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In 1981, David Weir and Mark Schapiro wrote a book titled “Circle of Poison: Pesticides and People in a Hungry World” whose ideas, more timely than ever, are the foundation for the film of the same title that premieres today on VOD platforms (ITunes, Amazon.com). Co-directed by Nick Capezzera, Evan Mascagni and Shannon Post, it is the definitive film critique of pesticides that benefits from a wide array of scientific experts and activists including Weir himself who has credentials as both.
Probably the best thing Jimmy Carter ever did as President was outlaw the export of pesticides deemed too toxic for use within the USA. When companies such as Monsanto began dumping banned pesticides overseas in order to boost corporate profits, Carter, who is one of the documentary’s cast of interviewees, took the courageous step of protecting the largely poor and defenseless people of the global South from such poisons. As might have been predicted, one of Reagan’s first measures after entering the White House was rescinding Carter’s presidential directive.
Endosulfan was one such pesticide that was banned in the USA. The film shows the impact on farmworkers, their children, and poor people living in close proximity to fields where it was being sprayed. In the Kasargod District of Kerala, India, a prime grower of cashew nuts, scientists studied the impact of endosulfan and discovered a virtual epidemic of birth defects including bone deformities, infertility, mental retardation and congenital heart diseases.
full: https://louisproyect.org/2016/11/02/three-documentaries-of-note-6/ _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
