Atomic Africa
The film reveals the hidden agenda of the nuclear industry in Africa and the alarming consequences for people and the environment. In collusion with corrupt governments and questionable business partners energy companies source uranium for their domestic markets. And – faced with an apparent “sales problem” of nuclear technology in the Western world – they also lobby African governments to buy nuclear power plants.
Otherwise well informed high-level decision makers in Africa seem oblivious to the risks of nuclear power. They happily welcome the prospect of a seemingly endless, cheap and clean energy source. And their national pride is fuelled by the fact that the radioactive raw material for the new reactors doesn’t need to be imported from other countries – it’s hidden in the African soil.
The film shows the dilemma of the African continent: It desperately needs cheap and reliable electric power for its development – but instead of being able to use its own resources, Africa is forced to sell off its riches to corrupt multinational enterprises. The sobering conclusion: In the future, African governments will need to give up their unrealistic nuclear ambitions and develop appropriate technologies to free themselves from their technological dependence on Western enterprises.
Gold World Medal Environment & Ecology, New York Film Festival, Winner Green Report Greenscreen Festival, Best Documentary & TV Report FIFEL Lausanne, Environmental Film Festival Washington, Environmental Investigation Award, Japan Wildlife Film Festival, Nominee Grimme Award, Nominee Best Environmental & Wildlife Program Rockie Award, Banff, NaturVision Ludwigsburg, Uranium Film Festival Brasilien, Ökofilmtour Potsdam, New York Film Festival – Gold Medal, Japan Wildlife Festival – Environmental Investigation Award
Research: Jolijn Geels (Niger), Jeanette Mokobane (Südafrika), Simone Schlindwein (Kongo DRC)
Editing: Karl-Heinz Satzger
Assi of Editing: Andreas Walter
Translation: Elizabeth Muthee
Sound: Markus Löbel
Narrator: Michael Ché-Koch, Daniela Bette-Koch, Gregor Höppner, Wolfgang Luck
Original Music: Imaran‘ Aïr D‘Agadez
Music: Martin-Luc Vansteenkiste
Research WDR-Archiv: Bärbel Fixemer, Karl H. Rex
Assi of Editor: Philip Jedecke, Lukas Roegler
Editor: Jutta Krug (WDR)