@dustcirclenews - HEADLINES: The U.S. Empire Provokes Terrorism, Pricey American Health Care, Increase in U.S. Military Suicides, Power of Edward Snowden, Israel Settlements Illegal, Corporate Tax Dodgers, America's Big Prison Population, Public School Police-State Mindset, American Dream is a Scam, more.

Lots of news and links at our website: http://www.dustcircle.com

The U.S. Empire Provokes Terrorism
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article35802.htm

'Paying Till It Hurts': Why American Health Care Is So Pricey
http://www.npr.org/2013/08/07/209585018/paying-till-it-hurts-why-american-health-care-is-so-pricey?utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=20130811&utm_source=mostemailed

Secrecy Has Already Corroded Our Democracy in Real Ways
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/08/how-secrecy-has-already-corroded-our-democracy-in-concrete-ways/278478/

Marked increase in US military suicides
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/08/09/suic-a09.html

NSA reading content of Americans’ international communications
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/08/09/surv-a09.html

Edward Snowden Has Awakened the Sleeping Giant
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Edward-Snowden-Has-Awakene-by-Vincent-Guarisco-130809-53.html

The Power of Edward Snowden
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article35806.htm

Restore Honor and Pardon Edward Snowden
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/restore_honor_and_pardon_edward_snowden_20130813/

America’s Descent Into Madness
http://www.alternet.org/culture/americas-descent-madness

US continues drone war against Yemen
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/08/13/yeme-a13.html

EU: Israel settlement approval illegal
http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/eu-israel-settlement-approval-illegal/

NSA Loophole Allows Warrantless Search for US Citizens' Emails and Phone Calls
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article35805.htm

The corporate tax dodgers

Missing your social safety net? Here’s how it happens

http://www.socialism.com/drupal-6.8/?q=node/2412

Government surveillance spurs Americans to fight back

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/government-surveillance-spurs-americans-to-fight-back/2013/08/14/edea430a-0522-11e3-a07f-49ddc7417125_story.html

Obama’s surveillance revisions omit limits on warrantless email searches
http://www.kansascity.com/2013/08/14/4411150/obamas-surveillance-revisions.html#storylink=cpy

Extreme Heat Waves to Quadruple by 2040, According to New Study
http://www.alternet.orghttp://www.alternet.org/environment/extreme-heat-waves-quadruple-2040/environme

Why Does America Have Such a Big Prison Population?http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article35868.htm

All Israeli settlements on Palestinian land are illegal, US says
http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/all-israeli-settlements-on-palestinian-land-are-illegal-us-says/

Israel's Everyday Racism — and How American Jews Turn a Blind Eye to It
http://forward.com/articles/182171/israels-everyday-racism-and-how-american-jews-tu/

The Police State Mindset in Our Public Schools
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Police-State-Mindset-i-by-John-Whitehead-130814-343.html

STUNNING: Comparing U.S. & World Covers for TIME Magazine
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/25/1039957/-STUNNING-Comparing-U-S-World-Covers-for-TIME-Magazine?detail=email

The Disturbing True Story of How The Education System was Intentionally Corrupted
http://stormcloudsgathering.com/the-disturbing-true-story-of-how-the-education-system-was-intentionally-corrupted

The American Dream is a SCAM - by the Federal Reserve
http://stormcloudsgathering.com/the-american-dream-is-a-scam-by-the-federal-reserve

Civil Disobedience As Law Enforcement
http://www.countercurrents.org/brecher150813.htm

Capitalism Run Wild

Watch Encore: Taming Capitalism Run Wild on PBS. See more from Moyers and Company.

Senate Insider Speaks Out: Ex-Wyden Staffer on Secret Laws, Domestic Spying and Obama's NSA Reforms

@dustcirclenews - HEADLINES: U.S. Public Hates NSA Spying, DOJ/FBI Admits Analysis Abuse, Navy Child Porn Docket, 80% U.S. Adults Face Near-Poverty, Railroading Bradley Manning, False Memories in Mice, Sky Darkens for American Journalism, more.

