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TRANSCRIPT
‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
TITLE:
From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu people.
(See/click endnote for title explanation)i.
Pictures 1-3: The pictures have been carefully picked -for descriptions and facts please see appendices.
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The Our World documentary, From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People, investigates the potential, disastrous impact of Brazil’s Belo Monte Dam complex on the indigenous Xingu people and on the nearby city that many of them will be evicted to -Altamira. With rapidly increasing crime, malaria, unemployment and a lack of essential services and infrastructure, Altamira is already suffering. If the dam goes ahead Altamira’s population is likely to double and yet no extra money is to be invested into it. Our World explores the alarming potential consequences… BBC News Channel, Saturday 21:30, 6/7/14.
Picture 4: appendices.
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
Picture 5.
SLOT:
Our World, BBC News Channel.TX date and (typical) Our World timeslot: 21:30 on Saturday 24th May 2014, repeats on Sunday 25th May 2014 at 15.30pm and 21:30 Running length: 26 minutes.
SLOT JUSTIFICATION:
Our World, a Current Affairs documentary program (factual, news), exposes and evaluates global topics and From Eden… matches its requirements and its’ audience is well suited since they appreciate serious, intelligent global investigationsii. Many believe that Our World ‘documentaries showcase BBC journalism at its best’iii hence it is a desirable program. Additionally, (after my recent BBC placement), I know/have contact details of, the Our World Deputy editor Neal Dalgleish and Editor Diana Martin (Appendix 1). Since they are insightful, talented editors iv, I believe that the From Eden… would benefit with the help of their direction. The 21:30 Saturday and Sunday slots are also key times and so there is a good chance of high viewing figures –most of which are adults (our target audience). (Likewise the 15:30 Sunday timeslot targets working adults at home for the weekend -our footage is also appropriate for this daytime slot).v
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Picture 6: appendices.
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
ORIGINALITY: For reasons why this document is original and topical please click/see the following
endnote(v)… vi
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THE STORY:
Picture 7: Altamira flag.
The city of Altamira is located in the state of Pará in northern Brazil. It is a city in despair and is facing an even grimmer future. In the last three years murders have risen 56.7% whilst sex crimes have increased by 18.75%.vii Essential services are precarious -hospitals are full and there’s a chronic lack of infrastructure. An estimated 95,000 people struggle to live there and, if the Belo Monte Dam project continues, over 100,000 more will be expected to arrive in the next few years –many of them indigenous Xingu people.
So what is Belo Monte? The Belo Monte complex is planned to be the world’s third largest hydroelectric dam complex –it is a highly topical and controversial subject with wide-ranging implications for millions, even billions, of people in Brazil and worldwide. Industry experts predict that it will cost over $18 billion. Despite these figures, and the predicted influx into Altamira that Belo Monte will cause, no funding has been allocated to improve essential services in Altamira or the social needs of its’ residents. Current issues will therefore be exacerbated whilst new problems will be created.
Altamira will swell in size as migrant workers come in the hope of finding work at the dam. Meanwhile the city will also absorb some of the 25,000 indigenous people, currently living in the Amazon’s Xingu River basin, since most will be evicted to make way for the complex. Those being forced off their lands have been vaguely told that they will be provided for and yet there is little proof of this and past similar cases imply that these are empty promises.
The Tucuruí hydroelectric dam, also located in Pará, is very similar to the Belo Monte dam in that it caused negative consequences those it evicted -as well as for the town near it (which many of these evictees joined): Tucuruíviii. By using Tucuruí, and the Tucuruí dam, as a general case study we can therefore draw warnings from it. It is a symbol of what Altamira may become if Belo Monte continues and no help is provided –it also implies the unlikelihood of the Xingu people being provided for since those evicted by the Tucuruí dam were also fed false promises. (See endnote for facts)...ix.
