Lakehead University professor, Dr. Ron Harpelle, and his filmmaking partner, Kelly Saxberg, have completed their biggest project ever. Starting next Wednesday at 8:00 pm the French language version of Citizens of the World, (Citoyens du Monde) will air on TFO. Citizens of the World is a six-part documentary series, filmed in over a dozen countries and focused on Canada’s role in supporting research for development. This timely series looks at six broad themes, Water, Women, Politics, Health, Information and Communication Technologies and the Emerging Economies of China, India and Brazil, with an emphasis on research currently being conducted in these areas of international development. Filmed in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, each film examines one theme in at least three different regions of the world. Appearing in the series are leading international figures like Vandana Shiva, Rigoberta Menchu, Palmira Ventosilla, Dipak Gyawali, Maurice Strong, M.S. Swaminathan, Lloyd Axworthy, Danilo Astori, Pierre Sané,  Zoubida Charouff,  Margaret Catley-Carlson,  Fatou Sarr, José Cassiolato, Moubarack Lo, John Biehl, Lu Mai, and Jad Isaac.

The film series follows Ron Harpelle of Lakehead University and Bruce Muirhead of the University of Waterloo, as they conduct their own research on a book they have just completed on the history of the International Development Research Centre, a unique and highly innovative part of Canada’s foreign assistance program. Together, they met with scientists and researchers around the world to discuss obstacles to development and some of the solutions Canada has been involved in funding. The book will be available later this year and an English version of the series will soon be ready for broadcast and for sale to educational institutions across Canada and around the world.

The series was produced by Les Productions Rivard of Winnipeg and directed by Kelly Saxberg. Drs. Harpelle and Muirhead conducted the research and interviewed people who appear in the documentaries. In addition, Donald Delorme, (camera) Madelaine Bernard,(translation) and Gabriel Harpelle, (assistant editor) all from Thunder Bay, also worked on the series. International Development programs are growing rapidly and this is a significant educational tool that provides educators with a comprehensive perspective on some of the most significant issues confronting scientists in the developing world today.

The series will run on TFO every Wednesday evening between April 7 and May 12, 2010. An English version of the television series will soon be ready for broadcast. English and French DVD versions of the series will also be available soon.