This unique collection of six short films gives an in-depth look into indigenous struggles for ecology and self-determination in Indonesia. Each film focuses on a specific native group and allows tribal leaders to express their positions and beliefs with brief interjections of supplementary information. The Knasaimos People of Papua face the immediate effects of illegal logging and an unfriendly government stifles their efforts to fight for ecology. The Dayak Meratus from Kalimantan face a similar issue: Their ancestral lands are encroached on daily by oil palm plantations and extractive industries. The third segment follows the Forest Stewardship Council in Sulawesi, a coalition of forest peoples running a cooperative lumber farm. The film’s fourth segment follows Members of Indonesian civil society as they plead with the European Union to do something about the importing of illegally sourced lumber. The next segment deals with illegal logging in a national park in Bukit Lawang and the possibility of using tourism as a tool for ecological preservation. The sixth and final segment is Hope: Indigenous Climate Change Solutions. Following members of the Sungai Utik people, they explain their simple solutions to climate change.
One thing that must be said about 5x5 and Hope is how beautifully shot they are. While somewhat dense and journalistic in format, this collection of short films is an excellent resource for teachers who want to expand classroom conversation around climate change and indigenous worldviews. These short films can be accessed individually on the Global Environmental Justice webpage, and the short runtime of each film means there will be plenty of time to talk, even in the shortest of class periods. Those interested in ecological and indigenous struggles in Indonesia will very much enjoy these short documentaries. Patrons who study indigenous culture will also be interested in the excellent depictions of day-to-day life among the people documented in these films.
What kind of film series could use this title?
These titles would be excellent between longer titles about indigenous ecology or struggles for autonomy.
What kind of college instructor could use this title?
Those seeking to engage students in conversations about climate change, indigenous rights, and ecology will find the best use in these short films.
How does this film contribute to a discussion of environmental or climate justice, and/or to environmental literacy?
This collection of films inspires deep reflection on several interconnected human and environmental issues. It examines the impact of land grabs, logging, oil palm plantations, mining, and the disregard for ecosystems that has been compromising the forests of Indonesia, threatening the survival of endangered species, and fueling climate change. In the words of local indigenous leaders, who are often opposed by governments and corrupt local officials, the destruction of the forests directly threatens their land, homes, livelihoods, and cultures as well as the region’s biodiversity. Together with local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), they are documenting the impact of environmental degradation and are actively seeking ways to mitigate climate change, protect the forests, defend their cultures, and bring about a just economy. These films invite viewers to imagine what an environmentally just Indonesia.
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Five short films from Indigenous communities across Indonesia show their response to threats to their forests posed by miners, loggers, palm oil plantations and global warming. In the sixth film, a Dayak Iban community inspires hope as it offers a simple solution to the global climate crisis.
Teacher's Guide
Curator | Jason A.Carbine
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Whittier College
Why I selected this film
Given the hundreds of millions of people around the world who depend on forests for their livelihoods and the number of people, organizations, institutions, and nation-states that are involved in resource extraction from them, the problems resulting from illegal and destructive logging are relevant to all. With the participation of students in my class at Whittier College, we chose these films for their intimate, accessible portrayal of efforts to address the issue of illegal logging in Indonesia. These six films explore the struggles indigenous and other people face, the hardships they endure, and the need for collective action and coalition building to bring about positive change and the sustainable use of forests. While specific to Indonesia, these films can be screened alongside others that address these issues in other countries in Southeast Asia and around the world.
Please see the teacher's guide for maps, background information and suggested subjects, questions and activities.
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