Bananas Unpeeled
Encyclopedia
Bananas Unpeeled is a 26 minute film shot in Latin America
and the Caribbean
, investigating the social and environmental issues faced by Plantation
workers and small farmers in the Caribbean.
It examines fair trade
policies and labeling as a positive alternative for workers on plantations where harsh working conditions and environmental damage are the norm.
The film was made by independent film-maker Nick Shaw
and introduced by the political activist and comedian Mark Thomas
.
This educational resource (the film and corresponding teacher action booklet) was quickly taken up by leading British NGO's (OXFAM
, People & Planet
). Used extensively by schools, universities, trade union
organisations, etc., it helped with the introduction of the "fair trade banana" into Great Britain. The Co-Op UK supermarket chain
was the first to introduce Fair trade Bananas into their stores. To date, several other supermarket chains have followed this example (e.g. Waitrose
, Sainsbury's).
The story behind the making of the film is mentioned in the 2008 book Fighting the Banana Wars and other Fairtrade Battles by Harriet Lamb, C.B.E.
, director of the Fairtrade Foundation (UK).
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, investigating the social and environmental issues faced by Plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
workers and small farmers in the Caribbean.
It examines fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
policies and labeling as a positive alternative for workers on plantations where harsh working conditions and environmental damage are the norm.
The film was made by independent film-maker Nick Shaw
Nick Shaw
Nick Shaw is an independent film maker and background artist.He is known for his direction, writing and editing of the independent, fair trade film, Bananas Unpeeled, highlighting the plight of plantation workers in Central America and the Caribbean, with an introduction by political activist and...
and introduced by the political activist and comedian Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas
Mark Clifford Thomas is a left-wing English comedian, presenter, political activist and reporter from south London. He first became known as a guest comic on the BBC Radio 1 comedy show The Mary Whitehouse Experience in the late 1980s. He is best known for political stunts on his show, The Mark...
.
This educational resource (the film and corresponding teacher action booklet) was quickly taken up by leading British NGO's (OXFAM
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
, People & Planet
People & Planet
People & Planet is a network of student campaign groups in the UK. It claims to be "the largest student campaigning organization in the country campaigning to alleviate world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment."-Organization:...
). Used extensively by schools, universities, trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
organisations, etc., it helped with the introduction of the "fair trade banana" into Great Britain. The Co-Op UK supermarket chain
The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom consumer cooperative with a diverse range of business interests. It is co-operatively run and owned by its members. It is the largest organisation of this type in the world, with over 5.5 million members, who all have a say in how the business is...
was the first to introduce Fair trade Bananas into their stores. To date, several other supermarket chains have followed this example (e.g. Waitrose
Waitrose
Waitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
, Sainsbury's).
The story behind the making of the film is mentioned in the 2008 book Fighting the Banana Wars and other Fairtrade Battles by Harriet Lamb, C.B.E.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, director of the Fairtrade Foundation (UK).