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
Due to a lack of other opportunity, many Tucuruí residents resort to prostitution -one street has 325 brothels and Tucuruí is commonly referred to as ‘the dam’s whorehouse’x. We would film in both Altamira and Tucuruí to get a sense of what Altamira could become. This would be juxtaposed with footage of the Xingu people living in the Amazon forest and their traditional homes. The Xingu people have little, or no, academic education and few skills suited to city-living –it is therefore not unreasonable to assume that some will have to resort to prostitution.
In addition, indigenous communities have very low immunity levels –living in a city, surrounded by squalor and human viruses, their chances of survival will be lower than those of normal city dwellersxi. Additionally Altamira has a tropical climate, perfect for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The entire region in Tucuruí has malaria and increased malaria is inevitable in Altamira as the dam will mean that Altamira becomes a peninsula margined by a dirty lake. This is an ideal habitat for mosquito-related diseases and endemic diseasesxii.
Picture 8: appendices.
The Xingu people, and millions of others, still hope that the dam will be abandoned and so this is a key time to give the issue more coverage –especially since it’s now in an accelerated construction phase and is expected to begin operating at partial capacity this year. There have been few documentaries made about these issues and none focus on comparing Tucuri and Altamira whilst considering the Xingu peoples’ likely fate in relation to them.
From Eden… will provide a range of perspectives. We’ll interview individuals with medical, environmental, legal and political backgrounds as well as a sex worker, malaria sufferer, members of the Xingu tribes and a representative of Norte Energiaxiii.
From the splendour and richness of the Amazon rainforest to the depravity of what Altamira is likely to become –this really is a case of from Eden to Hell for the Xingu peoples.
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INTERVIEWEES (see endnotes for more details).
Interviewees preferred not to be contacted by others, and for me to keep communication private, until the documentary is commissioned.
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
Raoni Metuktire - Xingu peoples, Kayapo tribe. Passionately anti Belo Monte. Profile: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoni_Metuktire. My contact will contact him when commissioned.
Medical: Stafford Lightman, Professor of Medicine at Bristol University. Lightman spent time in the Paque Nacional Do Xingu and is fascinated by the medical anthropology of tribal people. Interview to discuss the lack of indigenous immunity. Profile: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/neuroscience/people/person/9078 Contacted. xiv
Environmental: Atossa Soltani, Executive Director and Founder of Amazon Watch. Amazon Watch is very active campaigning against Belo Monte and in supporting Xingu peoples. Twitter: @asoltani Contacted. xv
Legal, Lily de Torre –founded Peruvian Indigenous Rights Organisation. 25+ years working as an attorney defending Amazonian indigenous people rights. Tel: +1 (415) 296-6761, Email: [email protected], Contacted. xvi
Sex worker Tucuruí . Have a contact (anonymity requested) who can arrange an interview when commissioned.
Malaria sufferer (Altamira) –hospital-sourced when there.
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
Medical –Orthopedic and Trauma Doctor in Altamira. Dr Leonardo Bezerra dos Anjos. Interview re hospital shortages and violence in Altamira (works in Traumatology). Tel: 93 351 58300. Profile: http://en.catalogo.med.br/doutor/leonardo+bezerra+dos+anjos+1980420.htm Contacted. xvii
Fabio Rangel –Public Defender of Norte Energia. (Norte Energia signed a contract worth 500 million euros to supply critical power equipment for the Belo Monte complex). CEP: 68-372-590. Contacted xviii
Eraldo Pimenta, politician. (Former mayor of Uruara, candidate for state representative, 2014 election). Called Belo Monte a “beautiful project” on TV. Interview: questions about the fate of Xingu People, Altamira and Tucuruí. https://www.facebook.com/eraldopimenta2014 (Messaged him here). Contacted. xix
Nicias Roberto, State Secretary at the state government of Para, (https://www.facebook.com/nicias.ribeiro.9) –publically defended Belo Monte. Contacted.
Presenter: Ed Stafford www.edstafford.org, [email protected].
