Window to a Blue Planet

Wildscreen Festival

2010-10-20T17:36:00.003+01:00

Wildscreen Festival was a fantastic and very inspiring week. I enjoyed meeting loads of interesting people and hope to stay in touch. Lots to think about and ideas to follow up.

Watch this space!

Home Page

2010-10-16T13:10:00.002+01:00

I have just set up a new home page which links all my blogs, videos, e.t.c.

So for latest information about my work and current projects please follow this link:

http://flavors.me/louise_purnell

Leatherback Turtle

2010-10-16T12:12:00.004+01:00

This footage shows a Leatherback Turtle laying eggs on the shore of Galibi Beach in Guyana.

Please let us know if you like what you see. More footage to come.

Showreel

2009-01-01T23:35:00.001Z


Showreel

A day in the life of...

2007-01-02T00:09:00.000Z

A day in the life of Mabel Kotei:
As a single parent, Mabel has to provide for six children. She runs a cafe stall at a taxi station in Accra, Ghana. A loan from a charity has allowed her to expand her business and so provide food, housing and schooling for all her children.

Sponsors video

2007-01-01T23:43:00.000Z


Sponsors video: Sponsors from the UK take a trip to Ghana to meet the people on the ground that benefit from the work of the charity, Opportunity International.

Rose's story

2007-01-01T23:42:00.000Z


Rose's story: Rose is a Ghanaian widower who has to provide for four children. Thanks to a loan from a charity, called Opportunity International, she has expanded her business and is now a successful plantain trader.

Trust Bank

2007-01-01T23:39:00.000Z


Trust Bank: Many traders in Ghana are not able to raise collateral for business loans. The charity Opportunity International offers them a system whereby they can co-guarantee the loans of fellow traders in their community and receive training to help build up their businesses.

Ghana photos

2006-05-10T23:55:00.000+01:00

These pictures were taken while filming a promotional video for a microfinancing charity called Opportunity International (click here for more information). The film aims to provide a vital promotional tool for securing the interests of potential sponsors.

Filming - Ghana, Africa

2006-04-26T16:26:00.000+01:00

You will no doubt be delighted to hear our work in Latin America has led to exciting projects based in the UK.

On April 28, we fly to Ghana, Africa (click here for a map) to film a video for a microfinancing charity called Opportunity International (click here for more information).

We will have updates to follow.

Royal Palace and Chiang Mai jungle, Thailand

2006-01-27T00:45:00.000Z

New Zealand photos

2006-01-11T00:29:00.000Z

A year through Latin America

2005-12-26T05:44:00.000Z

Well, we have had a wonderful year full of unforgettable experiences and adventures and met so many interesting people over the course of our long journey. It really is such a diverse continent with everything from Caribbean beaches and tropical rainforest to mountains and glaciers. The continent was all we hoped for and more, as you probably realize, since we ended up spending a year there and had only planned to stay for six months. We would recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of adventure. Argentina especially is a wonderful, beautiful country, very well developed and easy to get around. For us it was a bit of much needed luxury after the adventures of slightly more challenging countries like Bolivia and Columbia. Buenos Aires is probably the one place we would really like to go back to. It is a great city with vibrant night life, amazing food and a fantastic climate.
I think on the whole Bolivia was probably one of the countries we enjoyed the most although we didn’t see that much of it. It is a very varied and a beautiful country with a rich culture that hasn’t become too commercialised yet. Sadly, it is probably one of the poorest countries we visited, but this made it one of the cheapest to travel in. The salt lakes tour we went on there was through some of the most extraordinary landscapes we have ever seen.

We spent over four months in the Guianas, which gave us the opportunity to work with some fantastic people in some unusual places and to study some rare and extraordinary animals.

We are now in New Zealand enjoying Christmas in Auckland with family and are looking forward to three weeks here travelling and relaxing. On January 15 we fly to Sydney and will be back in London at the beginning of March, 2006.

