Esperanza Productions: Recent Episodes
Esperanza Productions
Esperanza Productions is an award winning independent production company and was founded by Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan in 1995. Bringing Assad To Justice the multi award winning film documentary is the company's latest production - a film by Ronan and Anne. This is their second major documentary on Syria and Esperanza has won a number of major awards over the years. Ronan and Anne received the Television Journalism of the Year Award for Dropping the Number 10 for Dili a powerful documentary on East Timor and the role of legendary Irish human rights defender Tom Hyland. They won the National Television Broadcasting Award for When Happiness is a Place for Your Child. Other documentaries include 'Race To The Bottom' about the exploitation of women in the garment industry in Bangladesh; 'Mothers Against The Odds' filmed in Ireland and Kenya and several others on various human rights themes in various African and Asian countries.
A letter which a Syrian refugee wrote to the organiser Eileen Boyle of the screening in UCD recently of the acclaimed documentary 'Lost In Lebanon' proved deeply affecting. So disappointed at not being able to attend the Syrian who wrote the letter worked through the night to ensure it could be read out at the event. This audio report opens with a short clip of the translator Monjad reading it before the film began and it was extraordinary the way that letter resonated profoundly with the audience as they watched the documentary. The author could not reveal his name publicly as he still has family in Syria and feared for their safety.
The documentary offered a compelling portrayal of the insecurity and fear refugees and their families live with it in Lebanon of being sent back to Syria where many fear being tortured or killed by the Assad regime. The film was released in 2016 and the situation has become much worse for refugees, a fact also testified to by Eileen Boyle who visited Lebanon recently to meet refugees and see first hand conditions in the refugee camps. Eileen organised the screening with the Irish Syria Solidarity Movement, of which she is a long standing member, in association with the UCD Centre for Human Rights.
An Esperanza Audio Production
Esperanza Audio is part of Esperanza Productions.
This report was produced by Anne Daly, award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Esperanza Productions. Her most recent feature documentary film which she co-produced with Ronan Tynan is SYRIA - THE IMPOSSIBLE REVOLUTION and is available on Amazon and Vimeo On Demand, and on Amazon Prime in the US and UK. Anne is also now working with Ronan on a second film on Syria which will be released next year entitled BRINGING ASSAD TO JUSTICE about efforts to secure accountability for warcrimes and crimes against humanity.
More information:
www.esperanza.ie
Eileen Boyle went to Lebanon at her own expense recently as part of a delegation investigating the plight of Syrian refugees and in this interview with filmmaker Anne Daly, co-producer of the film SYRIA - THE IMPOSSIBLE REVOLUTION, she spoke of her experiences and what she found. Today many refugees now live in great fear of being forcibly returned to Syria which could mean arrest, torture and even death. One of the most disturbing findings of her trip was also the appalling poverty experienced by so many of the refugees. Eileen also found that in the midst of the poverty some of the refugees are showing remarkable resilience. A Syrian neurosurgeon who could have left permanently for the US Dr Fadi al-Halabi has instead created nine schools for refugees children, providing education for 3,500 children, through MAPS the grass roots network he founded. Among the most impressive successes of the children in his schools was n a competition to create robots in the US, with the kids even meeting President Barack Obama in Washington DC when they went to collect their prizes. The delegation as part of which Eileen went to Lebanon was organised by the Syrian American Council in partnership with the Access Centre for Human Rights. Lebanon is a small country on Syria’s border and has taken in approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees since the peaceful uprising in 2011 against the Assad regime, but with demands rising for their forcible return they face an uncertain future. ESPERANZA AUDIO
ESPERANZA AUDIO is part of Esperanza Productions, the award winning independent productions company, co-founded by Ronan L Tynan and Anne Daly.
ESPERANZA PRODUCTIONS recently produced the award winning SYRIA - THE IMPOSSIBLE REVOLUTION which is available on Amazon Prime in the US and UK, and on Vimeo On Demand worldwide. More details here: www.esperanza.ie
Audience hold up posters STOP BOMBING HOSPITALS following discussion after screening of Waad al-Kateab’s compelling FOR SAMA in the IFI’s Cinema 1 (Sept.14, 2019). Filmmaker Anne Daly co-producer with Ronan Tynan of the award winning SYRIA – THE IMPOSSIBLE REVOLUTION captured the very strong feelings in this audio report about the need to do something about Idlib – the next Aleppo but on a frighteningly bigger scale with three million including one million children already in the firing line.
Ronan Tynan who chaired the event wrote this blog post:
I asked members of the audience to hold up signs reading STOP BOMBING HOSPITALS in Cinema 1 at the IFI after the discussion I chaired following the screening of FOR SAMA. Waad al-Kateab who made that compelling film had apparently done the same at a recent screening and it actually seemed the only authentic and valid protest one could make after watching her, Dr Hamza her husband and their baby daughter Sama being bombed relentlessly in a hospital by the Russian airforce and the Assad regime’s forces.
One expression of frustration from Waad on the sound track of her documentary ‘For Sama’ reminded me why Anne Daly and I made our film ‘Syria – The Impossible Revolution’. She mentioned the hundreds of thousands who would have seen her film reports on Channel 4 from Aleppo and wondered why they did not seem to make any difference. Meanwhile Anne and I got fed up with people telling us they did not understand what is going on in Syria so we made what we saw as a very ambitious historical style documentary about the rise of the Assad family, the peaceful uprising in 2011 and struggle for freedom up to the fall of Aleppo to help people understand what is going. ‘For Sama’ on the other hand allowed us to experience what it felt like day after day to be bombed while trying to save lives. Remarkable they survived considering before the fall of Aleppo their hospitals was the last out of nine still functioning!
For Sama is so authentic it will qualify as prima facie evidence of crimes against humanity when eventually Assad and his henchmen face trial, though it may take a long time. A fact brought how repeatedly to us at the moment making a new documentary on that very theme: BRINGING ASSAD TO JUSTICE.
For us however what was truly traumatic about watching FOR SAMA was knowing the Russian airforce and the Syrian regime and its various militias with Iran are subjecting well over three million civilians in idlib to the same terror. Over a thousand civilians have been murdered recently including over three hundred children. Despite talk of cease fires the slaughter and the relentless bombing of hospitals continues.
Hopefully FOR SAMA will make more people wake up and feel the pain and terror facing defenceless families in Idlib. We know what is going on. We have no defence because silence equals complicity.
And if you want to find out more of the context please check out our ‘Syria – The Impossible Revolution’.
Ronan L Tynan is Director of the multi award winning ‘Syrian – The Impossible Revolution’ and co-founder with Anne Daly of Esperanza Productions:
Web site: http://www.esperanza.ie
Twitter: @RonanLTynan
Legendary war photographer Paul Conroy and Yassin Al Haj Saleh widely regarded by many as the ‘Conscience of the Revolution’ discuss the future of Syria as the Syrian Regime with Russia target civilians in Idlib and continue to bomb hospitals after several even destroyed after the UN supplied Putin’s forces with their co-ordinates to avoid them.
