Standard Operating Procedure For Exploration Camps: Fill & Download for Free

KID, YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW ? YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO SLEEP IN THE DARK ALONE TONIGHT AFTER READING THIS INCIDENT. YOU WILL CALL “MUMMY, DAR LAG RAHA HAI”ITBP - No pain greater than this painAuthor - DIG Sudhakar Natarajan, Vet Wing, ITBPHer cry was bloodcurdling. The agony filled pleading was so loud that it could be heard over the roaring Kali Ganga river hundreds of feet below. She wanted the pain to end. We could only hear her cry. But could not see her. Instant death would have been a better option. But she was unlucky. Life refused to ebb. Death refused to come to her. She lay on her broken back between life and death, in unimaginable pain. She was in living hell. Our hearts were in our throat. We felt the pain of our friend. But we were shell shocked. The term ‘learned helplessness’ aptly encapsulated this situation.Let’s rewind.I was with an ITBP logistic convoy carrying ammunition, mortar shells, sugar, rum and condiments for the troops in one of the toughest borders in the world. A terrain that tests the character of soldiers. A terrain that differentiates between boys from men. This was not a tourist trek. We used to negotiate these slippery high altitude boulders daily. It was our job. We had signed up for this. We were proud of the fact that we were the lifeline for troops guarding these oxygen deficient borders.We had just crossed Gala, Zipti and were on our way to Buddhi. Contrary to popular perception, climbing down inclines is more difficult than climbing up. If you want to test this theory, you are invited to the “Zipti ki utrai” also called the Hell Slope. It is guaranteed that your knee caps would shiver even after you take a few steps over steeply sloping haphazard boulders, with the entire weight of your body on your knees. It is here that your synovial lubrication of your cartilages would be tested. Believe me, even the toughest of men, have shivering knees after a few kilometres on the Hell Slope.We were 17 men with 14 ponies and had started at 0400 from Mangti Nala. The ponies were loaded with 40 Kgs each, much lower than the authorised payload, due to inclement weather, risky route and steep undulating terrain. The ponies were effortlessly marching along the narrow track, carved on the mountain face, just enough to place one hoof. One one side was the mountain face and on the other side , was a drop into a bottomless gorge, with the river gushing along its serpentine course. These were sure footed Kumaoni ponies and they were looking forward to their next meal at the next post. We crossed a place called Ghatia Bhagad, aptly named ‘ghatia’ because it is really ‘ghatia’ or the worse of the worst. Ankle deep slush and no place for the ponies to rest. Then we reached Gala. Had an early breakfast. The ponies had high nutrition rations. The morale of our ponies and men were high. They were looking forward to having lunch at a small staging camp at Budhi, to once again climb up the ‘Budhi ki Chadi’ to reach Chiyallik and then the Coy HQ at Gharbyang, then onward the next day to Gunji and then to Kalapani.The standing joke was that this trek was tailor made for ITBP, because where on earth do you encounter a ‘knee shiver’ incline for numerous kilometres followed by a backbreaking uphill climb. Both ‘Zipti ki utrai’ and ‘Budhi ki Chadai’ were contiguous to each other. Where one ended the other started. It is also said that ITBP men do not require to join any gym, as this cardio exercise was free. It was one of the perk of our jobs. That is why one seldom encounters tummies in this lean mean fighting outfit.The standard operating procedure for the convoy drill was being followed to the letter. The Sub Inspector ( AT) at the head of the convoy. Followed by the most experienced pony named Anjana , who was a veteran of these borders. Anjana set the pace for all other ponies. She knew that she had to carry along the younger ponies, so that they don’t get exhausted. Yes, she was the leader of the pack. Each pony had a handler who held the head collar rein and walked a step ahead or alongside or behind, as per the terrain. The Head Constable (AT) was in the middle of the convoy, and I was walking at the tail of this group. At my position I was happy to see the spring in the steps of the men and the ponies snorting away and taking each step carefully on this narrow track. There were overhanging rocks, therefore we had ensured a compact load, without a ‘top load’ on the loading saddles, to prevent any accident.But as they say, all well laid plans in mountains are brought to a nought by the mountain itself. The mountain willed differently. Today he wanted blood. As the convoy was moving along, the incessant rains had loosened some mud on the mountain slope. I saw shooting stones, the size of 9mm bullets flying past my head. Yes, these small shooting stones are as deadly as bullets. They gain momentum as they roll along the mountain face, and it whizzes past at nearly the muzzle velocity for a 5.56 INSAS. It is a gamble. If they miss, they miss. But if they hit any part of the body, it is like a bullet injury. And if by chance it hits the head, that’s an instant painless death. Very kind death.Head Constable(AT) Pawan, in the middle of the convoy blew the whistle to caution all men about the shooting stones. We ducked. Took cover, as best we could. Thankfully the mud slide ended, and the shooting stones stopped. Pawan blew the whistle again, signalling all clear. The convoy started moving again.And out of nowhere, a rock, the size of a football, hit the lead pony Anjana on the flank. She lost her balance. The rock didn’t do much damage, as the Pack & Draft (P&D) had thick leather side panels and that took much of the impact. But since the track was very narrow, she was pushed to the very edge of the track. We saw it in slow motion. First the right hind hoof lost the traction on the ground. Then it was followed by the right foreleg. Anjana was hanging on the mountain ledge with her left hind and forelegs. The mud gave way. The grating sound of hoofs on pebbles was an attempt to regain her balance. Constable (AT) Vikas was holding her reins. He pulled with all his might. The distance between him and the next man was 10 feet. The man behind him rushed to his rescue, and tried to pull Anjana up. But can 60 kg men hold on to a 400 kg pony with mere leather straps? But they held on. All this happened in milliseconds. At personal risk, they held on. Anjana’s eyes were wide and frightened. She didn’t know what happened. Rock rolling down. Hit her. Lost her balance. Her buddies trying to save her. It seemed that they would succeed. Then the unexpected happened. The leather in the head collar snapped. No leather in the world is made to withstand a tug of war between man and horse on a mountain face in incessant rain. The snap was loud. Like a whiplash. Vikas shouted,’Anjaaaanaaaaaa!!!!!!’