Nobody Told Us Anything: British 'nuclear test' veterans aim to bring documentary to theatre near YOU
Nobody Told Us Anything: British 'nuclear test' veterans aim to bring documentary to theatre near YOU
British nuclear veterans are taking their fight for a ‘thank you’ to the silver screen – and have launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring it to a theatre near you.
The feature film Nobody Told Us Anything, which had a sneak peak shown at the Britannia Country House Hotel during last month’s British Nuclear Veterans Association (BNTVA) conference, chronicles the 22,000 servicemen who were tested on and their subsequent battle for recognition.
The Kickstarter is aiming to raise £5,000 by July 28 to fund the distribution of the film for nationwide screenings and has currently raised £275.
BNTVA Chairman Nigel Heaps said: “Getting this film in front of audiences across the country along with an opportunity to meet and chat with our veterans will be a major step in raising public awareness of the service given by these men.
“And the legacy of health problems suffered by them and their children in the following years.”
The first step for filmmaker Charles Stewart’s documentary is a free major premiere, which is taking place at Portcullis House in Westminster on Wednesday June 25.
Veterans and politicians are expected to attend with many ex-servicemen offering Q&A sessions at the screening.
The film uses archive footage of the military operations at remote places like Christmas Island, where the majority of the nuclear tests took place, as well as candid interviews with surviving veterans.
The charity has also already secured a number of screenings in their bid to lobby MPs to gain thanks for their efforts as well as a £25million benevolent fund to help treat hereditary illnesses passed on to the children of the soldiers exposed to radiation.
Showings have already been pencilled in for Downham Market’s Armed Forces Day event in June as well as in Hargate, Narborough and Weeting in July.
Further screenings will follow in Hilgay and Wimsbotham in Norfolk as well as the Old Buckenham Airfield, Norfolk in October.
If the Kickstarter reaches the £5,000 total before the deadline, the charity will receive their full funding, enabling them to expand their distribution operation.
Pledge perks range from tickets to screenings, limited edition DVD copies of the documentary and the chance to be listed among the credits for donations ranging from £150 to £2,000.
The online fundraising website is not the charity’s only method of earning the cash and Nigel revealed that two members of the charity have already managed to raise £600 with a bucket collection at Morrisons supermarket in Spalding.
To make a donation to the Kickstarter, click here
Image courtesy of LiveLeak / atomcentral.com via YouTube, with thanks
Comments
It is not benevolence that the Nuclear veterans desire, it is compensation. Compensation for being used as 'Human Guinea Pigs' in order to obtain a nuclear deterrant for the United Kingdom. The atrocities committed in order to achieve this, render the Ministry of Defence, as Employers, being accused of being extremely negligent in their handling of the Servicemen involved.
I was sent into 'Ground Zero' two hours after detaonation of two atomic bombs and my radiation film badges are missing! My two QFE dosimeters (which read 5 r/h are missing and not recorded! My blood count taken after the tests were completed cannot be found! My hospital records are missing. Every record I had to prove the level of radiation received has mysteriously disappeared.
This was not accidental! this was achieved by the Ministry of Defence, in order that the Widows of those Servicemen who have sadly passed away are unable to obtain any radiation levels in order to sue the MoD.
I feel that the veterans and their families should be compensated by the Government of the United Kingdom as these men were not made aware of the dangers they were up against. We are all still unaware of what the effects of the radiation could have on our grandchildren. I have suffered myself with bladder cancer which has now had an effect on my kidneys and I now have to spend three days per week on Dialysis. Come on Cameron make sure you show the families that have suffered or even if they do not have any illness through side effects of this shocking situation that allowed innocent young men to be exposed to deadly radiation which would never be allowed in the present or future day and age.