Yassin and Paul have both paid a high personal price through their experience and are uniquely qualified to talk about Syria. Yassin spent sixteen years in Assad regime prisons after being arrested as a nineteen year old medical student for engaging in peaceful political activity in Aleppo, his wife Samira Khalil a well known civil society activist was kidnapped in 2013 with three others by Jihadists including Razan Zaitouneh and known as the Douma Four, and his brother was murdered by ISIS in Raqqa. Paul Conroy was critically wounded in Baba Amr when his colleague the famous war correspondent Marie Colvin was murdered by Assad’s forces in 2012. The meeting took place on Tuesday the 28th of May, 2019 with Paul Conroy in front of a packed audience in Trinity in Dublin and Yassin Al Haj Saleh on the big screen participating via a Skype video link from Berlin. The questions from the audience underlined the impact both speakers made on the night but it was clear from what they said with the situation turning into hell on earth for civilians in Idlib very urgent action is needed by the international community to stop the slaughter. The meeting was organised by the Irish Syria Solidarity Movement (ISSM) in assocaition with Peace Studies, the School of Religion, Trinity College and chaired by Ronan Tynan, Director of the award winning film documentary ‘Syria - The impossible Revolution’.
This podcast was produced by Anne Daly, co-producer of 'Syria - The Impossible Revolution.'
Esperanza Productions
This podcast was made by the award winning ESPERANZA PRODUCTIONS, co-founded by Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly and makers of the multi award winning international feature film documentary ‘Syria - The Impossible Revolution.'
More info: www.esperanza.ie
As the Syrian regime with Russia backed by Iran are engaged in a scorched earth campaign against civilians in Idlib bombing hospitals schools and all vital human services in an already war ravaged region, members of the Irish Syrian Solidarity Movement protested outside the EU Commission offices in Dublin. Appalled by the indifference shown by the EU and Member State governments at the human catastrophe unfolding in North West Syria campaign members called for urgent action to halt the bombing as thousands of Syrians in Idlid gather (today, Saturday May 31, 2019) to protest at the border to be allowed to escape and liberate their families from inevitable death at the hands of the Assad, Russian and Iranian forces.
At the same time Syrian campaign and humanitarian groups like the Syria Civil Defence or White Helmets are demanding urgent action as Idlib is rapidly turning into the worst holocaust in the 9 year history of crimes against humanity since the Assad regime began crushing the peaceful uprising unleashed in 2011.
Filmmaker ANNE DALY interviewed members of the Irish Syria Solidarity Movement asking them what can be done to stop the mass atrocities against civilians in Idlib.
ESPERANZA PRODUCTIONS
This podcast was produced by the award winning ESPERANZA PRODUCTIONS, co-founded by Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly and makers of the multi award winning international feature film documentary ‘Syria - The Impossible Revolution.'
More info: www.esperanza.ie
Prior to the court finding that Assad murdered Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin, Ronan Tynan spoke with the lawyers involved in taking what will almost certainly prove to be an historic judgement, and could help prevent the Syrian dictatorship accessing funds to rebuild their brutal regime.
The murder of Marie Colvin in Syria was like ‘striking a dagger at the whole system of international justice’ Scott Gilmore from the Centre for Justice & Accountability said explaining why his organisation is pursuing a case against the Syrian regime before a court in Washington DC. The actual proceedings are being undertaken on a pro bono basis by leading international corporate lawyers Shearman & Sterling, with whom Marie’s sister Cat Colvin used to work, as the firm’s Ivy-Victoria Otradovec explains. They were interviewed at the premiere of the compelling documentary ‘Under the Wire’ about Marie’s last trip to Syria with photographer Paul Conroy that cost her life and Paul was very critically injured when the Assad regime targeted their press centre. This podcast was produced by filmmakers Ronan L Tynan and Anne Daly, who produced the award winning international feature documentary ‘Syria - The Impossible Revolution’, and became actively involved working on Syria around that time and Marie’s death had a very significant impact especially in focusing them on the nature of what was happening there at the time.
Esperanza Productions
This podcast was produced by Esperanza Productions the makers of the multi award winning film documentary ‘Syria - The Impossible Revolution.’
More info: www.esperanza.ie
Perhaps the most historic breakthrough in ending impunity for warcriminals and those engaged in crimes against humanity took place recently in Germany, yet it has received little or no media attention. Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan in Berlin for the premiere of their documentary 'Syria - The Impossible Revolution' met the Syrian human rights lawyer who helped make that unprecedented legal triumph possible and told them how it was achieved.
An Esperanza Productions Podcast
Esperanza Productions is an independent film audio and interactive media production company founded by award winning filmmakers Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan. Their latest feature documentary film 'Syria - The Impossible Revolution' is available on Amazon Prime in the US and the UK, and on Vimeo On Demand everywhere.
More information at www.esperanza.ie
In this Esperanza Productions podcast we meet world renowned humanitarian and paediatrician Dr Annie Sparrow who has helped save thousands of children’s lives through vaccination programmes in Syria. Dr Sparrow was in Dublin recently as a guest of the Irish Syria Solidarity Movement and came to address the joint parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee about what probably ranks as the biggest robbery of the 21st Century - how the Assad regime steals billions in humanitarian aid from the United Nations - aid donated by our governments out of our taxes. Presented by Ronan Tynan and Produced by Anne Daly this podcast grew out of their film documentary ‘Syria - The Impossible Revolution’ available on Amazon Prime in the US and the UK, and on Vimeo On Demand everywhere, and is part of a series on Syria.
Esperanza Productions is an independent film audio and interactive media producer founded by award winning filmmakers Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan.
More information at www.esperanza.ie
Syria Civil Defence - the White Helmets are being increasingly targeted by the Assad regime and Russia in Idlib and East Ghouta. Bassem Fadhali one of the latest killed while working to rescue a family died in yet another infamous double tap attack by the Assad regime and Russia. The notorious double tap attacks involved fighter aircraft returning immediately after an initial raid to bomb survivors and the rescuers or first responders trying to save them.
In Dublin's Merrion Square the Irish Syria Solidarity Movement planted an oak tree to celebrate the White Helmets winning the latest International Tipperary Peace Prize. However, the continuing slaughter of civilians and the White Helmets in Idlib and East Ghouta was very much the main focus of the occasion.
The group remembered Nedal Izdden the White Helmet who originally accepted the tree when collecting the Peace Prize on behalf of the Syria Civil Defence. However, the primary focus was very much the importance of action needed to protect the White Helmets risking their lives everyday to save others as well as to very urgently raise awareness of the relentless civilian slaughter in Idlib and East Ghouta.