Second Presenter option: Oliver Steeds. www.oliversteeds.com, [email protected] xx
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
TELLING THE STORY:
Picture 9: appendices.
From Eden… will be guided by a presenter who is empathetic but not overly emotional (necessary for Our World). Our preferred high-profile presenter is Ed Stafford. (He created the award-winning documentary ‘Walking the Amazon’ after a 30 month expedition)xxi.
Although we won’t stray too far from the typical, fairly objective tone and style of an Our World program, From Eden… will have its’ own subtle style and doesn’t aim to be entirely objective. The documentary emphasizes the huge lifestyle changes that the Xingu people may experience by juxtaposing sounds from, and images of, the rainforest with those from Altamira and Tucuruí. For example images of colourful butterflies and birds will be juxtaposed with the colourful clothes worn by sex workers –(their anonymity will be preserved). Likewise images of Xingu children hunting in the forests are replaced with child sex workers ‘hunting’ for clients -(or being hunted by them). Re sound juxtapositions, the chatter of the monkeys is replaced by loud bar conversations. When in the Amazon, underlying sounds used will be either native Xingu songs, running water or forest sounds (see appendices for suggested tracks). This will be contrasted with city sounds (bars, traffic) as well as Brazilian urban pop and rap.xxii Sound is used to match the mood and content of what is being said, to evoke emotions and emphasize contrastxxiii. Throughout we symbolically invoke the sound and theme of water (central to the Xingu river, people, and Belo Monte dam) and use it to create emotion/mood (see endnote).xxiv
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
Picture 10: appendices.
Structurally, the documentary will be framed by the presenter’s opening and closing pieces-to-camera. Voice-over is used throughout. We start with interviewee Atossa Soltani (AmazonWatch) who builds upon the PTC overview. Moving to the Amazon Xingu region, Raoni Metuktire (Xingu), shares his anti-Belo Monte views (translators used where necessary). The next interviewee is a Xingu who’s being pressurised to move to Altamira –she’ll discuss her thoughts and emotions before moving. The next location is Altamira –Stafford discusses Altamira’s problems before asking Dr Bezerra dos Anjos about its’ hospital shortages and crime. Dr Lightman, then discuss Xingu immunity in Altamira before the second interview with our Xingu case study (who has now moved to Altamira). From Eden… then moves to Tucuruí which Stafford introduces (PTC) before interviewing a sex worker. For balance we include three interviews with those who promote Belo Monte –Fabio Rangel (Norte Energia) and politicians Eraldo Pimenta and Nicias Roberto. This is juxtaposed with a Xingu demonstration, Lily de Torre’s opinion (legal), and demonstration vox pops. Stafford concludes the documentary with a PTC and it ends with demonstration images and Xingu war chants.
This short program cannot be an exhaustive debate of the reasons for and against Belo Monte –it is a more specific investigation of likely consequences for the Xingu people and people of Altamira. Through drawing alarming comparisons, we hope that, whether the dam happens or not, From Eden… will highlight the need for investment in Altamira and assistance of the Xingu peoples.
(Further considerations endnote...xxv ).
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APPENDICES:
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH, CONTACT DETAILS & SUGGESTIONS:
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
SUGGESTED TEAM & CONTACT DETAILS:
Our World –Series Producer: Linda Sills, Floor 4, Zone D, New Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, W1A 1AA, UK. [email protected]
Our World -Deputy Editor: Neil Dalgleish, Floor 4, Zone D, New Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, W1A 1AA, UK. Tel: + 44 203 614 1232, Mob: + 44 7710 344171. [email protected]
Our World -Editor: Diana Martin, Floor 4, Zone D, New Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, W1A 1AA, UK. [email protected] Tel: + 44 203 614 1233 Have her mobile number.
