When
Where
Resistance Centre & Bookshop
Shop 4, 22-36 Mountain St
Ultimo NSW 2007
Australia
Why
Papuan Skies is about Indonesia’s project aims to turn a vast area of forests and wetlands into rice fields and sugar plantations, in the name of 'food security'.
In this new video from The Gecko Project, photographer Ulet Ifansasti travels to Papua to hear the testimony of indigenous Papuans whose ancestral land falls in the crosshairs of this megaproject. In Merauke, in the far southeast of Indonesia, it is targeting an area around half the size of Belgium. The project is being developed by the Ministry of Defence, with the assistance of a politically-connected conglomerate, the Jhonlin Group. Ulet learns how Papuan land has been taken without consent, and of the fear generated after vast numbers of soldiers descended on Merauke to enforce the plan.
Speakers
Belinda Lopez (moderator and speaker) is a writer, anthropologist and documentary maker who has spent years researching and reporting on West Papua. Belinda is a fellow at Macquarie University and holds a PhD based on anthropological and historical research with West Papuan communities in Indonesia.
Sophie Chao is a fellow and senior lecturer at Sydney University with an interest in capitalism, ecology, Indigeneity, health, and justice in the Pacific. Sophie has extensive experience writing about West Papuan lands and people. Specifically, she has researched the entanglement of colonialism and the expansion of Indonesia's food estate.
Veronica Koman is a human rights activist and lawyer who has worked extensively to cover issues in West Papua. Veronica is considered one of the most prominent experts on West Papua. Veronica is now wanted by the Indonesian police on politicised charges, forcing her to live in exile since 2019. in 2019 she was awarded the Sir Ronald Wilson Human Rights Award in Australia.
Tickets
Entry by donation. Proceeds to Green Left and Free West Papua campaign.
To help cover the costs of organising important forums and other events we encourage everyone to become a supporter of Green Left, or to make a donation.
Food
An affordable meal will be available from 6pm, separate to the door charge. Contact 0403 517 266 if you have dietary requirements.
Online attendance
If you cannot attend in-person a Zoom meeting will be available to join.
Contact
Green Left
0403 517 266
sydney@greenleft.org.au
greenleft.org.au
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The Gecko Project
info@thegeckoproject.org
thegeckoproject.org
Bluesky