The documentary Poverty Inc. examines the relationship between the U.S. and other Western nations and the countries experiencing poverty that receive their foreign aid. The documentary criticizes how Western countries have created systems of dependency in which countries such as Haiti are unable to rise out of poverty. For example, rice used to be a luxury item in Haiti. After the U.S. began supplying Haiti with free rice, farmers were forced to sell at cheaper prices until ultimately they had to move inwards towards the city. As more poor people moved into the city, slums were created along the fault line where many earthquakes have occurred. According to the documentary, Western corporations and governments kept African and Carribean countries poor and dependent so that they could exploit workers and resources. There were even instances of white NGO employees receiving the aid that was meant to be helping the people in said disadvantaged countries. One of the men in the documentary, Theodore Dalrymple, admitted to receiving such foreign aid money. The documentary defines poverty as exclusion from networks of exchange. In the African countries mentioned in the documentary, there are entrepreneurs and there are resources but the people lack the connections to sustain their companies. Ultimately what I took away from this documentary was that the core of the problem is a lack of communication. I learned how important it is for Western governments to actually consult with the countries and people they are trying to help rather than to just blindly provide money and resources. Together, they can figure out how to put that aid to good use so the countries can actually work to not only fulfill the immediate needs but create long-lasting effects.