About this Event
What? Queen Mary University of London’s Centre for Climate Crime and Climate Justice, People’s Palace Projects, Mighty Earth, Peace Brigades International, and Indonesian human rights defenders invite you to an exclusive screening of an award-winning new film Pesta Babi, at the BLOC Cinema, Queen Mary University of London.
From 18:30 - Drinks reception
19:15 - Film Screening
21:00- Panel discussion with Papuan human rights defenders and Professor David Whyte, Director of the Centre for Climate Crime and Climate Justice at QMUL.
Synopsis:
Pesta Babi tells the story of the state-backed, industrial deforestation of one of the world’s last great wildernesses in Papua, Indonesia. The film focuses on the peaceful resistance of the Indigenous communities that live there, who are demarcating their ancestral lands with red crosses to try to stop the incursions.
With stunning videography of pristine rainforest and wetlands alongside its devastating destruction, the film highlights the impact the Food and Energy Estates project is having on the landscapes, people and wildlife of Papua. Much of the bulldozing is taking place in the Merauke Regency of South Papua to make way for sugarcane (for bioethanol), rice and palm oil plantations.
Firsthand testimonies from Indigenous Papuan leaders reveal how they fear for their lives, culture and livelihoods in what has become a conflict zone. The film highlights how Indonesia’s push for food security and energy transition is being used to justify large-scale agribusiness expansion in a military backed operation with soldiers manning the bulldozers.
Film run-time: 99 minutes
Watch the trailer:
UK links to destruction in Papua
A recent report by the Centre for Climate Crime and Climate Justice at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) revealed the UK’s links to the destruction taking place in Papua. “Bringing it all back home: the role of British companies in the destruction of West Papua” outlines how UK financial institutions, corporations and investors are connected to deforestation, mining operations and gas production projects in Papua. Companies named in the report include Barclays, HSBC and Legal and General.
Q&A: The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Papuan human rights defenders and Professor David Whyte, Director of the Centre for Climate Crime and Climate Justice at QMUL. Professor Whyte says, “The City of London is in Papua and Papua is in the City of London.”
Why? Papua is one of the most biodiverse places on earth. It's the largest intact rainforest in Indonesia, acting as a vital carbon sink and home to thousands of Indigenous communities and critically endangered animals.
Since the project started in late 2024, Mighty Earth estimates that 48,970 hectares of rainforest, savannah, peat swamp and wetlands have been cleared (38,370 ha for sugar & 10,600 ha for rice). If the entire project is realised (3M hectares are earmarked for development in Papua and IM in Kalimantan), it could double Indonesia’s emissions, risking its climate and nature goals.
U.N. special rapporteurs have raised concerns that the project is displacing Indigenous communities, clearing forests without consent, and using military forces to suppress dissent, threatening Indigenous Papuans, of whom around 50,000 have been displaced.
Event venue & nearby stays
BLOC Cinema, Arts One Building, Queen Mary University of London, 1 Westfield Way, London, United Kingdom
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