The End of Poverty?

from Multimedia Library Collection:
Environmental Film Profiles (videos)

Diaz, Philippe. The End of Poverty? Burbank: Cinema Libre Studio, 2008. 16 mm, 104 min. https://youtu.be/hHeI_Dk6l9o.

Global poverty is not an accident and did not just happen. It began with military conquest, slavery and colonization that resulted in the seizure of land, minerals and forced labor. Today, global poverty has reached new levels because of unfair debt, trade and tax policies—in other words, wealthy countries exploiting the weaknesses of poor, developing countries. This film explains how today’s financial crisis is a direct consequence of these unchallenged policies that have lasted centuries. Consider that 20 percent of the planet’s population uses 80 percent of its resources and consumes 30 percent more than the planet can regenerate. At this rate, to maintain our lifestyle means more and more people will sink below the poverty line. Filmed in the slums of Africa and the barrios of Latin America, The End of Poverty? features expert insights from Nobel prize winners, acclaimed authors, university professors, government ministers and leaders of social movements in Brazil, Venezuela, Kenya and Tanzania. Can we really end poverty within our current economic system? Think again. (Source: Official Film Website, archived 23 Sept. 2017 with the Wayback Machine)

© 2008 Cinema Libre Studio. Trailer used with permission.

This film is available at the Rachel Carson Center Library (RCC, 4th floor, Leopoldstrasse 11a, 80802 Munich) for on-site viewing only. For more information, please contact library@rcc.lmu.de.

About the Environmental Film Profiles collection

Further readings: 
  • Budds, Jessica, and Gordon McGranahan. “Are the Debates on Water Privatization Missing the Point? Experiences from Africa, Asia and Latin America.” Environment and Urbanization 15, no. 2 (2003): 87–114.
  • Schumacher, E.F. Small Is Beautiful. A Study of Economics As If People Mattered. London: Blond & Briggs, 1973.
  • Sen, Amartya. Poverty and Famines: An Essay on Entitlement and Deprivation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981.