Renewing...

Arriving in Frankfurt at 5:30am (!) this morning, I had breakfast with Dr. Siedentopf, a member of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and organizer of the conference I am here to attend, "The Effects of Nuclear Disasters on the Natural Environment and Human Beings" (INFO), which begins tomorrow.

Some of the conference participants, including doctors and scientists from Japan, Belorussia and Germany, were then given a tour of JUWI (WEBSITE), one of Germany's leading companies in harnessing renewable energy.  JUWI's goal is to have 100% of the power used in Germany to come from renewable energy such as wind, solar and bio sources by 2020.

Our tour included seeing some of the company's wind turbines.  This was the first time for me to not only see one of these great machines up close, but to actually have a look inside as well.  And it felt like being inside of a lighthouse.

In the evening, we attended an anti-nuclear protest that has been taking place in the town of Langen every 1st Monday since the nuclear meltdown in 2011.  Several of the Japanese guests who are in Frankfurt to attend the IPPNW conference also took part in the demonstration.

Dr. Siedentopf delivers a speech.

After the protest, I was invited for dinner at the home of Dr. Siedentopf and her husband Hans, a retired gynecologist.  Joining us was Dr. Mikhail Malko, a scientist from the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, who is also in town for the conference where he will present his research about the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl.

Until we meet again, Taiwan...

The World Tour of ‘A2-B-C’, upon which I embarked more than six months ago, will be coming to an end over the next few weeks as the 3^rd anniversary of the March 11 triple disasters is marked (upcoming screenings HERE).

I am extremely grateful for all that I have come to know, especially the realization that there is so much more I have yet to learn.  I pray that I may be open to receiving the challenges that are set before me, that I am filled with gratitude for all that I have been given, and for the strength to be humble.

Today, I leave Taiwan for Germany where I am extremely honoured to be screening ‘A2-B-C’ on the opening day of the IPPNW-sponsored International Conference on the Effects of Nuclear Disasters on the Natural Environment and Human Beings (INFO).

As I say “until we meet again” to Taiwan, a country to which I have become so connected during the past few months, I will close with a few photographs that represent what this life is really all about: our connections with others.

PS  My relationship with Taiwan has only just begun, and I look forward to sharing some exciting news over the coming weeks!

Taiwan Tour: Taichung

The last stop for ‘A2-B-C’ (WEBSITE) on this tour of Taiwan was today in the city of Taichung.  The screening was free (as all of the screenings on this tour have been), and the 70 seats were quickly reserved through pre-registration so it was standing room only.

The way a post-screening Q&A goes varies widely and depends on everything from the size of the audience and the space to how jet-lagged I’m feeling.  But everything seemed to just come together during the Q&A following the screening in Taichung, and the exchange with the audience was electric.

When our time together came to an end, we gathered for a group photograph.  I then filmed the last of the messages from Taiwan to the people of Fukushima. 

Taiwan Tour: Taipei (Part 2)

Hands down: the most amazing screening of 'A2-B-C' yet.  Arranged by Director Cheng in cooperation with GCAA (WEBSITE) 'A2-B-C' was screened in Taipei's Liberty Square outside the exquisite Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall.

Holding the free public screening outside meant that not only people who were already concerned about what is happening in Fukushima were in attendance, but that those who just happened to be passing had an opportunity to see the film as well.

During the screening, award-winning photographer Edd Jhong, asked to take my photograph for a new project that he is unveiling for the 3rd anniversary of the March 11 disaster.  After our individual portraits were taken, renowned Taiwanese actor and director Leon Dia, Director Cheng and I posed for a photograph together.

Following the screening, Director Cheng led the Q&A and discussion (VIDEO below), and later I filmed messages to the people of Fukushima.

For more about today's events, links for the TV news report and newspaper article are below.  The Q&A video is HERE

Taiwan Tour: Taipei (Part 1)

This 3-city tour of 'A2-B-C' in Taiwan (INFO) has been sponsored in part by film director Cheng Yu-Chieh and is part of an awareness campaign leading up to events marking the 3rd anniversary of the March 11 nuclear disaster.