Anne Daly, co-founder of Esperanza Productions, recorded this podcast at special planting to remember the White Helmets risking so much to save lives in Idlib and East Ghouta at this time.
Ends
Esperanza Productions is an award winning independent film and documentary production company co-founded by Anne Daly and Ronan L Tynan.
web: esperanza.ie
Anne Daly - Twitter: @annedaly19
Ronan L Tynan - Twitter: @RonanLTynan
As horror and unimaginable terror confronts civilians in Aleppo trapped and unable to leave because of Assad regime/Russian aerial bombardment and intense fighting for the last main stronghold held by Syrian rebel groups.
Last night in Dublin as thousands of pre Christmas shoppers headed for home the Irish Syria Solidarity Movement held an event at the "Amnesty Flame" on Memorial Road to remember the thousands of Syrians arrested and tortured by the Assad regime and other groups.
Among those especially remembered were the Douma 4 - Razan Zaitouneh, Wael Hamada, Samira Khalil, and Nazam Hadadi a group of leading Syrian human rights activists abducted 3 years ago and still missing.
Anne Daly went along and met some of those who attended.
Esperanza Audio Esperanza Audio is part of Esperanza Productions Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
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Follow Esperanza Productions on @EsperanzaDocs
"Its in our DNA being Irish" through "famine and war" that Ireland identifes with the Syrian people, one protester Denis Lucey who travelled over 130 miles from Cork said at protest outside Russian embassy in Dublin on Thursday, October 6, 2016.
The protest against Russia's bombing of Aleppo occured the day after the UN Human Rights Commissioner warned that the use of banned incendiary and cluster bombs against heavily populated civilain areas amount to crimes against human and warcrimes.
Filmmaker Anne Daly, currently involved in co-producing feature lenght documentary on the roots of the Syria uprising and conflict with Ronan Tynan, went along and recorded this report.
Esperanza Audio
Esperanza Audio is part of Esperanza Productions
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @ronanltynan
Follow Esperanza Productions on @EsperanzaDocs
In an effort to get Irish politicians to focus on the crisis in Syria with civilian casualties increasing at an alarming rate on a daily basis The Irish Syria Solidarity held a protest vigil outside Lenister House - Ireland's parliament on Thursday, April 28, 2016.
The aim was to try and engage as many politicians as possible in the hope they might speak out and condemn in particular the one million Syrians caught under Siege mainly by the Assad regime. A small number of public representatives did leave the chamber to meet members of the group. Esperanza's Anne Daly spoke with an number of the protesters who said they were appalled at the lack of public engagement especially by media and political representatives given the numbers of civilians, including children, being killed or wounded everyday in Syria.
Esperanza Audio
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @ronanltynan
While most media is focused on the refugee crisis in the Middle East, especially Syria, spilling over into the European Union, another large-scale migration crisis in Central America gets far too little attention with many seeking to flee Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua for the United States.
If the war in Syria is the root of much of the migration crisis confronting the EU, unrestrained violent gang culture and drug wars with staggering rates of impunity in these Central American countries explain why so many are desperate to escape and seek a better life. Indeed the rates of impunity are almost unimaginable - 99% in the case of Honduras; El Salvador at 92% and Guatemala 80%. So desperate has the situation become that thousands of even unaccompanied children - some as young as 6 or 7 - are now risking their lives to catch a ride on what has become known as the "Beast" - a dangerous train - in a bid to join their families or simply seek freedom in the United States.
It is worth underlining that much of the massive upsurge in gang violence and drugs wars in Central America is attributed to the large-scale and some suggest heavy handed mass deportations from the United States in the 1990s. Indeed, far from controlling illegal immigration into the US such deportations - with still growing gang violence and rising rates of impunity - seem to have accelerated rates of illegal migration. Given Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump advocates more of the same this suggests instability and lawlessness in Central America could become even more serious, with little prospect that the desperate flow of people seeking refuge will decline.
The Central American migration crisis was addressed at a special conference Trinity College Dublin to mark the 20th Anniversary of LASC- Latin America Solidarity Campaign on Saturday, April 23, 2016. The meeting was chaired by the well known peace activists Caiomhe Butterly.
Anne Daly, Co-Founder of Esperanza Productions attended the conference and provided this report.
EperanzaAudio
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
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Across Syria almost one million people are caught under siege mostly by the Assad regime in appalling conditions, with even children enduring especially horrific suffering in what amounts to an untold story as Anna Nolan, the Director of the Syria Campaign in the United States, told Anne Daly in this special Esperanza report. The scale of the sieges in 52 different areas, given the level of suffering, are effectively not being reported, which is unsurprising for two londstanding reasons. When journalist Marie Colvin and photographer Remy Ochlik were murdered in Syria in 2012 the international media independently covering the conflict were almost all withdrawn en masse; and, secondly, the UN in the way it defined sieges let Assad off the hook completely understating the level of what are gross human rights abuses. For example, when the human crisis in Madaya, under siege for months, came to light in January this year it was NOT defined as under siege under UN criteria.
Meanwhile, the UN will only deliver aid to besieged areas with the permission of the Assad regime in violation of its own mandate, making aid a powerful weapon in the hands of the regime. This means taxpayers sending funds to UN agencies thinking they are helping people in besieged areas are in fact bolstering Assad's war against his own people.
Esperanza
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
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Saturday April 16, 2016 Ireland remembered the courageous Honduran indigenous leader and environmental activist Berta Careres assassinated at her home on March 3rd. At a demonstration in Dublin city centre there were calls for Berta's killers to be brought to justice, and an end to the brutal persecution of people campaigning for land and water rights in Honduras. Aged 45 Berta had become a world renowned campaigner for her work especially in resisting the Aqua Zurca Hydroelectric Dam Project which threatened the livelihoods and even survival of her own indigenous Lenca people. Threatened so many times she lived in constant danger and admitted to friends that she didn't expect to live into old age because of the number of death threats she received. Her supporters blame the Honduran Government backed death squads for her murder because of her successful resistance to the dam project, and many remain skeptical her family will get justice. In 2015 Berta was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize - the world’s leading environmental award for her work. Well known in Ireland Berta's many friends and supporters in Trocaire, Frontline and LASC - Latin America Solidarity Campaign helped organise Saturday's protest. Esperanza’s Anne Daly went along and her report opens with Berta speaking about the sacredness of the Rio Blanco on which the dam project was proposed.
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @ronanltynan
In Dublin on the 5th anniversary of the brutal suppression of a peaceful uprising by Bashar al-Assad that led to five years of war in Syria, Anne Daly met Irish and Syrians who came together to draw attention to the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time. They gathered outside the GPO – the General Post Office – the site of Ireland revolution one hundred years ago, and it was clear many Syrians saw the uprising against Assad as a revolt against one of the most brutal regime in the Middle East.
