Saturday, November 04, 2006
Nicholas Cage 1 Lords of War 0
I knew next to nothing substantial about internalal arms wheeling and dealing until I watched the 2005 Nicolas Cage film "Lord of War." It opened my eyes. Of course the US refused to sign it. Here's one of Cage's character's most telling lines: Yuri Orlov: The reason I'll be released is the same reason you think I'll be convicted. I do rub shoulders with some of the most vile, sadistic men calling themselves leaders today. But some of these men are the enemies of your enemies. And while the biggest arms dealer in the world is your boss - the President of the United States, who ships more merchandise in a day than I do in a year - sometimes it's embarrassing to have his fingerprints on the guns. Sometimes he needs a freelancer like me to supply forces he can't be seen supplying. So. You call me evil, but unfortunately for you, I'm a necessary evil.Well, to add to the good news, Nick Cage recently donated $2 million to Amnesty International for two causes - to support the Control Arms campaign and to work on behalf of child soldiers. I liked the movie...love the act of this donation.
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Yeh!! [[applause]].... an American who gets it and uses his ample wealth to help, NOT hurt. Thanks for the hat tip, Gary. The movie opened my eyes, and the very informative extra at the end of the DVD really opened my eyes to how implicit the US is in all of this ugliness.
Your last 2 posts are a cause for celebration. - Indeed the biggest threat to development in the worlds poorest countries is the arms trade. The most powerful countries are the biggest suppliers, namely the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council, USA, Great Britain, Russia, France and China. Collectively they produce 88% of the worlds conventional arms.
They receive far more in arms income than they give in aid!!!. The USA dominates supplying more than 50%!
Small arms kill an estimated 500,000 people every year. A further 1 million have perished indirectly from the consequences of war.
The suffering and devastation to individual people, some of the poorest on earth, to their families and whole villages defies belief.
Current aid reminds me of a cigarette manufacturer donating a share of their profits to health research.
Best wishes
They receive far more in arms income than they give in aid!!!. The USA dominates supplying more than 50%!
Small arms kill an estimated 500,000 people every year. A further 1 million have perished indirectly from the consequences of war.
The suffering and devastation to individual people, some of the poorest on earth, to their families and whole villages defies belief.
Current aid reminds me of a cigarette manufacturer donating a share of their profits to health research.
Best wishes
thanks for the quote, it's "dead on"!
haven't seen the movie yet, but one of these days ...
haven't seen the movie yet, but one of these days ...
# posted by 
: 5:15 am
: 5:15 am
Tina: yeah, some people are cynical about celebs taking a stand. Not me. If you've got money and/or power - at least put it to use.
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