Suggested producer or assistant producer: Almudena Garcia-Parrado, Gomez-Lobo. Almudena is a fluent Spanish speaking BBC producer who has worked with various indigenous people in the Amazon and on the Bruce Parry ‘Amazon’ series (as a researcher http://www.bbc.co.uk/amazon/sites/team/pages/almundena.shtml). http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3136837/). I have worked with her at the BBC and have her mobile number. Email: [email protected]
Presenter Option 2; Oliver Steeds, www.oliversteeds.com : talented, high profile, experienced presenter and, (ideally for the Amazon), adventurer. Know he is friendly and co-operative (interviewed him at the Royal Geographic Society). Unsure if he speaks Spanish/Portuguese but we would have translators. Have his telephone number. Email: [email protected]).
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PICTURES:
Picture 1: Xingu river, Amazon. 25,000 indigenous people, from forty ethnic groups, live in the Xingu river basin. Xingu People: Although the Xingu people use ‘all four of Brazil’s indigenous language groups…they share similar belief systems, rituals and ceremonies’ –for more please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xingu_peoples.
Picture 2: Xingu peoples –Xingu people are indigenous people of Brazil who live near the Xingu River (Amazon Basin). The term refers to fifteen tribes yet, despite differing ethnologies, they have numerous cultural similarities.
Picture 3: Altamira –the town many of the Xingu people will be evicted to if the Belo Monte dam continues. Over 100,000 people live without safe drinking water or drains in Altamira. The stagnant
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
water encourages malaria and other diseases against which the Xingu people have no immunity xxvi. (For more information please use google translate to read this article: www.socioambiental.org, 8 th April 2013, ‘Belo Monte completes 30% of works without building even a kilometre of sewage networks in Altamira’, http://www.socioambiental.org/pt-br/noticias-socioambientais/belo-monte-conclui-30-das-obras-sem-construir-nenhum-quilometro-de-rede-de ).
Picture 4: Xingu Forever Alive Encounter –thousands gathered in Altamira, Pará, Brazil, to oppose the Belo Monte dam and any attempts to dam the Xingu river. (Source & relevant article: www.intercontinentalcry.org, ‘Reportback from ‘the Xingu encounter’, 30th May 2008, http://intercontinentalcry.org/reportback-from-the-xingu-encounter/ )
Picture 5: Our World logo.
Picture 6: Xingu Forever Alive Encounter –thousands gathered in Altamira, Pará, Brazil, to oppose the Belo Monte dam and any attempts to dam the Xingu river. (Source & relevant article: www.intercontinentalcry.org, ‘Reportback from ‘the Xingu encounter’, 30th May 2008, http://intercontinentalcry.org/reportback-from-the-xingu-encounter/ )
Picture 7: Altamira flag.
Picture 8: Mosquitoes transmit malaria in many tropical and subtropical regions. (Malaria is a ‘intermittent and remittent fever caused by a protozoan parasite’ www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/malaria).
Picture 9: In the Amazon, construction proceeds on the Belo Monte dam complex. Photo taken near Altamira, Brazil, 15/6/12. (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/06/brazils-belo-monte-dam-to-displace-thousands-in-amazon/)
Picture 10: Xingu Protest.
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MUSIC:
Suggested Amazon/Xingu music:
‘Amazon Rainforest’ –Sounds of the Earth, http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Rainforest-Various-Artists/dp/B00003XA7X/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1390715249&sr=1-2&keywords=amazon
‘Xingu’ music –Richard and Wendy Musk, http://www.amazon.com/Xingu-Present-Dreams/dp/B0000018GB/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_2
Flight of the Jaguar’, World Disk label, http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Jaguar-Xingu/dp/B0000018H6/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1390715433&sr=1-3&keywords=xingu
Urban, Brazilian music:
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
‘100% Brazil, 18 Songs of All time popular Brazilian Music’, CD, http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,376096,00.html
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MAP –PLAN OF BELO MONTE DAM COMPLEX:
Picture: Map of the proposed Belo Monte dam. The Dam will divert the Xingu river. (For more information please see the page from which this map is taken http://amazonwatch.org/work/belo-monte-dam).
