Australian Film Festival at IIC – Film Review

The Tall Man

Written and Directed by Tony Krawitz, ‘The Tall Man’ is a documentary based on a book of the same name by Chloe Hooper. The documentary is a puzzle which takes the audience on a roller coaster ride to determine the truth behind the famous Cameroon Domadgee death in custody case.

An inebriated Cameroon was arrested one morning for swearing at Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley, and just an hour later he was found dead in the Palm Island police station. The police claimed that Domadgee died because he fell and slipped when entering the cell. Nobody cared to explain how he got such bad injuries by just falling: four broken ribs, a badly ruptured liver and condition as bad as after a car accident.

The documentary uses court transcripts, interviews with Doomadgee’s family and fellow residents and video footage of Hurley re-enacting his version of that day’s event. It also touches upon Palm Island’s colonial history where racism was widespread. 

The filmmaker plays fair by allotting almost the same time to Hurley’s supporters as he does to Domadgee’s. The local people of Palm Island would refer to Chris Hurley who was 6 ft 7 in. tall and weighed 115 kg as ‘The Tall Man’ (of the title) because of his giant physique. The documentary highlights the difficulty to bring him to trial, and his final acquittal makes us question the Judiciary. Krawitz couldn’t convince Chris Hurley to be in the film. The film ends with the results of the final investigation conducted in 2010, including an audio recording of Hurley’s statement.

Go Back to Where You Came From: Series 2

The documentary film shows us the lives of refugees and the difficulties they face trying to lead a normal life. The filmmaker tried a new genre of documentary film making i.e., a reality TV show format. This fresh approach makes us as an audience more interested, captivated and receptive. Refugees are vulnerable and prone to exploitation and violence. With no protection and no rights, they are completely helpless. This documentary does try and bring out the debate of asylum seekers in the open.

We were shown Episodes 2 and 3 from Season 1 of the documentary. It begins with a mini introduction of all the 6 participants – their names, ages, backgrounds and their opinion on the Australia's asylum seeker debate. Except one of the participants, all the rest shared a common hatred for refugees and this included an absolute racist (Raquel) and a complete Muslim hater (Adam). From being a part of  immigration raids in Malaysia, to living in a refugee camp in Kenya, from visiting slums in Jordan and going to war torn countries like Congo and Iraq – the participants do it all.

The film screening was followed by a discussion with filmmaker Rick McPhee. During which a woman said that the participants take more of our attention and sympathy than the refugees. Though she meant it otherwise, I felt that was the biggest advantage of the film. It worked well because, in order to win the asylum seekers debate in their favor, we need to convince people who are anti-refugees first. And the film does that easily, as it strikes a chord with especially such people and makes them think. They connect with participants who are challenged by the situations they are put in and change completely by the end of their journey. If the participants on the show could have a change of heart, so can other such people. The documentary gives us all a ray of hope.

Is Climate Change an Exaggerated Concern?

Prakriti- The Environment Society, is pleased to invite you to join us for a panel discussion on ‘Climate Change is an Exaggerated Concern’ organised by Green Karbon, a Deutsche Bank- Sanctuary Asia Climate Change- Biodiversity initiative.

Speakers

·         Muhammad A. Khan, Advisor of Law and Policy to Ministry of Environment and Forests

·         Professor Vinod Chandra Menon, Former Member National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India

·         Samir Menon, Head of Eco-Sustainable Services, Tata Consultancy Services.

Speakers from LSR

·         Dr. Kalyani, Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Lady Shri Ram College

·         Preeti Venkatram, President, Prakriti- The Environment Society of Lady Shri Ram College

Date: 24^th March 2011

Time: 11:30 am to 1:15 pm

Venue: Lady Shri Ram College

*This is an open event, i.e. open to those not studying as LSR as well.

Please register at the link given below:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHRXcXRraVNDMWtrWGsxS0tJMWwyLXc6MQ

LSR Prakriti Week 2011- Registrations Open!!

Prakriti- The Environment Society of Lady Shri Ram College Presents "Prakriti Week" from 21-26 March 2011!

• 21st March: Tree Plantation (intra-college)

• 22nd March:
Environmental Quiz-12:30 pm (inter-college)
1. Each participating team must consist of 2 members.
2. Cross college teams are allowed.
3. The first round will be a written round with Multiple Choice Questions. The top eight teams will qualify to the next round and will be contesting in the quiz.
4. The quiz essentially will be questioning you on environmental issues, environmentalists, global networks supporting the cause of the environment, etc.
5. Prizes worth Rs.3,000 to be won.

