The Coconut revolution - Bougainville

Cork boy 55

A lesson in survival from recent history.

The Coconut Revolution is a 2001 multi-award winning documentary film about the struggle of the indigenous peoples in the Bougainville Island. The movement is described as the "world's first successful eco-revolution".
The movie tells the story of the successful uprising of the indigenous peoples of Bougainville Island against the Papua New Guinea army and the mining plans of the RTZ company to exploit their natural resources. The documentary reveals how the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) managed to overcome the blockade strategy carried by the papuan army by using coconut oil as fuel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coconut_Revolution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainville_Province
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainville_Island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Bougainville


The documentary film
This is an incredible modern-day story of a native peoples' victory. .. . The newly formed Bougainville Revolutionary Army began fighting with bows and arrows and sticks and stones against a heavily armed adversary. In an attempt to put down the rebellion the Papua New Guinean Army swiftly established a gunboat blockade around the island. But with no shipments allowed in or out, how did new electricity networks spring up on the island? And how were the people of Bougainville able to drive around the island without any source of petrol or diesel? Watch as the world's first eco-revolution unfolds within the blockade. A David and Goliath story for the 21st century. A multi-award winning documentary

Khannie

Well I watched this (though not the youtube version). Very good documentary. Interesting stuff. You can really see what people with limited resources but the ability to make oil and electricity will achieve.

CJhaughey

I saw this years ago on Channel4, I thought it was so good I bought the video!
Its a great expose of the shady mining practices by Rio Tinto as well.
The hydropower is a great setup.