Understorey, a documentary about the south east forests
Understorey
A documentary directed by David Gallan
Free screening at Pitt Street Uniting Church followed by Q&A with director
Wednesday 16th August 7pm, 264 Pitt Street Sydney
How do you value a forest? – the forest we all own. The campaigns for the south east forests – Australia’s biggest environmental conflict
Runtime: 80 min
When intensive logging threatened native forests on the far south coast of NSW, local people from all walks of life came together to oppose it. It took decades. Archival material and interviews outline what the campaigns were really like. Wildlife images show why the forests are worth protecting.
“Never after the south east forests campaigns can you say that a natural environmental protection issue wasn't absolutely mainstream to the Australian psyche.” Professor A.J. Brown
The campaigns were extraordinary. They grew into large-scale nonviolent direct action. The documentary is a real education in social movement history.