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(INTERVIEW) STRUCTURE OF DOCUMENTARY:
Introduction –PTC Ed Stafford -explanation of the Belo Monte Dam, Xingu People and the controversy and potential consequences. Brief mention of some of the pros and cons.
Interview: Atossa Soltani (AmazonWatch founder).
Location: Amazon , Xingu basin. Interview, Raoni Metuktire from Xingu peoples, Kayapo tribe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayapo_people ). He is a passionate defender of the Amazon (see link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoni_Metuktire ).We will interview him about his hopes and fears.
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
Case Study: Xingu member who is moving to Altamira and preferably being evicted or pressurised to do so. As recommended by Almudena Garcia-Parrado. Cannot be anticipated this far in advance. Interviewed about hopes, fears, thoughts.
Location: Altamira. Relevant images of Altamira as the reporter/narrator discusses the current problems in Altamira and the potential greater problems if Belo Monte goes ahead and the population doubles.
Interview: Dr Leonardo Bezerra dos Anjos (Doctor in Altamira). Discuss the essential services and crime in Altamira, also malaria.
Interview: Dr Lightman –discuss Xingu immunity and their prospects in Altamira.
Case Study: The Xingu member has now moved to Altamira. Second interview about his/her experiences, job prospects, thoughts and feelings.
Location: Tucuruí. PTC: Stafford introduces the next Case Study Tucuruí.
Interview (Tucuruí): Sex worker (candidate identified and contacted, identity obscured and cannot be included here).
In Defence of Belo Monte –interviews Fabio Rangel (Norte Energia), Eraldo Pimenta (politician), Nicias Roberto (politician).
Footage of Xingu demonstration (event can only be decided nearer the time) and vox pops.
Interview Lily de Torre (Legal).
More footage of Xingu demonstration and vox pops.
Summary and conclusion: Ed Stafford PTC.
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RESEARCH DONE –REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY:
(Arranged alphabetically according to websites. Not all articles were dated online but, where they were, this has been included).
www.aida-americas.org -‘Belo Monte Hydroelectric Dam’, http: //www.aida-americas.org/en/project/belomonte
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
www.aida-americas.org ‘NGOs respond to Belo Monte Dam "Project of the Year" Award’ –-http://www.aida-americas.org/en/ngos-respond-to-belo-monte-dam-award -23rd October 2012.
www.amazonwatch.org -‘Brazil’s Belo Monte –Sacrificing the Amazon and its People for Dirty Energy, http://amazonwatch.org/work/belo-monte-dam
www.amazonwatch.org -‘Advancing Indigenous Rights’, http://amazonwatch.org/work/advancing-indigenous-rights
www.amazonwatch.org -‘Stop Dirty Energy Projects’, http://amazonwatch.org/work/dirty-energy
www.amazonwatch.org -‘Demand Corporate Accountability’, http://amazonwatch.org/work/corporate-accountability
www.amazonwatch.org –‘Reform Financial Institutions’, http://amazonwatch.org/work/international-financial-institutions
www.amazonwatch.org -‘Climate and the Amazon’, http://amazonwatch.org/work/climate-and-the-amazon
www.amazonwatch.org -‘The Xingu River and Its’ People’, http://amazonwatch.org/work/xingu-river-and-its-people
www.amazonwatch.org -‘Brazil’, http://amazonwatch.org/work/brazil www.amazonwatch.org -‘The Amazon: A Global Treasure’, http://amazonwatch.org/about www.amazonwatch.org -‘An Ecosystem at Risk’, http://amazonwatch.org/about/an-
ecosystem-at-risk www.amazonwatch.org -‘Staff & Board’, http://amazonwatch.org/about/staff-and-board www.amazonwatch.org -Various Blog Articles’ http://amazonwatch.org/news/blog www.belo-monte.com -‘Belo Monte –A Devastating Decision’, http://belo-monte.com/ www.bbc.co.uk -‘Work to Resume on Brazil’s Belo Monte Dam’,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19404740 -28th August 2012. www.conservation-strategy.org –‘CSF Projects –Belo Monte Dam’, http://conservation-
strategy.org/en/project/belo-monte-dam -Study 2004-6.