Mendosa square

2005-12-22T20:56:00.000Z

Mendosa square, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Mendosa vineyards, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Punta Tomba, Argentina - penguin beach

2005-12-22T20:55:00.000Z

Punta Tomba, Argentina; penguin beach, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Punta Tomba, Argentina; penguins, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Penninsular Valdes, Argentina; sea lions

2005-12-22T20:53:00.002Z

Pennisular Valdes, Argentina; dolphins, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Pennisular Valdes, Argentina; sea lions, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Perito Moreno Glacier from the air

2005-12-22T20:53:00.000Z

Perito Moreno Glacier from the air, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Buenos Aires

2005-12-22T20:49:00.000Z

Buenos Aires one, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Buenos Aires two, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Boca, Buenos Aires and tango, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Buenos Aires, Boca, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Buenos Aires zoo and llamas, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Boca Juniors Stadium, Buenos Aires, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Buenos Aires sunset, originally uploaded by Blue PLanet.

Foz do Iguazu, Argentina and Colonia, Uruguay

2005-12-05T17:17:00.000Z

Bolivia and the salt lakes

2005-12-05T16:35:00.000Z

You guessed it. I came off on ‘The most dangerous road’, the 45km highway to Corioco. I got a little too cocky after the initial terror in bouncing down the mountain slightly out of control. The guide told us that it is much worse going over the rocks if you ride slowly and I took his advice a little too literally, tailing the pro and a more experienced rider with as much courage as I could muster. I won’t be doing a rider like that again so, wel,l you have to go for it. After two near misses I hit a snaking corner too fast (“Watch out for the white cross by the side of the road,” the guide said, draw your own conclusions as to why it was there) and immediately knew I was hitting terra firma or flying off the cliff. As you can see from the bandages I was left with a few scrapes and not a little blood and limped somewhat more slowly to the end of the road. That said, the ride was spectacular, bombing down the tarmac roads through the mountains at frightening speeds before we hit the rock and dirt roads, a completely different ball game and you quickly realise why these bikes are fitted with suspension and pro gear. We had opted for the hard-tailed bikes and were initially paying the price. The fear stiffens you up and you feel every rock and bump at first until you learn that relaxing and using your arms as suspension is far less painful. After five hours we made it down the slopes for a welcome beer (to calm the nerves) hot shower and buffet at a hotel overlooking a beautiful mountain valley. I have to say we were a little galled to discover that two trucks had fallen from the mountain the night before (we could see logs sprawled down a cliff face) and were rather disturbed on the way up in the rain when we saw a fire crew winching up bodies from the valley floor. Apparently thirty-eight vehicles fell from the road last year. I think everyone was somewhat relieved when we turned into the tarmac roads on the mountain top.With the clock ticking on our return home we have quickened our pace immeasurably; within a matter of days we were at the La Paz station booking a bus to Uyuni and the salt lakes. And while we have been trying to keep up with current events and were aware of numerous demonstrations and road blocks in Bolivia (I understand this has something to do with the distribution and sale of natural gas and how much of this benefits Bolivia) we had unwittingly arrived two weeks prior to a general election. On the way down we had heard whispers from travellers held up for six days caused by road blocks. After booking our ticket we had to wait four hours before the bus could leave (obviously they don’t tell you about this little hiccup before you buy the ticket) as the roads around La Paz were blocked. When we finally boarded we knew we were in for a real treat courtesy of a speeding, surly bus driver and I had just read foreign office advice that we “…should not attempt to cross road blockades”. Oh well in for a penny. The driver turned out to be a real gem and found great difficulty in stopping for people to use the loo (why would you need a toilet on an all night bus journey?). After a few of the old ladies stuck the boot in and bent his ear sufficiently (believe me it is pointless to complain if you are a gringo unless you want and earful of rapid-fire, deliberately incomprehensible Spanish), he began driving away when everyone got off the bus for a leak (there was no actual ‘toilet’). Just prior to this we had the driver’s assistant coming around the bus (she showed amazing strength after she grabbed our luggage to load on the bus) asking everyone for money, to bribe the blockade! After a quick stop and the hand over of a few notes we were through and at this point were looking forward to leaving the country (a real shame as it is fabulous). We later discovered one of the windows of the bus had been smashed by a rock thrown by one of younger protestors.
Within a day we had arranged for a three day jeep tour of the salt lakes or the Salar de Uyuni, all that remains of a prehistoric sea, which proved to be one of the most dramatic and impressive parts of our entire trip. The first day took us for a stop at the train graveyard at the edge of town, another 20km to the salt-processing village Colchani, a visit to a hotel made from salt and the beginning of the salt lakes. We could already see there was much more in store than just the salt lakes. We were also very fortunate to be stuck in a jeep for three days with some really interesting and enthusiastic people including two Czechs, a Kiwi and two English girls. After this we were whisked for a spot of lunch (llama I believe or probably more likely alpaca) another 60 km to the Isla de Pescado or Fish Island, by virtue of its shape, which is covered in giant cacti. To say this climate harsh is an understatement and it is a real miracle that anything can survive out there. I heard frequent stories of bleeding lips caused by the desert like ecosystem and we all suffered slightly in this respect. Sunglasses were also and absolute necessity if you were expecting to open your eyes. As night rolled in we took refuge in a ‘hotel’ in a small town literally in the middle of nowhere. We had a quick walk around the tumble-weed-wild-west town in search of a whisky saloon. The buildings had low flat roofs with locked, boarded up windows. We saw just two people, one uncommunicative gaucho and a light in the distance. The second day saw is delving into a weird alien cave called Galacticos Magicos alongside the spooky Cemetery of the Chullpas known locally as the Cave of the Devil, a site discovered only three years ago, built around 500 AD by a tribe that typically mummified their dead.
After driving through lava fields and an entire forest of calcified trees chased by howling winds, we stopped off at Bolivia’s only active volcano Ollagüe, standing at 5865m, from which we saw a thin plum of smoke issuing. From here we plunged on across the lofty volcanic ash desert of Pampa Siloli and stopped briefly to have a glance at surreal, sand blasted shapes including the odd Arbol de Piedra or stone tree. From here, via several green and blue lakes, complete with the requisite pink and white flamingos, we headed to the bloody waters of Laguna Colorada, bizarrely coloured red courtesy of the pigmentation of the algae that live in this mineral lake. Several miles on we saw the sublimely surreal, apocalyptic landscape Salvador Dali chose to paint on canvas.
The following morning saw us all up at five for dawn over the laguna with a quick dash to the steam, boiling mud sulphur spectacle that is the Sol de ManÑana geyser at an altitude of some 5000m. We had prepared well for the freezing night previous taking advantage of the cheap market at Uyuni including an alpaca hoodie, gloves, hat and poncho, but nothing could prepare us for this cold morning. Hence is was a great shock to discover we would be taking a plunge the Laguna Polques. I think most of us were in some disbelief as we stripped off in the freezing temperatures, but were relieved that this was indeed a hot spring. Getting back out was something of a reluctant challenge. From here we had one further dramatic, mad dash through the volcanic landscape to the Chilean border.

