Alfredo shared this poignant documentary with me called Global Voices: T-Shirt Travels. It’s a story that follows a young African man who sells secondhand clothes at his local market. The clothes are distinctly non native and somewhat disturbingly American. Clothes that we have decidedly given up on and donate to charity are then sold by these charities to companies that export them to Africa. Bundles of clothes are sold at wholesale to individuals, such as Luka (whom the story revolves around) who inturns sells them at the market, in hope of bringing in enough money to repeat the process. If he is lucky he can put a miniscule amount away to be saved.

The filmmaker, Shantha Bloeman, uses this micro example to shed light on macro problems surrounding the economy of Africa and Zambia in this particular instance.  This country’s problems are unfortunately thematic with many other impoverished countries across the globe. If you watch this documenatary and would like to futher explore how a Coporatocracy looks to advance its cause at the expense of people in great need, please read Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins. It was a book that had a tremendous impact on my outlook on life and how I see the world and the countries controlling the world.  It offers a perspective that is not openly talked about but one that I feel is imperative to be aware of and to understand.

This documentary makes one realize how we are all connected in this world and how we impact eachother without even thinking or knowing about it. It is important to be reminded of this and to live life with this in our conscience and consciousness so we make sure that the “how” is positive and beneficial for all and not for a select few.