Anne first spoke Syrian Orthopedic Surgeon Dr Kamal Shadi who has been living in Ireland for 20 years.
Esperanza Productions
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @ronanltynan
“I told you what would happen four years ago if Bashar al Assad remained in power,’ Dr. Hassan Rajab a Syrian born gynecologist who has lost thirty family members at the hands of the Assad regime. Esperanza’s Anne Daly met him at his clinic in Dublin’s Rotunda Maternity Hospital and he was barely able to contain his outrage about what was happening in Syria.
“We’ve been abandoned by everyone, no one cares about Syrian blood,” he repeated. He said if the international community cared or were willing they could end the conflict in Syria overnight. “Assad is a war criminal, I just cannot believe the West has allowed him to remain in power knowing what he is doing.”
He was especially incensed how in the West, including in the media, all attention was focused on ISIS which allowed Assad to get away with his bombing campaign which is responsible for most civilian death and destruction in Syria including the exodus of millions of refugees who have fled to Europe and neighboring countries.
He believes up to a million Syrians may have been killed by Assad’s relentless bombing or tortured to death in his prisons, as well as those who have died as a result of the impact of the conflict.
Dr Hassan is adamant that if the EU wants to solve its refugee crisis all that has to be done “remove Assad” and four million will return home.
Esperanza Productions
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @RonanLTynan
People took to the streets of Dublin (Sat. 6 Feb., 2016) to reject Pegida, the German anti-Islamic group trying to establish a base in Ireland. Pegida - "Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West" - first emerged in Dresden two years ago to campaign against the "Islamisation of Europe". However, so far attempts to establish an Irish branch seems to have galvanised many to come out and show solidarity for communities likely to be targeted and demonised by their openly racist campaigning especially the Muslim community.
Anne Daly, Esperanza co-founder was in the city centre to talk to those standing up against Pegida's attempt to foster hatred and racial tension in Ireland.
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @RonanLTynan
Just back after a two week stint as a volunteer in a transit camp in Croatia Dr Bronagh Catiusic of the Irish Syria Solidarity Movement has urged European governments including Ireland to embrace refugees. The stories she heard and the incredible lengths many had taken to escape war and starvation left her in no doubt what Europe must do. During the two weeks at Slavonski Brod transit camp, day after day refugees told Dr. Catiusic including mothers with small babies, why they were prepared to risk all to escape war, barrel bombs and starvation in Syria. Since returning Dr. Catiusic has been engaged in a robust campaign of writing and interviews in an attempt to highlight the stories of the many desperate people she met at Slavonski Brod. Anne Daly of Esperanza Productions asked her why she decided to volunteer to help refugees.
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @ronanltynan
“In Syria one million people are being systematically starved as a weapon of war and no one seems to know about it. This was the message from “The Break the Sieges” - a campaigning online organisation which is focusing world attention on what they say is “one of the most cruel and hidden sides of the war in Syria: Bashar al-Assad’s “submit or starve” policy.
Earlier this week the world got a glimpse of what this means when UN Aid Convoys reached Madaya only a one hour drive from the Syrian capital Damascus, which has been under siege for the last six months.
The images which filled our TV screens were truly horrific, starving men, women and children pleading for food medicine and end to the siege. The portrait of life as told by the citizens of Madaya brought back images of the World War 11 Warsaw Ghetto as survivors described having to eat grass and leaves to stay alive. While the siege of Madaya has captured the media’s attention there have been others such as at Homs and Douma.
On Saturday Jan 16th as part of a call by the 'Break the Sieges' campaign the Irish Syria Solidarity Movement held a protest in Dublin to focus attention on the worsening situation in Syria especially the impact on the civilian population of the sieges.
Anne Daly, Esperanza co-founder attended the protest and compiled this report.
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @ronanltynan
During his recent visit to Ireland at the invitation of the Irish Syria Solidarity Movement Dr Farouq Habib said that as much as he wished for peace this was not possible while Syrian President Bashar al Assad remained in power. The former banker who now directly helps the White Helmets in Syria through his work as Program Manager for MayDayRescue (@MaydayRescue), told his audience that "Assad remained a symbol who fuels violence in Syria." He also urged his audience not to forget the genesis of the conflict which is often forgotten in the ongoing political power struggle.
Anne Daly, Esperanza co-founder, attended the Milltown Institute lecture where she heard Dr Farouq Habib recall the event that started the war.
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @ronanltynan
Dr Farouq Habib came to Ireland at the invitation of the Irish Syria Solidarity Movement to talk about the horrific and unimaginable cruelty faced by Syrian civilians on a daily basis, especially from President Assad's barrel bombing campaign against his own people. Uniquely able to speak about their suffering as a spokesperson for the 'White Helmets' the independent, non-violent and all volunteer search and rescue service that has already saved more than a staggering 25,000 lives. A banker before Syria's revolution, he now works with Mayday Rescue which actively supports the White Helmets - the only independent search and rescue service operating outside government controlled areas. Made up of approximately 2,700 women and men - all volunteers - the White Helmets put their lives on the line everyday they go to help their fellow Syrians especially hen they seek to deal with barrel bombings especially because of the way in which Assad's forces also bomb the same area twice in their attempts to kill rescue workers and surviving civilians. Dr Habib spoke very movingly about incredible courage of the White Helmets who in the minutes between the two bomb attacks always try to rescue survivors from the first attack - and sometimes are caught unable to escape in time.
One of the people who came to hear Farouq - a representative of the Dublin Fire Service - was shocked at the way Assad's forces attack impartial search and rescue workers like the White Helmets, so many of whom have been murdered working with incredible courage to save their fellow Syrians.
Dr Habib is in no doubt that Assad's barrel bombing is the main reason so many civilians are fleeing Syria. Indeed, the "double attack" strategy aimed at killing surviving civilians and rescue workers makes this indiscriminate weapon one of the most lethal terror weapons in Assad's arsenal. Barrel bombs in addition to causing mass civilian deaths also inflict horrific injuries on civilians stuffed with nails, shrapnel and sharp metal pieces.
Anne Daly, Esperanza co-founder, spoke to Farouq before a public meeting after he addressed politicians at a meeting of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee.
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by award winning documentary filmmakers Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly.
web: www.esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @ronanltynan
A year today 43 students from a rural teachers college in Ayotzinapa in the Mexican state of Guerrero disappeared. To date, nobody knows what happened on the night of September 26, 2014, when the students disappeared while traveling from Ayotzinapa to the nearby city of Iguala. However Video footage which surfaced last year shows a violent clash between the students and what appear to be local police officers. During the violent confrontation twenty students were injured, six were killed while 43 disappeared. The disappearances have caused outrage in Mexico. Today thousands were expected to take to the streets of Mexico City to mark the anniversary and to draw international attention to the country's appalling and deepening human rights crisis.
