We are fighting for a just transition towards sustainable energy for Australia and we need your help to continue!
OUR POWER (2016) is an empowering and moving documentary about the necessity for a just transition towards sustainable modes of power production in Australia, with a specific look at Victoria’s own energy hub, the Latrobe Valley.
What is the story?
THE LATROBE VALLEY IN RELATION TO AUSTRALIA
POWER OF THE PEOPLE
UNITING TO INFLUENCE POSITIVE CHANGE
The use of coal to generate power is becoming socially unpopular across the world. Yet Australia’s base load energy demands primarily depend on coal with no true end in sight. With coal mining exploration licenses still being proposed and granted across the country, it is time for us have a serious conversation about the future of our energy and how we can transition toward it.
“OUR POWER” takes a serious look at Victoria, a state widely seen as progressive. The state has access to strong ocean wind and is prone to lots of sunlight during summer. Even still, Victoria depends on brown coal mining and combustion in the Latrobe Valley to provide the majority of the state’s electricity.
Seen worldwide as a major engineering feat in the early 1900s, Latrobe Valley power stations and its mines were one of the most technologically advanced industries in the world.
Its residents who have been proudly supplying this power for over 90 years, are feeling severe backlash for the service they provide to the state and are yearning for a just transition away from coal.
The Latrobe Valley houses three brown coal mines that neighbour 125,000 people in the valley, that on any given day produce 80-90% of the state’s power. These mines do impact the community, especially following the privatisation of electricity in the 90s and the devastating Hazelwood Mine Fire of 2014.
Inspiring and heartwarming, Latrobe Valley residents are uniting to influence positive change. Community leaders are striving to move the Latrobe Valley forward and in doing so, should inspire the way forward for the rest of the state.
The Latrobe Valley acts as a perfect microcosm for the larger political socio-economic inequality that exists in all aspects of today’s world and how everyday community members are truly taking matters into their own hands.
“It would be so cathartic, creative and politically expressive for us Melbournians to turn around and say to the Latrobe Valley:
Ok we recognise that we’ve got a wonderful environment because of everything that you’ve done. Now let’s turn around and recognise what we owe to you and help you get out of a future that is one of fire, coal dust and a contribution to the destruction of the world.
Politically – that is a something that all of us must embrace for the Latrobe Valley.”
– Chris Ryan, BSc, PhD
Director, Victorian Eco Innovation Lab (VEIL)
THE THREE BROWN COAL MINES OF THE LATROBE VALLEY
Who is involved?
OUR POWER is narrated by a diverse group of leading authorities ranging from activists, community advocates, professionals and academics.
Hear the story from the people who fight this issue everyday of their lives. We have spoken to power station operators, coal mine workers, union leaders, community leaders, and residents who have suffered from the devastating Hazelwood Mine Fire 2014.
Add to that list, leading environmental groups, community groups, lawyers, self-empowered community advocates, professors, scientists, analysts… the list goes on.
We have spoken to over 20 people, and conducted 1.5-hour long interviews with each of them. Each of them hoping their story gets told and shared with Australia.
If you would like to learn more about OUR TEAM:
Why is this story important?
Our Power is a documentary that stands to reason why Victoria needs to be the first state in Australia to be the change-makers that lead the country into a more sustainable future.
More importantly, we believe it starts with communities coming together to influence change.
This documentary takes a close up look at the Latrobe Valley, as an example of a community in rural Victoria who are taking matters into their hands after experiencing a neighbouring coal mine fire that burned uncontrollably for 45 days.
The Hazelwood Mine Fire of February 2014 was the line in the sand for many residents of the Valley. Community advocacy group, Voices of the Valley formed during the mine fire and has continued to advocate for a safe, regulated and just transition towards a more sustainable future for their community.
They are proof that with correct amount of determination, motivation and hurt, people can inspire change and achieve remarkable things.
How can YOU help?
This documentary is made on a very limited budget and we depend on people donating their time to us. However, production costs are getting too high for us to continue and we need your help.
***Unless we manage to raise the full $10,000 we will not be able to continue making this documentary as we simply will not have the time or money to go on.
We would hate for this to happen. We truly depend on your good heartedness, so that we can continue on this fight with communities, NGO’s and people like yourselves.
Australia has potential to be great. We believe this story needs to get out, and we hope you believe this too.***
For the last 7 months, our main team of two have been working full time 40 hour weeks, at all times of the day to put this documentary together (which means interviews, research, networking, editing and concept development).
We have been financing this documentary from our own pockets and have spent $10,000 (excluding crew costs).
We are very lucky and very thankful to our wonderful team who are donating their time, effort and energy to the project. We simply couldn’t do it without them.
We are independent documentary crew who are passionate about this story and about film. We are hardworking and will continue to work hand in hand with communities to ensure the narrative is accurate. We truly hope this film contributes to the debate of a transition towards sustainable modes of power production.
From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely hope you will be able to support us.
Sincerely,
Your Director, Peter Yacono.
IF WE RAISE:
$1500:
- Fuel Costs
$3000:
- Fuel Costs
+
- Day to Day Production Costs
- Music Licensing
$5000:
- Fuel Costs
- Day to Day Production Costs
- Music Licensing
+
- Production Equipment
$10,000:
- Fuel Costs
- Day to Day Production Costs
- Music Licensing
- Production Equipment
+
- Cinematography Costs + Aerial Shots
$15,000:
- Fuel Costs
- Day to Day Production Costs
- Music Licensing
- Production Equipment
- Cinematography Costs + Aerial Shots
+
- Cinematographer Costs
- Music Composer Costs
$20,000+:
- Fuel Costs
- Day to Day Production Costs
- Music Licensing
- Production Equipment
- Cinematography Costs + Aerial Shots
- Cinematographer Costs
- Music Composer Costs
+
- Post Production Costs
- Distribution Costs
- Other Production Crew Costs
Our Perks
A special thank you to Market Forces, Earthworker, Energy for the People and Harmut Veit for their incredible donations.
FREE ENERGY ASSESSMENT
Donated by Energy for the People
An energy assessment would involve:
- Reviewing electricity bills to see if we can find you a better rate
- A conversation to understand how you use energy, and then providing a cost/benefit report outlining the best ways of reducing your energy bills and emissions, including solar power, energy efficiency, energy storage and energy management options
1x LIMITED EDITION HARTMUT VEIT ARTWORK
Donated by Harmut Veit as featured on ABC:http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2015/07/07/4268…
For $300 Category:
Title: Intra-action_73 (with Hazelwood brown coal-Morwell)
Medium: Photographic print with Latrobe Valley brown coal
Size: 30 x 40cm
Framed
For $1000+ Category:
Title: Intra-action_74 (with Hazelwood brown coal-Morwell)
Medium: Brown coal print/paintings on canvas
Size: 76.2cm x 101.6cm
Unframed
1x SAM WALLMAN POSTER
Donated by Earthworker Cooperative with permission from the artist Sam Wallman
We would also like to take the time to thank our advocates who have supported us in some way or other throughout the making of this documentary.
We are very honoured and very grateful to have each and every one of them stand beside us and to continually champion our documentary.
Thank you for all you have done, and continue, to do for us.
We believe we are stronger in numbers, and welcome any organisations who believe in our philosophy to join us.
Want more details?
Check out these links:
WEBSITE >> http://ourpowerdoco.com
FACEBOOK >> http://facebook.com/ourpowerdoco
TWITTER >> https://twitter.com/ourpowerdoco
If you would like ANY more details, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us! We are always available and willing to chat to anyone via email or phone!
Contact:
mail@anisshavijayan.com
*Media & PR enquiries welcome