Exposed: The Ugly Side of Food Production
Special | 26m 39sVideo has Closed Captions
The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation uncovers the costs of shrimp farming.
The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation uncovers the human and environmental cost of shrimp farming.
Earth Focus is a local public television program presented by PBS SoCal
Exposed: The Ugly Side of Food Production
Special | 26m 39sVideo has Closed Captions
The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation uncovers the human and environmental cost of shrimp farming.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> TODAY, ON "EARTH FOCUS," FOOD AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND FINANCIAL SPECULATION IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY.
THE SWEDISH SOCIETY FOR NATURE CONSERVATION AND SWEDISH ECOLOGISTS LOOK AT HOW LIVES AND LIVELIHOOD ARE DESTROYED IN BAGRAM-, MEXICO, -- IN BANGLADESH, MEXICO, AND ITALY.
>> OFFERED IN RESTAURANTS, SOLD IN STORES, TROPICAL PROMS ARE A POPULAR CHOICE FOR FOOD ACROSS THE WESTERN WORLD TODAY.
HOW DID THIS BECOME AFFORDABLE?
AT WHAT COST?
THE SWEDISH SOCIETY FOR NATURE CONSERVATION TRAVELLED TO BANGLADESH TO FIND OUT WHO IS REALLY PAYING THE PRICE FOR OUR NEW STANDARD OF TROPICAL PRAWNS.
THE REGION IN SOUTHWEST BANGLADESH IS THE COUNTRY'S LEADING PRODUCER OF PRAWNS FOR EXPORT.
IT IS AT THE CENTER OF A STRUGGLE, PITTING THOUSANDS OF IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING TO CONSERVE THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND LIVELIHOOD AGAINST THE MIGHT OF THE PRAWN INDUSTRY.
A FARMER BY PROFESSION, LIKE COUNTLESS OTHERS, SHE LOST HER FAMILY'S LAND TO SHRIMP FARMING.
FLOODED WITH SALT WATER TO AGGRESSIVE SHRIMP FARMERS, FAMILIES ONCE FERTILE LAND LIES UNDER A POND.
SHE IS NOT ALONE.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> IT IS NOT JUST THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE CULTIVATED THAT IT IS THREATENED.
THE RIVERS OF THIS REGION FLOW INTO A FOREST, PROVIDING A PLACE FOR RIVER DOLPHINS AND CROCODILE, AND A LOCAL RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
MOST SHRIMP FARMS IN BANGLADESH STUFF THEMSELVES, CAUGHT IN THE RIVERS USING VERY FINE AND NETS.
FOR EVERY SHARE OF COX, AN AVERAGE OF 50 JUVENILE FISH WILL DIE.
THIS PRACTICE IS DECIMATING THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> EMBANKMENTS ARE USED IN THIS REGION TO PROTECT FARMERS AND COMMUNITIES FROM STORMS THAT REGULARLY HIT THIS COASTLINE.
SHRIMP FARMERS ILLEGALLY BILLED THROUGH THE EMBANKMENT.
IT HAS PROVEN TO BE CATASTROPHIC DURING TIMES OF EXTREME WEATHER.
STRIKING BANGLADESH SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION OUR TEAM ALSO UNCOVERED DISTURBING EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT ILLEGAL CHEMICALS ARE BEING REGULARLY AND ROUTINELY USED IN SHRIMP FARMS DESTINED FOR EUROPEAN MARKETS.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> THE HOUSEHOLD NAME OF THE CHEMICAL HE IS REFERRING TO IS ELBA, BANNED IN BANGLADESH, AND 18 OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
>> A BROAD SPECTRUM INSECTICIDE THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS.
IT IS A VERY OLD CALICO AIMED AT KILLING IN SEX AND PREVENTING THEM FROM BECOMING PESTS.
THE EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT IS DISASTROUS.
IT IS AN INCREDIBLY TOXIC CHEMICAL THAT AFFECTS NEARLY EVERY ELEMENT.
FROM SNAILS TO FISH, AMPHIBIANS, ALL THE WAY UP THE FOOD CHAIN.
IT IS BANNED IN A HUGE NUMBER OF COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD FOR A REASON.
IT IS DANGEROUS AND DAMAGES THE ENVIRONMENT.
BUT MY MESSAGE FOR CONSUMERS?
DO NOT DO IT.
>> IT IS NOT JUST THE UNREGULATED USE THAT CONSUMERS SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT.
IN 2010 THEY UNCOVERED EVIDENCE OF SHRIMP DESTINED FOR FACTORIES THAT SUPPLY THE EUROPEAN UNION.
TRADERS DEMONSTRATE HUSH THEM FROM THIS REGION ARE SECRETLY INJECTED WITH DIRTY WATER BEFORE THEY ARE SOLD ON TO THE FACTORIES.
SOME AID AGENCIES HAVE OFTEN CLAIMED THAT EXPORTS ARE NECESSARY FOR DEVELOPMENT IN BANGLADESH.