Ride or Die - The world´s most dangerous Road

2005-11-17T21:08:00.000Z

We survived. More to follow...

Floating islands, Peru and Isla del Sol, Bolivia

2005-11-13T17:46:00.000Z

The floating islands, Lake Titicaca, Peru (tribes retreated here, fearful of the powerful Incas)

Isla del Sol and opposite Isla del Lune, Bolivia where according to Inca mythology the sun and moon were created, also thought to be the birthplace of the first Incas.

The lost city of the Incas

2005-11-13T16:53:00.000Z

Arriving on time seems to tempt fate on this continent and it was the same for the train to Machu Pichu. According to the fifty-four minute rule if you arrive early for any journey here, you will leave at least an hour late. Of course sod’s law is in influence if you arrive dead on time because, of course, the bus, train or plane will have already left. Such as it was for the train in the rain, for more than an hour. The train was standing at the platform while we shivered in the roofless station (the plastic rain macs were just 25p) - there seems to be some kind of elasticity within the Latin American temperament. If you complain about something, quite obviously out of order, somehow or other it seems to make the situation worse. Better to develop some patience and bite the stiff upper lip.
When we arrived at Agua Calientes (there are thermal baths nearby) an hour or so later we booked into a cheap room ready for the 5am shocker the following morning (We arrived at the ruins at 6am for dawn, before the tourists arrive). Miraculously we all managed to get out of bed and were sipping coca tea to counter the breathless altitude on the way up the mountain and it´s dizzying panoramic views of the ruins. We also climbed the adjacent Huayna Pichu mountain with its lookout tower over the fabled Inca ruin, Wayna Pichu (in the photograph you will see us at the summit after a mad, hair-raising scramble up its steep slopes, perched, with Machu Pichu in the background shrouded in mist and clouds).
The three hour hike took us through the clouds, up the mountain, down the other side (I am sure this was really mountaineering) down to the majestic Temple of the Moon set in a cave, with what appeared to be a meditation chair hewn from the stone, facing out to the jungle. Just a few steps further we found another temple with alters set into its cave wall, complete with meteorite rocks. Apparently if you place both hands on the space rocks and close your eyes you can vibe with the mountain, the ancient Incas, aliens or anyone else who takes your fancy.

