MIRANO ASAI | staff writer

Even one grain of sugar has a human drama. On Jan. 28, the movie The Price of Sugar was screened in Munson Chapel for the first night of Justice Week. The reality of the nearby country left a deep impression in the mind of every person in the audience.

The film focuses on the inhumane working condition of Haitians in the Dominican Republic. Haiti, the second poorest country in the world has little to no access to clean water, good food or medicine. As a result, thousands of undocumented Haitians have moved to the Dominican Republic in search for a better life. However, life hasn’t been much better on that side. Many immigrants have had to work on sugar cane plantations, guarded by armed men, to provide for their families.

The film highlights these conditions and tells the story of Father Christopher Robinson, a charismatic Spanish priest. The father has dedicated most seven years of his life to fight against the injustices. Before coming to the Dominican Republic, Father Robinson worked alongside Mother Teresa in India. His encounter with Mother Teresa inspired him to help the poor. He still remembers what one sick man told him on his deathbed, “I have been waiting for you.” This experience triggered him to realize that there are so many poor people who have been waiting for his help.

“I want to spend the rest of my life exactly like this; ‘Love the poor and be holy,’” Father Robinson said in the film.

The film itself is well organized and not only shows the hard lives of both Haitians and Dominican Republicans, but also sheds light on the corruption that allows only a few Dominican Republicans to profit from the sugar industry. The film profiled several adults and children impacted by the sugarcane industry. The cinematography presented powerful images of those who are suffering.

“I was impressed by pictures of working people. It brings me the sense of emergency about two countries. This film shows the power of journalism and makes me think of what I can do for them,” senior cinema broadcast arts major Yuko Niiyama said.

After the film, donations were taken to help fund the APU summer mission trip to the Dominican Republic. APU also sent a team last year to the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The team spent time in several villages at health clinics and promoted health education in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

“Justice in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic has significantly been better. However, I was able to especially recognize how unjust the labor conditions were in the sguar cane villages and the system itself are. It is an issue that needs to be brought up,” junior nursing major and DR team co-leader Leigh Hammerstein said. “In the sugar cane village, it is almost like slave labor.”

Although Haiti and the Dominican Republic are only 50 miles away from the United States, not many people know about this issue. This film is helping raise awareness and has earned several awards while doing it. The Price of Sugar won the audience award at the 2007 Southwest Film Festival and was nominated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science.

“I just want to raise the awareness of this issue because a lot of people do not know about the reality of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. We also want to promote how people can buy fair trade production. ” senior nursing major and DR team co-leader Ashley Morris said.

Since the U.S. imports most sugars from Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the fair trade certified product is a key to save. The film and event stressed the importance of fair trade products.

“I will definitely try to buy fair trade brands now,” senior biblical studies major Katrina Kritz said.

The Price of Sugar is among many influential documents that are raising awareness about the unknown human injustices taking place around the world. The film notes the national motto of Haiti is “L’Union Fait La Force.” It means, ‘unity makes strength’ in French. The Price of Sugar asks its audience to join this unity to change.