arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Human Shield footage in Channel 4: The War We Never Saw

Joe Letts and myself recently returned from filming in Baghdad. Several shields including Rory, Bia, Khristo, and Nina are still there (there are probably others). What we filmed was very disturbing: widespread destruction and people increasingly anxious and angry with the failure of the authorities to restore order, electricity and clean water. Worse was the evidence of killings of civilians, what most people would consider war-crimes.

Some of this material will be included in the Channel 4 series: The War We Never Saw, that starts this Sunday at 8.00pm. Our material plays a special part in the programme that goes out on Thursday at 11.15pm.

So what role do the Shields have now that the 'war' is over? Principally these:
1. Recording and publicising the dangerous and difficult living conditions within Iraq in order to press our government to increase the committment to cleaning up
2. Bearing witness so that more of the truth comes out, this will include shields being witnesses at war-crimes trials.

When some of us started this action we never expected to be so involved many months later. After seeing first hand the burnt out buildings and seeping sewage, and making some firm friends in Baghdad, this is a situation we cannot walk away from.

Just to clarify...

The 'human shield' material shot in Baghdad does not play a 'special part' in the Channel 4 programme on Thursday. In fact don't blink or you'll miss it.

Most of the material has been, and is still being, contributed by people who are still in Iraq, risking their lives to continue to film. They wish to remain anonymous. The programme content is still evolving and continues to do so until transmission time. This site is not the place to post or discuss the the upcoming content of channel 4 programmes, sewage or whatever.

The producers of the series and the various production companies involved do not endorse or any pre- (or self)-publicity posted to the site. Any further inquires email: media@melodycentral.co.uk