. His voice echoed in the valley down below and the peaks up above. Thrice, with reducing decibels. ,’Anjaaaanaaaaaa!!!!!!’. ,’aaanaaaaaa!!!!!!’. ,’aaaaaa!!!!!!’.Thats all we saw. The pony just disappeared into the gorge. The bottom of the gorge was covered with fog. Nothing was visible. We knew the gorge was deep. But it seemed bottomless due to the fog. After a few seconds, that seemed to us like eons, we heard a dull thud. Like a sack of rice falling down on the floor.The inevitable had happened.Even in this crisis, logical thinking does not cease. We prayed for instant death. A kind death for Anjana, our darling pony. Our loyal pony. Our loving pony. Our buddy.But no.The mountain wanted more.Then there was a heart wrenching cry of pain that travelled at the speed of sound, from the gorge below. Pain. Misery. Excruciating anguish. Like torture in hell.Logical mind was still working. Shall we call a rescue party from the post 13 km away on foot. No time. Rejected. Shall we allow her to die her own death, at her own time. No never. Rejected. We could not abandon her.Quickly Head Constable(GD) Tashi Tsering, unwound the rope from all the thirteen loading saddles, and joined them together in a mountaineer’s knot. Tashi was our mountaineering expert who had participated in many ITBP virgin peak expeditions. All the men helped Tashi to anchor the rope on a rock. Now, there were two big rocks. Which one should we trust to hold the weight of a man? Here I thank my school geography teachers. One was a sedimentary rock and the other was an igneous rock. Basic 5th Std Geography. The sedimentary rock looked larger, but its base was not broad enough. Also it could crumble. But the igneous rock, made thousands of years ago due to solidification of molten lava/magma looked solid. This rock was selected as an anchor. And within no time Tashi was on his way to the bottom of the gorge, with the men belaying the rope. He went past the foggy bottom. Then we head his shout, “First Aid team ki zaroorat hai” Aajao !!I was a youngster. There was no Head Constable (vet) in the convoy. So I took the MVFA kit and emptied it into the rug sack of Constable(AT) Vikas. I ensured that I had powerful painkillers, intravenous fluids, an IV set and 4 vials of Xylaxine and 2 vials of Thiopentone sodium, to perform the inevitable.I was hoping against hope that Anjana would be spared with a few bruises.With a deep breath, I descended down. Slowly but surely the basic mountaineering training at ITBP Academy came back to me. “Never lose your two point foothold during rope decent”, the voice of Chotu Ustaad rang in my mind. I used to think, why the hell are they teaching me rock climbing at the Academy ? I got my answer as I was rappelling down to the bottom of the gorge.My arms were feeling the strain. Then I broke into the fog cover, and on looking down saw Tsiring first. He was squatting beside the prone pony. I also saw something strange. Fifteen feet away from the pony was a huge handsome monkey with a red face, fringed with beautiful white hair. He was sitting on a rock and staring intently at me.I approached Anjana with trepidation. Her neck was at an odd angle. The second cervical vertebrae was popping out of the skin, and the anatomical continuity was abnormal. Both hind legs had compound fractures. The thoracic area was punctured. One of the ribs had invaginate and had pierced the lungs. Air was bubbling out of the wound.Then my heart nearly stopped as the pony let out the most unearthly wail. The cry of pain. Her brown eyes were pleading for a release. I could understand her fully. She was asking me to stop the pain.One part of my mind was exploring options to lift her up and put her in multiple plaster cast. But the logical part of my mind knew that this was a pipe dream. Anjana was beyond any cure. Beyond human intervention. All this thinking took around 30 seconds. Then I passed an intravenous needle into her jugular vein and started an iv drip. As a first instinct I infused powerful painkiller, Flunixin Meglumine into the IV bottle and automatically reached for the antibiotics. Then I stopped. Antibiotics were not required. Release from the suffering was more important.I mixed all for vials of anaesthetics into the bottle, and increased the infusion rate. Slowly Anjana’s moaning decreased. I looked deeply into her eyes. They were calm, peaceful and seemed as if they were happy. She progressed from Stage II anaesthesia to Stage III. She went into a deep slumber. Never to wake up. Finally she was in a land where the green grass grows, the sun shines brightly and multicoloured butterflies tickle her ears.All this time the handsome monkey was watching me. This is strange. There are no large monkeys in this remote high altitude terrain. How had he come here? Then I saw his eyes. Huge and bright, with a orange tinge. Suddenly it clicked. He reminded my of my superhero. Before Batman, Superman, it was always Hanuman for me, as a child. Anjana was the mother of Hanuman. As soon as the pony got a release from this mortal life, the majestic monkey also climbed up the mountains never to be seen again.Every word of this incident is the truth and nothing but the truth. There is absolutely no dramatisation.The logistic convoy reached Budhi. The remaining 13 ponies bedded in for the night and slept soundly. With a heavy heart and all of us didn’t have our dinner but had one extra peg of rum that night to drown our pain.

