South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group Hosts ‘’Must See’ Environmental Film

Under the Dome is a 2015 Chinese documentary film by Chai Jing, a former China Central Television journalist, concerning air pollution in China. The film, which combines footage of a lecture with interviews and factory visits, has been compared with Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth in style and likely impact. The film openly criticises state owned companies, steel producers and coal factories, as well as showing the inability of the Ministry of Environmental Protection to act against polluters.

This film, which might well be seen as compulsory viewing for anybody who is concerned about the state of our planet, will be shown at no charge as part of the South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group’s AGM on Sunday August 16.

Under the Dome is a highly appropriate film for the South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group (SWBG) to promote. Originally the brainchild of two Pirinoa farmers, the group’s core purpose is to empower the local community to enhance the area’s ecology, specifically the potential educational, recreational, cultural and tourism opportunities that exist at Lake Onoke. Heather Atkinson, President of the SWBG, tells me that “we are successfully leading local and regional environmental initiatives collaboratively with our regional and district councils, DOC, local businesses and community groups – and we’re having a great time doing it”! Among their activities, the SWBG holds planting and restoration days, particularly in the Lake Onoke area, beach clean-ups, public seminars, and visits to properties that highlight local ecological initiatives.

In June the group held a Farming for the Future seminar, which focused on the need for continuing change in farming practice and systems to ensure resilience and future-proofing. Heather says that “we have heard from people who are already re-thinking how they do things or who were motivated to take action on their farms, which is fantastic”. Much of the material from the seminar presentations, plus documents and tools referred to by the presenters, can be found at the following link: https://farmforthefuture.wikispaces.com/Presented+material . Heather says “these are a valuable resource and anyone is welcome to reference them.”

The SWBG is seeking interest from anyone in the community who is interested in the ecology, restoration and preservation of our local environment and who would like to join this motivated team of people. Contact Heather by email at swbg@hotmail.co.nz or check out the website for further information www.swbg.weebly.com. Meanwhile, do come along to the Martinborough Hotel on Sunday 16 August at 3pm for the thought-provoking film Under the Dome.