British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Los Alamos

Synopsis
A short video in two parts. Part 1 is an eyewitness account of a strike in 2002 on the Los Alamos banana plantation, owned by Ecuador’s richest man, Alvaro Norba. During the dispute workers were demanding free association, a living wage, decent food, health care and protective work-gear. Protective clothing is particularly important as the banana crops are sprayed from crop-planes with poisonous pesticides that drench the plantation workers below. The film shows pickets being evicted from the plantation by armed thugs during which a number were badly injured. Less than one percent of Ecuador’s banana plantation workers are unionised.
Part 2 is a political statement by the British comedian and activist, Mark Thomas, making the case for international workers’ solidarity.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Year of release
2004
Year of production
2004
Subjects
Development studies
Keywords
Banana production industries; Ecuador; labour (employment); working conditions; strikes

Distribution Formats

Type
VHS
Format
PAL
Price
Free loan
Availability
Sale
Duration/Size
11 minutes
Year
2004

Distributor

Name

Banana Link

Email
blink@gn.apc.org
Web
http://www.bananalink.org.uk/ External site opens in new window
Address
38-40 Exchange Street
Norwich
NR2 1AX

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