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Weekly New Release - Global Issues
Directed by Rodrigo Mac Niven
In Brazil can Pedro build a Life App to help the secret world of urban farms and gardens in Rio's shanty towns?
Pedro is part of a collective of young people in Rio de Janeiro working on new mobile phone technology. Social network apps can serve a dual purpose: They can increase awareness about a cause, and enable users to take action. Social apps help users feel they're making a difference. Pedro goes to Rio and meets Cadu and Dinho, who work on community projects in the Mare and Alemao favelas.
The massive and uncontrolled growth of favelas is a major environmental issue in Rio. In Alemao and Mare alone there are more than 200,000 people, with few proper facilities. Cadu and Dinho are taking Pedro to meet young people from Rio's North Zone, learn about their lives, and research the possibilities for a new "Life App" that can help with green business initiatives in the favela community.
DVD / 2013 / (Grades 7-12, College, Adults) / 27 minutes
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Directed by Arjun Pandey
In India can Sachin build a Life App to help stem the tide of farmer suicides?
Sachin Gaur is an award-winning software engineer and world-class expert in mobile security. In 2010 he cofounded the technology collective MixOrg, which aims to develop apps to help people at the bottom of the pyramid -- people like the many millions of India's poor farmers whose lives are often blighted by multiple problems.
LIFE follow Sachin as he heads off to Andhra Pradesh to meet farmers and hear first-hand about the major obstacles they face in their lives -- from changing weather patterns and unreliable rainfall, to rising costs of seeds and fertilizers. With a firm grasp of some of their real-life problems, he's ready to start working on a "Life App" to help spread farmers' ideas.
DVD / 2013 / (Grades 7-12, College, Adults) / 27 minutes
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Directed by Abius Akwaake
In Namibia can Dalton and Lameck build a Life App to help the illiterate and isolated Himba people market their goods?
Otjomitjira village lies amidst a breathtaking landscape in northwestern Namibia. The Himba population here is less than seventy people; another of Namibia's tribes, the Herero, also live here alongside oases of fresh water, making a living off the land with their own cattle. You can't get more isolated than the Himba people. They wear few clothes, some jewelry...and carry cell-phones! They're dubious that LIFE APPS can help them: elephant warning systems, tracking cattle -- there are plenty of potential applications.
Poor signal strength is one problem; another is that many phones are only 2G. And although the women can't read, they use icons to recognise numbers. Software developers Dalton and Lameck, from Namibia's capital Windhoek, are determined to persuade the Himba that they can help them with a mobile phone app that will help them market their goods and communicate more effectively.
DVD / 2013 / (Grades 7-12, College, Adults) / 27 minutes
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Directed by Toni Kamau
In Kenya can Muniu build a Life App to help William be as good a farmer as he can be?
Muniu Kariuki is an app developer living in Nairobi. With friends, he runs Bityarn Consult, a small technology start-up. In this program, Muniu takes up the challenge of seeing if he can develop a "Life App" that can help small Kenyan farmer William, who runs a subsistence farm in rural Ugenya, 300 miles from Nairobi. William is an expert on cultivating traditional African vegetables, but would like his modest farm to be more productive and profitable.
In western Kenya, the Technology Adoption Through Research Organization (TATRO) has mobilized farmers into growing traditional indigenous vegetables, but the old physical problems of communication make it a tough challenge. Can Muniu come up with an app that can help William reach out for new business opportunities?
DVD / 2013 / (Grades 7-12, College, Adults) / 27 minutes
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Directed by Paul Zisiwe, Gautam Lewis
Young people are writing apps to solve problems from reproductive health care in South Africa to helping young minority adults in London who are "stopped and searched."
The final episode of the series profiles Apps For Good, an organization originally started in Brazil to harness young people's ideas and energies to develop apps that can benefit local communities. In South Africa, LIFE visits with creative artist Nanziwe, who works for the mobile start-up company Bozza and is trying to develop an "app" to provide young people with sexual and reproductive health information and advice.
