War by Other Means

War by Other Means

1992, Politics  -   45 Comments
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Ratings: 8.62/10 from 402 users.

John Pilger and David Munro examine the policy of First World banks agreeing loans with Third World countries, who are then unable to meet the crippling interest charges.

Won Geneva International TV Award at the North-South Media Encounters event, Geneva, 1993; Gold Medal in the 'Best Documentary Production category' of the International Television Movie Festival, Mount Freedom, New Jersey 1993; Gold Award in the 'Political/International Issues category' at WorldFest-Houston (Houston International Film & Video Festival), 1993; Silver Hugo Award in the 'Documentary - Social/Political category' of the 29th Chicago International Film Festival, 1993.

Directed by: David Munro

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Pedro
Pedro
1 year ago

The first world , make leaders of the third world corrupt by lining their pockets . The lack of morals in which those in first world , banks , coorporations , armys and the very wealthy , as well first world countries setting up puppet states were they can steal raw resorces and politicaly control , not only the population through poverty , iliterancy and health but also by creating wars that protect only the the corrupt individuals put up in high places to look after the first world interests . Often leaders from the third world rebeling against the tyrani of the first world are elliminated by creating wars ,have them deposed , assassinated or thrown in jail by new tyrants put in place by this or that first first world country or countries depending on the wealth of that same third world country . IMF should stop from existing and their leaders persecuted , forced to pay restuition to the affected countries and jailed

Jane
Jane
4 years ago

How is it the debt of the Philippines, when it was the electric company who wanted it built?

not me
not me
6 years ago

It has become worse since then.

Glenn
Glenn
6 years ago

Greed is rapidly destroying our mother earth, our true God and it is the rapeing of our planet which will be all of our demise. Thank you John.

Blabber_Mouth
Blabber_Mouth
7 years ago

I love Pilger's docs.

It's such a shame that so many people have to go through such suffering, so that a tiny amount of swine can have enough money, individually, to support some countries!!

There HAS to be a Hell, nothing else makes sense. It's gonna be standing room only down there, too.

DustUp
DustUp
7 years ago

Probably can still find it/them, articles from a fellow who was an advance man for usa corporates wanting into South America. His job was to persuade and bribe presidents and/or officials if he could. If he was unable, they would eventually send others to get rid of those thwarting their access to the natural resources. He mentioned an airplane accident and the next president being much more cooperative, getting his pockets filled while the people get screwed. Same same for the those usa presidents and recent State Department Clinton selling out to foreign interests as well as the PTB much of which is represented(or their representatives) are in the CFR which you can watch Hillary bowing to verbally on youtube. "Glad you are so close to the state dept. so I can pop over and see what you want done..." Obama trying to influence elections of other countries being a puppet of the powers that be(PTB). Those PTB have been trying to consolidate power further so we will be easier to manage. Salute to the brits who put a monkey wrench in that power consolidation scheme of the EU. Others should follow.

So the problem is, how do potential leaders of the so called 3rd world who have a good plan to put their people to work, creating a vibrant economy, to keep them free and content, while keeping out the banksters ...how do they remain alive let alone get elected? No doubt the PTB have slithered into the elections of many a country by hook or by crook. If you can figure that out and put it into action, we in the first world will need to do same.

Samo Soviett
Samo Soviett
10 years ago

Nothing have been changed in 2014 / Killing is everywhere. When this all will change !!!

Steve Perreira
Steve Perreira
10 years ago

Bankers are parasites. Where individuals need help getting started with a business, micro-lending on affordable terms has worked - such as initiated by the Gr-amine Bank in India. The large central planning projects financed by the World Bank are almost always a boondoggle. It is a fallacy to think that an elite few can plan the course for billlions of bright, but less privileged people. I believe in individual initiative and capitalism, but I despise cronyism. Jesus taught us, blessed are the meek. My prayers are they shall rise up against the elite and be unburdened.

Dan
Dan
10 years ago

Great doco

Wasike
Wasike
10 years ago

Absolutely important documentary as relevant now as it was over two decades ago when it was produced.

The tragic comedy is that much of the debt in the 3rd world was inherited from the previous colonial regimes, who due to their vested interests continue to perpetuate neo-colonialism, by imposing stringent conditions that keep 3rd world countries locked in debts they will never fully settle especially with interest payments on top.

Even with a burgeoning middle class in many of these third world countries the wealth gap has expanded significantly thanks in part to the debt crisis and its SAP measures which as is evident in this documentary film benefits only those submissive to the whims of the economic imperialists.

Kip Keino
Kip Keino
10 years ago

We're all brought up to agree that it's good to borrow - as much as possible. It's a wrong-headed belief. Re; the Philippine Nuke reactor: Have everyone involved with the funding for that fiasco, pay a commensurate share to pay back the Filipino treasury.

Cy Jer
Cy Jer
10 years ago

Mr Pilger Good day to you and I commend youwith the journalistic work you do. Your courage and deep commitment to the opressed nations is admirable as a n invastigating journalist and more importantly as a human being. I admire your work mostly from the human stand point. You are the voice for the voiceless peoples of our world. I always watch and read anything produced by you. May you and your work be blessed and I sicerely hope there be more professional journalists like you. Keep up the good work. with regards, from a stranger in CA, US

John Doherty
John Doherty
10 years ago

An outstanding piece of historical reportage when viewed today. Needs to be updated for balance sake and to reflect this period of austerity

rtm
rtm
10 years ago

why doesnt anyone say weather they liked the freaking doc or not just a bunch of discussions.

