An ecological thriller denouncing the palm oil disaster - how cinema can help fight the climate crisis

This weekend I watched Édouard Bergeon's latest film, La Promesse Verte (The Green Deal in English), and I've been mad since then. In his new ecological thriller, he denounces the palm oil disaster, showing the shared responsibilities between Western politicians and Southeast Asian industries.
The film follows Martin, a sociology student obsessed with exposing the disaster of palm oil cultivation in Indonesia, and Carole, his mom as she tries to save the life of her son who has been wrongfully sentenced to death in a rigged trial.
Picture from La Promesse Verte's media kit
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This film paints an alarming picture of the palm oil industry, with primary forests gutted by bulldozers, and indigenous peoples repressed by private militias. 
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Deforestation in Borneo. Picture by Greenpeace International
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We've all seen pictures of devastated forests, of ravaged ecosystems, of wild animals having their habitat destroyed. And yet, palm oil can still be found in an enormous amount of everyday products. Just look in your kitchen cabinets, in your bathroom, in your cleaning products. It is everywhere.... even in so-called sustainable biofuels (a good reminder that we should keep global sustainability in mind when transitioning to a green and better society).
Knowing all the devastating effects of palm oil, why are we still using it? Why are we still producing it Well, the film gives us the beginning of an answer: lobby, power, and money.
If you understand French, you can watch this trailer:
https://youtu.be/E7In13inVQg?si=AVkgiCCBgd2avfV_
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Read Édouard Bergeon's great interview here: 
« La Promesse verte », le thriller écologique qui dénonce le désastre de l'huile de palme
Édouard Bergeon, réalisateur du film « La Promesse verte », considère que les responsabilités du scandale de l’huile de palme sont partagées entre les politiciens occidentaux et les exploitants d’Asie du Sud-Est.
Martin avait une obsession : dévoiler au grand jour le désastre des cultures d’huile de palme, en Indonésie. Les forêts éventrées par les bulldozers, les peuples autochtones réprimés par les milices privées. Emprisonné dans le couloir de la mort pour trafic de drogue, un motif fallacieux, il ne peut (...)
https://reporterre.net/La-Promesse-verte-le-thriller-ecologique-qui-denonce-le-desastre-de-l-huile-de-palme
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Read more about deforestation in Borneo, Indonesia: 
An Environmental Crisis in Borneo - Greenpeace International
The Jokowi government must acknowledge the environmental crisis in Borneo
https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/46328/environmental-crisis-borneo-flood-palm-oil-coal/
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Some extra links about deforestation in Indonesia:
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Give Climate Warning ⚠️ to Royal Golden Eagle: They deforested 37,105 hectares of natural forest despite RGE's no-deforestation policy | We Don't Have Time
Despite its pledges and its no-deforestation policy, Royal Golden Eagle, one of the world’s largest producers of wood pulp and products, is sourcing its wood from deforestation ⚠️
A new investigation found that RGE’s pulp and paper unit in China, Asia S
https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/aedf77e6-4a0c-4729-b023-07c4c9e5586e?utm_source=url-copy&utm_medium=wdht-web-app-share&utm_campaign=marine_stephan
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Give Climate Warning ⚠️ to Korindo Group: Korindo Korean palm oil giant stripped of sustainability status | We Don't Have Time
Korindo has been rejected from the world's leading green certification body in the wake of a BBC investigation. The group had been buying up swathes of Asia's largest remaining rainforests in the remote Indonesian province of Papua. They then deliberatel
https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/28ad9fc1-5112-4119-8445-f6fc1e4d07cb?utm_source=url-copy&utm_medium=wdht-web-app-share&utm_campaign=marine_stephan
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Give Climate Warning ⚠️ to Kao: Kao must stop sourcing palm oil from land-grabbing deforestation culprit RGE | We Don't Have Time
The rainforests of Sumatra are some of the last remaining in the world, and the only place where elephants, tigers, rhinos and orangutans live together. But they’re being intentionally burned and bulldozed to clear forest for Conflict Palm Oil and pulp p
https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/a9acbd19-187f-43e5-a5a0-a61810e80f2e?utm_source=url-copy&utm_medium=wdht-web-app-share&utm_campaign=marine_stephan
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George Kariuki
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4 w
It's crazy how this everyday product is having such a devastating impact. Deforestation, habitat destruction, it's all horrific. Love that the film tackles the political and economic corruption behind it too.
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walter lungayi
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4 w
By shedding light on environmental issues, such films have the potential to inspire action and promote greater understanding of the urgent need for sustainable practices.
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Princess
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4 w
Cinema has a unique ability to engage and educate audiences, making it a powerful tool in the fight against the climate crisis.
5
Sarah Chabane
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4 w
I hope I can get to see this one in Sweden!
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dickson mutai
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4 w
The film prompts us to confront the ethical implications of our consumption choices, it also instills hope by showcasing individuals who challenge the status quo and advocate for change .. good job
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- Marine Stephan
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  4 w
  @dickson_mutai and on top of that, it is a great movie, with a great story, a beautiful photography. Definitely worth watching!
  1

Edouard Bergeon

An ecological thriller denouncing the palm oil disaster - how cinema can help fight the climate crisis

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