Climate Action Sierra Leone Project #29733

SENAVA - Sierra Leone Mudslide Recovery Film

by Mirabel Pictures / WeOwnTV

Project Report | Sep 10, 2018
Cleaning is the first step to preventing flooding

By Arthur Pratt | Director, Freetown Media Center

The floods in Freetown can be catastrophic in part because the population expansion has not been properly planned or regulated. This results in a lot of problems, not the least of which is debris that contributes to flooding. When the military took over power in 1992 they introduced the idea of a national cleaning day during which the general population is encouraged to come out and clean their streets and immediate surroundings. This maintenance can help prevent flooding because the gutters get cleaned so less garbage and debris flows down with the soil from the hillside surrounding the city. This activity was not allowed to continue by subsequent governments who interpreted it as a violation of human rights.

Some of our new government leaders were involved in the above-mentioned military program in the 90s's and they have reintroduced the idea of a national cleaning day to minimize the risk of flooding in the city. The drain pipes are still regularly blocked by garbage and massive erosion as a result of persistent construction on the hill side, but the cleaning has greatly minimized the risk of flooding this year.

The amount of rainfall in Sierra Leone is below average with rainfall from June to August at record lows. There have been a few days in which downpours were heavier than normal. This change in rain pattern does not mean that there is no risk. The production team is closely monitoring the situation as we continue to film as much as we can and search for mudslide victims who are willing to be profiled.

I am currently in San Francisco to support the broadcast premiere of our film Survivors on PBS’s award-winning series, POV, on September 24th, 2018.

Thank you for your continued support,

Arthur

Director

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Jun 7, 2018
The Rains have Begun

By Arthur Pratt | SINAVA Director

Director Arthur Pratt

The rains have started again some people have begin to rebuild their houses in areas where the mudslide took place. There is very little or no voice speaking about this in Freetown. This makes the film much more important and needed to start critical discussions and decisions. The editorial process is in place and we are now focusing on making sure that people understand the dangers they face in such areas. i have begun to film with my team aswell in areas that are very prone to desaster but has not actually gon through any major desaster issues. These areas include 4 seaside communities in Freetown two rural villages in the Western Rural district and over 15 mountain settlements.

Also identified as a problem is the issue of political gains made by political parties in power last year when they allow people people from their ethnic or regional background to settle in areas deemed as public property. The new government in power is showing signs towards addressing these issues but the question is would they do what is needed and how willing are the people to do what is right.

we are working to put together a five minute peice that will be used as an urgent advocasy and educational tool for communities and authorities as well. No one can tell what will happen during this raining season therefore we must do what we can to educate the people. The five minuetes peice will focus on the original mudslide and its immediate effect on individuals and family as well, it will also highliegts those areas that are prone to desaster and try to profer action that people can take in the interim there is an emergency. The five minuetes short will feature interviews from two characters that were affected directly and also exparts that will help us to understand key issues that needs to be address.

We will continue shooting through out the rains in the next four months monitoring the situation and following characters observing their behaviors and related practices.

i am presently attending the Encounters- South African International Film Festival and have been spreading the word about the film which seem to have attratected the attention of other filmmakers, journalist nd activist as well.

- Arthur Pratt, Director SINAVA

Rains have begun in Freetown

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Mar 9, 2018
Editorial Has Begun!

By Tamara | Impact Producer

Fantasee in the Run to Save the Environment

Hello GlobalGiving community,

We are pleased to announce that we have begun the editing process on the film! It has been an incredible experience watching the stories unfold. After such a long period of gathering the footage it has been really gratifying to see how these three characters are coming to life.

We have also been cultivating partnerships with local organizations such as Badenya Foundation who were one of the first organizations to deliver supplies to people affected by the mudslide. Our main contact and a local environmental activist, Fantasee recently organized an awareness run to draw attention to environmental issues facing the people in the region. We are planning to work with Badenya and Fantasee to use the film to bring awareness to the issues of poverty and climate change that were instrumental in creating this catastrophe.

To that end we will continue building relationships with environmental groups. Not many people in Sierra Leone use the term environmentalist but they have a deep understanding of nature and seasons and know that the mudslide was worsened by the degradation of the soil as a result of deforestation. It is all linked together - the poverty forces people to move farther away from the city center and then they are forced to decimate the natural resources to create their homes. This lack of urban planning is creating conditions that will continue to get worse with a warming planet. As Arthur, the director of the film says: “It is time for a new African Environmentalism and national pride to develop so that we learn to take care of our land." We are very proud to be supporting this project and enabling a new wave of environmentalists in Sierra Leone.

Drone Photo of the Mudslide Aftermath

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