Gerard Ungerman To Screen ‘Plan Colombia’

Pasadena, Calif.­ Acclaimed producer and director Gerard Ungerman will screen his latest documentary “Plan Colombia: Cashing-In on the Drug War Failure” on Wednesday, November 12 at 7:30 PM at Caltech’s Baxter Lecture Hall. Mr. Ungerman will also add his insights into the controversial U.S.-funded Plan Colombia and explain his motivations for making this film. This free event is open to the public, and no tickets are required.

Ungerman’s documentary addresses Plan Colombia, the United States’ $2 billion assistance package aimed at eradicating cocaine cultivation and squashing the ELN and FARC, Colombia’s two main rebel groups. Critics of the plan cite the disastrous effects of the defoliant on the Amazonian ecosystem and small farmers of legal crops. Furthermore, the bulk of the Plan Colombia funds have been channeled to fund the Colombian military’s efforts in its 50 year quasi-civil war; this escalating violence has destroyed any peace negotiation opportunities and resulted in increased bombings, kidnapping, and murders. Opponents argue that the largely ineffective Plan Colombia has only served to combat the leftist-guerilla movements and not narco- traffickers.

“Plan Colombia” is the latest documentary from Gerard Ungerman and his wife Audrey Brohy, producers of other acclaimed works like “Hidden Wars of Desert Storm” and “Confessions of a New York Call-Girl”. With both a military and print-media background, Ungerman has combined his experience with his acute sense of justice to create films on topics ranging from U.S. foreign policy to pornography and prostitution. His documentary "Peru: Between the Hammer & the Anvil" has received an AFI/Sony award for best documentary and has aired throughout Europe on Planet Network.

This is the fifth year for the Social Activism Speaker Series, which focuses attention on current social and political issues by inviting prominent activists to share their experiences and perspectives with the Caltech community and the public. This series is coordinated with the help of the Caltech Y, and is made possible by contributions from the Moore-Hufstedler Fund, Student Affairs, the Alumni Association, Campus Life, the Diversity Program Fund, the Graduate Student Council, Jack and Edith Roberts, and the Associated Students of Caltech.

Baxter Lecture Hall is located in the center of the Caltech campus. Parking is available in the lots south of Del Mar Boulevard between Wilson and Chester Avenues, and in the Wilson Avenue parking structures between San Pasqual Street and Del Mar Boulevard.

For more information, visit http://sass.caltech.edu or contact Greg Fletcher, Caltech Y, (626) 395-6163.