Grades 10-12, College, Adult
Directed by Deepa Dhanraj
Produced by D & N Productions
DVD Purchase $79, Rent $45
US Release Date: 1994
Copyright Date: 1994
DVD ISBN: 1-59458-620-9
VHS ISBN: 1-56029-588-0
Subjects
Asian Studies
Developing World
Economics
Environment
History
Humanities
Hunger
Immigration
India
Law
Migration
Population
Poverty
Sociology
Awards and Festivals
Bronze Medal, Prix Leonardo
Oekomedia
The Legacy of Malthus
Argues that overpopulation is not the real cause of poverty in India or elsewhere.
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"Assert(s) that social and political organization is the principal cause of famine and poverty." MultiCultural Review |
In this thought-provoking film, Deepa Dhanraj takes on the international population establishment, challenging the entrenched view that overpopulation is responsible for poverty and environmental degradation. In India, peasant farmers are being evicted from their land and then accused of being feckless, poor, irresponsible and unable to feed their families. Dhanraj argues that it's the same process that took place in 19th century Scotland during the Highland clearances.
By skillfully intercutting reconstructed scenes from the Napier Commission of enquiry into the Highland clearances, interviews with contemporary Rajasthani village women today, archival US news footage and current day propaganda films warning of the dire consequences of global population increase, Dhanraj argues that nothing has changed.
Other films in the series are:
Désounen-Dialogue with Death - Impressionistic look reveals the reality of daily life in Haiti.
The Tale of The Three Lost Jewels - A tale of love and hope in the Gaza Strip.
The Tree of Our Forefathers - A refugee family makes the long journey home from exile to Mozambique.
Reviews
"Deconstructs the Malthusian theory of overpopulation as the most significant cause of poverty...The film adds to the growing body of research asserting that social and political organization rather than population is the principal cause of famine and poverty."
MultiCultural Review