Above and Below the Ground
When the Myanmar army and a Chinese corporate giant forced Indigenous Kachin people off their ancestral land to build the massive Myitsone Dam, Grandmother Lu Ra stood her ground. She and fellow activist Ja Hkawn struggle to save the confluence of the sacred Irrawaddy River and build a movement, mentoring young female law student Hkawn Mai. A Kachin punk rock band of pastors, BLAST, also takes action, transforming their love songs into protest anthems. Our film follows these activists, from their underground beginnings during Myanmar’s military junta rule, to supposed “democratic” reforms and a sudden military coup. During such periods of fledgling democracy and dictatorship–in Myanmar and globally–our film asks how ordinary people can use the power of music, organizing and women’s leadership to challenge authoritarianism.
Maggie Lemere (United States)
Ja Nang Tsen (Myanmar)
Rhiza Collective
- Build solidarity and intersectional alliances for our Kachin core partners' efforts against the Myitsone dam, focusing on the intersections of Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and women’s leadership.
- Rewrite the environmental movement narrative to focus on the contributions of Kachin women activists to inspire the next generation of Indigenous women environmental leaders.
- Strengthen solidarity between Indigenous communities within Myanmar and around the world.
- Advocacy: Collaborate with partners to support campaigns to protect land/water/frontline defenders.
- Screenings & Cultural Celebrations: A) Screenings and speaking engagements with partners in Myanmar and globally; B) Cultural celebrations with BLAST music performances, local diaspora dance groups, and cultural influencers at various social events.
- Exchange visits and alliance-building with Indigenous women activists and water protectors in North America, Europe, and Asia.
- Long-term alliance building: Participating in existing environmental, women, and Indigenous events, using the film as a tool to connect.
- Art as a tool for change: Organize an environmental music competition led by BLAST band.