Traveller’s Teacup

Here’s a little report on our festival from the United Nations University’s website. I’ll upload a photo gallery shortly

After a year of intensive global film-making (8 short films in 13 months!), our little UNU media caravan is trundling out for Copenhagen. This week Megumi and I are heading off to the COP15 to present the “Indigenous Voices of Climate Change” film festival. The festival being MCed by Marilyn Wallace, will be screening over 5 days at National Museum of Denmark 9-13th, Dec 4-6pm.

The festival is a 4 hour program of videos from communities, friends, and colleagues in Australia, Africa, South America, Arctic circle, Central Asia, Iran, PNG… (basically across the globe) presenting community stories that climate change is happening and hurting now. These assessment case studies provide the Conference of the parties evidence, references, but most importantly amplified voices demanding changes to behavioural responsibility. Sadly, this voice is almost missing from the official governmental delegation lists and from the rather stale scientific tit-for tat being splattered across the newspapers of late.

If you are in Copnehagen, please come down to the museum to be a part of this extraordinary global movement. Admission is Free! In particular, don’t miss Indigenous Day on 12th December which promises to be a full day of exhibits, films, panel discussions, dancing, music and other creative outpourings. A full list of the films and screening program can be downloaded here: www.ourworld.unu.edu/COP15_filmfestival

With a UN delegate passes and small HDV camera in hand, Megumi and I also hope report a little from inside the Bella Centre too. Stay tuned to our twitter feed for updates: @cittw, @luvmegumi, @ourworld20

Greetings from Irkutsk, Russia. Waiting in transit before heading into Mongolia.

For your viewing pleasure, here’s the first of the three Central Asian Indigenous Perspectives of Climate Change videos. Might still have a few errors here and there, but should all be fixed before the video festival in Copenhagen in December. Feedback is welcome!

As some of your know, Luis Patron (my UNU producing colleague) and I have recently returned from filming on the Carteret Islands in PNG. The situation there is terrible. The media has started picking up on the relocation efforts but the islanders still need financial support of about US$2 million to relocate the 125 families. The videobrief we made in collaboration with Nicholas and Tulele Peisa (headed by Ursula Rakmova) has already been viewed by over 48,000 online viewers.

The video got a plug in this treehugger article:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/05/indigenous-communities-carteret-islands-use-film.php

Ursula from Tulele Peisa recently writes:
“…I was in Tinputz on Wednesday to welcome the first 5 fathers when they arrived from Carterets. I went there again on Sunday last week and they seemed really happy and have been hard at work, cleaning the place and cutting down some more bushes. They are now feeling at home. Their wives and children will come on June 5, 2009 to join them. The governor on Sunday went to present to them a chainsaw which is now helping them to build the houses that are yet to be put up…

For those of you interested here’s the video again:

Here’s our recently completed documentary from the UNU Media Studio and World Health Organisation.

The Wisdom Years: Ageing into the 21st Century (26 minutes)

In Japan, one of the richest, most technological and urbanized countries in the world, more than 20% of the population is now over 65. This is part of a global ageing trend that has serious consequences for our economy and society.

The Wisdom Years documentary offers glimpses into the urban lives of 70, 90 and 100 year old Japanese people and their secrets to maintaining physical, mental and social health.  Through scientific breakthroughs, and these everyday stories, we witness the transformation of the senior citizen in the 21st Century.

The Wisdom Years takes place in Japan, and offers a springboard from which to explore the process of ageing in other cities around the world.

For more clips and case study information visit website at www.wisdom.unu.edu

The premier screening at UNU Tokyo headquarters is pictured below. Photo by Jason Hall.