The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, also known as the Spanish–Mexican War (1519–21),[6] was one of the primary events in the Spanish colonization of the Americas. There are multiple 16th-century narratives of the events by Spanish conquerors, their indigenous allies, and the defeated Aztecs. It was not solely a contest between a small contingent of Spaniards defeating the Aztec Empire but rather the creation of a coalition of Spanish invaders with tributaries to the Aztecs, and most especially the Aztecs' indigenous enemies and rivals. They combined forces to defeat the Mexica of Tenochtitlan over a two-year period. For the Spanish, the expedition to Mexico was part of a project of Spanish colonization of the New World after twenty-five years of permanent Spanish settlement and further exploration in the Caribbean.Following an earlier expedition led by Juan de Grijalva to Yucatán in 1518, Spanish settler, Hernán Cortés, led an expedition (entrada) to Mexico. Two years later, in 1519, Cortés and his retinue set sail for Mexico. The Spanish campaign against the Aztec Empire had its final victory on 13 August 1521, when a coalition army of Spanish forces and native Tlaxcalan warriors led by Cortés and Xicotencatl the Younger captured the emperor Cuauhtemoc and Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire. The fall of Tenochtitlan marks the beginning of Spanish rule in central Mexico, and they established their capital of Mexico City on the ruins of Tenochtitlan.Cortés made alliances with tributary city-states (altepetl) of the Aztec Empire as well as their political rivals, particularly the Tlaxcalteca and Texcocans, a former partner in the Aztec Triple Alliance. Other city-states also joined, including Cempoala and Huexotzinco and polities bordering Lake Texcoco, the inland lake system of the Valley of Mexico. Particularly important to the Spanish success was a multilingual (Nahuatl, a Maya dialect, and Spanish) indigenous slave woman, known to the Spanish conquistadors as Doña Marina, and generally as La Malinche. After eight months of battles and negotiations, which overcame the diplomatic resistance of the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II to his visit, Cortés arrived in Tenochtitlan on 8 November 1519, where he took up residence with fellow Spaniards and their indigenous allies. When news reached Cortés of the death of several of his men during the Aztec attack on the Totonacs in Veracruz, Cortes claims that he took Motecuhzoma captive. Capturing the cacique or indigenous ruler was standard operating procedure for Spaniards in their expansion in the Caribbean, so capturing Motecuhzoma had considerable precedent but modern scholars are skeptical that Cortes and his countrymen took Motecuhzoma captive at this time. They had great incentive to claim they did, owing to the laws of Spain at this time, but critical analysis of their personal writings suggest Motecuhzoma was not taken captive until a much later date.When Cortés left Tenochtitlan to return to the coast and deal with the expedition of Pánfilo de Narváez, sent to rein in Cortés's expedition that had exceeded its specified limits, Cortés's right-hand man Pedro de Alvarado was left in charge. Alvarado allowed a significant Aztec feast to be celebrated in Tenochtitlan and on the pattern of the earlier massacre in Cholula, closed off the square and massacred the celebrating Aztec noblemen. The official biography of Cortés by Francisco López de Gómara contains a description of the massacre. The Alvarado massacre at the Main Temple of Tenochtitlan precipitated rebellion by the population of the city. Moctezuma was killed, although the sources do not agree on who killed him.] According to one account, when Moctezuma, now seen by the population as a mere puppet of the invading Spaniards, attempted to calm the outraged populace, he was killed by a projectile.] According to an indigenous account, the Spanish killed Moctezuma.] Cortés had returned to Tenochtitlan and his men fled the capital city during the Noche Triste in June 1520. The Spanish, Tlaxcalans and reinforcements returned a year later on 13 August 1521 to a civilization that had been weakened by famine and smallpox. This made it easier to conquer the remaining Aztecs.Many of those on the Cortés expedition of 1519 had never seen combat before, including Cortés. A whole generation of Spaniards later participated in expeditions in the Caribbean and Tierra Firme (Central America), learning strategy and tactics of successful enterprises. The Spanish conquest of Mexico had antecedents with established practices.The fall of the Aztec Empire was the key event in the formation of the Spanish Empire overseas, with New Spain, which later became Mexico.Timeline1428 – Creation of the Triple Alliance of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan1492–93 – Columbus reaches the Caribbean; start of permanent Spanish settlements1493–1515 – Spanish exploration, conquest, and settlement in the Caribbean and the Spanish Main1502 – Moctezuma II elected Huey tlatoani, "emperor" of the Triple Alliance1503–09 – Moctezuma's coronation conquests1504 – Hernando Cortés arrives in the Caribbean1511– Spanish viceroy in the Caribbean appoints Diego Velázquez to conquer and govern Cuba1515 – Texcocan monarch Nezahualpilli dies; Cacamatzin succeeds to the throne; the rebellion of Ixtlilxochitl1517 – Expedition of Francisco Hernández de Córdoba to the Yucatán coast1518 – Expedition of Juan de Grijalva to the Yucatán and Gulf coasts; appointment of Cortés to lead a third exploratory expedition1519Cortés and his counselor, the Nahua woman La Malinche, meet Moctezuma in Tenochtitlan, 8 November 151910 February – Cortés expedition leaves Cuba taking Hernández de Córdoba's routeEarly 1519 – Gerónimo de Aguilar, shipwrecked Spaniard, bilingual in Yoko Ochoko, joins Cortés;24 March – Leaders of Potoncan sue Spaniards for peace and gift the Spaniards, 20 slave women. One of the enslaved Nahua woman (known as La Malinche, Doña Marina, Malintze, and Malintzin), is multilingual and will serve as one of the main translators for the expedition.21 April – Expedition lands in the Gulf coast near