Where The Water Starts

Australia’s fragile natural environment is being ravaged by bush fires, extreme weather events that are a direct result of climate change. Traditional farming techniques and the impact of feral animals are doing great harm to waterways, indigenous species and Indigenous cultural heritage. Neglect and contempt for Aboriginal land management practices has also played a part. This film seeks to empower those protecting our fragile ecosystems to promote action in its defence. Specifically it looks at the alpine region of Australia, a fragile and small area which is facing challenges from the impact of feral animals, artificial water flows, tourism over-development as well as the broader impacts of global warming.

The film will raise awareness about the real impacts of climate change on Australia’s highly unique and fragile ecosystems. Audiences will see a specific story about the Snowy Monaro region where the campaign to reduce numbers of feral animals that threaten key water sources and the habitat of endangered native species, is being waged. Integral to alpine species survival is the need to protect their habitat. The film will direct audiences to NGOs and wildlife groups tackling these issues.

Short Term outcomes include a shift in attitudes and a growing awareness of the huge and negative impacts of global warming on our natural environment, as demonstrated in the Snowy Monaro region where climate change has its own particular impacts. Donations are likely for organisations playing these important roles. The urgent reduction of feral animals across Australia requires community pressure on the political class to act.

Medium Term outcomes include politicians and government agencies with authority over the natural environment to implement new policies which offer and guarantee employment for Aboriginal people to play the vital role of ‘care for Country’.

The Long Term impact is a better understanding across our society that with mutual respect and recognition Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can work together to maintain our vital natural environment.

We have recently been endorsed by Reclaim Kosci, part of the Invasive Species Council who are partners. We have invited regional groups of the National Parks Association Vic and NSW, to be hosts of screenings. Richard and his wife Alison are both actively involved in the Invasive Species Council and especially, post bush fires, is a critically important time to act against feral animals, their social media campaign is very active now.

The actions of audiences are critical to changing community norms and prejudices where they exist and to motivate politicians, giving them ‘social license’ to act to protect Australia’s fragile environment. The bush fire catastrophe of 2019-20 has brought out a variety of perspectives on the causes with our natural environment and our national parks being blamed by some. It is important for genuine measures to ameliorate climate change that the whole community be brought along on the journey. Audiences can do a range of actions from the more passive acts of signing petitions online to direct membership or subscription or donations to a range of climate change groups and wildlife groups. They might host a screening of the film and promote these activities as a consequence, or they may attend a vigil or street action that highlights the issues in the film.