BLOOMBERG NEWS: "Swine-Flu Slaughter Leaves Cairo Without Pigs to Devour Trash"

Bloomberg News report on the pig cull, the current situation in Cairo, and the displacement of the Zabbaleen (which they, too, spelled Zabaleen). Daniel Williams writes:

Egypt’s pigs are getting their revenge.

Five months after anxiety about swine flu prompted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s government to order the slaughter of all the country’s 300,000 hogs, the organic waste they once devoured is piling up on Cairo’s streets, contributing to a garbage crisis.

The government’s action destroyed the livelihood of about 70,000 families known as zabaleen, who were freelance trash collectors and urban pig farmers.

For the full article, please click here.

Thanks, Daniel, for the solid piece of independent journalism.

FRONT PAGE OF THE SUNDAY NEW YORK TIMES

The New York Times reports on the Zabbaleen (which they spell Zabaleen, but we still love them), the Egyptian pig cull, and garbage piling up in the streets of Cairo. Michael Slackman writes:

It is unlikely anyone has ever come to [Cairo] and commented on how clean the streets are. But this litter-strewn metropolis is now wrestling with a garbage problem so severe it has managed to incite its weary residents and command the attention of the president.

For the full article, please click here.

Thank you, Michael, for your thorough and poignant report.

MARINA ONE-WEEK LA ENGAGEMENT SCREENING TIMES

For your reference, our LA screenings are:

September 16-22, 2009 :: 1:30pm and 2pm

Laemmle Grande 4-plex Theater
345 S. Figueroa Street
Downtown LA

For tickets, visit tickets.torchfilms.com, or just click here.

MARINA DVD NOW SHIPPING

 

DVDs of Marína of the Zabbaleen are now available and shipping.

To purchase a copy, click here.
 
With inspiration from the Zabbaleen’s thorough recycling system, distribution of the film will set the global standard for an environmentally and socially responsible independent motion picture release, serving as a benchmark for green film distribution. Mindful that Marína comes from a family of paper sorters, the film's marketing campaign has been completely paperless, to date. Digital marketing and distribution processes are integral to the release. Theatrical distribution will utilize vanguard digital cinema technology, and innovative DVD distribution will reduce the carbon footprint of the process by more than 50%, on a per unit basis, from that of standard industry practice. Torch Films is utilizing the greenest DVD technology available, the Flex DVD created by CD Digital Card, which uses 50% less polycarbonate plastic material than traditional DVDs, emits 50% less CO2 in manufacturing, and eliminates the necessity of non-biodegradable bonder. Marína of the Zabbaleen is the first feature film to utilize this DVD technology. 100% soy-based inks will be used for all printing, and DVD packaging will be constructed from 95% recycled and 100% recyclable materials.

 

Marina of the Zabbaleen Public Library/School Use DVD

$49.00

This DVD is intended explicitly for use by public libraries and K-12 schools. All other institutions, please click here for an Institutional-Use DVD.

PUBLIC LIBRARY/SCHOOL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Each Public Library/School sale includes a license of Institutional and Public Performance Rights, accounted for in the Institutional Price of the title. Institutional and Public Performance Rights permit, and are necessary for, screenings of DVDs for educational purposes in a classroom or library or to a public group of less than 50 people when no admission is charged.

If admission will be charged or if a group will be more than 50 people, please call or write Torch Films (info@torchfilms.com) to arrange for your showing, and for the proper open showing license.
 
 
By ordering this item, you acknowledge that you are a public educational institution (e.g. a public school or library), as well as your understanding of Torch Films’ policy and agree to purchase the Institutional and Public Performance Rights for MARÍNA OF THE ZABBALEEN.
 

$49.00

Marina of the Zabbaleen 100-DVD Package (shipped)

$855.95

As reported in The New York Times, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, the Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere in May 2009, in reaction to the outbreak of Swine Influenza, the Egyptian government ordered the eradication of the country’s pig population. For almost a century, the Zabbaleen had raised pigs to consume the thousands of tons of organic waste generated daily by Cairo’s residents.

$855.95

MARINA IN SLANT MAGAZINE

Adam Keleman writes:

"The principal strength of Wassef's debut is its delicate, revealing look at Marina's life... ...A portrait of the few who live off the rubbish of the affluent, Wassef's Zabbaleen is richly observed and poignant."

For the full review, click here.

Thanks, Adam!

TORCH ON TWITTER

Yeah, we know we're a little tardy to the party, but follow us on twitter and you won't regret it.

Best,
Torch

MARINA IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

Jeanneatte Catsoulis writes:

“Marina of the Zabbaleen,” Engi Wassef’s compassionate documentary about a poor community of garbage recyclers, fights hard to sweeten the misery of its surroundings. Its success is due in no small part to Rob Hauer’s eloquent cinematography, which creeps inside the mind of a child to turn a rat carcass into a shiny toy and mounds of rubbish into a mysterious kingdom.

For the full review, click here.

Our sincere gratitude to Jeannette for her thoughtful and kind words.

MARINA ON TREEHUGGER

Emma Grady highlights the plight of the Zabbaleen and Torch's "environmentally and socially responsible" distribution strategy.

For the full article, click here.

Thanks for the support, TreeHugger -- much love back atcha :)