Nariz Del Diablo, Ecuador

2005-11-07T18:01:00.000Z

Beyond the simple border crossing into Ecuador and a short stop at Ibarra, we made our way to Otavalo and supposedly the largest market on the continent. The animal market was quite an experience (Louise wanted to buy a piglet for US$15) and we also found some particularly large cabbages. I have to admit the rest was largely Andean tat, pan pipes (which made me think of Hounslow precinct’s buskers), ‘artisan’ works, and relatively overpriced alpaca ponchos, gloves, socks, hats and the like that seem to be a mainstay for the masses of middle-aged American holiday makers that are drawn to the town. We swiftly hot footed our way past the stalls to the food market where I enjoyed a delicious hog roast for lunch.

The meat market was a bit of an eyeful with various organs, hooves and slabs of flesh lying around, but I suppose it is a case of waste not want not when you live in a continent that is so obviously shafted by the evils of the global economy.
Arriving in the capital, Quito, a few days later was, after the initial romantic night time vista of the city’s twinkling lights up the mountain, a distinct disappointment.

It has to be the most underwhelming city we have come across following its high billing in what we have discovered are the largely unreliable, ill advised and badly researched ‘travel guides’. The dismal, rainy weather and city attitude rather reminded of drab, second rate London streets in winter, without all the world class cultural events, art and music we come to expect in Europe. We were left chasing our tails again as we found the derelict, abandoned and distinctly closed national gallery alongside more predictable Andean street art and more tat (yet more ‘travel guide’ advice). One consolation was that our hostel was very cheap (a recommendation from an American poet we met in Columbia) though we discovered afterwards that rooms, rather darkly, could be rented by the hour.

Ecuador did brighten eventually. We arrived in Baños, finally with some sunshine, and the town’s wonderful thermal baths set, dramatically, in a volcanic valley surrounded by a mountainous backdrop. Unfortunately, we enjoyed the best of the hot springs, Piscinas de la Virgen, a little too much and forgot to take photographs of the floodlight waterfall tumbling down the adjacent volcano at night time, literally twenty feet from the hot springs. Heaven after a year of cold ‘showers’ (quite often we have found a shower really is just a stop tap that has been plumbed a little higher than usual), followed by a plunge under an icy shower and a dip in a chilly pool. It was a strange, skin tingling sensation getting back into the hot water, which was at a perfect temperature. On leaving we both felt energised, but afterwards quickly fell asleep, exhausted. Following another day of hot baths we headed for the fabled Nariz del Diablo, the Devil’s Nose Train, described in its programme as ‘The World’s Most Difficult Railway’. Apparently hundreds died during its construction; it plunges down a mountain, then zigzags backwards and forwards down an almost sheer precipice. We joined the throng of other gringos on the roof of the train at 6.30am to arrive at the foot of the mountain, somewhat windswept, five hours later (the mountain descent itself takes about an hour). We must have travelled through every season taking in our fair share of grey clouds, then ice, blazing sunshine and finally rain on our ascent up the mountain. I was the only one cracking jokes on the way back up but I managed to garner a few forced smiles from under the sleeping bags, raincoats and whatever bits of plastic sheeting were available. The train ride down the mountain offered a stunning panorama and although we derailed on the way back (I was particularly excited by this but the batteries in the effing camera ran out, I guess I will never make a photographer) it was well worth the effort.
Following a herculean fifty two hour bus ride (over three days, to make time for our excesses in Columbia) we arrived in Cusco, Peru a few days ago, very, very tired and breathless from the altitude. We are bound for the Machu Pichu by train tomorrow (we have bucked the four day Inca Trail trek, as we run out of time, have seen plenty of miles in the jungle and it seems we might see more - including other ruins in and around the Inca Citadel and the Sacred Valley - before we head to Isla del Sol and lake Titicaca in Bolivia.

