Land Rush: Why Poverty

How to view: Full film available for streaming and download at http://www.whypoverty.net/en/all-about/land-rush/

Director: | Producer: BBC
Produced | Country: 
Run Time: 58:00 | Language: English

Synopsis:
75% of Mali’s population are farmers, but rich, land-hungry nations like China and Saudi Arabia are leasing Mali’s land in order to turn large areas into agribusiness farms. Many Malian peasants do not welcome these efforts, seeing them as yet another manifestation of imperialism. As Mali experiences a military coup, the developers are scared off – but can Mali’s farmers combat food shortages and escape poverty on their own terms?

Opinion:

Recommendation:

Africa's Last Famine

Viewers: Brittany Collins, Will Fenton, and Clara Herrero

Stream for free: http://www.viewchange.org/videos/viewchange-africas-last-famine

About: 
Director:  | Producer: 
Produced: 2011 Country: 
Run time: 25:16 | Language: English

Synopsis: This World Food Day is marked by one of the worst famines in recent history.  But, with the right planning a few new ideas, it could be the last.  Get the latest from the Horn of Africa and beyond in this special report from Oxfam America and ViewChange.org.

Opinion:

• Great introduction to Oxfam (at least our international work)
• Could be perceived as an advertisement for Oxfam
• Effectively addresses small-scale farmers, work for insurance, managing risk, Rural Resilience Initiative

• No consistent narrator/titles
• Jumps from famine to Vietnam-- slightly disjointed

Recommendation: 

• Show for: People not yet familiar with Oxfam's work
• Use as auxiliary component to events
• Break down the video into parts
• Perhaps end with "Is microinsurance the silver bullet..." to lead into a discussion of how it is not a silver bullet