San Juan de UllúaEarly June – Cortes establishes the colony of Villa Rica de la Veracruz and relocates the company to a beach near the settlement of Quiahuiztlan. Afterward, the Spaniards travel to Cempoala[18] and formalize an alliance with Xicomecoatl (also known as the Fat Chief and Cacique Gordo),[19] the leader of Cempoala. At this time, Cempoala is the capital of the Totonac confederacy.July/August – Cortes' soldiers desecrate Cempoala16 August – Spaniards and Totonac allies embark on march toward the Valley of Tenochtitlan, passing Citlatapetl and many other notable geographic landmarks like Cofre de Perote31 August – Tlaxcalteca attack Spaniards after they enter Tlaxcalteca territory and succeed in killing two horsemenSeptember – Tlaxcalteca make multiple massed assaults against Spanish camp. Attacks are repulsed and Spanish respond by attacking nearby villages with cavalry during night raids. Tlaxcalteca sue for peace after many days of battling.October – March to Cholula, Spanish massacre of Cholulans to make an example of the Cholulans for planning to massacre Cortes and his soldiers when they left the city ; final march to Tenochtitlan8 November 1519 – Meeting of Cortés and Moctezuma1520April or May – Pánfilo de Narváez arrives on the Gulf coast, sent by Governor Velázquez to rein in CortésMid-May – Pedro de Alvarado massacres Aztec elites celebrating the Festival of ToxcatlLate May – Cortés forces attack Narvárez's forces at Cempoala; incorporation of those Spaniards into Cortés's forces24 June – Spanish forces return to TenochtitlanLate June – Uprising in Tenochtitlan; death of Moctezuma in unclear circumstances, perhaps killed by the Spaniards, perhaps by his own people; deaths of other leaders of the Triple Alliance30 June – "La Noche Triste" – Evacuation of Spanish-Tlaxcalan allied forces from Tenochtitlan; deaths of perhaps 1,000 Spaniards and 1,000 Tlaxcalans9 or 10 July – Battle of Otumba, Aztec forces attack the Spanish-Tlaxcalan forces at Otumba11 or 12 July – Retreat to Tlaxcala1 August – Spanish punitive expedition in Tepeaca in reprisal for the murder of Spaniards by its inhabitants[26].Mid-September – Coronation of Cuitlahuac as Moctezuma's successorMid-October to mid-December – Smallpox epidemic; death of Cuitlahuac on 4 December, perhaps of smallpoxLate December – Spanish-Tlaxcalan forces return to the Valley of Mexico; join with Texcocan forces of Ixtlilxochitl1521Late January – Cuauhtemoc elected huey tlatoani of TenochtitlanFebruary – combined Spanish-Tlaxcalan- Texcocan forces attack Xaltocan and Tlacopan; Texcoco become the base of operations for the campaign against TenochtitlanEarly April – attacks against Yautepec and Cuernavaca, following by sackingMid-April – Combined forces defeated by the Xochimilcans, Tenochtitlan's allyLate April – Construction of 13 shallow-bottomed brigantines by Tlaxcalan laborers under Spanish supervision; mounted with cannon; launched into Lake Texcoco, allowing Spanish control of the inland sea10 May – Start of the siege of Tenochtitlan; potable water from Chapultepec cut off30 June – Defeat of Spanish-Tlaxcalan forces on a causeway; capture and ritual sacrifice of the Spaniards and their horses in TenochtitlanJuly – Spanish ships land at Veracruz with large numbers of Spaniards, munitions, and horses20–25 July – Battle for Tenochtitlan1 August – Spanish-Tlaxcalan-Texcocan forces enter the Plaza Mayor; last stand of the Aztec defenders13 August – Surrender of Aztec defenders; capture of Cuauhtemoc13–17 August – Wholesale sacking and violence against the survivors in Tenochtitlan1522October – Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor names Cortés captain-general of New Spain, the Spanish name for central Mexico.November – Death of Cortés's wife, Catalina Suárez, in Coyoacan, where Cortés was resident while the new capital Mexico City was constructed on the ruins of TenochtitlanCortés's Second Letter to the crown is published in Seville, Spain1524Arrival of the first twelve Franciscan missionaries to Mexico, beginning of the "spiritual conquest" to convert the indigenous populations to ChristianityConqueror Cristóbal de Olid's expedition to Honduras; renounces Cortés' authority; Cortés expedition to Honduras with the captive Cuauhtemoc1525February – execution of the three rulers of the former Triple Alliance, including CuauhtemocDon Juan Velázquez Tlacotzin, former "viceroy" (cihuacoatl) appointed governor of the indigenous sector of Mexico City1525–30Spanish conquest of Guatemala1527–1547Spanish conquest of Chiapas

Since the more popular recent documentaries have already been mentioned, I’d like to list some of the lesser known ones. Some are very difficult to locate. I know there are many I have excluded that I'll recall later.Crime and punishment:Into the Abyss: Filmmaker Werner Herzog explores capital punishment through interviews with convicted killers, their victims' families, and members of the Texas criminal justice system.The Central Park Five Filmmakers Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon examine a 1989 case of five teenagers who were wrongfully convicted of raping a woman. After they had spent from six to 13 years in prison, a serial rapist confessed to the crime.The Art of Stealing (2009) This film looks at the controversy surrounding the art collection of Dr. Albert C. Barnes, a millionaire who amassed a remarkable selection of significant works during the early 20th century. Barnes sought to keep his priceless pieces together as part of his foundation even after his death, but the involvement of numerous parties led to the scattering of his collection. This documentary sheds light on how his wishes were violated by a handful of opportunistic individuals.Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired In this acclaimed documentary, Marina Zenovich probes the sexual misconduct case against world-renowned director Roman Polanski. Arrested for drugging and then having sex with a minor in 1977, Polanski famously pled guilty and fled the United States for France before sentencing, fearing a corrupt judge. Zenovich explores the events of that year in depth through archived footage, and also examines Polanski's tragic past, including the murder of his wife Sharon Tate, and surviving the Holocaust.Scared Straight! Scared Straight! is a 1978 documentary directed by Arnold Shapiro. Narrated by Peter Falk, the subject of the documentary is a group of juvenile delinquents and their three-hour session with actual convicts. WThe Hunting Ground: (2011) This exposé tackles the disturbing epidemic of sexual assault on college campuses and school officials' efforts to cover up the crimes.Invisible War (2012) A filmmaker explores the ever-increasing incidents of violent sexual assault within the U.S. military.Murder on a Sunday Morning (French: Un coupable idéal) is a documentary film directed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. Its subject is the Brenton Butler case, a criminal case in which a fifteen-year-old boy was wrongfully accused of murder. The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 74th Academy Awards in 2001. (wikipedia)Deliver Us From Evil (2006) A documentary about Oliver O’Grady, the former Stockton priest who in 1993 was convicted of molesting two children, has won Best Documentary Feature at the Los Angeles Film Festival. documentary about Oliver O’Grady, the former Stockton priest who in 1993 was convicted of molesting two children, winner of the Best Documentary Feature at the Los Angeles Film Festival.Happy Valley, The Penn State Scandal (2014) In 2011, longtime Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky is charged with multiple counts of child sex abuse, rocking the small town of State College, Pennsylvania.Crime After Crime Attorneys Nadia Costa and Joshua Safran struggle to obtain justice for Deborah Peagler, a battered woman who was jailed after gang members killed her abusive boyfriend.Abortion:Lake of FireEnvironmental issues and energy:GasholeCrude ImpactVanishing BeesBurning the FutureCoal in AmericaGaslandWaste LandRivers and TidesThe Great InvisibleWhen the Levees BrokeKing Corn, You are what you eatChasing IceLatin AmericaBattle of Chile Part One: The insurrection of the bourgeoisie (1975) With 16 mm footage he smuggled out of Chile, filmmaker Patricio Guzmán documents the military coup's campaign to overthrow the government in 1973.Chile, the Obstinate Memory After decades of fascist rule in Chile, Patricio Guzman returns to his native country to screen his documentary, Battle of Chile, which until the time of the filming was banned by authorities. His audience, a new generation of Chileans who remember little of the revolution and ensuing coup reflect on their experience of watching the film after so many years of oppression. The second in his Chilean trilogy of documentaries, followed up by the”Allende” and “The Pinochet Case”.Allende (2004) Through archival footage of Chilean president Salvador Allende, from his election campaign to the coup d'état which ended his life, director Patricio Guzman weaves an unforgettable portrait of the carismatic leader.The Pinochet Case (2001) From legendary Chilean Filmmaker Patricio Guzman, a masterful look at the dramatic 1998 arrest of Pinochet while in London after a Spanish judge issued a warrant charging him with human rights violations. Guzman details the precedent-setting legal efforts to make the tyrant answer for his crimes, including testimony from his Chilean victims.Nostalgia for the Light (2011) In Chile's Atacama Desert, widows search for the bones of loved ones, left by Pinochet's atrocities. Directed by Patricio Guzman.They Killed Sister DorothyThe Galapagos AffairSouth of the Border (renamed Comandante Chavez) by Oliver StoneWhen the Mountains Tremble (1983) A documentary on the war between the Guatemalan military and the Mayan indigenous population, with firsthand accounts by Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu, from her non fiction biography, “I, Rigoberta Menchu”.The Pearl ButtonMEXICO:Purgatorio/PurgatoryA journey into the heart if the border. In this provocative documentary film, director Rodrigo Reyes re-imagines the Mexico/US border as a mythical place comparable to Dante's inferno. Reyes has captured a stunning mosaic of compelling characters and broken landscapes that live on the US-Mexico border, crafting a devastating reflection on the flaws of human nature and the powerful absurdities of the modern world.Reportero (2012) follows a veteran reporter and his colleagues at Zeta, a Tijuana-based independent newsweekly as they stubbornly ply their trade in one of the deadliest places in the world for members of the media.La cuerda Floja (The Loose Rope)Marge, 57 his wife Adriana, 55 their two children Mario, 18 and Jacqueline, 31, and the boyfriend of the latter, Carmelo, 18, are the only members of the Aztlan Circus. The family continues performing in this old fashioned circus because they convinced of the trancendency of their art. Even though their lives are doubly complicated because they live on the margins of society and on the very geographic outskirts of Mexico City. To further complicate matters, Carmelo and Jacqueline want out as their hearts are no longer in the circus.Hecho en Mexico (2012) Interviews with Diego Luna, Lila Downs and others are included in an exploration of Mexico's rich musical heritage.Immigration and MigrantsThe Other Side of ImmigrationBased on over 700 interviews in rural Mexican towns where about half the population has left to work in the United States. The Other Side of Immigration asks why so many Mexicans come to the United States and what happens to the families and communities they leave behind.All of Me (Llevate mis amores)Los Que Se Quedan (Those who Remain)Farmingville (2004) In the late 1990s, some 1,500 Mexican workers moved to the leafy, suburban town of Farmingville, population 15,000. Many were illegal immigrants, and most found ready employment in Suffolk County's thriving landscaping, construction, and restaurant industries. This didn't prevent many of the town's citizens from being shocked at the sudden influx of employment-hungry Spanish-speaking men crowding their street corners and over-crowding rented houses in their neighborhoods. Farmingville meticulously reveals the underlying forces, and the human impact, of what has become the largest influx of Mexican workers in U.S. history -- a migration that economic globalization is carrying beyond border areas and major cities and into the small cities and towns of America. The filmmakers spent nearly a year in Farmingville, talking to all sides and filming the conflict as it unfolded.Who is Dayani Cristal?DocumentedThe issue of illegal immigrants or, as this film would pointedly have it, undocumented Americans, is given a very human face in Jose Antonio Vargas’ documentary about his own undocumented status despite living in this country for twenty years and forging a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism career. Co-directed by Ann Lupo, Documented is advocacy filmmaking that also manages to succeed in pulling heartstrings. (Hollywood Reporter)The Beast /La Bestia, (2011) Pedro Ultrera's documentary "La Bestia" examines the plight of Central American migrants during their dangerous journey across Mexico to the United States. Filmmaker Pedro Ultreras said.The film's goal is to "sensitize" society to the migrants' suffering. The 77-minute documentary tells the stories of migrants victimized by criminal organizations and subjected to "abuse and mistreatment" by Mexican officials, according to film maker Ultreras. The film also describes the experiences of migrants from El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico as they try to reach the United States by foot, train and bus.Mexico’s Southern Border is “The Beast”Fire at Sea Situated 150 miles south of Sicily, Lampedusa has hit the headlines as the first port of call for hundreds of thousands of African andScience and science fiction:The End of Time, explores our perception of time.Holocaust and World War 2Auschwitz: The Nazis and the ‘Final Solution’. (2005) , the six part BBC series presenting the story of Auschwitz through interviews with former inmates and guards, including authentic re-enactments of relevant events.Imaginary Witness How hollywood portrays the holocaust on filmThe Rape of Europa “The Rape of Europa” (2006), is a documentary about Adolf Hitler, Hermann Goring and the Nazi’s large-scale theft of European art - and the allies efforts to preserve and return it.Hotel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie (1988) Klaus Barbie, the infamous “Butcher of Lyon”, was directly responsible for the deaths of thousands during World War 2. But how was he able to evade capture and prosecution for so long? This four hour documentary tells the story.Image Before My Eyes: A History of Jewish Life in PolandA Film Unfinished (2010) At the end of WWII, 60 minutes of raw film, havng sat undisturbed in an East German archive, was discovered. Shot by the Nazis in Warsaw in May 1942 and labeled simply “Ghetto”, this footage quickly became a resource for historians seeking an authentic record of the Warsaw Ghetto. “A Film Unfinished” presents the raw footage, including the discovery of a long lost reel in its entirety, carefully noting fictionalized sequences falsely showing “the good life” enjoyed by Jewish urbanites and delving more deeply into the Nazi idealogy.Shoah (1985) “Shoah” is an epic on the Holocaust featuring interviews with survivors, bystanders and perpetrators in 14 countries.The Memory of Justice (1976) Director Marcel Ophuls, 4.6 hours long masterpiece, consisting of archival footage and interviews with both perpetrators and victims, recounting their personal experience and exploring the effects and after effects of the Holocaust.Genocide:Watchers of the Sky (2014) Four modern stories of remarkable courage while setting out to uncover the forgotten life of Raphael Lemkin, the man who coioned the term ‘genocide’. Inspired by Samantha Power’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, ‘A Problem From Hell’.The Act of Killing (2012) The film is about the individuals who participated in the Indonesian killings of 1965–66, recounting their stories decades later.The Pearl Button (2015)Filmmaker Patricio Guzmán examines the link between Patagonian waterways and genocide.The Missing Picture (2013)Enemies of the People(2009)A personal journey into the heart of the killing fields.Wildlife and Environmental issuesSeasons (2016) After traveling the world alongside migrating birds and diving the oceans in acclaimed nature documentaries, (Winged Migrations and Oceans), Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud return to the lush green forests that emerged across Europe following the last Ice Age.The Cove (2009) Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O’barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.One Life (2011) Focuses on the cyclical journey taken by all living creatures, from birth to birth.Survival stories“American Experience” The Donner Party (TV Episode 1992) Letters read by actors and archival photography recreate the horrendous experience of the Donner Party members in the Sierra Nevada during the winter of 1849.Stranded: The Andes Plane Crash Survivors (2008) using archival footage, the survivors of the 1972 plane crash relate how they survived and reflect on their experience, 30 years later.The Vietnam War, Cambodia and Southeast Asia:Burma VJ: Reporting from a closed country is a 2008 Danish documentary film directed by Anders Ostergaard. It follows the Saffron Revolution against the military regime in Burma. The “VJ” in the title stands for video journalists.Hearts and Minds (1974) Using a wealth of sources, Peter Davis’ 30-year old, landmark documentary unflinchingly confronts the United States’ involvment in Vietnam. Winner of the 1974 Academy Awards.Far From Vietnam (1967) In seven different ssegments, seven new wave french directors show their sympathy and support for the north vietnamese army during the Vietnam War. Previously banned in the US, and considered a propaganda piece.Last Days in Vietnam (2014) During the chaotic final weeks of the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese Army closes in on Saigon as the panicked South Vietnamese people desperately attempt to escape. US soldiers and diplomats alike debate and confront whether to obey White House orders to e vacuate only U.S. citizens.Enemies of the People (2009) In “Enemies of the People”, film maker Thet Sambath interviews perpetrators of one of