In London's East End, LIFE films one young entrepreneur who has developed an app that helps young minority adults who are "stopped and searched" by the police, recording their locations and their accounts of the treatment they receive. We also visit with Amarah, a young student from Central Foundation Girls' School, who has developed her own "app" to send messages to friends with an alarm call.
DVD / 2013 / (Grades 7-12, College, Adults) / 27 minutes
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Directed by Mark Kendall
The transformation of an old American school bus into a brightly-colored public bus in Guatemala speaks volumes about our globalized world.
Every day dozens of decommissioned school buses leave the United States on a southward migration that carries them to Guatemala, where they are repaired, repainted, and resurrected as the brightly-colored camionetas that bring the vast majority of Guatemalans to work each day. Since 2006, nearly 1,000 camioneta drivers and fare-collectors have been murdered for either refusing or being unable to pay the extortion money demanded by local Guatemalan gangs.
La Camioneta follows one such bus on its transformative journey: a journey between North and South, between life and death, and through an unfolding collection of moments, people, and places that serve to quietly remind us of the interconnected worlds in which we live.
Reviews
"An upbeat story of resilience, regeneration and artistic imagination." - Stephen Holden, New York Times
"A creative, riveting and deeply moving tale of the unexpected ties between the United States and Central America, and the joys and risks of everyday survival. A must-see for students and all those interested in social justice in Latin America." - Elizabeth Oglesby, Associate Professor, Geography and Development, Center for Latin American Studies, University of Arizona, Author, The Guatemala Reader: History, Culture, Politics
"Documentarian Mark Kendall presents the journey of the camioneta with incredible grace and elegance, exposing what is remarkable in the mundane and the tediousness in everyday life...An experience that is deeply poetic." - Craig Kennedy and Jackson Truax, Living in Cinema
Awards
David L. Wolper Award, International Documentary Association
CINE Golden Eagle Award
Best Hispanic Film, Nashville Film Festival
Best Documentary, CineSol Film Festival
Special Jury Mention for Best Documentary, Nashville Film Festival
Special Jury Mention for Best Documentary, New England Festival of Ibero-American Cinema
DVD (Closed Captioned) / 2012 / (Grades 7-12, College, Adults) / 72 minutes
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Directed by Bill Treharne Jones, Steve Bradshaw
An ICIJ investigation reveals the secrets of the global fishing industry's last frontier and the fate of the jack mackerel.
Jack mackerel, or "jurel" -- a silvery fish which once thronged the South Pacific -- was one of the world's last great fisheries, and a staple of the global food chain. But unnoticed by the rest of the world, jack mackerel stocks have crashed, declining by 90 percent in two decades as a result of rampant industrial overfishing.
An investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) showed that a global convention which was intended to save jack mackerel stocks led instead to a disastrous "race to fish", as faraway nations like Russia, China, Norway, the Netherlands and other EU countries competed with Pacific states to establish fishing quotas. Looting the Pacific reports exclusively on the secrets of the global fishing industry's last frontier and the fate of the jack mackerel.
Review
"A compelling expose of overfishing" - Mark Hixon, Hsiao Endowed Chair in Marine Biology, University of Hawai'I
DVD / 2012 / (Grades 7-12, College, Adults) / 27 minutes
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Director: Mathieu Roy & Harold Crooks
Technological advancement, economic development, population increase - are they signs of a thriving society? Or too much of a good thing? Based on the best-selling book A Short History of Progress, this provocative documentary explores the concept of progress in our modern world, guiding us through a sweeping but detailed survey of the major "progress traps" facing our civilization in the arenas of technology, economics, consumption, and the environment.
