https://vimeo.com/65961078 Pieter Hugo's Permanent Error
Basel Action Network made up fake statistics on more than one occasion (the 80%, and the 75% specifically attributed to "extensive investigation" in Ghana). Artists like Hugo and Fedele see a "fact" so alarming and outrageous that it excuses videographic exaggeration. Blacksmith Institute may not have technically asserted that Agbogbloshie was "scientifically determined" to be one of the Top Ten most polluted sites on the planet, but given the BAN.org "facts" they could smile and think they are accomplishing change.
Or maybe everyone will see if recyclers admitting to export here (Ghana) would defend themselves.
It's agreed that constant improvement is necessary in Ghana. Traffic jams, electricity and water outages, flight delays, bad water, bribes and incompetence would not be acceptable in the USA or EU, and people shouldn't accept it here.
Virtually nothing in Agbogbloshie's scrapyard, with a couple of exceptions, is remotely acceptable.
The headline that imports go here, at least in any remotely significant proportionality, is the problem. Consider the modest statement:
"The majority of western diners at Chinese restaurants are being fed cat meat. 80% of those cats were sent by western pet owners to Chinese veterinarians".
One would not want to condone eating cats, or deny it occurs, yet the broad statement would be considered outrageous, if not blatantly racist. Yet similar allegations made about Agbogbloshie recycling, illegal dumping, and Ghana importers of electronics throwing away 75% - "facts" equally stupid and outrageous - fill any google search for the placename "Agbogbloshie". Imagine if you googled "Chinese restaurant" and virtually every search result said the majority of western diners are fed cat meat... imported from Western humane societies." Ludicrous flamebait, yet accepted and repeated by reporters based on close ups of sweaty African faces. Not even any significant piles of "ewaste" cats in the photos.
It's just shocking. Shocking educated westerners are repeating this BS.
If Hugo, Dannonitzer, and other slum tourism cinematographers found a cat butcher and filmed the process of preparing cat meat, it might or might not be in good taste. That's not the issue here. The problem is that they allow their film skills to be used to denigrate honest businesspeople in emerging markets, and to somewhow give visual credence to a bogus hoax statistic.
It's just shocking. Shocking educated westerners are repeating this BS.
If Hugo, Dannonitzer, and other slum tourism cinematographers found a cat butcher and filmed the process of preparing cat meat, it might or might not be in good taste. That's not the issue here. The problem is that they allow their film skills to be used to denigrate honest businesspeople in emerging markets, and to somewhow give visual credence to a bogus hoax statistic.
Basel Action Network made up fake statistics on more than one occasion (the 80%, and the 75% specifically attributed to "extensive investigation" in Ghana). Artists like Hugo and Fedele see a "fact" so alarming and outrageous that it excuses videographic exaggeration. Blacksmith Institute may not have technically asserted that Agbogbloshie was "scientifically determined" to be one of the Top Ten most polluted sites on the planet, but given the BAN.org "facts" they could smile and think they are accomplishing change.
Or maybe everyone will see if recyclers admitting to export here (Ghana) would defend themselves.