the 20th centuries worst genocides, including that of Brother #2, Nuon Chea, to break a 30 year silence.The Missing Picture (2013) Using clay figures in stop motion animation, the film is adapted from the autobiographical sections of Rithy Panhs book “The Elimination”, exploring the story of his family before and after the dreaded Khmer Rouge , Pol Pot’s troops, entered Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital, on April 17, 1975.S-21: The Khmer Rouge (2003) A unique documentary on the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, a former high school which operated as a torture/interrogation center operated by the Khmer Rouge. There is testimony by the only surviving prisoners and former KR guards.The Fog of War (2003): An interview with Robert S. McNamara, US Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War.Miscellaneous docs or quirky docsAn Honest Liar (2016)Grey Gardens (1975) The unbelievable but true story of Mrs. Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edie, the aunt and first cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who reside in a decrepit, decaying 28 room East Hampton mansion known as “Grey Gardens”.Marwencol (2010) When Mark Hogancamp emerged from his coma, following a vicious attack, he had little memory of his previous life. Seeking solace, Mark built ‘Marwencol’, an incredible 1/6th scale World War II era town in his backyard. He populated the town with dolls and toy soldiers representing his friends, family even his attackers, and created life like photographs.Stories We Tell (2012) A film that excavates layers of myth and memory to find the elusive truth at the core of a family of storytellers.Finding Vivian Maier (2014) A mysterious nanny, who secretly took over 100,000 photographs that were hidden in storage lockers and discovered decades later, is now considered among the 20th century’s greatest photographers. Maier’s strange and riveting life and art are revealed through never before seen photographs films and interviews.The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (2005) In San Francisco, there are at least two flocks of largely wild parrots who flock around the city. This film focuses on the flock of cherry-headed conures who flock around the Telegraph Hill region of the city and their closest human companion, Mark Bittner.Searching For Sugarman (2012) “Searching for Sugar Man tells the true story of the greatest 70s US rock icon who never was, and how he was rediscovered in a faraway land and finally became the legend he deserved to be. A story of hope, inspiration and the power of music.The Salesman (1969) “The Salesman” is a 1969 cinema documentary film about door to door Bible salesmen, directed by the brothers Albert and David Maysles (who later directed ‘Grey Gardens’) and Charlotte Zwerin.The Wolfpack (2015) Tells the story of a family who homeschooled and raised their seven children in the confinement of their apartment in the Lower East Side of New York City. One day, they finally gain their freedom and venture out into the outside world.In the Shadow of the Stars (1991)Winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, this film is a hilarious look at the path to stardom inside the competitive world of opera.LGBTAn Honest Liar (2014)World renowned magician and escape artist James “the amazing" Randi dedicates his life to exposing fake psychics, Uri Geller and other charlatans. But he's got one hum dinger of a secret himself.Outrage! (2009)Oscar-nominated documentarian Kirby Dick directs this shocking and passionate indictment of the clandestine hypocrisy of many closeted homosexuals in Washington, D.C. The individuals under scrutiny here are policymakers who have widely disparaged and worked to bring down the LGBT population, while hiding their own sexual identities. Shedding light on these realities, Dick also goes on to discuss the media's role in encouraging a neutral and at times closeted sexual orientation from politicians.Dear JesseEqual parts road movie, political inquiry and personal diary, Tim Norman's DEAR JESSE is the gay filmaker's “letter" to notoriously anti-gay senator Jesse Helma (R-NC)Fagbug (2009) Because of sporting a rainbow sticker on her VW Beetle, Erin Davie’s car was vandalized, left with the words ‘fag’ and ‘u r gay’ placed on the driver’s side window and hood of her car. Despite the initial shock and embarrassment, Erin decides to leave the graffitti on her car and embarks on a 58-day trip around the United States and Canada. She discovers more serious hate crime along the way in the different communities she travels through, and how they deal with it.Political IntrigueHacking Democracy (2006) An expose to uncover how America counts its votes. Proving that votes can be stolen without a trace culminates in a duel between the Diebold corporation’s voting machines and a computer hacker.The First Year Follows several teachers during their first year of teaching.Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World (2016)Oscar nominated Werner Herzog chronicles the virtual world from its origins to its outermost reaches, exploring the digital landscape.Into the AbyssDive! Living off America’s wasteTrashborn180 degrees SouthNo Place on EarthThe Armstrong LieHow the famous bicyclist fooled his friends and everyone else through the use of steroids.Happy People, A Year in the TaigaCutie and the BoxerTim’s Vermeer, A Penn and Teller FilmThe famous couple put forth the compelling argument that most of the old Dutch Masters were replicas of an early method of projecting a photographic image, and then how the Dutch Masters meticulously copyed what were essentially photographic images. He recreates such a scenario to prove it could’ve happened.A Salt of the EarthThe ReleasedAt the Edge of the WorldCollapse The US dependency on oil, and what will happen when the world’s oil reserves are used up.Happy! Exploring the concept of happiness around the world, and how to attain it.Samsara (2012) Through powerful images pristinely photographed in 70mm and a dynamic music score, the film beautifully illuminates the links between humanity and the the rest of nature, showing how our life cycle mirrors the rhythm of the planet.Baraka (1992) This visual meditation with a global vision is an odyssey through landscape and time that attempts to capture the essence of life. Religious ritual, the phenomena of nature and the advancement...Images may be subject to copyright.Harlan County USA (1976) Documents the infamous 1973 West Virgina Coal strike.Best Boy (1979) Over a three year period, director Ira Wohl follows the day-to-day activities of his mentally challenged middle aged cousin, “Philly", and how his elderly parents cope with him as they encourage him to become independant.Inequality for All, A passionate argument on behalf of the middle class, featuring Robert Reich, professor, best selling author, and Clinton cabinet member as he demonstrates how the widening income gap has a devastating impact on the American economy.The Pruitt-Igoe Myth (2016) Documents the failure of public housing from the point of view of former residents of the once showcase St Louis public housing complex.The MIDDLE EAST, including Iraq WarStandard Operating Procedure Errol Morris’s stinging expose on the Abu Graib prison scandal.No End In Sight Shows what exactly went wrong and documents Iraq’s descent into chaos.The Gatekeepers: inside Israel’s Secret Service (2012) The five former heads of Israel’s Secret Service exclusively reflect on their successes and failures to maintain security, even while violence flares up again, this time in the Gaza Strip.The Battle for Marjah Documents the enormous offensive to infiltrate and retake the Iraqi city from Al Queda rebels.Afghan Star (2009) After 30 years of constant war and Taliban rule, “Pop Idol” has come to Afghan TV. We follow four contestants as they risk their lives to sing in competitionDeath of a Princess (1980) This 1980 British documentary, shown on PBS Frontline in the United States, is based on the true story of Princess Misha’al,a young Saudi Arabian princess and her lover who had been publicly excecuted for adultery.IRANThe Queen and I (2009)Iranian Filmmaker Nahid Persson Sarvestani chronicles the day-to-day life of Farah Pahlavi, the last queen of Iran and former wife of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Farah has been living in exile in Paris since 1979 and now spends most of her time responding to letters. Sarvestani, who participated in the ousting of the Shah in her youth and endured personal tragedy following the Iranian Revolution, strikes up an unlikely friendship with Farah as the two discuss their country's tumultuous history.Iran (1971) Claude Lelouch’s silent, wordless, breathtaking documentary documents the majesty of pre-revolutionary Iran, juxtapositioning the old and the modern.Iran, A Cinematic Revolution (2007) Director Nader T Homayoun traces the development of the Iranian Film Industry, which has always been closely intertwined with the country’s tumultuous political history, from the decades-long reign of Reza Shah Pahlevi and his son, the rise of Khomeini and the birth of the Islamic Republic.Iran and the West, (2009) three part BBC documentary documenting the conflict between the west and the Islamic regime since 1979.Michael Moore:Roger and Me (1989) Michael Moore's tongue in cheek documentary documents how the closing of the huge General Motors Plant in his hometown of Flint, Michigan has devastated his hometown and in Detroit, as he follows around the corporate head in hopes of getting an interview.Bowling for Columbine A humourous take on gun control in the United States.“Where to Invade Next?” a film by Michael Moore.War, espionage, cover ups, foreign policy issues, and Government:Faranheit 9/11 (2002) Focuses on then President George Bush, and his failure to prevent the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001.The Battle of Algiers (1966) True-to-life chronicle of the Algerian people’s struggle to overthrow the French Colonial Goverment in the mid-1950s. The focus is thrown on the leaders of the Liberation Movement and the French general who is driven obsessively with catching them.The Fog of War:(2003) Directed by Errol Morris,an interview with Robert S. McNamara, US Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War.Vaxxed: From Cover Up to Catastrophe (2016) is an American film alleging a cover-up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of a purported link between the MMR vaccine and autism.Killer At Large (2008) Grounded in disturbing statistics, this documentary documents the growing epidemic of obesity in the US, including the particular risk to children.Approved for Adoption (2012) Born in Korea but raised by adoptive parents, Jung finds himself in Belgium as a result of the Korean War. A badly behaved child, he acts out as he struggles to fit in. Years later we see him return to Korea in search of his birth mother.1971. An “Independent Lens” production. On March 8, 1971, a group of citizens broke into a small FBI office in Pennsylvania, took every file, and shared them with the public. Foreshadowing the wiki-leaks scandal decades later, their actions exposed the FBI’s illegal surveillance program of law-abiding americans.The Man Nobody Knew (2011) Told by his son Carl, “The Man Nobody Knew” uncovers the secret world of a legendary CIA spymaster, William Colby.CitizenFour (2014) In 2013, director Laura Poitras started receiving anonymous encrypted e-mails from “CitizenFour”, who claimed to have evidence of illegal covert surveillance programs run by the NSA in collaboration with other intelligence agencies worldwide. Five months later, she and reporters Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MacAskill flew to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with the man who turned out to be Edward Snowden.The Unknown Known (2013)Former United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, discusses his career in Washington D.C. from his days as a congressman in the early 1960s to planning the invasion of Iraq.Kimjonglia (2009)Kimjongilia is a documentary film directed by N.C. Heikin that tells the stories of North Korean prison camp survivors and escapees from the country. The film contains sequences of interpretive dance along with survivors' testimonials. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January 2009. Wikipedia