While the eyes of the world are fixed on Haiti, as indeed they should be, there are other important stories of justice that could easily be buried beneath the rubble.

Those of you came to the screening of In Prison My Whole Life, and some of you who didn’t, would be familiar with the story of Mumia Abu Jamal. In brief, he was arrested for the murder of a police officer in Philadelphia. He claimed he was innocent but was sentenced to death and has been awaiting execution ever since. Over the years, he has attracted massive international support from organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and world leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Angela Davis, Mos Def, Noam Chomsky, Alice Walker, Snoop Dogg, Steve Earle, Amy Goodman and many others. Nevertheless he has spent twenty-eight years on Death Row.

On Tuesday 19th January, the Supreme Court ruled to send his case back to the Third US Circuit Court of Appeals. They would now have to decide whether to reimpose the death sentence or order a new trial. For a number of reasons, the Court is unlikley to order a new trial. Indeed, it has previously upheld his conviction. So things are not looking good for him at the moment.

The honourable Jessica Huntley who knows Mumia personally and joined the panel after the screening of the film on Mumia’s story at the I Will Tell International Film Festival shared these words with us when she heard the news.

“The hands of Mumia’s jailers are sharpening their knives. My health is not good, but with whatever strength I have I will stand with others in his cause. Let us keep hope alive!”

We will keep you updated and will also be posting posting videos on the post-screening discussions on Mumia’s story and Haiti’s real story shortly.

For more information and details of how you can help, visit www.freemumia.org

In the meantime, Let’s Keep Hope Alive!

Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago in the 80’s gave me the unique privilege of sharing in the rich culture, creativity, satire and social commentary that was calypso music. In 1988 David Rudder penned a song about Haiti that still rings true today and, as with most calypsoes of the decade, I can still remember the chorus:

Haiti, I’m sorry
We misunderstood you
But one day we’ll turn our heads
And look inside you
Haiti, I’m sorry
Haiti, I’m so sorry
But one day we’ll turn our heads
Restore your glory

Sadly 20 years later we are still singing the same song. After more than 20 years of neoliberal globalisation policies that have ravaged the country, increasing poverty, onerous debt repayments, increasingly poor healthcare, political violence and increasingly frequent natural disasters, Haiti was one of the greatest humanitarian disasters of the Western hemisphere long before the devastating earthquake on Tuesday.

My one consolation is Haiti’s proud history of being a nation of men and women and children who know how to fight back and how to win. They launched the only successful revolt of enslaved peoples and emancipated themselves back at the beginning of the 19th century, defeating the French, Spanish and British forces at a time when black men were not supposed even to understand what freedom meant. They survived the ensuing commercial embargo and unfair claim of the French to compensation for the ‘loss of property’ of 150 million francs (the modern day equivalent of US$21bn). They did not finish paying this debt until 1947.

The people of Haiti are still fighting today and I pray that the next 20 years will see a renewed commitment from the international community to take effective action to truly help the nation back on its feet instead of taking advantage of it; that the NGOs and grassroots movements that have been patiently working for years with the most disadvantaged groups will have their strength renewed and their resources increased tenfold; and that the people of Haiti will rise up, as they do so well, to see the glory restored to this and future generations.

It’s only a date in the calendar, but it’s amazing the way that God honours our hopes and aspirations when we place them firmly in Him whatever the reason that motivated them initially. I hope that we can truly leave all the bad things behind in 2009 and that 2010 will be the beginning of a brand new season of prosperity, love, revived hope, rejuventaed aspirations, new positions, new releases, new grace, new mercies. I believe it will be a year of extraordinary favour for those of us who are abiding in the love of God. Looking forward to sharing an amazing 2010 with you!

It’s that time of year again. That time when all the blogs and e-sends are bustling with Christmas cheer, good wishes, love, unity and peace. That time when those who can afford it, or are blessed enough to know someone who can, run off to sunnier climes for a relaxing break away from it all. Others prefer to sit by the fire with a loved one or two looking out at the soft white beautifully decorated curtain falling gently from the sky and draping itself lovingly over the landscape.

It’s that time again when receipts are kept and old presents are re-packaged (but careful who you give it to). That time when the turkey, jerk chicken and a little bit of whatever else you fancy is always on the menu.

For some it’s the only time they get a warm bed and a three course meal as charities pull out all the stops and the Government shows its caring side. It’s that time when people on the street may be slightly more inclined to buy the Big Issue or to throw a few pennies at an old man looking like he was still wrapped in swathling clothes.

For others, it’s a time to sit and think of loved ones who are too far away, some of whom will never return. For many more, too many more, it’s a time of intense loneliness and despair.

For Aung San Suu Kyi, it’s another Christmas under house arrest, while her country suffers beneath the tolling of the opressive bells of the Burmese military regime. For Mumia Abu Jamal, it’s the countdown to the 27th Christmas on death row for a crime that noone has yet been able to prove that he committed.

Yes, it’s that time again. I don’t mean to sound like an old Scrooge, but I wonder when the angels sang so gloriously to the startled shepherds on the hillside that fateful night, celebrating the wonderful news that peace and goodwill has come to man, I wonder - is this what they envisaged?

I am one of those fortunate ones who will be with family somewhere warm with plenty of food, drink, music and love to go ’round. But I can’t help but think, as I do every year around this time, that once again, we the people of the world, have managed to spectacularly miss the point.

I pray this Christmas that, whatever your circumstances, you would sample a taste of true love, eternal peace and the joy that knows no end, that you will find at least one person to bless with the timeless and invaluable gift of your love and that you do something, however small, for one of the many people less fortunate than you, this time of year.

Love Jen and the I Will Tell team

Congratulations to Glenroy Merchant who won x2 tickets to see the African Children’s Choir in Concert.

You can still complete the survey and win. We are offering x2 free tickets to the opening gala of the I Will Tell International Film Festival 2010 to the person who makes the most helpful comments.

Check out the link below for more details:
http://surveys.verticalresponse.com/a/show/448862/62949c8220/0

Hi everyone,

We have begun planning for the next film festival and just wanted to invite you to give us your feedback by answering 12 quick and simple questions.

By way of saying thank you we are offering 2 free tickets (worth £40) to see the African Children’s Choir in concert to the person who makes the most helpful comments.

The concert is the highlight of the Gumboots’ Annual Fundraising Event on 30 November at the Village Underground www.gumboots.org.uk

To take part in the survey, copy and paste the link below into your browser.

http://surveys.verticalresponse.com/a/show/448862/62949c8220/0

Thanks!
Jen

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that we have launched our free online shows!

Our first show is a superb offering from Jahaziel, Dwayne Tryumf, Rev Claudette Douglas and Sr See. New videos will be added every week.

Take the chance to be inspired and empowered in the comfort of your own home. Big shout out to our overseas supporters too.

Check it out and tell us what you think - www.jerichofilms.com/iwilltell/autumn09/discussions.html

Love from the I Will Tell Family!

Well, I never knew that 12 nights could go so quickly.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all those who came out in huge support in more ways than one for the I Will Tell film festival - the filmmakers, speakers, workshop facilitators, camera men, ushers, volunteers and, most of all, the I Will Tell festival goers - enlightened, passionate and forward-thinking men and women with vision and purpose.

A huge thank you to JC for His loving care and guidance through all the ups and downs and most of all I’m grateful that this is not the end but just the beginning of even greater things to come. Someone said last night that he felt that the party was not so much a closing party but the opening party for things to come! We tend to agree with him …

Do tell us what you thought!

I am so excited about our opening night tonight.

It’s made me think about the power of story-telling not just for entertaining or teaching but for realigning and repositioning us to fully appreciate our global inheritance and instilling in us the desire to pass this on to future generations.

Hope to see you in Leicester Square! Come and be inspired!

Love
Jen

It is said that the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour out (His) speech; night after night they display (His) knowledge.

Wow!

A question - whose glory do you show?
Would you rather show the glory of your boss, your favourite celebrity, your nation, your culture, your race, your church, your project, your ministry? All of these things will eventually pass away.

Or would you rather show the glory of your intellect, your principles, the goodness of your deeds.
But we do not see, understand or know anything fully now. This too shall pass.

Many of the things that we revere today will be of little consequence in generations to come. So whose glory would you like to show? Whose glory are you showing now?

Is your aim to prove that you are right, that you have been chosen that you are the appointed one for this season. Or is your aim to point others to the One who chooses, the One who appoints, the One who controls the times and seasons.

Or maybe you’ve been hurt and you think justice should be shown, you know, not for your sake for the sake of what is right. But if you were to receive the correct judgement for all that you have done (or not done) where would you be now?

So now then what is left? After we take away the careers and cultures and national pride and victimisations and family ties and all that other amazing stuff that captivates us so. Now, what’s left?

Only the thing that is most glorious, the thing that lasts from age to age and from generation to generation. This thing that can never be thwarted, never be defeated. It will reign forever and ever.

Go then and show the glory of the love of God.