Environmental films first step on way to awareness<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Can you save the environment by sitting in front
\nof the television? It may take a while, but film director Slamet
\nRahardjo and Minister of Environment's representative Sunoto
\nbelieve educating the public through films is integral to the
\nGreen movement.<\/p>\n
Slamet and Sunoto spoke at a seminar last Wednesday on the
\nEarth Vision Film Festival, sponsored by the Japan Foundation,
\nthe Ministry of Environment and Cipta Gallery. Eighteen films
\nfrom across the world were at Japan's Cultural Center in
\nSummitmas Tower. The festival ended on Dec. 1.<\/p>\n
Earth Vision's premier showing in Jakarta followed festivals
\nin Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney and Bangkok, and aimed to increase
\nenvironmental awareness. Among the films shown this year were
\nMongolia's I am a Mongolian Child, Japan's A 20th Century Legacy?
\nThe Story of Chemical Weapons, and India's The Weeping Rice Bowl,
\nabout the flooding of Kerala's rich rice valley.<\/p>\n
The two films shown on Wednesday were Japanese productions.
\nThe Sound of Tiny Wings - A Village where the Korean Red
\nHairstreak Plays, is a microscopic look at the endangered
\nGossamer Wing Butterfly, illustrating the co-dependence between
\nhumankind and the environment it continual destroys. Living on
\nthe River Agano is a humorous yet plaintive illumination of how
\nthose most protective of their environment often become the
\nbiggest victims of environmental hazards.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, especially its poor and its traditional societies,
\nis no stranger to environmental hazards. Sunoto is therefore
\nconfident the festival will have an impact.<\/p>\n
"If this festival can gather 500 people, who will each tell 5
\nother people, then in five years we will have an effect,"
\nexplained Sunoto.<\/p>\n
This festival is increasingly necessary, among a public
\nunaware of worsening environmental damage, Sunoto added.<\/p>\n
"Environmental awareness won't happen by itself. You need a
\ncampaign to raise it," said Sunoto.<\/p>\n
While the stereotype of an ignorant Indonesian public
\ncontinues, Slamet Rahardjo argues that the country's traditional
\nvalues are very sensitive to the environment.<\/p>\n
"When I grew up, I was told that if you urinate in the sea,
\nyou will get cursed by black magic," said Slamet. "These
\ntraditional values are now disappearing because they are thought
\nof as 'primitive'. We as modern people don't want to know them,"
\nsaid Slamet.<\/p>\n
The fact that no Indonesian films were shown, and that few
\nIndonesian environmental films are made at all, also hinders
\nprogress. Slamet attributes film scarcity to government
\ncensorship.<\/p>\n
"Filmmakers should be able to make honest films, but how can
\nwe make honest films if the environment is still a sensitive
\nissue?" asked Slamet.<\/p>\n
-- Dini S. Djalal<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environmental-films-first-step-on-way-to-awareness-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }