Free Screening of 'Pax Americana and the Weaponization of Space'

Pax Americana is a Latin term meaning, as it looks, "American Peace". It connotes the historical concept of relative peace in the Western hemisphere - even if such a peace is prevented in other parts of the world.

It is with the irony of that term in mind that French filmmaker Denis Delestrac entitled his 2010 documentary film "Pax Americana and the Weaponization of Space". Like the Latin phrase, the subject matter is explained in the film's title, exploring our country's development of weapons that would be deployed in space for the purpose of wreaking mayhem on Earth. The film is approximately 85 minutes. The UU is wheelchair accessible.

"Pax Americana and the Weaponization of Space" depicts meetings and interviews with military brass as they tout the use of space-based weapons in achieving U.S. strategic goals, which are not likely to match the goals of those opposing such advanced weaponry. And so the film also features the likes of Noam Chomsky, Dr. Helen Caldicott and Bruce Gagnon (of the Global network Against Nuclear Weapons and Power in Space) to offer contrary opinions of the wisdom of these weapons.

Of the film, Delestrac says, "The prospect of Earth being ruled from space is no longer science-fiction. The dream of the original Dr. Strangelove, Wernher von Braun (from Nazi rocket-scientist to NASA director) has survived every U.S. administration since WW II and is coming to life. Today the technology exists to weaponize space, a massive American industry thrives, and nations are maneuvering for advantage."

"Pax Americana and the Weaponization of Space" has been shown at film festivals around the world, and in fact won the Best Documentary award at the 2009 Whistler (BC) Film Festival. While it was screened around the country during the annual Global Network-sponsored "Keep Space for Peace Week", October 2-9, PASMC was unable to fit it in due to other scheduling commitments. On Sunday, November 14 we will show this very relevant documentary film.