Bogota, Columbia

2005-10-26T17:50:00.000+01:00

We have been making time after enjoying Columbia a little too much. Considering we intended to avoid the country, we spent over a month there. This culminated in a week long stay in the capital, Bogotá, at a smashing hostel, dubbed almost accurately, as the best in Latin America. Of course it was something of a gringo social/party haunt. On one heady night, with a pack of foreigners, we descended on the Cha Cha Club on the top floor of the Hilton Hotel (and it’s views of the whole city), fuelled with bellyfuls of Cubre Libre rum cocktails. Not surprisingly we danced to the funky house music until the wee hours and beyond (I heard some people were dancing on tables).
We made a fine exit from Columbia over the breathtaking landscape of the Andes, punctuated with the ubiquitous bus searches and a good frisking for the boys by soldiers clutching machine-guns (something of a shock at first, but you get used to it. The locals are among the friendliest we have come across in Latin America – certainly no reason not to go. We did not see a single fire bombing, murder, guerrilla attack or hijacking that all the books propound with their fearful propaganda, touch wood, although one passenger saw fit to show Louise his gun. He had a licence of course. I suppose that kind of machismo is acceptable in the US, but it was just a little bit weird and slightly unnerving.)

Villa de Leyva, Columbia

2005-10-10T00:58:00.000+01:00

Is that Cartman eating ice-cream?

Plaza Principal

Shelling peas at the market

Pulling the crowds

2005-10-06T14:48:00.000+01:00

I finally managed to achieve one of the highlights of my trip in, of all places, Cartagena, Columbia. At last, away from the geeky, slighty-asthmatic-NHS-jam-jar-glasses-taped-to-their-rims-with-plaster entourage in blighty. All the old boys in this seeming ill-fated nation sit around the famous Plaza Bolivar in the city´s colonial centre playing chess. Fountains tinkle in the background, while the Latin American gentlemen muse over classic variations of the Ruy Lopez, sipping coffee, dressed to the nines in creased trousers and shoes in the tropical heat. After twenty minutes or so, hopping excitedly from one foot to the other one of the fellows broke from their banter, the young upstarts take a regular whipping from the old masters, and offered me a game. I could barely contain my excitement as we sat down exchanging pleasantries in Español. After failing to consolidate a clearly winning position (I had pulled a crowd at this stage as you can see from the picture) I, as the phrase goes, bottled it and lost. I managed (with the young gringo attacting more and more of an audience) to pull back the second game and then drew the third. I lost further three games to finish 4 1/2 - 1 1/2. Somewhat exhausted and overheating (Cartagena is one of the most beautiful and hottest cities on the continent) we shook hands and I thanked him kindly for the games, which I enjoyed thoroughly. So much more interesting and sophisticated than the geeks back home. The following day, I arrive in the plaza dressed smartly (Come on, I had shorts and a tee shirt on. I am English) and clean shaven. Pleased at least that I had won a game I felt I could at least hold my own with these boys, was not just another gringo chancer and I could return for a second bout with my head held high. This is after all a memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life and will, without doubt find its way into the book. I should probably also mention that etiquette dictates that the loser pays for the hire of the tables. A princely sum of two thousand pesos, around fifty pence. An old chap who had the day before, given me pointers on where I had lost one of the games I should have won motioned for a game, to my delight, nodding at one of the tables. I sat down, grim faced and quickly got the advantange in the first game, this time making sure I pressed my upper hand for a good win. The old fellow, sharply dressed in fitted brown trousers and a fine shirt who must have been fifty or sixty, introduced himself as Frederico and explained he wanted a game after seeing me play the day before. I cannot think of a better compliment. The second game we drew before I lost all the remaining games, including a dramatic final decider in which he played a crushing sacrificial combination that I had seen but was prepared to contest. Chess after all should be played with a bit of passion.
I have included some pictures of this marvellous city, including a shot of the former slave trading square, Plaza de los Coches that now more typically is the jumping on point for romantic horse-drawn (and in the evenings candle-lit) tours of Cartagena´s Old town. The town, full name Cartagena de Indias, was founded in 1533 and was one of the New World´s first Spanish cities, the main port from which much of the continent´s wealth was spirited away to Europe. It was also home to the magical realist, Gabriel Garcia Marquez in the 1940s who most famously wrote One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Birthday in Santa Marta, Columbia

