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