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Poverty Alleviation Seminar: 'Black Gold' Film Screening - 10th April 2008 @ 7.30pm - Bolton, England

Film Screening of 'Black Gold'

CORPORATE EXPLOITATION, GREED & CORRUPTION EXPOSED   As westerners revel in designer lattes and cappuccinos, impoverished Ethiopian coffee growers suffer the bitter taste of injustice. In this eye-opening expose of the multi-billion dollar industry, Black Gold traces one man's fight for a fair price.   Date/Time: Thursday 10th April @ 7.30pm   Venue: Quakers Meeting House,  Silverwell St, Bolton. BL1 1PP. England.

Coffee is not just a drink. It's a global commodity. As one of the world's most traded products, ~$80 billion annually-second in value only to oil-the coffee industry employs millions of people around the world through its growing, processing and trading. But while the coffee trade is vital to the politics, survival and economies of many developing nations, the industry's pricing and futures are decided in conference rooms and on stock exchange floors in some of the world's wealthiest cities.

     
In countries such as Ethiopia, small coffee producers have suffered as a result of the unjust policies of the WTO, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. As a result, the gross national income in sub-Saharan Africa countries has been devastated, and Africa's share of world trade has decreased-over the last 20 years, Africa's share of world trade has fallen to 1%, and 7 million people in Ethiopia are now dependent on emergency food aid every year. In opening up the global economy, local businesses, such as the coffee farmers portrayed in BLACK GOLD, pay the price.

“Poetic and hard-hitting critique of the global coffee industry... Beautifully shot and edited”

WASHINGTON POST (Ann Hornaday) 

“Black Gold is the latest in a growing genre of documentary films shaking up the business world”

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE (Associated Press) 

“Excellent - angry, good-humoured and essential”

OBSERVER (Philip French) 

“Hauntingly human by exploring the plight of Ethiopian coffee farmers whose appalling poverty is laid at the door of a few multinationals and us uninformed consumers”

THE MAIL ON SUNDAY (Angie Errigo)

Jointly Organised by: FAIRTRADE, WDM & Thinkers Forum

For further information: email: blackgold@thinkersforum.org

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