2005-09-27T18:13:00.000+01:00

Scuba Diving

Scuba Lodge

Chillin´

A joker

Colonial Coro

2005-09-27T17:39:00.000+01:00

Sand dunes

A church around the corner

Pelican sunset in Choroni, Venezuela

2005-09-17T23:08:00.000+01:00

Well, we finally made good our glorious exit from Suriname and are both delighted to be on the move again. We were becoming increasingly twitchy after we decided to stay on for a bit longer than we really wanted to. But three weeks is three weeks. Aint so bad. With our flights paid for and some hard graft behind us, we flew to Port of Spain, Trinidad. An odd journey, but as I probably mentioned before, it’s easier to fly to Holland from Suriname than to the rest of Latin America. We managed to get a quick look at the mountains at dawn, standing outside the airport waiting for our connection. Very beautiful, but we had our hearts set on Venezuela and with good reason. Somewhat exhausted we arrived in Caracas the following day and were whisked through the concrete jungle that is Venezuela’s capital. Caracas turned out to be very expensive, relatively, so after a day or so of failing to find some much needed culture (the contemporary art gallery, supposed to be the best in the continent was closed for ten days – we ended up going to a kids museum!) we decided to head for the beach. We did manage a look at the Plaza Bolivar (and a chatted with some local old boys who were sipping thimbles of coffee while getting a shoe shine), but much of the colonial architecture and history of the city was demolished in the 70s oil boom in favour of concrete skyscrapers. That said, we had a great night at an English bar and the sounds of some classic Brit music (Beatles, Pink Floyd: We don’t need no education) – I ended up dancing arm in arm with a couple of really friendly Venezuelan lads and have to admit to being the drunken instigator of a sing-song rendition of Sting’s classic I’m an Englishman in… Venezuela. You can’t take me anywhere. The day before the beach we chanced our arm on the Swiss-run teleferico which soars 1,600 meters up the mountain that dominates the Caracas skyline. I’m not the biggest fan of cable cars, but it really was something else. Jaw-dropping, panoramic views of the huge, sprawling city combined with Caribbean ocean vistas and a path ambling down to a mountain village and the sea. The following day we were haring off to the coast after a two hour wait for our connection. In Latin America you need patience - we got chatting with a couple from Coventry. We got on to the diablo ride over the mountain and the bus broke down thirty seconds after pulled out of the station. But after a fiddle under the bonnet we were treated to a dramatic drive through cloud and rainforest, horns blaring at every turn with the sounds of salsa blasting from the speakers of the bus. Two hours later we arrived in Choroni and Puerto Columbia, where we are now.

It’s paradise. Palm-lined, Caribbean beaches and aquamarine water with mountains looming in the distance. Needless to say we were slightly sunburnt after the first day. Mad dogs and Englishmen. Hiring a beach umbrella here is an absolute necessity. And the waves are hardcore. I have unwittingly managed to pull off several gymnastic somersaults in the sea. Well, that’s all so far. It looks like we might be making the trip to Columbia now after all. Two travellers have given us the low down on some wonderful beaches and the world’s ‘most inexpensive’ scuba diving. It’s something I have always wanted to try.

When the work is done...

2005-09-02T23:33:00.000+01:00

We have finished most of the filming (more than 30 hours) we intend to do while we are in Latin America.
Further updates on this sites will be primarily for photographs.

Wanwan futu e doro bergi

2005-07-22T23:29:00.000+01:00

As part of our education project in the tropical rainforest of Suriname, South America, we organised a field trip for 334 schoolchildren. Most were between six to 10-years-old and were from the village of Brownsweg.

