Teaching global issues using “The Burning Season”
“The Burning Season” has wide relevance to schools, especially in the subjects of Geography, Environmental Studies/Science, International Studies, Political and Business Studies, English and Indonesian Language and Culture.
Here are just some of the class activities in the Study Guide developed by Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM):
Environmental Studies
Evaluate the advantages of biofuels, the problems with present production methods and the environmental objections to using palm oil as a feedstock for producing biodiesel compared to other biofuels such as ethanol.
Identify food and other products containing palm oil. If it is not clear, write to manufacturers asking if they use palm or palm kernel oil and in which products (don’t forget cosmetics).
Prepare posters designed to raise awareness of the palm oil problem, for display in communal areas like the library.
Philosophy – Ethics
Class Discussion:
• Do we have any actual right to clear rainforests?
• If an orangutan has the intellect of a human child, is killing one murder?
• Does a great ape have a higher right to life than an intellectually disabled human?
Food Technology and Catering
Students could investigate products for palm oil content and conduct research into the health issues related to the product.
LOTE - Indonesian
Write a letter in Bahasa from Achmadi to the Governor of Jambi province, explaining why you had to burn your plot, why you should not be punished and what help you need to stop burning in future.
More educational activities
- Download the film’s study guide
- Visit the film’s website www.theburningseasonmovie.com which has a comprehensive discussion of the global issues, Indonesian deforestation, how the forests can be protected, support campaigns, images, news, the characters, behind the scenes, and more information for teachers and students.
- The film has an action website at - www.tenthingsyoucando.com
Cathy Henkel
Writer, Director, Co-Producer
The Burning Season
Here are just some of the class activities in the Study Guide developed by Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM):
Environmental Studies
Evaluate the advantages of biofuels, the problems with present production methods and the environmental objections to using palm oil as a feedstock for producing biodiesel compared to other biofuels such as ethanol.
Identify food and other products containing palm oil. If it is not clear, write to manufacturers asking if they use palm or palm kernel oil and in which products (don’t forget cosmetics).
Prepare posters designed to raise awareness of the palm oil problem, for display in communal areas like the library.
Philosophy – Ethics
Class Discussion:
• Do we have any actual right to clear rainforests?
• If an orangutan has the intellect of a human child, is killing one murder?
• Does a great ape have a higher right to life than an intellectually disabled human?
Food Technology and Catering
Students could investigate products for palm oil content and conduct research into the health issues related to the product.
LOTE - Indonesian
Write a letter in Bahasa from Achmadi to the Governor of Jambi province, explaining why you had to burn your plot, why you should not be punished and what help you need to stop burning in future.
More educational activities
- Download the film’s study guide
- Visit the film’s website www.theburningseasonmovie.com which has a comprehensive discussion of the global issues, Indonesian deforestation, how the forests can be protected, support campaigns, images, news, the characters, behind the scenes, and more information for teachers and students.
- The film has an action website at - www.tenthingsyoucando.com
Cathy Henkel
Writer, Director, Co-Producer
The Burning Season
Comment
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Comment by Cathy Henkel on September 14, 2009 at 11:57am -
Meeting Lone and the orangutans in Borneo was one of the highlights of this project for me. With their wide eyes and faces deeply etched with character, I fell in love with them. The tiny orphans needed constant care, while the older, more independent juveniles impressed us with their skill in the trees and their comic antics during feeding time. In particular, I fell in love with a young male called Waru who loved to walk on his hind legs and developed a crush on our Indonesian cinematographer, Ezther. I also fell for a frisky female called Kesi who despite having her hand chopped off by a machete, was as agile and impressive as the others weaving her way through the tall trees.
Andrew Fildes (M.Env. Sci) author of the study guide wrote:
“If there is one truly memorable scene in this documentary, it is the sight of several orangutan orphans being loaded into a large wheelbarrow and trundled across a compound at the wildlife rescue facility. They seem docile, trusting and a little bewildered as only baby apes can.
“Perhaps if they looked a little less human, their species may have been extinguished long ago. Their very name orang utan means ‘man of the forest’ and there can be no denying the closeness of their relationship to us – we cannot help but feel a very special affinity for these endangered cousins of ours.
The huge eyes of these children look deep into you and the sense of guilt is unbearable.”
Cathy Henkel
Writer, Director, Co-Producer
The Burning Season
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Comment by EnhanceTV on September 14, 2009 at 11:55am - The study guide can also be downloaded, and a broadcast copy can be purchased from EnhanceTV.
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Comment by Cathy Henkel on September 14, 2009 at 11:53am
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The television version of THE BURNING SEASON (52 mins) will screen for the second time on ABC1 on Wednesday 30th September at 11:00am.
To purchase the Education DVD and study guide - email - relkington@freshwaterpictures.com.au
To view the trailer - a href="http://www.theburningseasonmovie.com/" target="_blank">http://www.theburningseasonmovie.com/>
To organise a screening - contact - gilscrinefilms.com.au
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