Each team is required to register on or before 21st March 2011 by filling out the following: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGpCWXBkSzNYcWs1eVZmV2ZaTVdNdlE6MQ

Eco Friendly Folder Making Competition-12:30 pm (inter-college)
1. Participation maybe either in the form of a team of 2 or an individual.
2. A set of two folders has to be made on any one of the themes given below. Each folder should have a different design or pattern.
• Cartoon
• Traditional
• Natural
3. Each folder should be of A4 size.
4. Only handmade paper can be used.
5. Drawing/ painting/ decoration has to be done on the spot.
6. You will be required to bring any material you require- handmade paper folders, scissors, paints, etc.
7. The decision of the judges will be final and binding.
8. Prizes worth Rs. 1,800 to be won.

Each team is required to register on or before 21st March 2011 by filling out the following: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFFQZWRRcTBFN2pJd3pJdTZDUDJjeXc6MQ

• 23rd March: Green Ad Mad Competition- 3 pm (inter-college)
1. A team of 2 or maximum 3 members can participate.
2. The competition will consist of 2 rounds.
3. Preparation time before each round will be given.
4. Different forms of expression can be used- skit, jingles, slogans, or any other innovative form.
5. Time duration to present each act is 3 minutes.
6. The decision of the judges will be final and binding.
7. Prizes worth Rs. 3,000 to be won.

Each team is required to register on or before 21st March 2011 by filling out the following: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dE5PRUMxMThnVGFLRDRtOG5yY0xKM1E6MQ

• 24th March: Panel Discussion: 'Climate Change is an Exaggerated Concern'- 11:30 am (inter-college)

• 25th March: Film Screening (intra-college)

• 26th March: Lady Shri Ram Model Conference of the Parties (LSR MCOP)- 9 am (inter-college) http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157058624348045&pending#!/event.php?eid=202974346386758

• Photo Story Competition: Theme- Environment and Growth: Contradictory or Complementary? (inter-college)
1. Only one photo story submission per participant is allowed.
2. Each photo story must have 3 photos in it.
3. Photographs must not be digitally altered in any way (only cropping is allowed).
4. Size of each photograph should be 6" x 8".
5. Each photograph in the story should have a caption and the name, college, course, and contact details of the participant clearly mentioned behind each.
6. Please send all your entries together, enclosed in an envelope to
Faculty Apartments # 21,
Lady Shri Ram College,
Lajpat Nagar 4,
New Delhi- 110024,
India
7. Entries must reach LSR by 24th March, 12 pm.
8. The decision of the judges will be final and binding.
9. Prizes worth Rs.3,000 to be won.

Queries if any can be addressed to lsr.prakriti@gmail.com

LSR Model Conference of Parties (MCOP)

‘Prakriti’, the Environment Society of Lady Shri Ram College invites applications for the first Lady Shri Ram Model Conference of the Parties (LSR MCOP) to be held on 26th March 2011 during its environment festival, ‘Prakriti Week’ (21st-26th March 2011). http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157058624348045#!/event.php?eid=157058624348045&notif_t=event_wall#wall_posts

• Applications are open for the following positions:
1. Govern...ment Delegates for the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA)
Agenda: ‘Sustainable Development through Adaptation to and Mitigation of Climate Change’
2. Media Delegates (choose one of the three positions):
a) Chief Editor (1)
b) Reporter (3)
c) Photographer (1)
3. NGO Delegates (4)
For whichever delegate position you are applying, please write 250 words on why you want to be a part of LSR MCOP, and what makes you a suitable candidate for the position you are applying for (if you are applying to be a Media Delegate please include relevant samples of your work).
Additionally, please mention previous debating and/or MUN experience. Please note however that we will welcome those with no prior experience as well.
Send in the above (on or before 13th March 2011) to lsr.prakriti@gmail.com along with the following details:
Name, College, Course, Year, Email Address, Phone Number, and Top Three Country Preferences* (in case you are applying to be a Government Delegate)
*Countries:
China, Maldives, Australia, Russia, United Kingdom, Bolivia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, United States of America, Brazil, South Africa, Haiti, India, Afghanistan, Japan, Chile, United Arab Emirates, Congo, France, Turkey, South Korea, Malaysia, Iran, and Norway.

• Applications are also open for the Executive Board of the (AWG-LCA). It is mandatory for applicants to have had prior Executive Board experience. Knowledge about UNFCCC and Conference of the Parties is also a must. Positions are:
a) Chair
b) Vice- Chair
For whichever Executive Board position you are applying, please write 250 words on why you want to be a part of LSR MCOP, and what makes you a suitable candidate for the position you are applying for.
Please also mention previous debating and/or MUN experience.
Send in the above (on or before 13th March 2011) to lsr.prakriti@gmail.com along with the following details:
Name, College, Course, Year, Email Address, Phone Number

Prizes:
Best Delegate: Rs. 2,000
High Commendation: Rs. 1,000
Special Mention: Rs. 500

Queries, if any, may be addressed to lsr.prakriti@gmail.com.