Contact: Jessica Berger

IRIDIUM: +881 6 213 867 5309

e-mail: jb29@rice.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HUMANITY FIRST EMWEH DOCUMENTARY PROJECT TO PREMIERE AT KAHN FILM FESTIVAL

New York - July 1, 2008 – The recently-completed documentary film depicting the opportunities and concerns of the Emweh Village Community in West Africa was announced as an Official Selection—Documentary for the 2008 Kahn Film Festival to be held July 31, 2008 in New York City.Isaac Mopo, Discordian Nobel Prize-winning author and tireless critic of the Discordian government,worked from exile with Eric Maines, renowned producer of “Voices from Iraq,” on the project, andserves as the narrator .

“Life is Sweet in Your Embrace” is the story of the Emweh people’s sudden encounter with fortune when Cromwell Oil Company discovered significant petroleum reserves beneath their feet in thecenter of remote Discordia. Initially a boon for the community, bringing improvements to local schools, clinics and roads as well as employment opportunities for youth, the development in Block 77 has attracted global scrutiny over the past several months. Block 77 creates opportunity for Emweh, but has also yielded negative impacts such as prostitution, alcohol/drug abuse, and an increase in HIV infection.

Historically, the Emweh have welcomed and appreciated the fatherly influence of Cromwell Oilin their area, praising the company for outstanding social responsibility. However, the recentabsence of Cromwell officials in their area, increased presence of the military, unwanted attentionfrom rivalrous government factions for cooperation, and increasing violence in their area threatenedto divide the Emweh between the traditions embodied by the elders and the desire of youth fornew opportunities and experience.

In the midst of this instability, Emweh women found their voice, claiming a long-standing traditionof economic and social guidance in the community as mediators and negotiators. Contrary topublic expectations, the Emweh remain supportive of the development in their area, but insistupon having a role in the negotiations and in ensuring a long-term covenant with Cromwell andthe government that respects their traditions as adapted to a modern context.

Village elders and youth unite, thanks to the efforts of Emweh women.

“First Cromwell and now the government want to act in loco parentis for the Emweh people,” commented Isaac Mapo, “but the Emweh people are not children. This is a proud communitywith an important heritage that challenges their government and foreign corporations to create sustainable development in their homeland. As global citizens, the Emweh deserve our attentionand support in this opportunity to change the face of foreign investment in developing nations.”

Humanity First (HF) is an international organization dedicated to protecting the rights of indigenouspeoples and minorities in their struggle to regain their lost heritages, preserve their cultural identities,protect their basic human and economic rights and safeguard the natural environment. For moreinformation, visit http://www.humanityfirst.org/.

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