In Dublin, the Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC) remembered the students. Outside the Mexican Embassy 43 red roses were placed on each of their names while red ribbons were tied to the Embassy railings. Chris O' Connell of LASC reminded those who gathered that the disappeared were not just future teachers but were sons, brothers and friends.
Anne Daly of Esperanza Productions joined those who had gather to remember the disappeared students.
Esperanza Productions was co-founded by Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan. web: www.esperanza.ie twitter: @esperanzadocs Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @AnneDaly19 Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @RonanLTynan
Create Safe Zones and end the Barrel Bombing.
This was the stark message delivered to Irish politicians by Syrians living in Ireland at a protest held outside the Dail (Irish Parliament) last night. Organised by the Irish Syria Solidarity Movement the focus was on why 'Syrians are Refugees. ' Politicians were reminded that many are fleeing not only ISIS but the Assad regimes Barrel Bombs which Amnesty and Human Right Watch say have killed seven times more Syrians than Isis. These bombs are dropped routinely and indiscriminately everyday from army planes and helicopters. They have caused tens of thousands of death and devastating destruction and are responsible for the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Syrian seeking safety in Europe. Esperanza’s Anne Daly attended the protest where she spoke with Sarah who told her how her family were coping with everyday life in the midst of this horrific war.
Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan are co-founders of award winning Esperanza Productions. web: www.esperanza.ie twitter: @esperanzadocs Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @AnneDaly19 Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @RonanLTynan
‘Gaza on Gaza’ is a very unique exhibition by Palestinian artists in response to the suffering inflicted on so many by the conflict last year. Most of the pieces are by children and teenagers with one installation – “If I Wasn’t There” - featuring 400 drawings on pieces of paper torn from cement bags given to their families to repair their homes. Through the eyes of children is a critical theme and makes this installation by well known Palestinian artist Majdal Nateel, who lives in Gaza city with her two daughters, especially moving.
Anne Daly went along to see the exhibition with Ronan Tynan filmmaker and human rights defender and met Palestinian blogger from Gaza Shahd Abusalama who knows many of the artists who featured in the exhibition personally.
This exhibition was reportedly made possible by Channel 4 broadcaster and journalist Jon Snow, who agreed to take the artworks out of Gaza as they would almost certainly not been allowed out by the Israeli military authorities, which continue to maintain a very strict blockade now in its 8th year.
‘Gaza on Gaza’ is taking place at the P21 Gallery in London and just opened on August 7 and will continue until the 22 of August, 2015.
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= Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan are co-founders of award winning Esperanza Productions. web: www.esperanza.ie twitter: @esperanzadocs Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @AnneDaly19 Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @RonanLTynan
Forty artists working across visual art, photography, film, live art, performance and design were brought together by 'Counterpoints Arts' for an exhibition aptly entitled 'Dis/Placed' about the millions of people uprooted often violently everyday. Many of the artists have first hand experience of what it means to be displaced and the exhibition brings home in a powerful way the reality of life for those who find themselves on the move aginst their will. The exhibition is currently running in Shoreditch Town Hall, London until Sunday June 21.
Counterpoints Arts is a UK based arts organisation exploring refugee and migrant experiences.
Anne Daly went along to visit the exhibitions and spoke to some of those involved.
Anne is co-founder with Ronan Tynan of award winning independent production company Esperanza Productions. web: www.esperanza.ie twitter: @esperanzadocs Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
Friends and family members of those still caught in Yarmouk between the barbarism of ISIS and the savagery of Assad without food, medical help, water or electricity spoke at a moving protest in the shadow of the Palace of Westminster in London on Tuesday evening (14 April, 2015.) They appealed to us not to see their loved ones as mere statistic but real people including many children caught in the middle of one of the world's most brutal conflict sieges. Yarmouk located only a couple miles from Assad's Palace in Damascus where Palestinians found refuge when they were forced from their homes and made to leave Israel in 1948.
Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan attended the demonstration and met friends and family members of those trapped in Yarmouk.
Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan are co-founders of award winning Esperanza Productions. web: www.esperanza.ie twitter: @esperanzadocs Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @AnneDaly19 Follow Ronan Tynan on Twitter: @RonanLTynan
"Earth is anybody out there” is the powerful and evocative call from the newly formed ‘Planet Syria’ a group of non-violent activists who vehemently oppose Syria’s peaceful uprising being brutally repressed by Assad and equally cruelly stolen by ISIS. In Dublin, like in many other cities and towns across the world, the Irish Syrian Solidarity Campaign organized a protest to echo the call by ‘Planet Syria’ for an end to Assad’s barrel bombing campaign, which has cost tens of thousands of civilians lives, and peace talks as the only way to effectively respond to the threat posed by ISIS or Islamic State. The protest was held outside Dublin’s General Post Office where Ireland’s ‘1916 Rising’ was launched this week ninety-nine years ago and Anne Daly spoke to members of the Irish Syrian Solidarity Campaign.
Anne is co-founder with Ronan Tynan of award winning independent production company Esperanza Productions. web: www.esperanza.ie twitter: @esperanzadocs Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
The world is stuck in fast forward – and we’re paying a heavy price in terms of our health, stress at work, and the pressure never to switch off and always be contactable. Carl Honore journalist and author of “In Praise of Slow’ his bestselling book, which examines our society’s addiction to speed and why he believes we need to slow down. “Slow Life Meets Slow Media’ was the title of his presentation at a Slow Media Symposium held at Bath Spa University. In an interview with Esperanza’s Anne Daly he explained why the world must slow down.
Anne is co-founder with Ronan Tynan of award winning independent production company Esperanza Productions. web: www.esperanza.ie twitter: @esperanzadocs Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19
Four years after a peaceful uprising in Syria sparked by the torture of children by the brutal regime of Bashar al Assad, the country has been turned into literal ruins as the world bloodiest war continues. Assad responded to that peaceful uprising through a very violent military crackdown that unleashed a civil war that even led to the emergence of ISIS or Islamic State.
Anne Daly in London on Saturday (March 14, 2015) joined many who gathered to remember the dead and protest against the slaughter of more that 200,000 people, and uprooted millions.
Anne spoke to people whose lives have been changed utterly by this brutal conflict.
Anne Daly is co-founder with Ronan Tynan of award winning independent production company Esperanza Productions.
web: www.esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @AnneDaly19
While it might seem impossible to be optimistic about Syria when one looks at the horrific statatics, one Syrian woman refuses to accept the Syrian people will fail to overcome their grim current bloody divisions.
What began four years ago as a national peaceful protest against President Basheer Al Asaad’s government has turned into one of the world’s bloodiest conflicts. Today with no end in sight 200,000 Syrians are dead with as many as 10 million uprooted and the entire region has been destabilised.
