IDN Cinema Club of Chicago

Crowd Shot I	Crowd Shot II	Crowd Shot III
Hooking Stuff Up	Typing Message for Al Gore	Leo Talking to Crowd

People thanked us at IllinoisDemNet for hosting this but, the truth is, we wanted to see the movie as much as anyone else. We hadn't had a chance to before and so this seemed like the right time.

It really seemed like the right time when over 70 people began to stream into the back room of the Globe Pub on the North Side of Chicago. Usually the way it works out, 70 people sign up and then maybe half to a third actually show up.

This time, even with cancellations, we were able to fill the place and then some!

I have to compliment the Globe Pub for all their help and support. Stuart, the manager, spent a considerable amount of time trying to make sure everything worked -- from the DVD itself to our audio system.

People filled every nook-and-cranny of the place -- as you can tell by the pictures. And while I think the place was a tad over-crowded, absolutely everyone who was there was courteous, friendly and ultimately enthusiastic about the purpose that brought us together.

The movie itself is about two thirds really bad news and a third good news. It's depressing for most of its length and yet I didn't leave it thinking, 'OMG, we're doomed' but rather, it's a challenge that we can surmount!

Another reaction to the movie: anyone who argues against global warming at this stage is nothing but a complete charletan. They come straight out of the Flat Earth society. If they continue to get coverage in the Media, shame on the media. If they continue to be supported by the Republican Party, shame on them and let history remember where the Republicans stood on this issue.

All in all though, I came away optimistic. People came up afterwards to thank us and to voice their opinions. One was a college student writing a paper on the movie and the reception of it. Another said she was a "MoveOn Volunteer" since 2002 and that she was relieved to see such a large crowd -- it being the holidays and all.

As I explained to the people coming up afterwards and thanking us for hosting this, we wanted to see the movie and listen to Al Gore as much as they did. All we did was put our name up on the list saying people could come to such and such a location.

Most of the credit should go to MoveOn. They organized a fantastic event bringing us all together. It's a great example of the positive effect of online organization.

Address:
Globe Pub, Irving Park & Damen - near the Brownline Stop

Group:
IllinoisDemNet

Cost:
free

Description:

See Al Gore's movie 'An Inconvenient Truth', then hear directly from him in a nationwide conference call. We've got the back room of the Globe Pub at Irving Park just east of Damen. With its excellent flat-panel displays this is an ideal location to see the film.

Our Cinema Democrats of Chicago will resume operation after the election!

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There was barely enough room to squeeze in at the Chicago Premiere of 'WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price', hosted by IllinoisDemNet this Sunday (11/13). Over 60 people filled the back room of the Black Rock Pub on Chicago's North Side. Every chair was taken, people sat on the floor, many stood throughout the entire screening.

After a few preliminary words of welcome from Leo Klein, everyone fixed their attention on the TV screen in the back of the room. What followed was a litany of abuse perpetrated by Wal-Mart. Most stood or sat transfixed by the account for the entire length of the movie -- an hour and a half. Once the movie was over, everyone agreed that it was a powerful indictment of the discount retailer.

LINKS:

• Wake Up WalMart - Sponsored by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW); Good on activism, community oriented, Event Finder, Adopt-a-Wal-Mart...
• Wal-Mart Watch - News items, links to articles on Wal-Mart in the Media, Documentation Center (including internal Wal-Mart Documents), Newsletter...
• Wal-Mart Movie - Alternative screenings of movie...

Hold the Date: Sun. Nov. 13, 3pm-5pm! The Chicago Chapter of IllinoisDemNet is proud to announce a grassroots Chicago premiere of "WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price", by the director of "Outfoxed". Location: Black Rock Pub, 3614 N Damen, Chicago -- just north of Addison, near the Addison Brown Line El Stop.

Address:
Black Rock Pub, 3614 N Damen, Chicago

Group:
IllinoisDemNet (Chicago)

Cost:
free

Description:
Hold the Date: Sun. Nov. 13! The Chicago Chapter of IllinoisDemNet is proud to announce a grassroots Chicago premiere of "WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price", by the director of "Outfoxed". Note, the Black Rock Pub is just north of Addison, near the Addison Brown Line El Stop.

LINKS:

• Wake Up WalMart - Facts, Research, Event Finder, Adopt-a-Wal-Mart...
• Wal-Mart Watch - News Items, Documentation Center, Newsletter...