Cambodia’s Areng Valley is home to thousands, including Reem Sav See and her family, who belong to the Chong minority. The Chong have a deep connection with the area, believing it to be sacred. However, a dam project threatens everything. With help from China, the construction of the Stung Tatay dam threatens many Chmong residents. This massive development project propels Reem Sav See and her family to consult monks from Phnom Penh to fight for their homeland. And what a homeland it is. The Areng Valley is full of vast and lush swamps, lakes, and forests which are all protected by the Chong.
Although brief, the educational documentary Fight for Areng Valley shows a spirited people fighting for what they believe in. It also stresses the impact industrial change can have on indigenous populations. You truly feel the connection the Chong have with nature, and the threat of industrialization threatens not only their home but their entire way of life.
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Lost World
Cambodia is once again the setting for the short film Lost World. We are taken to the country’s west coast in Koh Sralau. Full of lush mangrove forests, we witness the beauty of the land almost immediately. We meet Vy Phalla and members of her village. They try to make a living despite threats to their land. Millions of tons of sand have been dredged from Koh Sralau. This isn’t for Cambodia’s benefit. Instead, the sand is sent to Singapore to expand its landmass and to build an enormous theme park. It is truly infuriating to see Koh Sralau stripped of its resources for such a blatant vanity project.
We go from the ravaged landscape of Koh Sralau to the excesses of Singapore, and it is this juxtaposition that makes the overall situation more infuriating to the viewer. We discover Singapore has imported over eighty million tons of sand for both a theme park and a casino. The casino, Marina Bay Sands, is considered the most expensive of its kind in the world. The theme park, Gardens by the Bay, touts environmental awareness, where visitors can learn about the environment and sustainability. The film discusses the irony here, as the theme park that spouts all this ideology is built on sand ripped from native populations in a different country.
Vy really drives it home near the end, saying “Without land, we are without identity.” The parallels between the extravagance of Singapore versus the simplicity of the villagers in Koh Sralau are almost overwhelming. But that’s the entire point. You’re supposed to be appalled and enraged by what is happening. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
The study guide for both films is an invaluable resource for educators. It provides extensive background information on the film itself and showcases real-life examples of how educators have utilized the documentary in their teaching. It also includes a robust collection of discussion questions and activities suitable for various educational grade levels, allowing students to contemplate environmental ethics, cultural identity, and economics. The guide's breakdown of the films in sections is particularly helpful for teachers, as they can easily locate the key themes and topics covered throughout the documentary, integrate specific clips into lessons, or structure their screening around pause points for discussion. This guide allows students can develop a deeper understanding of indigenous rights and critically engage with urgent global challenges.
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What type of subject would this educational documentary resource be suitable for?
- Environmental Studies: It provides insights into the impact of industrial projects on indigenous populations and their environment, making it relevant for courses focusing on environmental issues, conservation, and sustainability.
- Anthropology: The film explores cultural beliefs, identity, and the relationship between indigenous communities and their natural surroundings, making it applicable to anthropology courses focusing on cultural heritage and environments.
- Sociology: It sheds light on the intersectionality of socio-economic factors, indigenous rights, and environmental justice, making it relevant for sociology courses focusing on such social inequality issues.
How does this film contribute to a discussion of environmental or climate justice and environmental literacy?
The documentary showcases how industrial projects, such as dam construction or sand removal, can threaten the livelihoods and cultural heritage of indigenous communities like the Chong in the Areng Valley. It underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation on marginalized groups.These documentaries sift through the challenges of balancing economic development with environmental protection and indigenous rights. It encourages viewers to critically engage with these issues and consider alternative approaches to sustainable development.
Teacher's Guide
Download the complete guide for free at https://globalenvironmentaljustice.com
About the Global Environmental Justice Documentaries Project:
Regular subscription cost is US $495 for one year or $1195 for three years. Special offer of $1095 for a three year subscription in celebration of Earth Day expires 1 September 2024.
The Global Environmental Justice (GEJ) Collection is a curated selection of 48 documentaries with teacher’s guides selected by faculty from Whittier College, Yale, Brandeis, Bates and NYU. Aided by support from the Henry Luce Foundation and the Global Reporting Centre, the project provides an interdisciplinary collection of documentaries that explore the intersections of such topics as human rights, environmental degradation, colonization, global development, and climate change.More than 80 college and university libraries have hosted more than 16,000 screenings to date with a total viewing time of 330,000 minutes. Video Librarian commissioned 20 reviews of films in the award-winning collection which was also also reviewed by Choice..
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