The struggle for Sarawak's forests

Wednesday, February 16, 1994 - 11:00

Blowpipes and Window Frames

Dateline, SBS TV

Saturday, February 19, 7 p.m. (6.30 Adelaide)

Researched and produced by Matthew Carney

Reviewed by Jill Hickson

This film, on the devastation in Sarawak caused by the logging of the rainforest timbers and on the ongoing struggle by the indigenous Penan people, takes a look at the situation from the aspect of consumerism and demand for rainforest timbers in Australia.

It raises the question of alternative timbers which are available, in particular the pine plantations that are just coming on line in Australia.

It also examines the possibilities of creating employment by growing rainforest timbers in Australia. Greening Australia, a private business group, is currently involved in projects of this sort, working through government schemes like Job Start, getting unemployed people to work on reforestation as well as creating plantations of rainforest timbers.

Blowpipes and Window Frames also looks at corruption in Sarawak, showing how timber concessions are handed out as political favours mostly to relatives of government politicians. The chief minister refuses land rights claims of the different indigenous people, particularly the Berawan people, near the Mullu National Park; company directors who own the five star hotel on Berawan land are relatives of the chief minister.

The film interviews the chief minister, Australian environment minister Ros Kelly, a CSIRO economist, a Greening Australia representative and a green activist. It ends with the Penan blockade which attempts to prevent logging of their forest, presenting the history of the struggle.

Activists in Australia from the Rainforest Information Centre in Lismore assisted with up-to-date information for the film. The centre is organising a campaign to help the indigenous people of Sarawak, and has information on alternative rainforest timbers. (PO Box 368, Lismore 2480. Phone (066) 218 505.)

Blowpipes and Window Frames will also be screened at the benefit concert Songs of Struggle, Songs of Protest on February 19 in Sydney, at 7 p.m. before the concert starts. (See advertisement, opposite page.)