola company, and illuminates the power of multinational corporations.

(Watch the whole film)

Robert Newman – From Caliban To The Taliban

In 2003 Robert Newman toured his one-man political/musical comedy show From Caliban To The Taliban – 500 Years Of Humanitarian Intervention, the precursor to his acclaimed A History of Oil which was filmed for More4, and his BBC TV series The History of the World Backwards.

(Go to Youtube)

In a breathtaking ninety minute performance filmed in front of a live audience at the Brighton Corn Exchange Theatre during the 2003 Paramount Comedy Festival, From Caliban To The Taliban details an unlikely but true history of modern imperialism, from the Virginia Company to the occupation of Iraq, and demonstrates the towering intelligence and sparkling wit of comedy superstar and former teen heart-throb, Robert Newman.

Levellers, True Levellers, and The Diggers of 1649

The Levellers were a relatively loose alliance of radicals and freethinkers who came to prominence during the period of instability that characterized the English Civil War of 1642 – 1649.

What bound these people together was the general belief that all men were equal; since this was the case, then a government could only have legitimacy if it was elected by the people. The Leveller demands were for a secular republic, abolition of the House of Lords, equality before the law, the right to vote for all, free trade, the abolition of censorship, freedom of speech, the abolition of tithes and tolls, and the absolute right for people to worship whatever religion they chose, or none at all. This program was published as “The Agreement of the People”.

Part two|Part three

(click here to watch the whole programme)

The Levellers argued that since God had created all men as equals, the land belonged to all the people as a right. Their program was, then, essentially an attempt to restore the situation that they believed had existed previous to the Norman Conquest in 1099; they wanted to establish a ‘commonwealth’ in which the common people would be in control of their own destiny without the intervention of a King, a House of Lords and other potential oppressors.

Timewatch: Operation Gladio

This 1992 BBC documentary (Three episodes of one hour each) uncovers at Operation Gladio, the American-led operation to establish a network of right-wing (often fascist and neo-fascist) paramilitaries in postwar Europe.

Initially conceived as a safeguard against Soviet invasion, Operation Gladio was used to manipulate domestic politics and keep the left from power – and may be behind some of the century’s most notorious terrorist attacks and political murders.

Part One: The Ringleaders

Looks at the establishment of the stay-behind networks during the liberation of Europe.

Part Two: The Puppeteers

In the decades that followed, terrorist attacks and high profile assassinations set the pace of politics – what became known as the “strategy of tension”.

Part Three: The Foot Soldiers

Investigates the role of the stay-behinds in a series of grisly murders in Belgium and the killing of a former Italian Prime Minister, as well as their infiltration of the extrem left.

Taking Liberties

Released just as Tony Blair was leaving office, this film documents his ten-year war against civil liberties, begun as a way of protecting businesses from ‘harrassment’ but dramatically escalated as part of The War Against Terror.

(that was a trailer; click here to watch the whole film)

I had a few things lined up to go with this film, but decided they detracted from the seriousness of the issue. However, the soundtrack is ace, and that last song deserves reposting in its entirety without being talked over. So here, for your listening pleasure, is Jarvis with Running The World.

Frontline – Cheney’s Law

Today, Congressman and Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is attempting to kick off impeachment proceedings against Vice President Dick “Darth Vader” Cheney, through the use of what’s called a priveleged resolution. The charges one could bring against Cheney are legion, and polls show that 54% of Americans want to see him impeached (the idea of impeaching President Bush, is slightly less popular, at 45%, but that’s still more than ever wanted to impeach Nixon).

This PBS documentary (56 mins) charts some of Cheney’s struggles for greater power, pitting the White House against Congress and the Department of Justice in particular.

Ministry Of Truth

A fascinating documentary (~30mins) that looks behind the scenes of British quasi-democracy. After discovering that MPs have no legal obligation not to lie, director Richard Symons embarks on a quest to introduce one, through a ‘Misrepresentation of the People Act’.

(click here to watch the whole programme)

You can view the bill – now called the ‘Elected Representatives (Prohibition of Deception) Bill’ – here. So far a total of 35 MPs have expressed support for idea; you can email your representative about it here and keep up to date with the latest news regarding its progress here.

The Miami Model

A film about the errrmmm… ‘enthusiastic’ policing at the FTAA protests in Miami 2003

The Agronomist

A dramatic portrait (87 mins) of radical broadcaster and human rights activist Jean Dominique, and of the political struggle in Haïti.  (h/t Fanonite)

Speaking of Haiti, here‘s a shocking piece of news conveniently buried by the disappearance of Madeleine McCann a few months ago.

The Power Of Nightmares

Do you believe in al Qaeda?

In this seminal 2004 documentary series (3 episodes, 60 mins each), Adam Curtis traces the intertwined histories of two ideological movements – the neoconservatives and the radical Islamists – and the political reality they helped create. For rather than following the most inspiring dreams, we now select the leaders with the most terrifying nightmares.

1. Baby, It’s Cold Outside