In London on Wednesday (12 March, 2015) 'Behind the headlines: Syria Four Years On' was the titile of a “Guadian Live” event which sought to offer some understanding about one of the world’s most brutal conflicts and led to the emergence of Islamic State or ISIS. Those speaking included leading experts on the region including journalist, academics and researchers. One of those was Syrian Rim Turkmani – senior research fellow at the LSE – London School of Economics and a co-founder of the Syrian Civil Coalition that supports civil society building, a process she argues the media has overlooked.
Anne Daly spoke to Rim Turkmani and asked her how are people surviving and raising their families in the midst of such bloody conflict.
Anne Daly is co-founder with Ronan Tynan of award winning independent production company Esperanza Productions.
web: www.esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @AnneDaly19
“Guantanamo Diary” is an extraordinary jail journal. The work of Mohamedou Ould Slahi who handwrote the 122,000 word diary. For the past fourteen years he has been a prisoner in the notorious US detention camp in Guantanamo Cuba. The diary, a declassified memoir that was released after an eight year legal battle. “Guantanamo Diary” is already a best seller in Germany and a massive attendance at the launch in London’s Tabernacle organized by the Guardian newspaper this week suggests it will probably be an international best seller. “Guantanemo Diary” is a powerful story of courage by an innocent man who who was secretly kidnapped from his home in Mauritania, before eventually ending up in Guantanamo, through the notorious process of rendition run by the CIA. Caught in legal limbo his familiy and his lawyers are hopeful that the publicity around his diary will help secure his release.
Filmmaker and broadcaster Anne Daly attended the launch of “Guantanemo Diary” and met Mohamedou’s Ould Slahi editor Larry Siems, his younger brother Yahdih Ould Slahi, and lawyer Nancy Hollander.
Anne Daly is co-founder with Ronan Tynan of award winning independent production company Esperanza Productions.
web: www.esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @AnneDaly19
"Stories From Santa Marta" is a sensitive yet highly provocative play written and directed by Bethan McEvoy who spent 12 months working in El Salvador researching the production. The play was performed last night at the Rich-Mix Theatre in London. Using testimonies, true stories and interviews “Stories From Santa Marta” is based on the true-life stories of three people from two different generations struggling to get by in modern El Salvador. From the 1970s until 1992 it should be remembered that more than 70, 000 thousand Salvadorian died in the country’s civil war, with the country's military dictatorship backed by the United States. Thousands were made to disappear during one of Latin America's most violent civil wars in modern history many still remain missing. The play was set against that background. Esperanza's Anne Daly who worked as a reporter in El Salvador during the civil war attended last nights event. After the performance Anne spoke with Bethan McEvoy.
Anne Daly is co-founder of award winning independent production company Esperanza Productions.
url: esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @AnneDaly19
A small but passionate group of Occupy Movement protesters staged a weekend sit in outside parliament in London's Westminster. On a very wet Sunday morning Anne Daly went to meet them in the midst of a very heavy police presence.
Anne Daly is co-founder of award winning independent production company Esperanza Productions
url: esperanza.ie
twitter: @esperanzadocs
Follow Anne Daly on Twitter: @AnneDaly19
In advance of UN Climate Summit several marches were held around the world with one of the biggest in London led by actress Emma Thompson and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. Anne Daly of Esperanza Productions joined the marchers and spoke to Emma Thompson and Vivienne Westwood about why we must act as time runs out for the planet in the face of climate change.
Anne Daly on Twitter: @annedaly19 Esperanza Productions on Twitter: @esperanzadocs Web Site: www.esperanza.ie Esperanza Productions is an award winning independent productions co-founded by Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan.
A special event was held in Dublin's Teachers Club last Thursday to celebrate the life of the late Gerry Conlon of the Guildford Four organised by AFRI – the human rights group. Gerry Conlon spoke very memorably about Bradley now Chelsea Manning when he spoke in Dublin last November, and many present on Thursday remembered the passion with which he spoke about the importance of defending the whistleblower. Anne Daly of Esperanza Productions went along...
Anne Daly on Twitter: @AnneDaly19
Esperanza Productions on Twitter: @EsperanzaDocs
Web Site: www.esperanza.ie
Esperanza Productions is an award winning independent productions co-founded by Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan.
The Speaker of the Hackney Borough Council Sharon Patrick and close friend of legendary Magdalenes campaign Cllr Sally Mulready admitted she had never heard of Ireland's symphysiotomy scandal, although very well informed from her friend Cllr Sally Mulready about other Irish scandals from that era like the Magdalenes and the 'Mothers & Baby Homes", until she saw the film documentary Mothers Against The Odds at the Roman Road Festival. However, as was made clear at the launch Speaker Sharon Patrick is not unique in the UK, and even more representative of many in Ireland, still trying to come to terms with the appalling cruelty inflicted on mothers through symphysiotomies often carried out without their permission.
Speaking at the launch Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly, Director/Co-Producer and Writer/Co-Producer of the documentary said that with so many scandals emerging it was vital that everything is done to help people understand why the Ireland of former times appeared so cruel and almost heartless towards women.
'Mothers Against The Odds' can be seen on-line at www.esperanza.ie
'Mothers Against The Odds' was produced by Esperanza Productions.
Caption for image above: (left to right) Ronan Tynan, Director/Co-Producer; Cllr. Sally Mulready; Anne Daly, Writer/Co-Producer of documentary; Speaker Sharon Patrick; and Isaac Carlos, Founder, Muxima.
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How could some of our journalistic heroes like Seymour Hersch, John Pilger and Robert Fisk get their coverage of the Syria conflict so wrong, even accused of blaming the opposition for warcrimes committed by the Assad regime? Academic and media analyst Muhammad Idrees Ahmad, who exposed as false in the Los Angelos Times, Seymour Hersh’s attempt to exonerate President Bashar al-Assad for the chemical weapons attack and blame it on the opposition, tells Ronan L Tynan why he believes these iconic figures among the ranks of progressive journalists failed the people of Syrian in their reporting of one of the most brutal conflicts of our time. Muhammad Idrees Ahmad is Co-editor of PULSE and author of 'The Road to Iraq: The Making of a Neoconservative War.' Ronan L Tynan is an award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Esperanza Productions.
The interview was recorded at a special seminar on media coverage of the Syria conflict - 'Correcting the Narrative' jointly organised by the London Middle East Institute at SOAS, University of London, and the Centre for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver.
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In Trafalgar Square in London on Saturday (May 31, 2014) Syrians and their friends and supporters who make up the Syrian Solidarity Movement held a demonstration to protest against what they call President Bashar al-Assad 'blood elections' on Tuesday. 'I don't know why our blood is so cheap" one Syrian said reflecting the sense of abandonment of many that nothing is being done to stop Assad's brutal repression in Syria. That repression has included aerial barrel bombing campaigns of civilian areas as well as the starvation of men, women and children in besieged areas while Syrians feel the world is doing nothing as the slaughter continues. Anne Daly of Esperanza Productions joined the protesters in Trafalgar Square.
