GFDD Hosts Two Side-Events at OAS During Riveting Four-day Dominican Republic Film Showcase Program

Tuesday April 16th, 2013

Washington DC, April 16, 2013

As part of the informative activities surrounding the Dominican Republic Film Showcase in DC, and to take full advantage of the presence of two of the producers and filmmakers in attendance, Maria Jose Bengoa, and Fernando Baez, interesting side-events were held at the Organization of American States.

• Dominican Reserve Bank: an Example of Corporate Social Responsibility

On April 10, GFDD convened a discussion about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) introducing the presentation “Banco de Reservas: an Example of Corporate Social Responsibility.” The event took place in collaboration with the Division of Corporate Social Responsibility and Inter-American Network of the Department of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism of the OAS in the OAS headquarters in Washington DC.

In the contemporary world, a modern business model encompasses compulsory ethical standards, in addition to a traditional “maximizing profits,” e. Today companies are expected to meet public interests applying, to their everyday activities, holistic and round actions known as CSR strategies.

Established in 1941 and applying CSR strategies to its activities, Banco de Reservas became renowned by its Voluntariado Banreservas Program and, therefore, was recognized as the first Dominican financial institution that promotes music, literature, education, sports and art in the Dominican Republic.

The event that took place during lunchtime featured the presentation about the Voluntariado Banreserva Program. It was delivered by its director, Maria Jose Bengoa, who also produced the environmental film short “Turning our Backs to The Ocean” shown to DR Film Showcase audiences on the same day. The honored guest provided the audience with invaluable information the Program. Banreservas Volunteering was initiated in 1999-2000 by the wife of the former general manager of Banreservas, Jatna Tavarez, to provide assistance to those who were in need in Dominican society. Over time, the project has grown and expanded its “program area” to health care, cultural and social events, community work, environment protection and business performance. Today Banreservas Volunteering is an exemplary project of solidarity and social commitment, and “the best response to society that entrusted in us,” remarked Ms. Bengoa, at the end of the presentation.

The lunch meeting of the Division of Corporate Social Responsibility and Voluntary Reserve Bank could not be timelier, as it took place at the same time as the creation of the American Community of Corporate Social Responsacilidad. Through the Reserve Bank, that has been set up as an example of applying CSR strategies in its activities, the Dominican Republic is able to play a leading role in the newly established Community of Corporate Social Responsacilidad.

• Discussion: Growth of Lake Enriquillo: Environmental and Social Impacts

On April 11, also at the OAS headquarters in Washington DC, GFDD and FUNGLODE showcased a screening of the documentary The Growth of Lake Enriquillo: Environmental, Social and Scientific Implications. The film production was presented in partnership with the Department of Sustainable Development (SEDI) of the OAS and featured during the Dominican Film Showcase Program that took place in Washington DC.

Lake Enriquillo is located in a rift valley that extends from Port-au-Prince Bay in Haiti to near Neiba Bay in the Dominican Republic. For the past seven years it has grown from 164 km2 to 350 km2. The 16 minutes short film, produced by GFDD and FUNGLODE, presents a recent research conducted to investigate why Lake Enriquillo has been growing and, therefore, addresses the environmental, social and scientific implications of this phenomenon.

After the film screening, a briefing with experts in biodiversity and environmental law followed. The discussion was centered around the recent findings related to the current state of the Lake. Toward the end of the briefing, renowned director of “The King of Najayo” Fernando Baez, showed a selected number of film clips from his own soon-to-be released documentary film on the tragic consequences of Enriquillo’s growth.

The intricate discussion continued the next day, when the Department of Sustainable Development of the OAS opened its historical archives with aerial photographs and maps of the Dominican Republic including the Lake Enriquillo area. The honored guest, director Fernando Baez, thanked the organizers for the photographs that appeared to be great material for his upcoming documentary.

GFDD / FUNGLODE are facilitators of the mission and goal to present the Dominican Republic in all its best aspects and facets providing for the world what the country has to offer.

Related link:
www.dominicanfilmshowcase.org