A COORDINATOR IN THE MOVEMENT FOR LANDLESS PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY COMMERCIAL FROM AGRICULTURE.
>> PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN AREAS WHERE SHRIMP IS BEING CULTIVATED HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DEPRIVED OF THEIR LIVELIHOODS, THE LIVESTOCK.
IT IS A SYSTEM THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
JUST SO THAT PEOPLE IN THE NORTHERN COUNTRIES CAN HAVE SOMETHING CHEAP?
>> OUR INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THOSE WHO GO UP AGAINST THE SHRIMP INDUSTRY ARE MET WITH VIOLENCE AND FAR -- AND FALSE CHARGES, WITH A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT SUPPORTS THE SHRIMP FARMERS.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT TOWARDS WOMEN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, LIKE THOSE EMPLOYED BY THE SHRIMP INDUSTRY, ARE ALSO COMMONPLACE.
SHE IS ONE OF THE FEW WHO HAS SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THE EMPLOYERS THAT RAPED HER IN 2008.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> OUR RESEARCH INTO BANGLADESH SHOWS THAT THE BANGLADESHI SHRIMP INDUSTRY IS A BRUTAL PART OF THE ECOLOGICAL DESTRUCTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HURT BY EXTREME POVERTY, POTENTIALLY UNDERMINING THE HEALTH IN HUMANS.
BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS.
ONE OF A FEW AREAS WHERE MANAGEMENT COULD GET RID OF SHRIMP FARMS.
THE DIFFERENCE IS STRIKING.
>> SPEAKING [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> THE MESSAGE FROM THE COMMUNITY PROTECTED BY SHRIMP FARMING IS CLEAR.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] ♪ >> THE COST OF FOOD ACROSS THE WORLD WAS ON THE RISE AND MANY HAVE BLAMED THE PRICE HIKES.
FOOD SPECULATION FOR THE GLOBAL FINANCE MARKET.
ECOLOGISTS TRAVEL TO MEXICO, THE BIRTHPLACE -- BIRTHPLACE OF CORN, TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE EFFECTS THAT WERE BEING FELT ACROSS MEXICAN SOCIETY.
IN THE MOUNTAINS IN SOUTHERN MEXICO, COFFEE PRODUCTION FUELLED THE ECONOMY.
THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND NOT SELF-SUFFICIENT ON FOOD, MAKING THEM VULNERABLE TO SUDDEN CRISES.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> LORENZO AND HIS WIFE LOOK AFTER THEIR GRANDCHILDREN DURING THE DAY, WHILE THE REST OF THEIR FAMILY WORKED IN THE FIELDS.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> FOOD PRICE VOLATILITY ON THIS SCALE HAS BEEN LINKED DIRECTLY TO SPECULATION.
>> SPECULATION IS THE WAY THAT LARGE BANKS CAN CONCEPTUALLY BET ON THE PRICE OF FOOD AND HAPPENS THROUGH WHAT IS KNOWN AS FUTURES MARKETS, SET UP TO HELP BUYERS MANAGE THE RISK OF PRICES CHANGING OVER TIME.
INSTEAD WILL WE ARE SEEING NOW IS PEOPLE COMING IN WITH NO CONNECTION WITH THE FOOD SUPPLY WHATSOEVER.
>> THIS SPECULATION IS GROWING STRONGER AND STRONGER.
RIGHT NOW WE THINK ABOUT 20% OF THE TOTAL IS IN THE AREA OF INVESTOR FINANCIALS, FINANCIAL INVESTORS, WHO ARE JUST MAKING CONTRACTS, THAT THEY DO NOT NEED THE GRAIN FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE.
>> TRADERS HAVE SEEN PRICES RISE IN RECENT MONTHS.
HE KIND OF WAITED.
>> THIS IS THE PRINCIPAL STATE OF PRODUCTION, OF COURSE.
THERE WERE FROSTS, HALF OF THE CHILDREN WE EXPECTED WENT DOWN.
THE CORN COMES FROM THE U.S. AND SOUTH AFRICA.
>> IN A FISTFIGHT MEXICO, WHEN THERE IS A LOW HARVEST AND THERE ARE CROPS, WE SEE OUR POOR HARVESTS FROM MEXICO WITH THE BOARD RELIED ON BY FOOD FROM ABROAD.
THIS HITS THEM HARDEST.
>> FOR MEXICANS THIS MEANS HIGHER PRICES.
>> SOMETHING NICE IN THE CULTURE.
[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> HUNTER IS NOT THE REAL PROBLEM HERE.
IT HAS MASSIVE IMPACT.
WE'VE FOUND THAT WHERE FOOD PRICES HAVE RISEN, FAMILIES HAVE LESS FRUIT AND BERRY AND HAVE FAR LESS HEALTHY DIETS.