Nicole Sandrini
Nicole Sandrini
10 years ago

what can i do about this? giving to charity doesn't seem substantial

Zengo Selmanoski
Zengo Selmanoski
10 years ago

It is "GREED" that will destroy human existence. Throughout the human "existence" there has always been two classes at least the"Ruling" and the "Ruled" Class. Therefore one of the ways to eliminate "banking" system is through internal psychological changes of our thought process, however the greed does not allow human species to evolve at the necessary higher level. We have become accustomed to being "materialistic" society in the west, we value people by how much money they have rather on intellectual, human and emotional level. The Banks are too powerful at the moment they are running the show and therefore unless there is some kind of "Global" catastrophe where the earth rebels against the human species, we have no chance in changing the "status" at the moment. The middle and upper middle class is the only way to make a dent on the "banking Sector", by organizing and self financing, but unfortunately most of the "well-off" middle class is employed by the banks. For example one of the great "bank-free" ways is the new internet-based financing i.e crowd-sourcing (by the people) for projects and ideas. The politics have to change and that can only happen when the people stop paying their debt to bank and paying taxes. Use the "loopholes" that are made for the wealthy. Use Cash Only, do not purchase 'materials" excessively. Do not borrow from the big banks. Empty the accounts (ie pay cash). Purchase and convert your savings into Gold and Silver. As long as the banks do not have people "borrowing" and going into debt their fortune and power will start to fall, therefore their influence will fall also. And do not invest in stock or Bonds or Any other "Crap" that the bank tells you to do, you are only wasting your money. Banks make money when people borrow money from them. One rule if you can't afford it Cash do not buy it, period.

SammyRi
SammyRi
10 years ago

Work for the love of it, do away with the monetary system, there's no possible way it could be worse than this.

awful_truth
awful_truth
10 years ago

Anytime people from 1st world nations are feeling sorry for themselves, they need only watch documentaries like this to remind them how good they really have it. The solution to global economic problems lies in obliterating the man made cancer we call 'interest'. (usury) This single concept saps equality, and fairness from the very people who do the most work.
Since all money is created from nothing, (fiat currency) people need to ask themselves why they are paying interest on loans to begin with. This is without a doubt the greatest threat to global stability, and until this single issue is addressed,(removed for good) our demise as a species is assured.
This is a terrific documentary for exposing the 'lies' justifying wealth creation to combat poverty.

Steven Fraser
Steven Fraser
10 years ago

This is why I don't take anyone "fighting poverty" seriously. If you don't have a gun in your hand shooting the bankers, you aren't doing anything to alleviate poverty.

ungovernable
ungovernable
13 years ago

what do you expect when the world is run by the biggest criminals of the lot. they all need locking up and put to work on a chain gang-might make the b"%&*^ds think about what they have done.
i feel sorry for the future generations of this world which sad as it is, is why i have chosen not to have children myself.
money is not everything, there is no neeed for anyone to be starving to death when these $^%&*^*^ have billions of $ that they will never spsnd, dont need makes me sick to even be part of a race that can do such things to other humans.
peace :(

Margaret
Margaret
13 years ago

Excellent documentary! Now, 2010 and the same things are still going on. The concept of development we have must be changed, it is all a joke.

chocolatestarfish
chocolatestarfish
14 years ago

@toodance: not only in the US mate.

and then we wonder why some folks are easy prey for hatemongers and incite people to commit violence.

WTC7
WTC7
14 years ago

Luke,

Excellent summary! All joke and irony - which most people in the developed world have no ability to see through, lulled by good life. They actually think that their countries are helping those poor fellas in the Third World, and the question "how come that I have all I need and these guys don't" has a very convenient answer "well, those poor guys are mostly lazy, uneducated and corrupt". I wish that was the real answer...

Luke Wilson
Luke Wilson
14 years ago

Wow. Eye-opening. This was made in the early 90's and nothing has changed in almost 20yrs and I dont expect anything to change in the next 200 either. Sad that the value of humanlife and nature itself has been reduced to almost nothing. It amazes me when I see the slogans of this big international so-called humanitarian organisations as they are meant as an ironic joke of somekind. World Bank and IMF to eradicate and fight world poverty, irony. The UN to stop wars from happening, another piece of irony. Charitable events like live-aid and comic relief another piece of irony designed to make those who profit from the suffering of other people sleep better at night - lets raise 10 million in aid but lets not mention the 2 billion we're gonna receive in interest payments from the same ppl this 10million is going to. Amazing. Planet earth, the place to be.

toodance
toodance
14 years ago

I admire John Pilger. He presents information that is hard to look at. In USA, most people prefer not to look at it, or even think about what he choses to report on.

platoson
platoson
15 years ago

Well written well researched, but at the same time quite shocking to see how the rich exploit the poor.

Excellent documentary, though sadly, some 17 years later, and after Jubilee 2000 and the situation tragically remains the same.