Lots of good stuff at: http://www.dustcircle.com

Poll: US Public Hates NSA Spying

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/07/25-12

DOJ/FBI Admit They May Have Abused Hair Analysis To Convict Hundreds To Thousands Of Innocent People
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130723/00563923895/dojfbi-admit-they-may-have-abused-hair-analysis-to-convict-hundreds-to-thousands-innocent-people.shtml

Child porn, sex assault fill Navy docket
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jul/22/navy-court-martial-sex-assault-data/

Obama touts economic “recovery,” steps up assault on workers
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/07/24/pers-j24.html

50 Things Young People Say About Why They Don’t Participate In Politics
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/07/23/usa-today-finds-young-people-think-politics-irrelevant-50-reasons-why-video/

80 Percent Of U.S. Adults Face Near-Poverty, Unemployment: Survey
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article35682.htm

Four in five Americans economically insecure
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/07/29/pove-j29.html

Snowden's Whistleblowing Creates Climate for Critical House Vote on NSA Surveillance http://www.opednews.com/articles/Snowden-s-Whistleblowing-C-by-Kevin-Gosztola-130724-159.html

Railroading Bradley Manning
http://socialistworker.org/2013/07/25/railroading-bradley-manning

Scientists Plant False Memories in Mice--and Mice Buy It
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=scientists-plant-false-memories-in-mice-and-mice-buy-it&WT.mc_id=SA_DD_20130726

Which Citizens Are Under More Surveillance, U.S. Or European? 
http://www.npr.org/2013/07/28/206231873/who-spies-more-the-united-states-or-europe

The Original American Dream Was Not About Getting Rich
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/original-american-dream-was-not-about-getting-rich

How do we keep religious education out of the hands of the evangelists?http://www.secularism.org.uk/blog/2013/07/how-do-we-keep-religious-education-out-of-the-hands-of-the-evangelists

The Sky Darkens for American Journalism

Former US marine calls Zionist a prostitute on Press TV Debate

@dustcirclenews - HEADLINES: Snowden Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize, Global Drone Warfare, New American Economy, Fighting for Farmworkers, How Monsanto Can Be Defeated, American Dream, Symptoms of Unemployment, Creationists Are Wrong, God and American Politics, more.

View more articles, links, book suggestions, documentaries, and other interesting things at:  http://www.dustcircle.com

Snowden Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/07/15-3

Which Nations Hate The U.S.? Often Those Receiving U.S. Aid
http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/07/22/204516430/which-nations-hate-the-u-s-often-those-receiving-u-s-aid

US Expands Global Drone Warfare
http://www.countercurrents.org/gaist230713.htm

Surviving the New American Economy
http://therealnews.com/t2/component/hwdvideoshare/viewvideo/76636

US Reporters May Be Forced To Reveal Their Sources
http://www.countercurrents.org/cc200713A.htm

Fighting for Farmworkers
http://therealnews.com/t2/component/hwdvideoshare/viewvideo/76637

Bradley Manning 'Aiding the Enemy' Charge is a Threat to Journalism
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article35606.htm

America , The Powerful And The Powerless
http://www.countercurrents.org/khawaja210713.htm

The Seeds of Rebellion Are Taking Root, and Protests Against Injustices Are Blooming Across the Country

http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Seeds-of-Rebellion-Are-by-Kevin-Zeese-130720-935.html

How Monsanto Can Be Defeated
http://www.alternet.org/food/how-monsanto-can-be-defeated

The American Dream Has Turned into a Grueling Quest for Survival for Millions of People
http://www.alternet.org/labor/american-dream-has-turned-grueling-quest-survival-millions-people

Mind Raped by the Christian Right
http://www.alternet.org/belief/mind-raped-christian-right

Britain admits selling $12 billion in weapons to Israel
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/david-cronin/britain-admits-selling-12-billion-weapons-israel

Godless Political Values: Importance of Godless Values to Modern Democracy
http://atheism.about.com/od/godlessamericaamericans/p/PoliticalValues.htm?nl=1

Why Can't We Call A Whistleblower a Truth Teller?
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Why-Can-t-We-Call-A-Whistl-by-Kenneth-Kendrick-130721-14.html

Unemployment and Its Symptoms
http://www.dissentmagazine.org/blog/unemployment-and-its-symptoms

Creationists are wrong. Science is actually concerned with the truth.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/the-curious-wavefunction/2013/07/19/creationists-are-wrong-science-is-actually-concerned-with-the-truth/?WT_mc_id=SA_DD_20130719

God, Religion, and American Politics
http://atheism.about.com/b/2013/07/12/god-religion-and-american-politics.htm?nl=1

The 12 Best Reasons Why The U.S. Is Not Now, And Never Should Be, A Christian Nation
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/07/20/christian-nation/

Is Religion Good or Evil?

Is Religion a Force for Good or Evil in the World?

