Documentary: Defending Mother Earth

An educational film about Bolivia and climate change

Synopsis
More info HERE.

Defending Mother Earth is a community documentarythat inspires us to find out what one of the poorest countries on Earth is doing to defend the planet. Launched at the World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth held in Bolivia in April 2010 with 35,000 delegates from all around the world, the film portrays Bolivia’s call for an alternative to the failures of the Copenhagen summit.



Filmed mainly in Bolivia in some of the world’s most stunning and remote countryside, “Defending Mother Earth” links the massive political changes that have taken place in Bolivia in recent years with the country’s new determination to take a lead on tackling climate change. Uniquely, the new Bolivian Constitution adopted in 2009 recognises the Earth’s rights. President Evo Morales, from an indigenous heritage himself, has been able to unite the interests of industrial workers, traditional farmers and agricultural labourers and their families to begin a transformation of the poorest country in Latin America. Respect for Pachamama (Mother Earth) has become central to the country’s identity.

Maria Eugenia works voluntarily for a community radio station and we follow her as she goes to visit her ancestral village where the traditional language and customs are still alive and well. Her uncle gives us an insight into a community living in close harmony with the land, joining together to celebrate the dead and the living. Back in the city Maria Eugenia talks to her mother at her street stall who explains how the drought conditions were too difficult for her to survive in the countryside. The massive migration of people from the countryside to the cities is one of the direct consequences of climate change that often goes unnoticed.

We also meet Cristian Domínguez, Bolivia’s representative to the Copenhagen climate change summit, explaining to Gill Emslie who lives in an eco-village in Scotland, why Bolivia has taken a radical position on climate change. What emerges is a loving and fearless declaration of love for Mother Earth, inspired by the Bolivian landscape and its spiritual connections.

Production Details

* Director: Jeni Vine
* Running Time: 22mins
* Year of production: 2009
* Languages: Spanish & English
* Subtitles: English
* Country of production: UK / Bolivia
* Format: DVD