WHERE HAVE ALL THE SPARROWS GONE?

[Guest guest]

Where have all the sparrows gone? Wonders Delhi Chief Minister:

'Quotes from the Earth' environment film festival inaugurated

New Delhi, 04/11/2006

*By Toxics Link*

 

" I haven't seen a sparrow in a long time, though my garden has over 80

different kinds of birds. " A concerned Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit

said at the inauguration of 'Quotes from the Earth' environmental

documentary film festival here Friday morning.

 

Taking time-off from an intense political drama over the issue of sealing of

shops in residential areas, she said: " I agreed to attend this opening

ceremony because of the intense and personal concern that I have for

environment. "

 

Calling for all possible action ranging from individual acts to broad based

community awareness on safeguarding environment, the Delhi Chief Minister

said films are one of the most powerful mediums to take the issue to the

masses.

 

Commending Toxics Link, the organisers, for holding the event she offered

all possible financial and infrastructural support for taking the films

showcased in the festival to people of the National Capital Territory region

through projection vans.

 

She also used the platform to share with those present a school intervention

programme being framed for conducting plantation drives in wastelands and

denuded areas for increasing green cover in the capital.

 

Speaking about inter-linkages, so far as global nature of the issue of

environment protection is concerned, Dr Dominique Dreyer, the Swiss

Ambassador to India, said that though his country has largely protected its

environment, one cannot deny the significance of supporting pro-environment

activities in other societies.

of Toxics Link Ravi Agarwal detailed the dynamism that is visible

in environmental debates and thus a need to create platforms for furthering

the concerns that surround the issue.

 

" I haven't seen a sparrow in a long time, though my garden has over 80

different kinds of birds. " A concerned Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit

said at the inauguration of 'Quotes from the Earth' environmental

documentary film festival here Friday morning.

 

Taking time-off from an intense political drama over the issue of sealing of

shops in residential areas, she said: " I agreed to attend this opening

ceremony because of the intense and personal concern that I have for

environment. "

 

Calling for all possible action ranging from individual acts to broad based

community awareness on safeguarding environment, the Delhi Chief Minister

said films are one of the most powerful mediums to take the issue to the

masses.

 

Commending Toxics Link, the organisers, for holding the event she offered

all possible financial and infrastructural support for taking the films

showcased in the festival to people of the National Capital Territory region

through projection vans.

 

She also used the platform to share with those present a school intervention

programme being framed for conducting plantation drives in wastelands and

denuded areas for increasing green cover in the capital.

 

Speaking about inter-linkages, so far as global nature of the issue of

environment protection is concerned, Dr Dominique Dreyer, the Swiss

Ambassador to India, said that though his country has largely protected its

environment, one cannot deny the significance of supporting pro-environment

activities in other societies.

of Toxics Link Ravi Agarwal detailed the dynamism that is visible

in environmental debates and thus a need to create platforms for furthering

the concerns that surround the issue.

 

The three-day film festival began on a high note with the inaugural

screening of Shekhar Dattari's Point Calimere: A little kingdom by the Coast

being appreciated not only with claps but also some heavy whistling by a

young crowd.

 

The event that saw the most animated exchange of ideas among those present

was a panel discussion on " Are environment documentaries only addressing the

converted? " The panelists included acclaimed documentary filmmaker Sanjay

Kak, Swiss director Alec Wohlgroth and Pradip Saha from Down to Earth.

 

The debate encompassed issues ranging from decline in creative standards to

need for breaking away from agenda-based funding; from the new technological

developments allowing greater freedom to need for cultivating new audiences.

 

Only and Axe Away by P. Baburaj, Green Agony by Geeta Singh, Orange Alert by

Teena Amrit Gill, Mountains in the Mist by Alec Wohlgroth and Cheluvi by

Girish Karnad were also screened on the first day under the theme of Earth.

 

Today the *Survival* segment will capture struggles of communities and

individuals for environmental equity. Hazardous waste, genetic modification

gone out of control and conflict between livelihood and environment are some

of themes that will be covered in this segment.

 

*Green Gold* by *Heidi Bachram*, which details the story of a South African

woman with a hazardous dump site on her doorstep, and *Between the Devil and

the Deep Sea* by *Saraswati Kavula* will be screened, among others, in this

segment.

 

Toxics Link is an environmental group, which focuses on toxics and waste

issues. It is dedicated to the improvement of municipal, hazardous and

medical waste management, among others. Utilising community outreach and

education, policy analysis and initiatives, research, training and program

development, it works at the state and central levels to create solutions

for waste management.

 

*For any further details or interview of the directors please contact

Parvinder Singh at +91-9811703798 or Pragya Majumder +91-9811864256.*