www.facebook.com AIDA Facebook Group -https://www.facebook.com/AIDAorg www.internationalrivers.org -‘Belo Monter Dam’,
http://www.internationalrivers.org/campaigns/belo-monte-dam www.survivalinternational.org -‘Belo Monte Dam’,
http://www.survivalinternational.org/about/belo-monte-dam www.survivalinternational.org, ‘Delivering disease: Outside impacts on tribal health’,
http://www.survivalinternational.org/articles/3132-tribal-people-health-interview-professor-stafford-lightman
www.theguardian.com –‘ Belo Monte Dam Construction Halted by Brazilian Court’, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug/16/belo-monte-dam-construction-suspended -16th August 2012.
www.Wikipedia.org -‘Altamira’, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altamira,_Brazil www.Wikipedia.org, -‘Belo Monte’, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belo_Monte_Dam www.Wikipedia.org, ‘BBC World News’, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_World_News www.Wikipedia.org, - ‘Tucuruí Dam’, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucurui_Dam www.Wikipedia.org, - ‘Tucuruí’, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucurui
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‘From Eden to Hell –the future of the Amazon’s Xingu People’. Conceptualized, researched & written by Natasha.
www.wikipedia.org, ‘Xingu People’, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xingu_peoples
RESEARCH DONE -VIDEOS & DOCUMENTARIES SEEN:
‘Belo Monte: Announcement of a War’ documentary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoRhavupkfw, Cinedelia Production (co-produced Duca Filmes Cinepro/Dot).
‘Belo Monte: Justice Now’ video, Amazon Watch video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoRhavupkfw
‘Join the Call to suspend the Belo Monte dam’, Amazon Watch video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFWngYRIbd4
Defending the rivers of the Amazon with Sigourney Weaver’, International Rivers, video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Melq7VA7FjY
‘James Cameron visits the Xingu River’ video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3ZMyLnOL-U
‘The impact of the Belo Monte dam on indigenous communities in Brazil’, video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0N9ECWCmOE
‘Boom Boom Brazil’ Point Blank Creative, documentary, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-4L8ohw73s
RESEARCH –BOOKS READ:
Wallace, Scott, 2012. ‘The Unconquered: In search of Amazon’s last, un-contacted tribes’, Scott. London: The Crown Publishing Group.
Roberts, T. and Thanos, 2003. ‘Trouble in Paradise: Globalisation and Environmental Crises in Latin America’, New York: Routledge.
Kelly, B. and London, M. 2007. ‘The Last Forest: The Amazon in the Age of Globalization’, New York: Random House Publishers.
ENDNOTES (to accompany text):
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i Title Explanation: The title is fairly provocative in that it describes a future Altamira as ‘hell’ however we feel that it is justified considering the current situation in Altamira and how much it will worsen if predictions are correct (and if it’s population doubles within a few years despite no extra investment in services/infrastructure).
The title grabs attention and is an economical way of explaining the contrast that the Xingu people will experience whilst it’s biblical, but universally understood, associations with morality and innocence/corruption are appropriate as we shall explore...
ii As I believe that this is an important topic, I want it to reach a large audience and one who are more likely to be inspired by, and to act upon, the information -the Our World audience is also suitable since they are older (few children or teenagers) and so they are more likely to be in a position to make a difference. iii www.wikipedia.com, BBC World News, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_World_Newsiv
I formed this high opinion having witnessed their feedback during edits of Colombia’s Child Soldiers -Our World, Colombia’s Child Soldiers, 16th November 2013, http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03jpyvs
v
The month of May has been selected since that leaves sufficient (if pressurised) time to make and edit the program, yet not so much time that the dam is likely to have been cancelled or completed. The month selected also reflects the topical, controversial nature and importance of the issue and hence the TX dates have not been delayed for too long.