11.Mar.2013 - DOCUMENTARIES, Part 2: Facade of the American Dream, Professional Prisoners, 7 Ancient World Wonders, War on Nature, Special Forces Diver's Training, Human Cloning, 10 Mafia Commandments, Fat Head.

The Facade of the American Dream

The documentary depicts how the US removed Africans from their country of origin, worked them to death as slaves and today, in schools, is brainwashing them to make believe they are inferior in many aspects. A cross section of people discuss the fraud of the American dream and how systemic racism keeps millions of people down while offering others hope and opportunity.

Professional Prisoners

It isn't easy to live a normal life after you have been in prison. It is difficult to find a job and sometimes the prisoners haven´t got families or friends to rely on in this difficult time. Prisons in Russia try to help their prisoners by giving them the chance to work while being imprisoned.  They can learn something completely new and sometimes hidden talents are revealed.

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Built by the ancient people in a time before Christ, the Seven Wonders exemplify remarkable architecture and massive structures that is world-renowned. All of them were massive construction projects that took years if not decades to build. Of the original seven in the list, only the Great Pyramid of Giza is standing as of this day. The others have fallen, taking with them the secrets of their history and construction.

Culture in Decline: War on Nature
War. We love it, right. Blowing stuff up, watching people suffer and die… it’s exciting. Violence, domination, retribution and other attributes of this competitive “warring” fascination clearly dominates our media with films, television and other expressions constantly glorifying and reinforcing this gesture of conflict. In fact, it has been found that by the time an average kid reaches the age of fourteen, in the west, he or she has visually witnessed over 8000 depicted acts of murder. So given all this it might make you wonder, does art imitate life, or does life imitate art. Likewise isn’t it interesting how most of the people in America sleep quite well at night while their military forces routinely invade, slaughter and steal from other nations at will, as of course all global empires have done historically. This time the global civilian death toll is well over one million in the past decade alone, many of them women and children, and yet the same American culture shutters in horror and confusion when some dude stumbles into an American school yard and randomly wipes out a couple dozen or so kids.

Surviving the Special Forces Diver’s Training
The six week diving course, attended by 53 of the best divers in the military, is done in Florida. Day 1 begins with a test of swimming across half a football field in a single breath. Safety instructors are also in the water to check the vitals and health of each swimmer. The next activity is ‘drown-proofing’ and this aims to test the confidence of each candidate in water. They are required to swim across a pool and do some other tasks while their hands and feet are tied. Signs of panic can cause them to fail the test and the course all together.

Human Cloning and its Evolution
Science has no limits for some scientists. Over the past ten years, Dr. Panayiotis Zavos and his team have experimented on injecting the DNA of an individual to a women’s egg to generate a replica. His quest for human cloning brings him to dangerous and far flung places in the world.

The 10 Commandments of the Mafia

The first commandment talks about who can or who can’t belong to the group. You have to be invited to the Mafia and anyone with a close relationship to the police cannot be one. Interestingly, you also have to be of Sicilian heritage to be a member. Even Al Capone was barred from being a member because of this. Find out the rest of the commandments by watching the documentary below.

Fat Head

While most people saw the documentary Super Size Me as an expose of the fast food industry, comedian and former health writer Tom Naughton saw it as a dare: He’d show that you could lose weight on a diet of burgers and fries.

29.Jan.2013 - DOCUMENTARIES: Overview Effect, Secrets in Plain Sight, Gift for the Hackers, Flouridegate, Slab City, Secrets of Scientology, Facade of the American Dream, Frankensteer

Greetings from The Dissenting Heretic!This is a free service, and done in free time. If you'd like to donate to us, even $1.00 helps maintain the site. Click the WePay link on the website to donate any amount. Thank you!

The Overview Effect

On the 40th anniversary of the famous ‘Blue Marble’ photograph taken of Earth from space, Planetary Collective presents a short film documenting astronauts’ life-changing stories of seeing the Earth from the outside – a perspective-altering experience often described as the Overview Effect.

The Overview Effect, first described by author Frank White in 1987, is an experience that transforms astronauts’ perspective of the planet and mankind’s place upon it. Common features of the experience are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.

‘Overview’ is a short film that explores this phenomenon through interviews with five astronauts who have experienced the Overview Effect. The film also features insights from commentators and thinkers on the wider implications and importance of this understanding for society, and our relationship to the environment.

Secrets in Plain Sight

2010ConspiracyLeave a Comment

Secrets In Plain Sight is an awe inspiring exploration of great art, architecture, and urban design which skillfully unveils an unlikely intersection of geometry, politics, numerical philosophy, religious mysticism, new physics, music, astronomy, and history.

