Saturday, October 12, 2013

Gold Fever

TITLE:  Gold Fever

Viewer (optional): not yet viewed

How to view:  www.goldfevermovie.com  Register to view, price varies depending on audience size.  

Director: | Producer:
Produced in USA | Country: Subect is Guatemala
Run Time:  83 minutes or 55 minute condensed version  | Language:  English

Synopsis:  Tells story of Gold mine in San Miguel, Guatemala, land takeover and resistance of the indigenous people who live there.  Features commentary from David Korten, Charlie Clements, Noam Chomsky, and other notables. 

Opinion:  Has won numerous awards.  The website features Oxfam's petition re Marlin Mine.  Looks like a very good fit for Oxfam's work on oil, gas, and mining.  

Recommendation:

Monday, September 16, 2013

Bajo Aguán: The Clamor for Land


Bajo Aguán: The Clamor for Land 

How to view: http://www.albasud.org/video/en/22/bajo-aguan-grito-por-la-tierra-english-version

Viewer: Zhenxi 

Director: | Producer: Alba sud and Rel-UITA with the support of the The World Rainforest Movement (WRM), Food First International, The Coordination of Popular Organizations of the Aguán (COPA), Radio Universidad (UCA Nicaragua) anb Comitè de Empresa de Serveis Funeraris de Barcelona
Produced | Country: Honduras

Run Time: 30 minutes  
Language: (Spanish with English subtitles)

Synopsisa film about one of the most violent regions in Honduras since the 2009 coup, where the country’s largest and wealthiest landowner, Miguel Facussé, has used extreme levels of violence to re-press peasant communities in order to expand his massive oil palm plantations. Since the coup, over 80 Aguán peasants and activists fighting for the right to land been murdered.

Opinion:
The film documented the struggle people in Bajo Aguan are facing by letting the people speak for themselves. It starts with an introduction to the military regime and follows up with the reality of farmer's lives after the resettlement. 
The film highlighted the cruelty and injustice in the region through people's narration. Through the interviews with the local activists, survivors and government officials, we get a holistic idea of the impacts the violence has caused. 

Good with documentation, but no suggestive actions. See hope but mostly depressing.

 Recommendation:

Good for motivational purpose. It leaves a powerful impression. However, the documentary does not link Oxfam's campaigns as the solutions to the problem. 

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Thursday, August 22, 2013

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:

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Half the Sky

How to view: On loan from the Boston office. Email tjayasinghe@oxfamamerica.org to request a copy.

Director: Robert Hanna & Wolfgang Held| Producer: Maro Chermayeff, Jamie Gordon, Mikaela Beardsley, Jeff Dupre
Produced: 2012 | Country: USA
Run Time: 3:52:00 | Language: English

Synopsis: Inspired by Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl Wudinn's groundbreaking book, Half the Sky: Turning Opression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide takes one the central moral challenge of the 21st century: the oppression of women and girls worldwide. This film adaptation follows 6 actresses/activists and New York Times journalist Kristof to meet some of the most courageous individuals of our time, who are doing extraordinary work to empower women and girls everywhere. There are stories of heartbreaking challenge, dramatic transformation and enduring hope. The outcome has left all who view it inspired by the resilience of the human spirit and the capabilities of women and girls to realize their staggering potential. 

Opinion:

Recommendation:

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Monday, August 5, 2013

Land hunt for greedy investors

How to view: Available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDoM6a0B7TY


Director: | Producer:
Produced: Oxfam GB| Country: Great Britain
Run Time: 6:45 | Language: English

Synopsis: Stages a hypothetical land grab on a residential area in the U.K. to illustrate the brutality of land grabs and puts the responsibility directly on the greed of large corporations. 

Opinion: Part of Oxfam Internationals 2012 appeal having to do with land grabs, so a little outdated. However, the impact and message about land grabs is still relevant.

Recommendation: Good for a film festival, an introduction to land grabs. 


Friday, August 2, 2013

The Big Banana

How to view:  visit http://thebigbananamovie.com/home/ 

Director: Producer:Franck Bieleu
Produced:  | Country: Cameroon
Run time:  85min
Language: French with English subtitles


Synopsis:  Food security suffers in the fertile farming area of Cameroon where banana plantations cultivate fruit for European markets.  Now the large multinational wants to own the residents' land too.
From the website:  The region of Njombe-Penja in the coast of Cameroon has a very fertile soil due to high volcanic property. Tropical fruit such as banana, pineapple or mango are widely cultivated for export toward the west, generating millions dollars profit to agro industrial companies. At first glance, a little paradise for the locals soon turns to nightmare.
With the new agreement APE (partnership agreement) between the ACP countries (Africa, Pacific, Caribbean) and Europe that allows free trade. Tropical fruit companies (The big Banana) are encouraged to increase their production to meet the western demand. Such an increase requires more land. Unavailable, the big banana begins expropriating farmers with the help of the local government, leaving land owner, and small farmers with nothing to fend for themselves and their families.




Opinion:


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