vi Reasons why this documentary is original, (topical and necessary): The Belo Monte hydroelectric dam complex is a highly topical and controversial subject with wide-ranging implications for millions, (some would argue billions), of people in Brazil and worldwide. It is planned to be the world’s third largest hydroelectric dam complex. Whilst it has been debated since the 1980’s it is only relatively recently (February 2010) that the project has been able to proceed. The Xingu people still hope that the dam will be abandoned and so this is a key time to give the issue more coverage –especially since the dam is now in an accelerated construction phase and since it is expected to begin operating at partial capacity this year in 2014 (and to come fully online in 2019). To date there have been various articles and demonstrations but relatively little documentary coverage.
Related documentaries have generally provided an overview -and explanation- of reasons why the Belo Monte complex should not go ahead. These considerations of the overall implications (environmental, political, economical, social, etc), can be overwhelming and time consuming for viewers. From Eden… will have a narrower, more digestible focus. It will focus more specifically on the likely fate of Altamira and the Xingu people and it will be the first documentary to date to focus just on these issues and to combine them (viewers will be given only a very brief contextual overview of other issues raised by Belo Monte).
One of the ways in which From Eden will stand out is by having a unique style (discussed in more detail in the ‘Telling the Story’ section) that nevertheless does not stray too far from the typical style of Our World documentaries.
Other reports have considered the Xingu people’s eviction but have not provided many details about where, specifically, they may go. The documentary will give a more in depth impression of what is most likely in store, whilst being less overwhelming and time-consuming than other documentaries on the topic. I have not been particularly impressed with the quality of documentaries and videos (some of the
material is, despite the interesting subject matter, laborious, chaotic and even tedious) and I am confident that From Eden… can surpass previous documentaries on the topic. By doing so I hope that the program will reach a large, inspired audience and that the topic will gain more of the international recognition, (concern and action), that it deserves.
vii There’s also a growing problem of underage sex workers.
viii The Belo Monte dam will, likewise, cause the eviction of Xingu peoples and will also worsen the conditions of those living in its’ nearby town –(the town that many of the Xingu people will go to)- Altamira. ix
Wikipedia facts: ‘The Tucuruí Dam brought power to 13 million people and 60% of the power is transferred to industries which create just under 2,000 jobs. Between 25,000 and 35,000 people were removed from the future reservoir zone in the early 1980s. 14,000 people were re-located by the government. 3,750 of these people moved to new islands created by the reservoir which lack adequate infrastructure. Construction of the dam attracted migrants which, along with the reservoir, significantly increased malaria and AIDS cases. The completion of Phase I in 1984 led to a large amount of unemployment among its 20,000 employees and subsequent migration from the area. The overall large influx of people to the area has led to deforestation and negative impacts from increased cattle-raising. The increases of population have also strained existing infrastructure or lack thereof.’ www.wikipedia.com, ‘Tucuruí Dam’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucuru%C3%AD_Dam and ‘Tucuruí’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucuru%C3%AD x
Belo Monte: Announcement of a War, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoRhavupkfw Cinedelia Production (co-produced Duca Filmes Cinepro/Dot).
xi This will be exacerbated by the fact that they will likely be living in favela, or slum, surroundings.
xii Additionally Altamira is on the edge of the Xingu river and, during the flood season, when the river has a high volume of water, it invades part of the city. For those that aren’t evicted malaria will also be a problem as many Amazonian tribes live on the Xingu river and rely on it. The Belo Monte Dam will however lead to it being diverted –this would mean that for at least four months of the year sections of it the Xingu river (‘the Big Bend’) be dry or stagnant.
