The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), in collaboration with tve (Television for the Environment and the Assam Times Foundation (ATF) is organising a film festival on December 18, 2015 at the NEDFI House Auditorium, Dispur Guwahati where three films that tell stories on the impact of climate change on diverse communities from Uttarakhand to Bangladesh will be screened.

The films, entitled ‘For a safer future – Insights on climate resilience from India’, ‘The forgotten women in India’s climate plans Living on the go’, and ‘Climate change and migration in Bangladesh’ have the potential to galvanise action, spur discussion making, inspire youth and communities, create synergies between different stakeholders, spread awareness on issues and showcase best practises. Issues, such as climate change that affect diverse groups require action at multiple levels and through different sets of change agents. Loss of livelihoods, distress migration, destruction of crops and fisheries, is the reality that many face on a day-to-day basis. Yet there are inspiring stories of change: strategies adopted by communities, such as seed banks that sell climate resilient seeds and engaging women in village planning and local governance.

Discussion points

• Where are we missing women’s voices on climate change negotiations and policies in NE and what can we do?
• The NE has a huge knowledge base through oral history and storytelling of biodiversity conservation. How do we bring this knowledge, by using media and other methods, to the forefront?
• India’s role has been highly commended at the COP 21 negotiations in reducing carbon emissions; that’s somewhat a contrary stance to the Look East/Act East policy and the presence of extractive industry – what can the media, civil and society and other stakeholders, do to create more momentum?
• How do you foresee the future role of cinema and film in bringing to light the issues communities in the region face when it comes to climate change, including the wider role of knowledge networking?

Panelists

Dr Polly Vauquline, Gauhati University, Women’s Studies

Dr Shalini, Department of Ecology & Environment, Tata Institute of Social Science, Guwahati

Mrinal Gohain, Regional Director, ActionAid

Guwahati Sanjib Sanbapandit, Filmmaker (Power of cinema/documentary as a change making agent)
If you are interested in attending the event, contact the organising team at editor@assamtimes.org or aditi.paul@cdkn.org