26 - 29 January 2011 in Davos Switzerland
Political power, trading rights, exploitation, waste of resources - the Foundation for Global Risk Forum GRF Davos continued its awareness raising activities on occasion of this year's WEF.
From 26 to 29 January 2011 GRF Davos invited to the 2nd edition of it's movie series. About 200 spectators attended the four movie screenings on "Globalization - a curse or a blessing." In the subsequent discussion the producers and experts took position on the topic and answered questions from the audience.
Impressions from the GRF Movie Series 2011:
"Recipes for Disaster"- The human perspective of environmental protection
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
In " Recipes for Disaster" Director John Webster convinces his wife and two small children that the whole family should go on an oil diet, yet without having to give up their a middle class suburban lifestyle. All the everyday things that we don't do, or that we can't help doing, make up recipes for disaster. In this comedy of errors they find themselves questioning their values and putting to test their will power and ultimately, their happiness.
The film shows for once the human perspective of climate change and sustainable lifestyle. The purchase of toiletries such as toothpaste and toilet paper in the supermarket to the gauntlet, even the cereal box with free plastic toy turns out to be a real problem.
GRF Davos invited the director John Webster to participate in the subsequent discussion. In order to save emissions, he traveled 33h by train from Helsinki, Finland to Davos. The audience was impressed by John Websters commitment to the topic and inspired to implement the one or the other change to their own lifestyle.
"Steelwar" - Global trade: an economic blessing or a public nuisance?
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Not many political issues have created so much dissent throughout the world as the globalization of trade. Emotions fly high though large parts of the world population are benefiting from the cheap prices of products manufactured in low-wage countries. The system seems to work in a satisfactory way when we are looking at its results. But who is paying for it?
Steel War: an illustration of global trade by reality
Based on the recent conflict about the worldwide trade of steel which was opposing mainly the US, Brazil and the European Union the documentary reveals how the global trading system is functioning, how countries fight each for its own interests and explains how such economic wars impact life and labour even in supposedly unconcerned countries.
Former Secretary of State and producer of "SteelWar" answered the questions in the discussion.
Visit the ecodocs website and watch the trailer.
"Death in a Fishing Boat" - European fisheries policy and the flow of refugees from West Africa
Friday, 28 January 2011
A huge grave lies in the ocean between Morocco and Spain. Estimated 10,000 people came to death in the years 1997 - 2002 while trying to migrate to Europe. Some refugees think they are able to swim through the strait. - A fatal mistake. Others think they are able to overcome the enormous flow in a small fishing.
The European Union pays the government 86 million euros per year for fishing rights in Mauritania, but the caught fish is worth billions on the European market. But the local population comes up empty. They barely catch fish, are powerless against the highly subsidized European fishing industry. No future, no prospects, and so again this year tens of thousands will try to migrate in their small boats to Europe.
The documentary showed with impressive and touching pictures the destiny of thousands of people and the impact of the european fisheries policy.
Michael Grytz, producer reported from the difficulties he and his partners had to face doing the recording of this movie.
" Sab Tuhjse Hai" - The Microinsurance Movie
Saturday, 29 January 2011
"Sab Tujhse Hai" tells a story of a village facing problems such migration and village politics, inter-generational conflicts, catastrophic spending among families and impoverishment - familiar issues to the target audience of microinsurance. All of these are darefully woven into the storyline with the classic Bollywood components of a love story, lots of comedy, action, the false promises of a villain and of course songs and dances.
An entertaining, but educating Bollywood film about risks and the benefits of microinsurance. Information through entertainment - a new but successful concept.
Rolf Hüppi, CEO ParaLIFE AG and pioneer in introducing microinsurance in South America , gave an introduction into the topic of microinsurance and answered questions from the audience.
Of the approximately 5.5 billion people living in developing countries only 5 - 10% of are insured. Unlike in developed countries, insurance is not considered as benefit creating measure, but as an unnecessary expenditure and an additional burden to the budget. At the same time are loss of crop and loss of income caused by accident as well as healthcare the greatest obstacles to break the vicious circle of poverty.