Exploring key monuments and their positions in Egypt, Stonehenge, Jerusalem, Rome, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Washington DC, New York, and San Francisco brings to light a secret obsession shared by pharaohs, philosophers and kings; Templars and Freemasons; great artists and architects; popes and presidents, spanning the whole of recorded history up to the present time.

As the series of videos reveals how profound ancient knowledge inherited from Egypt has been encoded in units of measurement, in famous works of art, in the design of major buildings, in the layout of city streets and public spaces, and in the precise placement of obelisks and other important monuments upon the Earth, the viewer is led to perceive an elegant harmonic system linking the human body with the architectural, urban, planetary, solar, and galactic scales.

Watch the full documentary now - 224 min

A Gift for the Hackers

2013TechnologyLeave a Comment

Increasingly devices like printers and scanners are being connected directly to the Internet. It’s all very convenient, bit is it safe?

Your mobile, your printer, your hard drive, everything is connected… but it’s like a Swiss cheese. Medical files, financial information, and trade secrets, they’re all there for the taking.

It’s shocking, it should not be allowed. It’s a design flaw. Is this vulnerability in tens of thousands of devices compromising your security and your privacy?

Computer security has become a big concern for companies and individuals. As a result it has also become a big business. The world’s number one producer of computers and printers, Hewlett – Packard (HP), has an annual turn over of 127 billion dollars.

Watch the full documentary now - 31 min

Fluoridegate

2013ConspiracyLeave a Comment

Fluoridegate is a new documentary film, made by By Dr. David Kennedy, that reveals the tragedy of how the United States government, industry, and trade associations protect and promote a policy known to cause harm to our country and especially small children, who suffer more than any other segment of the population.

While the basis of their motivation remains uncertain, the outcome is crystal clear: it is destroying our nation.

Dr. Kennedy is the Past President of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. His BA is in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology from the University of Kansas (1967) and his Doctorate of Dental Surgery is from the University of Missouri (1971).

He is a world lecturer to the dental profession on the safety of dental materials in the human body. His lectures include (among others) addresses to the World Health Organization, the American Dental Society of Europe, the German BGD, and Brazil Rio Eco-Odonto.

Watch the full documentary now - 65 min

Americana: Slab City

2010Society14 Comments

VICE focused on all the crazy environmental issues going on in the Imperial Valley, from the air pollution, to drastic bee die-off, to the sewage-filled rivers, and everything in between.

But during the shoot, they also met a bevy of characters in Slab City, who are just as intriguing as all the eco-problems.

VICE thought it’d be fun to show you what a typical day is like in this bizarre stretch of area loaded with tweakers, eccentrics, army vets, hippies, and just plain old weirdos.

People have been living here for free since the late ’40s. And at one time in the early ’90s, the place was like a giant flea market. And believe or not, this land belongs to the State of California Teachers’ Union.

There is no California culture there at all. There are no strip malls, apartment buildings, dune buggies, off-road racing, crowded freeways, filthy beaches and arrogant politicians.

Watch the full documentary now - 21 min

The Secrets of Scientology

Education, Long (30+min), SocietyTags: BBC, Chruch of Scientology, Religion, Scientology

 

The Secrets of Scientology is a documentary follow up of John Sweeney’s 2007 investigation into the Church of Scientology and features interviews with former high-ranking members of the organization.

In 2007, while investigating the Church of Scientology for Panorama, reporter John Sweeney had a dramatic on-camera confrontation with a church spokesman named Tommy Davis. The church was accusing the reporter of bias and it attempted to stop the documentary from being broadcast – a campaign backed by Scientology A-lister John Travolta. Sweeney has returned to investigate the church again.

This time, one of those officials has turned whistleblower to help him reveal the dark secrets of the church, which boasts Hollywood A-listers Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its devotees.

claimed by BBC

The Facade of the American Dream

The conditions and life of African Americans in the United States.

A cross section of people discuss the fraud of the American dream and how systemic racism keeps millions of people down while offering others hope and opportunity. Executive producer Dr. Randy Short, M.div. and senior director Marzieh Hashemi’s film gives voice to those who believe That African Americans are far from achieving the American Dream in health, education, welfare, and justice.

The documentary features commentary from Dr. Vernellia Randall, Dr. Wilmer Leon, Rev. Graylan Haigler, Dr. Mary Scott, Dr. Charles Norman, Dr. Joseph Richardson, Glen Ford, Atty. Efia Nwangaza, and  Dr. Mary Neal.