Featuring powerful arguments from such visionaries as Jane Goodall, Margaret Atwood, Stephen Hawking, Craig Venter, Robert Wright, Michael Hudson, and Ronald Wright, this enlightening and visually spectacular film invites us to contemplate the progress traps that destroyed past civilizations and that lie treacherously embedded in our own. Leading critics of Wall Street, cognitive psychologists, and ecologists lay bare the consequences of progress-as-usual as the film travels around the world - from a burgeoning China to the disappearing rainforests of Brazil to a chimp research lab in New Iberia, Louisiana - to construct a shocking overview of the way our global economic system is eating away at our planet's resources and shackling entire populations with poverty.
Providing an honest look at the risks and pitfalls of running 21st Century "software" (our accumulated knowledge) on 50,000-year-old "hardware" (our primate brains), Surviving Progress offers a challenge: to prove making apes smarter was not an evolutionary dead end.
Reviews
"Koyannisqatsi meets The Corporation in this thought-provoking, brilliantly crafted film about nothing less than the history of the modern world and the fate of civilization." - Kevin Laforest, Montreal Hour
"In the tradition of the best 'issue docs' of recent times, this economically crafted, exquisitely argued essay makes its disquieting case without hysteria or prejudice, without irony or jingoism, and with just a soup?on of self-loathing." - Greg Quill, Toronto Star
DVD-R / 2012 / 86 minutes
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Directed by Bruno Sorrentino
Revisits four children in England, Brazil, Papua New Guinea, and Latvia, who were born in 1992, the year of the first Rio Earth Summit, and measures the impact of globalization on their lives.
Hayley was born into a coal-mining community in Merseyside, UK. When the mines closed down, her father lost his job, and her parents divorced. Rosamaria was born into an extended family in the violent and dangerous favela of Rocinha, in Rio de Janeiro. The drugs are gone, police 'pacification' has transformed Rocinha, and Rosamaria's a single mom with a new boyfriend, trying to find a job.
Angela was born on Lihir Island, in Papua New Guinea, just as a gold mine was about to be built. Twenty years later, the mine has brought huge benefits to Lihirians, but also pollution. Martens was born in Jelgava, on the outskirts of the Latvian capital Riga, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. After joining the European Union in 2000, Latvia's economy had been hit hard by the Eurocrisis; Marten's own dream is to become a chef.
DVD / 2012 / (Grades 7-12, College, Adults) / 48 minutes
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Directed by Bruno Sorrentino
Revisits four children in India, Norway, and South Africa, who were born in 1992, the year of the first Rio Earth Summit, and measures the impact of globalization on their lives.
In south India, Panjy was born into a community dependent on the local fireworks industry. As a child, she was determined to finish her education -- but family debt intervened; she was forced to quit school, and later had an arranged marriage. In north Norway, Amelia was born into a remote cod-fishing community on the edge of the Arctic. But the fishing industry gave way to tourism in the 1990s, when fishing quotas were introduced, and Amelia worked as a waitress. Now she's desperate to get away and experience life outside of her remote home town.
On the other side of the world, in South Africa, we catch up with Justin, who is forging a new future for himself as an undergraduate at Cape Town University far from his parents' farm in the Eastern Cape. Tragedy has struck down Vusumzi, our second South African `Earth Summit' child -- tragically killed in a senseless act of violence three years ago. His mother Mavis recounts what happened and then, amazingly, forgives his killer.
DVD / 2012 / (Grades 7-12, College, Adults) / 50 minutes
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Directed by Bruno Sorrentino
Revisits three children in the United States, Kenya, and China, who were born in 1992, the year of the first Rio Earth Summit, and measures the impact of globalization on their lives.
In California, Stephanie's father worked as a logger, caught up in the 1992 controversy surrounding the spotted owl and logging taking place in the bird's habitat. Today, Stephanie's still an outdoor girl -- rodeo riding, fishing, shooting, and accompanying her truck driver boyfriend on the road.
Erdo was the eighth child born into a nomadic Turkana family in the drought-ridden north of Kenya. Despite his mother Esther's heroic efforts to ensure his education, a teenage Erdo drifted into living with street gangs in the local town of Isiolo until Esther tracked him down and persuaded him to return to school, where he's now training to be a mechanic.