TAKING OUT LOANS JUST TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD FOOD, CUTTING BACK ON EXPENDITURES LIKE HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION, ALL OF WHICH HAS A MUCH LONGER-TERM IMPACT.
>> THE IMPACT OF HIGHER PRICES IS FELT THROUGHOUT THE EXPENDITURES OF MEXICO AND IN TERMS OF LOWER DEMAND FOR OTHER THINGS.
THE MEXICAN ECONOMY IS THE REAL CONCERN BECAUSE WE DO NOT SEE DEMAND GROWING FAST ENOUGH AND WE COULD BE NEXT.
>> FOOD SPECULATION IS RAMPANT BECAUSE OF DEREGULATION OF THESE MARKETS.
IT WAS SEEN AS BIG INVESTMENTS, BANKS MOVING INTO COMMODITY MARKETS, WITH $100 BILLION POURING INTO THESE MARKETS.
THESE MARKETS WERE OVERWHELMED, THAT IS WHY IT HAS BECOME SUCH A PROBLEM.
>> THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ITSELF HAS BEGUN TO SPECULATE ON THE MARKET IN AN EFFORT TO COUNTER THE VOLATILITY.
BUT MANY BELIEVE THE ONLY ANSWER IS REGULATION.
>> THEY ARE LOOKING AT SOME KIND OF REGULATION OR ACTION.
IT WILL DIMINISH VOLATILITY IN THE FUTURE.
I AM NOT REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE LARGE MONEY COMING IN.
>> WE ARE LOOKING FOR A LIMIT TO THE MARKETS THAT THESE TRADERS CAN HOLD.
MUCH MORE THAN THE OTHER TRADERS WHO RELY ON IT DAY IN AND OUT.
NEW RULES FOR YOU, LIVING INVOLVEMENT, ALLOWING OUR PRICES TO BE MORE FAIR, STABLE, AND TRANSPARENT.
♪ >> SOUTHERN ITALY.
THIS IS THE CENTER OF THE ITALIAN ORANGE GROVE INDUSTRY.
THOUSANDS OF TONS OF FRUIT ARE CULTIVATED FROM THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE AND BROUGHT HERE.
IT IS THEN SHIPPED OFF FOR SALE AS FRUIT OR DEEP FRUIT, USED IN DRINK AND MANUFACTURING.
IT IS THE ECOLOGISTS ESCALATION THAT REVEALS A HIDDEN SIDE.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> CITRUS FRUIT CULTIVATION IS VITAL TO THE ECONOMY OF THE REGION, BUT RIVALRIES ABROAD AND A PRICE CRASH HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> EACH WINTER, THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS WORKED, HARDLY SCRATCHING A LIVING HARVESTING ORANGES.
MOST ARE FROM AFRICA, SOME ARE FROM EASTERN EUROPE, MANY ARE IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.
THE WORK CAN BE 25 EUROS FOR FOUR DAYS.
BUT IT CAN BE MUCH LESS.
MANY MIGRANTS LIVING IN APPALLING SQUALOR IN RUNDOWN FARM HOUSES OR MAKESHIFT SALON IS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN.
-- SLUMS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN.
THE ECOLOGISTS HAD TO GO IN AFTER DARK AFTER BEING TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT WELCOME.
>> I CAN SEE 200 PEOPLE.
>> THERE IS NO RUNNING WATER, ELECTRICITY, OR ANYTHING?
>> NO.
WHEN YOU SEE THE CONDITIONS, IT IS NOT RIGHT.
>> MAINSTREAM HOSPITALS OFTEN REFUSE TO TREAT MIGRANTS.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> SOME MIGRANTS ARE IN TEMPORARY REFUGEE CAMPS.
DANIEL'S STORY IS TYPICAL FOR MANY MIGRANTS ARRIVING FROM AFRICA.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> SOME ROCKS?
WHAT HAPPENED?
A LOT OF PEOPLE?
>> THREE PEOPLE DIED.
>> THREE PEOPLE DIED?
>> IN 2010, THEY ROLLED OVER AFTER TWO MIGRANTS WERE KILLED.
MANY MIGRANTS WILL BUST OF TOWN WILL THAT REFRESH YOUR OWN SAFETY.
THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM EVER SINCE.
>> "EARTH FOCUS -- [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> IS DUE TO BE OPENED BY THE AUTHORITIES SHORTLY AFTER OUR VISIT, WORKERS CONTINUED TO RISE EACH YEAR.
QUICK TO HIRE.
TODAY MANY WANT TO RETURN HOME BUT ARE TRAPPED WITH NO MONEY, NO DOCUMENTS, AND NO MEANS OF ESCAPE.
THERE IS GROWING ANGER AND RESENTMENT.
>> I AM NOT CRIMINAL.
I AM WORKING.
WE DO NOT HAVE NO ONE TO HELP.
APPETITES.
SILENCE, POOR VISION.
NO FUTURE.
♪
Earth Focus is a local public television program presented by PBS SoCal