Cousteau: Amazon--The New Eldorado Invaders And Exiles

Narrated by Joseph Campanella, Amazon--The New Invaders and Exiles follows the expedition of Jean-Michel Cousteau (son of Jacques) as he and his compatriots examine the newfound lust for gold in a land that has been ravaged throughout history in the search for treasures. Opening with an overview of the days of the Spanish conquistadors, Cousteau and company interview a hardworking prospector named Pasquale who sifts the river basin for gold dust, earning as much as $8,000 in a 3-month period. This is small potatoes, however, compared to the barge divers who take humongous vacuums to the river floor and average about $13,000 a month (although the work is much more dangerous). The Cousteau team also visits Serra Pelada, a giant pit that resembles a human anthill--45,000 men make 40-60 trips per day carrying 40 lb. bags of dirt up out of the pit (this scene was eloquently captured in the feature film Powaqaatsi). Of course, some have become very rich. One man who runs a small company of workers and owns the rights to some gold-rich land is pulling in about $300,000 a week. The second half of the program looks at changes in tribal life: from the tribe (formerly cannibals) who now don their costumes and play primitives for the tourist boats that arrive daily, to the forest-dwelling woman who wears a ball-point pen in her ear as an ornament. Technically, the program is excellent, as is the storytelling capabilities of the Cousteaus. The program is, however, some eight years old (not that matters have improved in Amazonia). Amazon--The New Eldorado Invaders and Exiles is recommended. (Note: The program is also available as a boxed set with two other related titles--Amazon--Journey to a Thousand Rivers and Amazon--River of the Future for $56.) (Available from: Aylmer Press, P.O. Box 2735, Madison, WI 53701, (608) 233-2259, and other distributors.)