SWEET WATER PRESENTER NOTES

Transcription

1 Change your footprint take a stand. SWEET WATER PRESENTER NOTES *Sweet Water: fresh, non saline water

2 Part 1: Introducing the theme climate justice and film Sweet Water We suggest that the film be introduced along the following lines to explain the Caritas connection and ensure a consistent message is provided to all who are engaged with the campaign: Welcome to the screening of Sweet Water, brought to you by Caritas Australia in partnership with Caritas Bangladesh. The film provides an insight into the work and life of communities living in the coastal region of South West Bangladesh, and how their way of life is being affected by climate change and poverty. Dr Anwara Shelly, Caritas Bangladesh We must recognise our grave duty to hand the earth on to future generations in such a condition that they too can worthily inhabit it and continue to cultivate it. Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas In Veritate (Charity In Truth), 2009 The film title itself comes from the words of Gusto Gulpa, a Bangladeshi farmer featured in the film. Gusto used the term sweet water to describe the decrease in fresh water supplies in his area as a result of salt water intrusion and sea level rise. Caritas Australia has been working in partnership with Caritas Bangladesh for many years on long term development projects supporting sustainable agriculture, income diversification, environmental conservation, community education and disaster risk reduction. These projects support whole communities and their way of life, ensuring that people are able to live with dignity. This is in line with Caritas mission to support poor and vulnerable

3 communities around the world, helping them to find and implement their own solutions to problems, and work in solidarity with them to address the structural causes of injustice and poverty. For decades, Caritas Bangladesh has been working with local farmers on sustainable agriculture techniques to improve yields of rice and other crops. Through community based training workshops, farmers are empowered to learn and apply new methods, such as use of saline tolerant rice, rain water harvesting and renovation of ponds with higher walls to limit salt water intrusion during cyclones and storm surges. By accessing financial support and training in alternative incomes like bee keeping and crab fattening, farmers can grow more food for their families. They also have more produce to sell, so they can earn and save money for basic needs like school fees and medicine. Local community members know their climate is changing. They may not always understand the science, nor link their experience to global issues, but with Caritas help, they are using their knowledge and abilities to adapt as best they can. However, their actions alone won t be enough. Climate change is a global challenge, and we are all part of the solution. Now is the time to act to stand in solidarity with the poor, and ensure a safe and sustainable future for us all. Parimal Mondal, Rice Farmer, Shyamnagar

4 Quiz Part 3: After the film As suggested in the event outline, you may choose to get people to try to answer the Sweet Water Quiz before watching the film. Any gaps could then be discussed and answered after you ve watched the film. (See appendix for quiz form) Debrief Discuss people s responses to the film, using questions from Part 2 as prompts. If you did the Sweet Water Quiz with the group, go back over the questions and see if you got them all right. Part 2: While watching the film Ask people to consider the following questions as they watch the film: What issues were raised in the film? What questions/emotions did the film raise for you? Has the film changed your perception of Bangladesh and if so, how? Has this film changed your perception of climate change? If so, how? What can we do to stand in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh? Gusto Gulpa, Farmer, East Jelekhali

5 Action Planning Now that the group has learnt a little more about climate change and its impact on the people of Bangladesh, they will be inspired to take action. Lead a short session to get people thinking about their role as advocate and planning actions they can do to bring about change. The following questions might be useful points for discussion. a What can I do as one person working for A Just Climate? b) What can we do as a community/group? c) How can we encourage or help others to take action? Young girl from Gabura You might want to divide people into groups and get them to focus on just one of the questions in depth. All groups can then report back to the larger group afterwards, and discuss thier ideas. Make the exercise more engaging: provide butchers paper and textas so that groups can illustrate their ideas. NB: Now is a great time to remind everyone to sign the petition, if they haven t already done so. Noren Sardar, Fisherman, Jelepala

6 Quick Facts Bangladesh Australia Human Development Index 2010 i Ranked 129 out of 169 Population Total (millions) Human Development Index 2010 Ranked 2 out of 169 Population Total (millions) Under five mortality (per 1,000 live births) 54 Under five mortality (per 1,000 live births) 6 Adult illiteracy rate (both sexes) (% aged 15 and above) 56.5 Adult illiteracy rate (both sexes) (% aged 15 and above) <5 Population living below $1.25 PP/ day (%) Population living below $1.25 PP/ day (%) <5 Prevalence of under nourishment in total population (% of population) 26 Prevalence of under nourishment in total population (% of population) <5 Carbon dioxide emissions per 0.3 capita (tonnes) per yr ii Carbon dioxide emissions per capita (tonnes) per yr 18.1 Population affected by natural disasters (average per year per million people) iii 49,538 Population affected by natural disasters (average per year per million people) 458 i The Human Development Index Ranking is based on measuring three dimensions of human development: life expectancy, education enrolment and living standards/gross national income: UNDP Human Development Report 2010 Human Development Report ii Amount of human originated carbon dioxide emissions stemming from the burning of fossil fuels, gas flaring, the production of cement and depletion of forests, divided by country s population. Boden, T.A., G. Marland & R. J. Andres, 2009, Global, Regional and National Fossil Fuel C02 Emissions, Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Centre iii Population affected by drought, earthquakes, epidemics, extreme temperatures, floods, insect infestation, storms, volcanoes and wildfire, expressed as an annual average per million people. UNDP Country Data (Calculated based on EMDAT, 2010, International Disaster Database

7 Useful Resources Acknowledgements Caritas Australia Caritas Australia would like to thank our partner Caritas Bangladesh and the communities of Satkhira District, who were instrumental in bringing this project to life. Climate Change FAQs, downloadable from Caritas Bangladesh Special thanks also to the individuals who worked on the film, including Richard Wainwright, Lisa-Anne Morris and Cam MacKellar. Your enthusiasm and talents were invaluable. Caritas Internationalis Untied Nations Development Program Young woman, Gabura Area hit by Cyclone Aila

8 Sweet Water Quiz 1. What is the capital of Bangladesh? 2. What is Bangladesh s population? (hint: it s almost 8 x that of Australia s) 3. What do you think the title Sweet Water means and why is it relevant to the story of communities in coastal Bangladesh? 4. Name four of the main crops and agricultural activities undertaken by farmers in South West Bangladesh? 5. What are some of the impacts of climate change experienced by people in Bangladesh? 6. In what year did cyclone Aila hit and what were some of the impacts experienced by local communities? 7. What are the Sundarbans and why is the area so special? 8. Why is education such an important part of Caritas work in Satkhira District, South West Bangladesh?