This afternoon, Director Cheng arranged for a press screening of 'A2-B-C' at the Huashan Creative Park, housed in a former brewery built by the Japanese during its occupation of Taiwan.

with Director Cheng Yu-Chieh, Director Wu Yi-Feng and GCAA Secretary General Shu-Hsin Tsui

Director Cheng led the post-screening discussion.  Questions members of the print and television journalists as well as fellow filmmakers asked centered on the media's coverage of the disaster, censorship, and the film's reception in Japan.

Interview by Taiwan Public Television Service

Before tonight's big screening in the capital I had time for a short break, and was able to meet a couple of old friends and their children for dinner.  Panos, from Greece, and his wife, Mei, from Taiwan, were roommates of mine when I was doing completing my MA in Film and Television Production in Bristol 10 years ago.  They met in our flat and ended up getting married!

Taiwan Tour: Tainan (Part 2)

Walking around Tainan before the screening yesterday, we noticed many "No Nukes: No More Fukushimas" flags around the city.  I was surprise to see so many people publicly displaying their anti-nuclear sentiments outside their homes and shops.

The screening of "A2-B-C' was sponsored by the Homemakers United Foundation (INFO), and when we arrived at the venue, the first thing they asked me to do was to sign some of the "No Nukes: No More Fukshimas" flags that were to be sold for a fundraiser.

Around 150 people in the audience, and during the post-screenings Q&A, the first question was from a young girl who asked "What can we do to help?".  The simple act of asking this question is the first step to finding a solution, and during my time in Taiwan, I have met so many young people who are engaging in the world around them and searching for a way to make a change.  This has been so amazing.

Following the Q&A, I mentioned that I had brought a camera and asked that anyone who felt moved to offer a message to the people affected by the nuclear meltdown to please come to the front.  A long queue formed...

Taiwan Tour: Tainan (Part 1)

It is wonderful to be back in Taiwan, and an honour to be invited to share 'A2-B-C' this time with audiences in three cities.  The Green Citizen's Action Alliance (GCAA website HERE) is sponsoring this tour along with Taiwanese film director Cheng Yu-chieh.

After arriving in Taipei last night, I enjoyed delicious Shanghai cuisine with GCAA members, including Secretary General Shu-Hsin Tsui, Taiwan International Documentary Film Program Director Wood Lin and his wife, Kite, and GCAA volunteer Yenchen Lee.

After dinner, we visited a cafe owned by renowned film director Tsai Mingiang, where his many awards, including those from Venice and Dubai, are on display.

Director Tsai's Cafe Galerie

In the morning, I visited the National Taiwan Museum in Taipei with Director Cheng, before boarding the bullet train to Tainan, in the south of Taiwan, where the first screening of 'A2-B-C' was held last night (INFO).

The former capital of Taiwan, we had a chance to see just a bit of Tainan's rich history before the screening.

Chihkan Tower built on the site of a fort built by the Dutch in 1653.

I stayed at the Jasmine Guest House in Tainan.

Walking the Line (part 2)

The screening of ‘A2-B-C’ in the Thin Line Festival took place yesterday at the nostalgic Fine Arts Cinema on the square (screening INFO).  During the post-screening Q&A the audience offered challenging questions, something I always enjoy.

  

(Thank you to the guys from "Unleashed: a Dog-Dancing Story" WEBSITE for the Q&A photos!).

It was an honour to screen the film for an audience of such engaged film-goers and filmmakers whose work I respect so much.  This year the number of days of Thin Line is significantly fewer than in the past, and as a result, the calibre of films is phenomenal (some of my recommendations are below).

Having two friends and colleagues in the audience was an additional honour.  Award-winning documentary filmmaker Shawn Small (‘Ru: water is life’, 2013) and author Shay Youngblood whose book ‘Black Girl in Paris’ (excerpt HERE) was recently turned into a film, are coincidentally both living in the Denton area.

Some of my film recommendations from Thin Line:

Unleashed: a dog-dancing story (INFO) 83 min.

What I Hate About Myself (INFO) 28 min.

Pistols to Porn (INFO) 6 min.

The Trouble With Bread (INFO) 26 min.

Haenyeo: Women of the Sea (INFO)12 min.

Coney Island: Dreams for Sale (INFO) 80 min.

Perfect Strangers (INFO) 69 min.

Mobilizing Mozambique  (INFO) 20 min.