JOURNEYMAN PICTURES LTD |
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Tel: +44 (0) 20 8398 4616
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| China - Lost Children of Coal
- 22' min 35" sec [28 May 2012]
China tightens safety standards after coal mine blast |
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In China's Shanxi province the rate of children born with congenital defects is six times the national average. With many of these infants abandoned, a remarkable figure has embarked on a heartbreaking mission. In an area devastated by coal pollution, Mama Kong's 31 adopted children were all born with defects and abandoned by their poverty-stricken parents. For over 20 years this tiny but indomitable lady has fought tirelessly for identity cards, operations to fix their deformities and a place at school for each child. "I'm no longer scared of suffering", one boy smiles. An inspiring story of extraordinary bravery and resilience. What's Up Productions (Ref: 5526) | |
| Switzerland - Contract Kids
- 15' min 46" sec [28 May 2012]
Switzerland's secret shame |
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Generations of Swiss children lost their childhoods to state-endorsed abuse and forced labour. This shocking report brings us their stories, shedding light on a little-known dark chapter of Swiss history. "Our Switzerland, which always wants to be goodie-goodies, has so many skeletons in its cupboard", Maria Magdalena tells us. Right up until 1981 the Swiss state sent thousands of teenagers like Maria to places like Hindelbank women's prison for 're-education'. Accused of being rebellious or promiscuous they were held indefinitely without trial. "I was beaten for everything", Hugo Zingg, who was a so-called 'contract child' recalls. Of the five children on the farm he was forced to work on, he was the only one not to commit suicide. However, possibly the most shocking story is that of Bernette Gechter. Her strictly religious foster parents took her to a doctor at 7 years old, believing she was sexually active. She was diagnosed with a brain disorder and forced to undergo electro-shock therapy. At 18 when she became pregnant, they aborted the baby and sterilized her because they thought she was unfit to be a mother. The survivors are campaigning for recognition, but the Swiss government still refuses to hold a full investigation or discuss remuneration for the victims. SBS (Ref: 5528) | |
| Bali - The Paved Paradise
- 26' min 02'' sec [28 May 2012]
Rampant tourism destroying Bali |
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Over the last 40 years Bali has gone from being a spiritual, low-key holiday destination to an international tourist hot spot. Now it's stretched to breaking point, with a waste problem that's out of control.
Since the late 1970's the number of tourists visiting Bali each year has exploded to well over two and a half million. Combined with the local population, Bali generates thousands of tons of rubbish each day that floats down the rivers and out to the sea, piling up on the world famous Kuta Beach. There's a growing resistance - particularly among young Bali locals - to this rampant development on the island and tourism at any cost. Yet farmers are still selling their land to developers, fuelling a real estate boom that's driving prices through the roof. "Tourists are not destroying Bali, the greedy investors are destroying Bali", says Bali's governor, Made Pastika. For locals, like surf legend Mega, Bali stands to lose more that just its beautiful natural environment. "If every place is like Kuta with high-rise buildings everywhere then Bali is not like Bali anymore. If that happens it's like our souls are lost." ABC Australia (Ref: 5521) | |
| Sudan - Cluster Bomb
- 5' min 56' sec [28 May 2012]
Sudan using illegal cluster bombs |
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As the government's assault on the Nuba Mountains continues, we bring the first evidence that President Al Bashir, already indicted by the ICC, has employed cluster bombs against innocent civilians. Nuban villagers stand gawking at new type of bomb that lies unexploded in their village. Spilling from it are multiple bomblets. "He is trying to take our rights, and he is trying to kill all Nubans" The Nuba people are a strategic asset to the outnumbered rebels, supplying them with food and water. Yet this makes them an easy target for the government which is desperate to subdue the restive Nuba region. With the government pledging to retake the arid hills within weeks, the Nuba people are bracing for an onslaught. Aris Roussinos (Ref: 5525) | |
| Ecuador - Assange and Ecuador's President Correa
- 26' min 00'' sec [28 May 2012]
Assange seeks asylum in Ecuador |
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During Assange's interview with President Correa for his series The World Tomorrow, the two men clearly struck up a bond. Was it during this interview that Assange first got the idea of claiming asylum from a sympathetic Ecuador? Calling him "my dear Julian", the immediate rapport between Assange and President Correa is obvious. "Are you having fun with this interview Julian? Me too", Correa laughs. Discussion swirls around their mutual mistrust of the USA. "The last thing I'd be is anti-American, however I will call a spade a spade", asserts Correa, as he details his controversial and furious counter-offensive against US interests in Ecuador: after Wikileaks published damning US cables, Correa threw the US ambassador out of the country. "Wikileaks has made us stronger", the president insists. As the colourful interview draws to a close, Correa offers these heartfelt words of comfort to Assange: "Welcome to the club of the persecuted!" WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE Series Link. Quick Roll Productions (Ref: 5520) | |
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