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EnCana the focus of Cinema Politica

It's a big week on campus for the Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group as they screen an important film and host an activist meet and greet.

First on the agenda is Tuesday night's screening of the film Between Midnight and the Rooster's Crow, 7 p.m. in Galileo's Gallery.

In the aggressive search for the 'black gold' that drives Western economies, multinational corporations are working to extract billions of dollars of oil reserves from beneath Ecuador's rainforest. Between Midnight and the Rooster's Crow investigates the operations of the EnCana Corporation, a firm that, despite proud public declarations of its social responsibility, is shown to be answerable for widespread environmental contamination and human rights violations.

The film focuses on EnCana's development of a heavy crude oil pipeline from the Amazon across the earthquake-prone Andes to the Pacific coast for export. Since oil exploitation represents a solution for Ecuador's economic crisis, the government has gone out of its way to facilitate EnCana's plans, disregarding protests about property destruction and contamination. The government has even lauded EnCana for its supposed responsibility.

All are welcome, admission is free, and refreshments will be served. This screening is part of the Cinema Politica Film Series, presented every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. in Galileo's Gallery.

On Wednesday, LPIRG will hold an activist meet and greet, also at 7 p.m. in Galileo's. New students and seasoned activists alike, individuals or organizations, are encouraged to attend. There will be icebreaker activities to get people started, and then time for conversation, networking, and collaboration.