FRANKENSTEER

CALL TO ARMS: Anonymous Calls for Civil War to Overthrow the US Government [VIDEO]

Posted by: Free Thinking Individual Posted date: January 24, 2013 In: Corporatism/Fascism, Featured, Media,News, Police State, Video, War 

  

In the latest video from Anonymous, they have called for the most aggressive action yet. They’re asking the American people to join them in a “call to arms” for the destruction and overthrow of the US Government.


In the statement, Anonymous says the government is calling them “terrorists” because they truly fear a people’s uprising.

“The United States Government insists on labeling us as terrorists. The question is, “who do we terrorize?” Is it probable that the United States government is truly afraid of we, the people?”

They are not calling for denial of service attacks on government websites or protests as is their normal modus operandi, but for freedom activists to join them in full-blown war to overthrow the US Government and return it to the control of the people.

“We are not calling upon the collective to deface or use a distributed denial of service attack on a United States government agency website, or affiliate. We are not calling upon the people to once again occupy a city or protest in front of a local building, This has not brought on us any legislative change or alternate law. It has only brought us bloodshed and false criticism. For the last 12 years, voting has been useless. Corporations and lobbyists are the true leaders of this country and are the ones with the power to control our lives, To rebuild our government, we must first destroy it.Our time for democracy is here, Our time for resolution is here, This is America’s time for revolution, To restore our constitutional rights, to once again, be free therefore, Anonymous along with the American people have decided to openly declare war on the United States government. This is a call to arms.”




READ MORE

20.Jan.2013 - The Documentary Issue: Park Avenue, Memory of the Camps, 21st Century Slavery, Extradition, Renegade Jewish Settlers, Vatican Sex Crimes, America's Prison Problem, Get Away with Stealing

Greetings from The Dissenting Heretic!
This is a free service, and done in free time. If you'd like to donate to us, even $1.00 helps maintain the site. Click the WePay link on the website to donate any amount. Thank you!

Park Avenue: Money, Power & the American Dream

Memory of the Camps

Crime86 Comments

Sixty years ago, in the spring of 1945, Allied forces liberating Europe found evidence of atrocities which have tortured the world’s conscience ever since. As the troops entered the German concentration camps, they made a systematic film record of what they saw. Work began in the summer of 1945 on the documentary, but the film was left unfinished.

FRONTLINE found it stored in a vault of London’s Imperial War Museum and, in 1985, broadcast it for the first time using the title the Imperial War Museum gave it, ‘Memory of the Camps.

Watch the full documentary now

Slavery: A 21st Century Evil

2011Crime45 Comments

Stepping into the lives of men and women who until recently were slaves demands the softest of treads.

The experience of being enslaved – forced to work for no pay, often under the threat of violence and with no hope of escape, burns deep and leaves wounds which take a long time to heal.

From impoverished and often illiterate Thai farmers to women forced into prostitution; from men tricked into servitude in Brazil’s brutal charcoal industry to entire families trapped as bonded labourers in Pakistan’s feudal brick kilns; we met and filmed dozens of slaves for this series.

Food Chain Slaves. It is a nation built on the abolition of slavery, but there are at least 40,000 slaves in the US today. In the opening episode of Slavery: A 21st Century Evil, Al Jazeera’s Rageh Omaar investigates food chain slavery in the US.

Sex slaves. There are an estimated 1.4 million sex slaves in the world today and international trafficking is on the rise.

Bonded Slaves. It is a form of slavery that is passed down from one generation to the next, enslaving millions.

Child Slaves. There are at least 8.4 million child slaves in the world today, many of them held as forced labour.

Charcoal Slaves. Poverty-stricken men from the north of Brazil are often lured to remote camps where they are used as slave labour.

Bridal Slaves. In the midst of widespread poverty, fueled by economic inequality and rampant corruption, a new form of slavery – bridal slavery – has flourished in India. Women and young girls are sold for as little as $120 to men who often abuse them.

Prison Slaves. Over the past 20 years China has become the world’s biggest exporter of consumer goods. But behind this apparent success story is a dark secret – millions of men and women locked up in prisons and forced into intensive manual labour.

Bonus: Al Jazeera slavery debate. Luis C d’Baca from the US State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons; Kevin Bales, president of Free the Slaves; David Batstone, president of Not for Sale; and Joy Ezeilo, UN Special Rapporteur for Trafficking in Persons.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist – 3 hours, 42 minutes)

Extradition

2012Crime48 Comments

Extradition is a film that explores the injustices of the Extradition Act 2003 through the suffering of two individuals and their families.

