Global poverty did not just happen. It began with military conquest, slavery and colonization, leading to the confiscation of land, minerals and forced labor.
The problem persists today because of unfair debt, trade and tax policies—in other words, rich countries taking advantage of poor developing countries.
Acclaimed actor and activist Martin Sheen narrates award-winning director Philippe Diaz’s feature-length documentary “The End of Poverty,” explaining how today’s financial crisis is A direct result of a policy that has persisted and remained unchallenged for centuries.
Consider that 20% of the world’s population uses 80% of the resources, consuming more than 30% of the planet’s renewable resources.
At this rate, maintaining our way of life means more and more people will be living below the poverty line. Filmed in the slums of Africa and the ghettos of Latin America, The End of Poverty features insights from: Nobel laureates Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz; Rick Toussaint, John Perkins, Chalmers Johnson; University Professors William Easterly and Michael Watts; Government Ministers including Vice President Alvaro García Linera of Bolivia and Brazil, Venezuela, Kenya and Tanzania social movement leaders.
It is produced by Cinema Libre Studio in collaboration with the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation. Can we really eliminate poverty in our current economic system?
