De Roy's Diary - A Piece of
Passion
WORLDwrite are at last publishing De Roy Kwesi
Andrew's insightful diary, based on his UK visit to tour the charity's film.
It's honest, angry and eloquent and more than a great read. So pass it on,
bookmark it and, if you have the possibility, publish it.
Read it
here.
Current TV broadcasts,
new short film, economics paper and online quiz for G8 summit 2007
Current TV on channels Sky 229 and Virgin TV
155 are disrupting normal schedules to broadcast short versions of the
WORLDwrite documentaries Damned by Debt Relief and A letter to Geldof
to coincide with the G8 Heiligendamm summit. The films will be broadcast over
sixty times during the next six weeks. Tune in to catch these sharp shorts.
A new WORLDwrite paper by economist Stuart
Simpson takes Ghana as a case study and reveals: the real impact of debt
cancellation, new forms of accounting trickery in government aid figures and the
dangers of G8 diktat discouraging poor countries from borrowing a fresh from
China.
Click here to read.
WORLDwrite has created a unique lie detector quiz to find out how far you have
been deceived by G8 debt relief.
Click here
to give it a go!
A new 10-minute version of Damned by Debt
Relief and a version with German subtitles have been released to coincide
with the 2007 G8 summit.
Click here
to watch.
WORLDwrite is delighted to
announce that Damned by Debt Relief has been selected
for screening at these important festivals. Please click the
banners below to visit the festival websites
for screening information.
Latest feature article on Damned by Debt Relief
available
here.
The
Damned by Debt Relief tour
Ghanaian Assistant Producer De Roy Kwesi Andrew and volunteer crew members have been touring UK schools and universities. They have presented the film to hundreds of students, from sixth formers to PhD students. The lively debates that have followed prove the film can provide invaluable educational material. A selection of comments follows:
"Brilliant! It’s refreshing to see such passionate speakers looking at the Real story and not western rhetoric. I look forward to hearing and seeing more of your material in the future, and hope that you will be very successful in educating people in THIS country about true ‘development’." -
Steven Ortega, Student, Churchill College, Cambridge
"Though short, this film does a superb job of highlighting the main concerns of everyday Ghanaians. As a result, this effectively shows the ineffectiveness and absurdity of HIPC's 'debt relief' measures." -
Melanie Dickson, School of Oriental & African Studies
"Very interesting and challenging. Particularly questioning if my stereotype of how Africa should be is really motivated by my own disenchantment. Certainly very biased but I think the British NEED to hear the other side in its extreme. Keep it up!" - Hannah Cheetham, Geography Student, Cambridge
University
"It was an inspiring film to watch. I enjoyed it as it was actually addressing the problems by speaking to Ghanaians themselves. I was on a politics trip where MPs were discussing similar issues about providing resources and aspirations of the poverty-stricken countries. So hopefully some good will come on this matter." -
Soma Mamand, Student, Blackheath High School
"The film …As a polemic, raises vitally important points about the way in which HIPC and the claim of those in the West to be able to represent the needs and wants of Ghana, have undermined the sovereignty of Ghana and its right to set its own policy agenda." - Adam Drury,
Student, Cambridge University
"Yes, it is a good film. I want my MP to see it. It would be fantastic to see this kind of film on mainstream TV." -
Angela Ditchfield, Administrator for Cambridge Assessment Exam Board
"Very good. Had no real idea of what had gone on, on the ground since the Glenagles Summit. Enlightening yet sobering and depressing. Good luck and thanks for opening my eyes and mind a little more." -
Matt Barnett, IT Analyst, Birkbeck college
"I think that this film was very good and very informative and showed us what the situation is really like in Ghana. Also the film showed what life is really like when you do not have anything." -
Alisa Dreuford, Student, Blackheath High School
"A good hard hitting film! It definitely makes you think and gives you a different view of the problem." -
Kate Halliday, Student, Cambridge University
"It’s a good film which shows the reality in Ghana particularly and generally in all developing countries. This film will bring advanced countries to think about how to help these developing countries..." -
Hontang Mimbu, Student and Chairman of New Life Refugee Network
"I think the film is excellent and illuminates the hypocrisy behind Bob Geldof and Tony Blair’s Gleneagles Summit, the myth behind HIPC and the structural adjustment programmes." -
F Wakulyaka, Student, University of East London
"I’m glad you didn’t go for the 'fluffy' version." -
M Slattery, Postgraduate Student, London School of Economics
"The film was excellent. Problems stated by the people are touching; seeing how they live is dreadful. However knowing that people wanting to help but want control over these people is selfishness. Thanks for providing the opportunity to view this documentary." -
Dogan Dogus, Sixth Form Student, City and Islington School
"I think that the work you are doing is phenomenal and you are truly inspirational speakers. Thank you and well done in the success of your project!" -
Sarah Warren, Student, Cambridge University
"Very good, thoughtful and concise. It made me question the idea of donor/recipient relationship. Perhaps a representative of HIPC could be used to counter argue?" -
Chris Rodrigues, Bank of Ireland, Birkbeck college
"An informative, insightful and colourful film that highlights the misconception that good can only come from the ‘west’ helping the ‘poor’!" -
Danielle Silvester, Student, Cambridge University
"I really enjoyed the movie and the debate. It gave me a different view of development work and NGOs." -
Maud Kuipers, City University
"The film was really provocative and eye opening. It has challenged my view points and assumptions surrounding the issue of debt relief and conditionality. I very much hope that this film will encourage wider debate around these issues, so that all view points and perspectives can be discussed and challenged." -
Philippa Stroud, Student, Cambridge University
"Very good. Highlighted some good points about poverty and made me realise the meeting between world leaders did not resolve much." -
Rosie Keen, Sixth Form Student, Warlingham school
"It was extremely informative & refreshingly honest. Fantastic to have somebody that was specifically & truly representing grass-root opinions." -
Amifa Tholley, Student, Cambridge University
"The way in which the film was presented hit hard. The outcome or impression one would receive from watching this film is the reaction one needs globally. Well presented providing strong insights." -
V John, Student, University of East London
"This needs to have a wider distribution and screening e.g. Channel 4." -
Anoria Marsh, Teacher, City and Islington School
"I really enjoyed it. Hard hitting because it comes from people living in Ghana. Funny – helped to make points stick more. Made me think." - Mary Pennant,
PhD Student, Cambridge University
"The film was very interesting; it made me realise how bad things are for the people living in Ghana. As a person who supported Live8 and the G8 Summit, I feel that I need to do more to make people be aware and take notice of the goings on across the country." -
Nina Biring-Rai, Student, Blackheath High School
"Very powerful – raised the other side of the poverty campaign & brought up many issues. It made a great impact to hear speakers after the film, De Roy was an impressive spokesperson." -
Megan Daniel, Student, Cambridge University
"It made me think about the facts that I had been told and it showed me that what I had been told wasn’t nearly as accurate as I had been made to think." -
Oliver Thomas, Sixth Form Student, Warlingham School
If you have watched the full version of the film and would like to comment or submit a review please email your piece to world.write@btconnect.com.
