10 Apr 2014

The opening of the 14th Ditshwanelo Annual Human Rights Film Festival on April 9 attracted masses including scholars, human rights activists and students.

A short documentary on poverty was showcased in line with this year’s theme for the opening of the eight day film festival. The documentary, titled Poor us, depicted a global overview of the history of the poor people, from 10 000 BC to today’s era of globalisation.

Animation, interviews, motion graphics and archives were combined in this innovative, mold-breaking documentary which imagined the history of poverty as a never-ending dream, a nightmare. Poor us combined interviews with the world’s leading poverty economists and the world leading poverty historians.

Speaking at the official opening of the film festival, acting Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Shaw Kgathi said Botswana was faced with challenges of sustainable human development and poverty eradication, and was much committed to addressing such challenges. 

He said poverty eradication should not only be the responsibility of government and urged everyone to get involved in any way to help address the poverty challenge. Ends