Coffee House!

     
     This past Monday night, the Arts and Entertainment Committee hosted a coffee house at the Blaurock cafe.   It was a joyous night of musical acts by current students as well as alumni.  These coffee houses are one of the highlights of living at CMU -- they give us a chance to hang out together.
     There were a wide range of acts, from duets...

     ..to solo performances.

     One of my favourite performers was Brad (pictured above).  He played some well known classy hits including "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga and a certain musical work of art by a very accomplished artiste.

      

     Tying it all together were our fearless Arts and Entertainment leaders Carrie and Craig, doing some serious cooking in between acts.  All I can say is that they got it done -- though perhaps not in the safest, most sanitary way.  Amidst the egg shells and exploding nuts (they used a hammer) the final product (mysteriously taken out of a cardboard oven) was tasty enough -- once they removed the Safeway sticker!

     And there you have it -- the coffee house experience.  Does it get more quirky and awesome than this?  I suggest, my friends, that it does not!

Soliders of Peace (Documentary Film Fest 2009)

(c) 2008 One Tree Films

watch the trailer

     The world is increasingly becoming a dangerous place.  The only viable solution when all is said and done is to move to protect ourselves from the hostile international situation.  

     Right?

     Soldiers of Peace suggests a radical alternative to this stereotype.  Several remarkable examples show that people can learn to solve their problems with conversation and tolerance as opposed to war.  This, the film says, is something essential that we need to learn sooner rather than later.  

     This film addresses some key themes with war.  Why do people go to war?  Is war actually helpful?  Instead of the negative cycle of violence, the power of conversation is advocated.

     One memorable story highlighted in the film was of Pat Magee, a former IRA (Irish Republican Army) bomber.  He was convicted of planting and deploying a bomb in a hotel in Brighton England.  Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet were staying in the hotel on October 12, 1984 when the bomb exploded.  Five people were killed.  One of the victims (who lost her father in the blast) met with Magee after he was released from prison.  They have met over three dozen times because they both believe their meetings are helping them cope with what has happened.  

     This movie isn't for everyone.  It can drag on at times.  But it does present a unique and positive view of world conflict and shows how people are finding less harmful ways to address it.

Documentary Film Fest 2009!

   What's going on in our world today?  What are the problems, and how can we work to fix them?  These are the questions explored in CMU's annual Film Fest, put on by the Peace and Social Awareness Committee of Student Council.  

     The films are being shown this week. They are:

Solders of Peace

Pray the Devil Back to Hell

Blue Gold

Food, Inc

I may be posting some reviews up on here.  Stay tuned!