An Esperanza Productions audio report.
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In spite of a devastating civil war that has left over 150,000 dead, 6 million displaced and over 9.3 million Syrians in need of immediate life saving support President Bashar al-Assad will hold Presidential elections next Sunday. Buoyed by recent military gains, Assad is seeking a third seven year term in an attempt to continue the 44 year tyrannical rule of the Assad family. The opposition have called them “Blood Elections’ and are holding an International Day of Protest this Saturday. Against a backdrop of International indifference together with the deepening humanitarian and political crisis that threatens the region, it’s hard to be optimistic about the future of Syria. The determination of China, Iran and Russia to continue supporting the Assad regime means that this conflict shows no sign of being resolved. So what now for Syria? this was one of the issues raised and discussed in a recent lecture given by the distinguished scholar Dr Thomas Pierret of the University of Edinburgh. In a recent visit to Dublin he met with the journalism students at Griffith College. He began his presentation with an analysis of why the Geneva I and Geneva 2 peace talks were doomed to failure.
Dr Thomas Pierrot is a lecturer in Contemporary Islam Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies(IMES) University of Edinburgh.
Dr Pierrot was brought to Dublin by the Irish Syrian Solidarity Campaign An Esperanza Production presented by Anne Daly, award winning filmmaker, journalist and lecturer in broadcast journalism.
This week is the third anniversary of the Syrian Revolution, a conflict which began when a peaceful demonstration against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was brutally repressed by his armed forces. Three years on and with no end in sight the war has been described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The conflict has cost the lives of thousands of innocent civilian espcially especially women and children. A particularly brutal aspect of this conflict has been the way the Assad regime has used food as a weapon against the civilian population. These so called 'food sieges' have prevented vital life saving humanitarian aid from reaching several thousands of trapped civilians in key Syrian cities such as Homs and Alleppo. In a global day of solidarity to remember the Syrian dead, displaced, and detained many European citizens and activists have been gathering to protest at what is happening. The protest was held at the Famine Memorial in an attempt to link the Great Irish Famine of 1845 with those being starved in Syria today. Esperanza Documentary filmmaker Anne Daly went along to get the reaction of those who attended. Anne Daly is co-founder of Esperanza Productions award winning documentary filmmakers. Latest film: 'Mothers Against The Odds' filmed in Kenya and Ireland - access film here: www.esperanzaproductions.com Twitter: @annedaly19
Dada Maheshvarananda is a US born yogic monk, activist and writer who believes capitalism has had its day. In his latest book 'After Capitalism: Economic Democracy in Action' he argues that people need to get ready for a post capitalist world. Director of the Prout Institute in Venezuala where he teaches what he calls Progressive Utilization Theory (PROUT), a post-capitalist model to empower people and communities to create a better world. Dada visited Ireland to meet with those interested in alternative models of social change, including President Michael D. Higgins. Filmmaker Anne Daly met him at an "Evening with Dada Maheshvarananda" hosted by AFRI in Dublin.
Anne Daly is co-founder of Esperanza Productions award winning documentary filmmakers. Latest film: 'Mothers Against The Odds' filmed in Kenya and Ireland - access film here: www.esperanzaproductions.com
Twitter: @annedaly19
Russia is alleged to be implicated in crimes against humanity in Syria through its support for the Assad regime not least through its vetoes with China in the UN Security Council where it has sought to prevent criticism of President Assad and his regime. A protest outside the Russian Embassy in Dublin sought to bring pressure on Russia not to veto a UN security council resolution calling on the Assad regime to stop preventing direct access for humanitarian aid underlining concern in Ireland about a conflict that has created the "world's worst humanitarian crisis". Filmmaker Anne Daly went along to meet protesters who accuse Assad of attempting to starve his own people into submission in denying food and access for humanitarian aid especially into areas under siege, although millions are at risk in the country through restrictions by his regime on the delivery of aid. The celebrated author and mathematician Stephen Hawking in a recent Guardian article described what was happening in Syria as an “abomination" which the world is watching coldly from a distance, something that could not be said about those Anne met outside the Russian embassy. The protest was held on the same day that the UN Security Council voted on the resolution on direct access for humanitarian aid. In a rare instance of unanimity in the Security Council the resolution was passed - but the question remains will the Assad regime allow direct access for aid for millions in desperate need, not least, those starving in areas under siege? Anne Daly is co-founder of Esperanza Productions award winning documentary filmmakers. Latest film: 'Mothers Against The Odds' filmed in Kenya and Ireland - access film here: www.esperanzaproductions.com
Twitter: @annedaly19
It is thirty years since the death of Ann Lovett – the fifteen year old school girl from Grandard, Co. Roscommon, who died alone trying to give birth beside a statue to the Virgin Mary in a church grotto. Her death shocked Ireland at the time and led to an outpouring of grief and a national debate that still resonates to the present day. Dr. Sinead Kennedy, a lecturer in NUI Maynooth was only six years old when Ann Lovett died and she can still remember the effect it had even as a small child. In a packed to capacity lecture theatre in Maynooth College, she organised what she described as a commemorative conversation to remember Ann Lovett. Anne Daly, Filmmaker and co-producer of 'Mothers Against The Odds' went along and recorded this report. Justine Mc Cathy Sunday Times columnist ; Feminist and Activist Ailbhe Smyth, Anne Mulhall (School of English UCD); Historian Catriona Crowe (Head of Special Projects, National Archives) all recalled the death of Ann Lovett and its significance – both then and now. Introducing the evening Dr. Sinead Kennedy took us back to January 31st in 1984 the day Ann Lovett left school a little earlier than usual.
Anne Daly is co-founder of Esperanza Productions Twitter: @AnneDaly19 Web: www.esperanzaproductions.com Film: Mothers Against The Odds --- http://vimeo.com/ondemand/3865/71831237
"Fatal Failures" RTE 1 Primetime Documentary which investigated the deaths of four babies in six years at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise has highlighted what happens when women's rights are not respected when they seek to give birth. Documentary film maker and journalism lecturer Anne Daly spoke with Dr. Krtsia Lynch of AIMS about her organisation and the issues raised in the Primetime programme.
The horror and terrible pain endured by Syrians watching their country being consumed in a brutal war is revealed in this interview by Anne Daly with 19 year old Journalism Student Walaa Ajjawi. A student at Griffith College Dublin Ajjawi is one of many hundreds of thousands of Syrian who feel abandoend by the world as they see nothing being done to stop the killing and destruction of their country. Almost three years since the brutal dictatorship of President Bashar al-Assad ruthlessly crushed a peaceful uprising there is no end in sight to the conflict.
