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Travels of a Gringo
Cutting edge TV or a distorted view of the real effects of globalisation?
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Donna DeLong
7th July 03
While this show is a pretty good introduction
to the topic of the effects of globalisation in the Americas
and the reaction to the, it's unfortunate that introductions
are all we seem to get. Even John Pilger's last documentary
was an introduction to the issue. It's time we saw things that
moved beyond the "No Logo" level they've been stuck
at for around 3 years, the issue has been introduced more than
enough, and the debate moved on to the level it is at elsewhere,
in print and within the "anti-globalisation" movement
(particularly the move towards Social Fora as opposed to just
protesting).
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THINKTV
7th July 03
As someone who has travelled in Peru during last summer, it
is interesting to hear reasons/debates on why South America
is in such a state.
The rich/poor divide is so great and there are so many problems
relating to a large majorty of the populations that live on
or below the poverty line. It did make me quite sick to see
such a gulf between the "haves" and "have nots"
and how little appears to be done to help the cause.
Secondly it raises the question of why this area of the world
is so under reported and lacking in so much (deserving) media
courage. |
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Adam Wentworth
7th July 03
I thought these two episodes so far have been a fantastic
account of the effects, that have been reported, of Globalisation
in Latin America and the response show by the elitists. I only
wish it could have been shown earlier so more people could have
had an opportunity to see it!
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Ian Edgar
7th July 03
Travels with a gringo is a phenomenal show. Moving, timely,
provocative, real. While Channel 4 push the boundaries with
identity stripping shows (faking it, wife swap) and intermittent
misery-gawping (those programs about death) - this sort of program
has to continue. It is beautifully disguised as a travel show
(presumably why it has more advertising than Bremner Bird and
Fortune and similar) and even does the job of one. But I ask
you with hope and faith to continue to program more of the same.
Feel free to promote them trashily - a sort of Revolucion, Camera,
Action (for example focusing on the chance to see violence in
a riot), perhaps even "What Guevara Did For Us". There
are so many injustices which need to be thoughtfully and purposefully
popularised. Popularised like Jodie Jones or Sarah Payne, not
like Comic Relief. This is not a partisan viewpoint, a criticism
of capitalism, the loony left letting loose nor vacant anarchism
- this is just allowing a witness to reality. For so many. So
do your best and thank you (Sean Langan, every one involved
in this and your other important work). I have faith that you
will.
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Michael Soulsby
7th July 03
First point: Sean Langan's inept spanish surely limits the degree
to which he can understand and appreciate the complicated nature
of South American politics. Second point: whilst visiting the
slums of Caracas and La Paz, he could further highlight the
huge class divide by interviewing more people at the other end
of the spectrum. From time spent living in Peru, I observed
the rich sector of society as often totally ignorant of the
reality of the poor majority, and are reluctant to even find
out. They live within a micro-economy in a micro-society, as
western as anything we know. Until these people open their eyes
to the reality of the country, development will never be realised.
This was not remarked upon in the film
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Aryelly Rodriguez
7th July 03
I am Venezuelan and I was really disappointed when I saw the
mentioned documentary on TV last night. I thought that an international
journalist will have an objective view of the situation in Venezuela
but I was wrong. The whole program has lost all its credibility
with this bias presentation of the reality in one country. The
journalist became afriend of Chavez. Therefore he just presented
the Venezuelan President's point of view. I agreed the revolution;
is strong but for no reason you can mislead the international
community and present it as the only driving force. Finally,
that simplistic comparison between RICH and POOR people. I am
not from Caracas slums. I am from a working class family. So
that, I have had to work really hard for having an education,
Venezuela (with all its problems) used to be one of the fewer
countries in which the American dream was possible.
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