Posted Fri Mar 25, 2011 at 06:00 AM PDT by Tom Landy
The acclaimed documentary narrated by Martin Sheen is planned for Blu-ray in May.
In an early announcement to retailers, Cinema Libre will be bringing 'The End of Poverty?' to high-definition on May 24.
Filmed in the slums of Africa to the barrios of Latin America, 'The End of Poverty?' explores how the true causes of poverty stem from actions taken during (and since) colonial times to perpetuate exploitation: first by forcing people from their land and their access to natural resources, then through unfair trade, debt repayment and unjust taxes on labor and consumption. This system was carefully built and then maintained with neo-colonial policies such as free market economics, resource monopolies and structural adjustment programs by the international financial institutions.
The film has been embraced by activists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide for its ‘direct talk’ about the role of debt, free trade, and neo-liberal policies and poverty. Groups including: Action Aid, Amnesty UK, ATTAC, CADTM, Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP), InterAction, Jubilee Debt Campaign, Make Poverty History, Share the World’s Resources (STWR), Tax Justice Network, Transnational Institute, and the UN Millennium Campaign have screened the films as part of their anti-poverty campaigns in the past year.
A 398-page companion book, 'Why Global Poverty?' published by The Robert Schalkenbach Foundation with Cinema Libre Studio, provides extended, translated transcripts from over 75 experts and people living in poverty who are featured in the film as well as a substantive introduction to the film by the director, Philippe Diaz.
Specs have yet to be detailed, but supplements will include: SPEAKING FREELY, Volume 1 with JOHN PERKINS on Globalization; Extended interview with Director Philippe Diaz; ‘10 Steps to End Poverty Petition’; ‘Changes in Venezuela’ (a look at Hugo Chávez’s reforms and the impact on the country’s poor); Extended Interviews w/ Experts; and Stawi Youth & Adult Centre (Kenya) Profile.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.95.
You can find the latest specs for 'The End of Poverty?' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 24.
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