‘The End of Poverty?’
Documentary links talking-head arguments to real people
by Kerry Lengel – Feb. 4, 2010 08:10 AM
The Arizona Republic
Read here; http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/movies/articles/2010/02/04/20100204poverty0205.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2010
ADM Tries to Take Down Funny Davos Video; Big Business Has No Solutions; Now What?

ADM video still available here, here, and (for download and reposting) here; page here
Fake initiatives pages, with links to organizations seeking change on these issues
More information about last week’s website and videos
Contact: scurrilous@theyesmen.org, bportello@cinemalibrestudio.com

A legal complaint from agribusiness giant ADM has resulted in the removal from Youtube of a fake video of ADM’s CEO making over-honest pronouncements. (The video is still available here, here, and, for download and reposting, here.)
Last week, the …

New York City, Cinema Village (22 E 12th St.) running thru Thursday, 2/11
Showtimes Daily: 12:45pm, 2:55pm, 5:05pm, 7:20pm*, 10:00pm
Q&A’s with co-producer Matthew Stillman Fri. (2/5), Sat. (2/6)  and Sun. (2/7) following 7:20pm!!
Phoenix, Harkins Valley Art (509 S. Mill Ave.) – starts today (2/5) for one week run!
Showtimes Daily: 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:05pm, 8:25pm
Los Angeles, Laemmle’s Monica 4-Plex (1332 2nd Street) – This weekend only (2/6 & 2/7))
Showtimes: 11:00am on the 6th and 7th

World leaders pledge to end poverty at Davos. At least when The End Of Poverty? partners with the YesMen on a diabolically clever Davos action! Close examination of the fake website and video manipulations reveals outrageous, elaborate subterfuge.

There is a great risk that one of the largest relief operations in history will be similar in nature to the tsunami relief efforts in 2004, unless a radically different approach to a reconstruction model is adopted. Haiti was partially destroyed by an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale. We have all shed tears and the media, as they bombard us with apocalyptic images, report on financial pledges generous States have made. We know that Haiti needs to be rebuilt, this country hard-hit by poverty and “its curse”. Therefore, at the moment, the focus is on Haiti. Comments fail to look beyond the terrible earthquake. We are told that it is one of the poorest countries in the world without any explanations provided. We are led to believe that poverty just happened, that it is a situation beyond remedy: “Haiti is an accursed land”.

Our last full day in Cambodia has been one of mixed emotions.  So much has been accomplished these last few weeks and yet I feel I am leaving with tasks undone.  Wonderful connections with a variety of different organizations have come to fruition.  The scope and mission of Safe Haven has become more refined and defined and I am anxious to more forward.  Two years in not a long period of time in which to build a handicap school, staff it and be ready to open our doors but two …

Pierre, Roman and Soloth pull up in a van they have engaged to take us out to the village of Smatch and a neighboring village for both handicap assessment of CP children there and to see the work being done by CFI on the mosquito net factory.  Hasan and Lauren are already comfortable in their seats and Hasan, God love him, has brought bags of freshly baked chocolate croissants for the 2 hour drive.  Cher, Lina and I pile in and we have exactly 45 minutes of smooth sailing before …

I’ve just come back into my hotel room jacked up like Cher on a 12 pack of Mountain Dew.  It’s been a great morning.  Normally, I take my Cambodian kids out shopping together for new clothes and lunch but I’ve decided this trip to focus more on spending time together and less on “presents.”  The change of venue thrills the boys, for whom shopping with the girls is its own form of slow torture.  Instead, we head to a nearby boutique villa for a morning of swimming in the pool.  …

Reporting from Chicago – After he fled Sudan’s civil war as a child in the 1980s, Garang Mayuol knew in his heart that he would return.
In 2001, he was among about 3,800 young Sudanese men, known as the “Lost Boys,” who were settled in the United States. From refugees to American …

According to Wikipedia, the average weight of an American man AND woman is around 164-167.  I mentioned this because the 3’x5’ coffin style elevator at our hotel says it can hold 6 people and 400kg.  After barely fitting Cher, three Asian guys and myself in it yesterday, I am here to tell you there is no way 6 big old Americans could cram themselves into that space, let alone fall within the weight range without the chance of said elevator plunging to the ground.  Frankly, it is likely it could …