Our 2nd Wed. film on October 10 will be “Bitter Seeds”. EVERY 30 MINUTES A FARMER IN INDIA, DEEP IN DEBT AND UNABLE TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY, COMMITS SUICIDE. Bitter Seeds follows cotton-farmer Ram Krishna who must borrow heavily in order to afford the mounting costs of modern farming. Following a U.S. complaint to the World Trade Organization, India had to open its doors to foreign seed companies. Within a few years, multinational corporations have taken over India’s seed market in a number of major crops.
Now only GM seeds are available and are much more expensive; they need additional fertilizers and insecticides and must be re-purchased every season at the shops, requiring India’s farmers to pay an annual royalty. Rama Krishna is required by a money-lender to put up his land as collateral so he must gamble everything in hope of good crops.
Weaving in and out of Ram Krishna’s story is that of his neighbor’s daughter, Manjusha, a college student and she is determined to become a journalist and tell the world about the farmers’ predicament. Her family opposes her plans, which go against village traditions. Manjusha’s ambition is also fueled by her personal history – her father was one of the suicide victims. Armed with a small camera from the production team, her video becomes part of the film. The video is 88 minutes long.
Place: 1584 N. Van Ness, Fresno, CA 93728. Tel. 559-237-3223.
Special Guests will be:
Richard Iyall will speak at the 12 noon showing and Anyettah will speak after the 7pm video regarding the Prop. 37 campaign. The event is free and open to the public. Wheelchair accessible..
