What: Vulture Fund FG Hemisphere run by American financier Peter Grossman has collected on a $100m debt from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The current debt is based on an initial $30 million loan he purchased from Bosnia's former Prime Minister Nedzad Brankovic for only $3 million.

Grossman has tried to seize the DRC's Washington Embassy as down payment on the debt, but this was blocked by US authorities. His company tried to claim the debt once more in the US, and again in Hong Kong, before attempting in Jersey, an island that is a British Crown dependency.

The country is one of the poorest in the world, ranking last at 187 on the United Nations 2011 Human Development Index. Peter Grossman's Vulture Fund is attempting to deny the impoverished people of the Congo of their right to basic human needs. When questioned whether he thought that his collection of the debt was fair, Grossman replied, “Yeah, I do, actually.” Adding, “I am not doing anything wrong. I am collecting a legitimate debt.”


Who: Friends of the Congo and Existence Is Resistance.

The Friends of the Congo is a grassroots advocacy organization based in Washington, DC.

Existence Is Resistance is an internationalist organization determined to promote non-violent resistance through cultural arts.


When: EVERY Sunday, January 8, 2011, 5:00 pm. 


Where: Meet at 300 DEKALB AVE - the residence of FG Hemisphere’s Peter Grossman.



Contact: Kambale Musavuli, 646-571-8312, info@friendsofthecongo.org

Ryan Green, 917-284-5343, questions@existenceisresistance.org


For more information, visit http://www.congojustice.org/ to learn more about the plight of the Congolese people.


Visit http://www.existenceisresistance.org/ to learn more about the work of E.I.R.


For more on Grossman’s theft of Congo’s resources, view these links:

1.)http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15745003

2.)http://www.democracynow.org/2011/11/22/reporter_greg_palast_exposes_how_us

facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/141103369330592/

Documentary & Discussion @ Main
5:30 to 7 p.m.
Feb.6th

Richmond Public Library - Main Branch

“Crisis in the Congo” sponsored by Friends of the Congo and members of the Richmond Peace Center’s HROC to raise awareness about the crisis and how our actions can affect lives in the Congo.

The Richmond Peace Center's HROC has lead conflict resolution in Burundi and met with a Delegation from Congo. Santa Redhawk and Ram Baghat of HROC have invited former citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo to speak on a Panel about the causes of the war and the effects on the people. 

Richmond Public Library has agreed to host the Panel Discussion and the Movie, Crisis in Congo, which is recommended by the Friends of Congo. Please attend this event to learn about one of the largest wars of our time that receives little attention from the corporate media.

For more information about the Film, visit http://congojustice.org/about-the-film/

For more Information about the Richmond Peace Education Center, visit www.rpec.org

Crisis in the Congo: Uncovering the Truth film screening and discussion. The film is a call to conscience and action.