Talha Ahsan and Babar Ahmed held without charge can be extradited according to the European Court of Human Rights. They have been held without charge for over 14 years collectively.

The court concluded that “there would be no violation of the applicants’ rights if extradited to stand trial in the United States”.

These men have been let down by the British justice system and now face being incarcerated in one of America’s toughest prisons. It may be four more years before these men face trial in the United States all the while they will be kept in Prison.

These men are UK citizens; they were born in this country and paid their taxes in this country. There is not enough evidence to charge these men in Britain.

The UK police have admitted that they have not seen the bulk of evidence seized from Babar’s home but it was instead sent to the US authorities and which now forms the bulk of the indictment against Babar and Talha.

Watch the full documentary now

Renegade Jewish Settlers

2012Crime162 Comments

Israeli settlers have been slowly nibbling away at Palestine’s West Bank territory for four decades.

300,000 setllers now occupy outposts that range in size from plywood shacks to full-blown suburban housing complexes.

Their abundance has grounded the much-ballyhooed two-state solution to a halt.

VICE correspondent Simon Ostrovsky travels from Tel Aviv to the remote West Bank outposts where young Israelis squat for the sake of their heritage.

But first, Simon pops in for some quick counter-terrorism training with a member of Israel’s Special Forces, just in case.

Watch the full documentary now (playlist – 35 minutes)

Sex Crimes and the Vatican

Crime86 Comments

Created in 1962, a now infamous document was issued in secret to bishops. Called Crimen Sollicitationis, it outlined procedures to be followed by bishops when dealing with allegations of child abuse, homosexuality and bestiality by members of the clergy. It swore all parties involved to secrecy on pain of excommunication from the Catholic Church.

This document was reissued in 2001 by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and sent to all bishops. Yet rather than ordering more openness and cooperation with the authorities as demanded by both law enforcers and the victims, he reiterated its policies and ensured that the Code of Silence be applied to all cases of child abuse involving a priest. Cardinal Ratzinger also instructed that all cases should now be referred to his office directly and that he would maintain ‘exclusive competence’ over the handling of allegations. This is the Catholic Church’s policy to this day and Cardinal Ratzinger is now Pope Benedict XVI.

The policy laid out in the above document has led to systemic failure by the result that a significant number of priest have, in effect, been allowed to abuse again, and further children have been put at risk.

As the documentary explores, Colm O’Gorman is the man responsible for breaking open decades of abuse by Catholic Priests in Ireland in the BAFTA award-winning BBC special Suing the Pope. He links international ‘systemic evidence’ to argue the Vatican has a policy to cover up the sexual abuse of thousands of children across the world.

In Sex Crimes and the Vatican O’Gorman explores four separate cases internationally of widespread clerical abuse, putting the Roman Catholic Church on trial for the reckless endangerment of children. O’Gorman raises the question, ‘Is the Church in default of its obligation as a signatory to the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child?’ (Excerpt from news.bbc.co.uk)

Watch the full documentary now

America’s Prison Problem

2012Crime568 Comments

The US locks up more people than any other country in the world, spending over $80 billion each year to keep some two million prisoners behind bars.

Over the past three decades, tough sentencing laws have contributed to a doubling of the country’s prison population, with laws like the ‘Three Strikes and You’re Out’ mandating life sentences for a wide range of crimes.

Why does the US put so many people behind bars and what lies behind California’s new push for leniency? But a clear sign that Americans are rethinking crime and punishment is a voter’s initiative on California’s November ballot called Proposition 36 that seeks to reform the state’s three-strikes law.

Some 27 states have three-strikes laws patterned after California’s version, which was one of the first to be enacted in the country.

Activists who are campaigning to change the three-strikes law in California are also trying to raise awareness about conditions inside prisons. They are targeting the use of special security units at maximum security prisons

Watch the full documentary now

How to Get Away with Stealing

2012Crime28 Comments

This short documentary looks at how easy it is to make fake passports and scam the rich into trusting you with thousands of dollars.

If the fraud industry were its own country, it would have the fifth strongest economy in the world, just ahead of the UK.

Meet the fraudsters who’re making a killing from the fastest growing crime on Earth.

VICE showcases the British fraud industry and the unapologetic mindset of the type of people who turn to that life to make a living.

It’s interesting to see it from their perspective, but it’s nothing short of violating to know that these are the types of people who think identity theft, credit damage and stealing are viable ways to make a living.

Watch the full documentary now