Rafif Jouejati Spokesperson for the Local Co-Ordination Committees in Syria spoke at a public meeting in Dublin about the rape crisis in Syria - an horrific part of the war Assad in particular has unleashed against his own people. 'Rape as Weapon of War - What Should Ireland Do?' was the question addressed by Rafif at the HQ of Ireland's National Womens' Council on Wednesday 22 May, 2013 at a meeting organised by the Irish Syrian Solidarity Campaign. The meeting was chaired by Ellen O'Malley Dunlop, CEO of the Rape Crisis Centre, and Rafif's addressed left many in audience quite shocked at what she had to say.
The 2nd Dublin Singer/Songwriters Showcase was held in the Bernard Shaw recently. The Showcase was started by Singer/Songwriters Ronan Tynan and Ger Supple and amongst the performers was well known Green Party politician Dan Boyle a noted singer/songwriter in his own right. The event was dedicated to the courageous journalists, netizens and bloggers who have been risking their lives to tell the world what is going on in Syria where war-crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed on an unimaginable scale. Anne Daly went along to meet the singer/songwriters and their supporters.
'Syria: We must stop the slaughter: But How?' was the topic for discussion at a public meeting organised by the Irish Syrian Solidarity Campaign in conjunction with the Journalism Faculty at Griffith College Dublin recently. Addressed by Walid Saffour, the Representative of the Syria National Coalition, on a visit to Ireland to lobby TDs and Senators to lift the EU Arms Embargo, the meeting provided a comprehensive view of the terrible suffering of the Syrian people as the conflict shows no sign of ending. Other speakers included well known academic and columnist Prof Colm Kenny, DCU; Goal CEO Barry Andrews; and Patricia Coyle, Head of Communications with the Jesuits. The meeting was chaired by Filmmaker and Co-Founder of Esperanza Productions, Ronan Tynan. The report opens with Marese Hegarty, who spoke from the floor, and seemed to the sum up the outrage expressed at the meeting about what is happening in Syria.
Anne Daly, Filmmaker and Journalism Lecturer, compiled this report of the meeting.
One of Ireland's leading journalists and broadcasters Olivia O'Leary describes Film 'Mothers Against The Odds' as graphic and moving in exposing what she described as 'Fascism' in the treatment of women. Award winning filmmakers Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan's documentary was produced by Esperanza Productions and is narrated by Oscar winner Brenda Fricker. Made in Ireland and Kenya it offers unique insights into how easily mothers can be treated with extreme cruelty when their rights are not respected. The trailer and film can be seen here: www.esperanzaproductions.com
Described as a medical procedure from the "dark ages" in the documentary film Mother Against The Odds, Irish mothers subjected to a symphysiotomy without their consent, have launched an online petition seeking worldwide support for their campaign and time is running out. The petition seeks to ‘Tell Ireland to Stop Obstructing Justice for Symphysiotomy Victims’ and requests the government to amend the statue of limitation to allow the mothers seek justice in the courts. Filmmaker and Co-Producer of 'Mothers Against The Odds' Anne Daly asked Marie O'Connor of Survivors of Symphysiotomy why is the petition so important.
LINK TO THE PETITION HERE: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/807/989/501/tell-ireland-to-stop-obstructing-justice-for-symphysiotomy-victims/
Mothers Against The Odd, a powerful and compelling documentary by award winning filmmakers Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan. Made in Kenya and Ireland it shows the kind of unimaginably cruel treatment that can be inflicted on women and girls, when they seek to give birth, if their rights are not respected. Narrated by Oscar winner Brenda Fricker, this Esperanza Productions documentary, took Tynan and Daly on what they describe as “a three year odyssey” and totally up-ended their expectations.
To watch the Trailer and the Film go to www.esperanzaproductions.com
Sharon and Mark Larkin’s lives were devastated in the last two weeks when a special needs school in Bray let go teachers providing vital one-on-one education for their three year old autistic boys Reece and Tyler. Mark had to give up his job to help his wife Sharon care for the boys at home. Without the vital special education provided for the boys at Avalon House, run by St Catherine’s a non-profit charity, they will regress dramatically and need fulltime round the clock care at home. Anne Daly spoke to Sharon and Mark about the heart breaking effects of loosing critical education for their little boys. (Mark's mobile: 0876891007 or E-mail marklarkin4@gmail.com)
Award winning filmmaker Anne Daly’s latest documentary ‘Mother Against The Odds’ was co-produced with Esperanza Productions co-founder Ronan Tynan. An Esperanza production, the trailer and the film can be seen here: www.esperanzaproductions.com or www.dailymotion.com/AnEsperanzaFilm
One of America’s leading feminists and renowned sociologists Professor Patricia Hills Collins admitted in an interview with award winning film maker Anne Daly that she only began work on her seminal and highly controversial book ‘Black Feminists Thought’ when she obtain a tenured position as a university lecturer and the job security that came with it. In Dublin she spoke about the role of the public intellectual at a meeting organised by University College Dublin Women’s Studies Outreach programme. Anne Daly’s co-produced her latest documentary ‘Mother Against The Odds’ with Ronan Tynan. An Esperanza production, the trailer and the film can be seen here: www.esperanzaproductions.com or www.dailymotion.com/AnEsperanzaFilm
Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan's film 'Mothers Against The Odds' received an amazing reaction from women who attended special screening including leading feminist, writer and academic Ursula Barry, #UCD . AudioBoo reaction recorded as she left the screening in UCD Cinema on Saturday (23 Feb., 2013). The film is an Esperanza production and more information can be found at: www.esperanzaproductions.com #MATO2012
Anne Daly and Ronan Tynan's film 'Mothers Against The Odds' received an amazing reaction at a special screening in UCD Cinema today. AudioBoo features comments from women as they left the cinema following this Esperanza Production. The screening was organised by the UCD Women's Studies programme. More info re film at: www.esperanzaproductions.com hashtag: #MATO2012
Anne Daly interviews Irish artist Brian Maguire about his work in Juarez on the Mexican/US border where hundreds of women have been brutally tortured, murdered and 'disappeared' in a modern femicide without parallel. His work recently culminated in an exhibition called 'An Oasis of Horror in a Desert of Boredom' at the VISUAL in Carlow. On Sunday, Feb 24 a documentary film - Blood Rising - will be launched in Dublin's Savoy Cinema featuring Brian and his work in Mexico, as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.
Anne Daly (@AnneDaly19) is co-founder of Esperanza Productions and her latest film documentary is 'Mothers Against The Odds,' #MATO2012 co-produced with Ronan Tynan (@RonanLTynan). www.esperanzaproductions.com
Col Ann Wright was in Dublin this week to address a public meeting organised by the Irish Anti-War Movement and the Peace and Neutrality Alliance on St. Valentine’s Day -Thursday, 14 Feb., 2013. Col Wright resigned from the US military in 2003 in protest over the invasion of Iraq after 29 years in government service in various army and diplomatic postings.
Recorded and edited by Anne Daly @annedaly19