There are numerous arguments against the Belo Monte Dam –too many to go through in this program (these are not only environmental, or concerned for the plight of the people but there are many arguments that also undermine the economic rewards of the project). Whilst this documentary will sum up some of these objections to Belo Monte, it will not be an exhaustive argument of them –rather it will share the above information but choose to focus on the plight of the Amazonian people moving to these towns specifically and also the increased stress that Altamira will endure should the dam go ahead (as demonstrated by Tucuruí). There have been general documentaries made against the Belo Monte dam, all of which cover a vast number of issues, however none have focused on these aspect.
xiii The company Norte Energia profits greatly from Belo Monte.
xiv Lightman interview: http://www.survivalinternational.org/articles/3132-tribal-people-health-interview-professor-stafford-lightman.
xv Ms. Soltani has led various international campaigns defending tropical rainforests since 1991. (For example she directed the anti-logging campaign at the Rainforest Action Network, RAN). In the late 1980’s she started her career as Conservation Director for the City of Santa Monica where she created and managed a resource conservation program which won awards.
xvi The Peruvian indigenous rights organisation Lilly de Torre directs is called Racimos de Ungurahui. She is also a board member at Amazon Watch & works with EarthRights International. Profile: http://www.accountabilitycounsel.org/about/ourpeople/advisory-board/lily-la-torre/ Address: 230 California Street, Suite 304, San Francisco, CA94111, USA.
xvii He works at Hospital Regional de Transamasônica (picture above), Altamira, Para, Brazil, Av. Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes, OO-S/n, Sao Sebastiao –Altamira/PA, ZIP: 68372-020 (tel: 93 351 58300).
xviii Energia Norte. http://norteenergiasa.com.br/site/portugues/contato/ Tel -Altamira office: (93) 3502 4400. Address: Avenida Presidente, Tancredo, Neves, no. 2010, Bairro Jardim Independente.
xix His TV quote: “We believe it will be the redemption of the state of Para and…also [provide] the energetic balance that Brazil needs”.
xx (Know/interviewed both presenters, have their telephone numbers). See appendices for more details about the team.
xxi Stafford is our ideal choice as he’s fit and experienced enough to trekk to the Xingu regions, he’s entertaining, speaks Portuguese and he’s walked the Amazon for two and a half years.
xxii Preferably popular artists from Altamira or Tucuruí .
xxiii Notes on sound: Whilst there is narration, the music will be subtle so as to avoid distracting from the main content. Lyrics will only be used in the music if no-one else is talking (the narrator, interviewees, etc) as otherwise it will prove distracting. Voice-over will be used to narrate much of the script when the reporter is not doing PTCs.
xxiv Water Theme: The sound and sights of water will vary and will be used to enhance, or evoke, emotion –for example they will be calming, and quiet, as images of the free flowing Xingu river are shown with the Xingu people living in harmony with it. This will be contrasted by the sound of loud gushing water (added, for example, to the frantic footage of the Xingu demonstrations) and this will be used to suggest the water’s anger at being held by the dam.
This is symbolic of the Xingu people’s anger about the dam and, since the Xingu people are so in tune with nature, this is a fitting comparison. In Altamira the sound of water is quiet to reflect the stagnant lack of movement but the sound of mosquitoes is audible and reminds us of the threat of malaria. We will use original angles –for example low shots near the water –to make the documentary visually interesting.
xxv CONSIDERATIONS:
Release forms. Don’t not mislead re the program’s content Carefully check facts, and translations, to avoid legal charges. Spanish, Portuguese and local dialect translators. Visas. Local guides and fixers to help navigate slums, keep us safe and find relevant places and people. Limited number of team members allowed in contact with Xingu peoples in the rainforest -to protect them from infection (low immunity). Those visiting need to have passed relevant health test (and basic fitness since trekking required).
If Stafford declines, jungle expert needed. Doctor with tropical environment medical training needed. Immunizations and malaria medication. Insect repellent. Awareness of malaria symptoms. Avoid tap water.
xxviContact Details:
Natasha Hancock –Dubai Tel: 00 9715 0 498 1920 Email: [email protected]: [email protected]