Maquilapolis Response

This was one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever watched. I know about some sweatshop conditions in Asia, but I really didn’t know about Mexico/Tijuana. It’s even worse because I grew up in Orange Country and lived there and LA my whole life. I have never been to Mexico. This is one of the reasons I am so interested in going on the Tijuana day trip. I feel like this stuff is happening in my own back yard and I didn’t even know; it’s embarrassing. I feel like I am naïve. The footage was so disturbing because it shows how people live in completely inhumane conditions, and no one cares. They’re not dying, but it’s almost sort of worse, because they’re just living indefinitely in this situation.

 The women activists used direct action in seeking out people who could influence the situation, at least in the case of the abandoned metal/lead factory, such as standing outside an officials office and refusing to leave until he spoke to them. The way they told their story seemed very effective to me, in showing their home life and things that are very personal. The style was also effective, half documentary and half artsy.  I very much liked the beginning and end where the women were lined ups, all wearing blue smocks, and performing this “choreography” which would be the actions they would perform at their job. I think the single most effective element of the film was SHOWING just how bad conditions are.

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