Our final `Earth Summit' child, Kay-Kay, was born in the city of Guangzhou just as China's economy was taking off. A star pupil at school, Kay-Kay's now an undergraduate at a brand new university on the outskirts of the city, but still goes home to see her parents and sing karaoke with them on the weekends.
DVD / 2012 / (Grades 7-12, College, Adults) / 50 minutes
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Global business has been growing rapidly in recent decades for a number of political, economic, technical and social factors. Despite the growth of global trade and investment, globalization is not without controversy. This video reviews the essential issues that have been debated by governments, businesses, and NGOs.
DVD / 2011 / 20 minutes
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To some, the term "globalization" means ruthless exploitation by corporations; to others, it means bringing economic development to all the peoples of the world. This program explains key principles at the core of global economics and takes a historical look at their effects, focusing on market liberalization and the failed "East Asian miracle"; privatization of basic resources in Bolivia and the severe backlash against it; Russia's rapid transition to capitalism and the oligarchism and kleptocracy that came to characterize it; and China's incremental implementation of capitalism under communism. The video also takes stock of the seismic shift in the U.S. economy and its probable effect on the rest of the world.
DVD / 2010 / 26 minutes
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Director: Adolfo Doring
In this haunting portrait of America's oil-fueled excesses, director Adolfo Doring explores the inextricable link between the energy we use, the way we run our economy, and the multiplying threats that now confront the environmental health and stability of our planet. Taking as its starting point the inevitable energy depletion scenario known as "Peak Oil," the film surveys a fascinating range of the latest intellectual, political, and scientific thought to make the case that by whatever measure of greed, wishful thinking, neglect, or ignorance, we now find ourselves at a disturbing crossroads: we can continue to burn fossil fuels and witness the collapse of our ecology, or we can choose not to and witness the collapse of our economy. Refusing to whitewash this reality, Blind Spot issues a call to action, urging us to face up to the perilous situation we now find ourselves in so that we might begin to envision a realistic, if inconvenient, way out. Certain to inspire debate in classrooms across a range of disciplines, especially in economics, environmental studies, the natural sciences, and political science.
Reviews
"Blind Spot rides currents of beauty and sadness, ultimately landing with a catharsis that comes when truth has been told." - Jason Bradford, Founder of 'Willits Economic Localization'
"Doubtless Peak Oil will come, the timing is a matter of debate. However we may be better off if it is not too long delayed, because it will accelerate what must be done to prevent environmental catastrophe." - Noam Chomsky
"Beautiful, crucial, straightforward, brilliantly woven images, words and music." - John Stauber, Author of Toxic Sludge Is Good For You
DVD (With English Subtitles) / 2009 / 54 minutes
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Everyday we can see things in our lives that show us that we are connected with people all over the world. But exactly how is Australia connected to the other countries in the world, and what are our responsibilities? This program looks at how Australia is connected with the rest of the world in three key areas - trade and travel, communications, and global organisations and agreements. It features interviews with representatives from: ¡P An export firm (Staedtler Pacific) ¡P ABC NewsRadio ¡P The United Nations ¡P The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. There is also a case study of AusAID.
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Note : The above titles may have some territorial restrictions. Please feel free to send us an enquiry.
DVD / 2003 / 21 minutes
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Globalisation refers to the way the individual nations of the world are becoming more connected with each other, and in the process more interdependent. Using various case studies, this program investigates the nature of globalisation and the global economy. We see how financial markets in New York affect a farmer on the other side of the world. Other issues of the Global Economy examined are trade and financial flows, free trade and protection, trading blocs and agreements, and international economic organisations.
Please contact us for primary and secondary schools pricing.
Note : The above titles may have some territorial restrictions. Please feel free to send us an enquiry.
DVD / 2003 / 20 minutes
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Featuring NAOMI KLEIN
Naomi Klein, acclaimed journalist and author of the best-selling book No Logo, examines the rise of international branding and the grassroots anti-corporate campaigns it has inspired. She asks viewers to consider the costs of globalization, including the disappearance of public space, consumer choice, and stable, meaningful work.
Review
"Not only inspires critical reflection¡Kbut prompts us to get up and fight for the kind of society that would truly be worth living in." - IMRE SZEMAN - Director, Institute on Globalization & the Human Condition
DVD (With English, Spanish, French Subtitles) / 2003 / 40 minutes
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Examines a phenomenon that truly characterizes our time. The rapid expansion of the international market place and the power of those who control it is perceived to be the principal reason why the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing, not diminishing. This viewpoint was also expressed by the thousands who demonstrated against the WTO in Seattle and Prague. On the other hand, some view globalization as being the only way for prosperity to spread to developing countries.
DVD / 2002 / (Senior High - College) / 28 minutes
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Written, Directed by Paul G. Ranky, USA
This electronic publication is a professional quality DVD experience of Chongquing, Old Town, in China. Chongquing is a province of about 32 million (!) people in one of the hottest, most humid regions of China. It is one of China's biggest municipalities as well as one of the largest cities in the world. It is a major economic center, a hub of large rivers, land, and air transportation in Southwest China. It is also called the 'Mountain City', or 'River City' and noted for its scenery. It is situated at the upper region of the Yangtze River, where the Yangtze River and Jialing River join. Chongqing is a very old, cultural city with a recent history of over 3,000 years
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The ecological footprint - this is the mark on the earth left behind by each person based on the amount of resources they have consumed. If the strain we put on natural resources continues at the present rate, the earth will no longer be able to support its inhabitants. This program examines possible solutions and asks the question: is it too late?
DVD / (Grades 9-12) / 27 minutes
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This program examines evidence of global change from the aspect of what has been induced by human activities and what is a result of natural process. An explanation of how each of the earth's ecosystems is tied together reveals why changes in one affect the others. The program also uses evidence of past global change to predict what we can expect in the future.
DVD / (Grades 9-12) / 27 minutes
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This program looks at atmospheric and biodiversity change and the global warming phenomenon. We investigate the effects of pollution on various ecosystems and why the Arctic has been affected by pollution from Southeast Asia, helping us understand how our local activities may be affecting people on the other side of the world for years to come.
DVD / (Grades 9-12) / 27 minutes
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Director: Jacques Sarasin
Simply and eloquently, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz explains how the world's economy works. Drawing not only from his academic expertise but also from time spent on the ground in countries around the world, Stiglitz offers fresh thinking about the questions and challenges facing all of us - from well-off Americans to those mired in Third World poverty.
This five part series will appeal to experts and non-experts alike, as Stiglitz's clear and concise reasoning about the complexities of globalization is revealed. The topics covered include an overview of the world economy; the challenge of global warming and the environment; the future of global trade and immigration; how globalization can benefit (and harm) developing countries; and issues of security and terrorism.
Jospeh Stiglitz is one of the most respected economists in the world today. Some of his positions and achievements include:
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics
Chairman of Bill Clinton's Council of Economic Advisors
Chief Economist at the World Bank
Chair of the Management Board of the Brooks World Poverty Institute
Consultant to World Leaders
Professor at Yale, Princeton, Oxford, Stanford and (currently) Columbia University
Author of the Best-Selling Book Globalization and Its Discontents (translated into 35 languages) and its followup Making Globalization Work
Review
"Joseph Stiglitz is our most reliable guide to international economics. He is that rare economist who can make the complex issue of globalization intelligible to a non-academic audience. I found his presentation to be wonderfully informative, and, most important of all, imbued with a powerful social conscience, a profound concern for the poor of the planet." - Howard Zinn, best-selling author of A People's History of the United States
"Stiglitz is able to cut through the jargon and explain the complex in simple terms. He does an excellent job of describing dense topics - trade barriers, the global reserve system - in a language that's understandable and accessible. You don't have to be an economist or a politician to make sense of his explanations." - USA Today
DVD / 380 minutes
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