This transmigration village, 13 km from Brownsberg mountain nature park, was formed from 5,000 people from several maroon tribes that formerly lived along the Surinam river. In 1964 they were relocated by the Surinamese government when the gates of the Afobaka Dam (Afobaka means grandmothers back) closed, forming the Brokopondo Lake. The hydro-electric dam now powers the capital, Paramaribo. Brownsweg has since become characterised by high unemployment and the prevalence of illegal gold-mining.

Almost three quarters of the youngsters from the village, despite living so close to the mountain, had not set foot on its slopes previously. Thanks to funding from WWF, we organised transportation and food, an interpretive trail through the rainforest, an educational video on the biodiversity of Brownsberg, a viewing of the village from the mountain using binoculars (for most this was also a first) and an art project including two murals. We also filmed HDV footage, which we hope will prove persuasive in future funding negotiations. (Wanwan futu e doro bergi translates to Step by step we climb the mountain).

Rainforest School

2005-06-05T23:35:00.002+01:00

The Amazon jungle rises north from the river basin to the Guiana Shield. We are filming a documentary about a rainforest school [the school is being funded by WWF] that is being set up in interior of Suriname, in the Guianas, South America.

We are also developing an education program and publicity material [such as the poster above] for Stinasu, the foundation for nature conservation in Suriname. The education program and documentary focus on animal behaviour, rainforest ecosystems and conservation issues such as the impact of gold mining on vegetation, biodiversity and health. We are also working with leading primate anthropologists to capture footage (HDV equipment) of species unique to the Guianas such as the bearded saki as well as the spider monkey, the white faced saki, howler monkey, capuchin and other animals. We are in Suriname on Brownsberg mountain [on the link map below near Brownsweg]:
Click here for a map.

Amerindians and Waini River

2005-05-02T19:08:00.000+01:00

Two interconnected films Herõrru and the Waini River/Shell Beach, one on a Netherlands Committee of The World Conservation Union (NC-IUCN) funded community project producing crabwood oil (Herõrru in the indigenous, Amerindian native tongue, or carapa guianensis) as a sustainable and alternative source of earnings.

The project, on the Waini River, north west Guyana, is one of the first steps of the wider aim to develop the entire region (from the Waini river to the coast and Shell Beach) into a protected area.

This holistic, regional approach could also impact on the sea turtles [including the charismatic Leatherbacks pictured below] of Shell Beach and the surrounding fishing communities. Some fishermen in the area are known to poach sea turtle eggs and even butcher the turtles on the beach for sale as meat in local markets.

For more information please email Andy or for film email Louise.

Sea Turtles

2005-03-28T20:55:00.000+01:00

Working draft [first]

Programme Outline for film

In most cases voice overs will be kept to a minimum and only used when interview material is not available. Interviews will be in native languages when the English is not suitable and subtitled for viewing.

Introduction: the geography and the situation.
Stinasu: the history of the area, the issues and the work being done.
Monitoring and a description of the different turtle species.
Examining the main problems: the impact of tourism, fishing and poaching.
Conclusion.

1. Introduction: the situation and the geography.

Shots of Galibi and Matapica area.

Voice over/introduction: "Suriname is on the northern Atlantic coast of South America and is bordered by French Guyana to the east, Brazil to the south and the former British Colony, Guyana in the west. Most of the coast is covered by mangrove forests, interspersed by isolated sandy beaches. It is on these beaches that sea turtles migrate to lay their eggs as they have done every year for centuries.

Images of turtles laying eggs.

Voice over/introduction: "There are four species of marine turtles nesting in Suriname. They are the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), the Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), the Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and the Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricafa). As one of the last major sites for Leatherback, Suriname is of international importance in terms of the protection of marine turtles. The Galibi Nature Reserve is also one of the most important nesting sites in the Western Atlantic for the Olive Ridley population. While all of these species are endangered, although the most common species found in the area is the Green Turtle and the Leatherback."

2. Stinasu: the history of the area, the issues and the work being done.

Interview explaining Stinasu's work and history.
Cut with shots of research centre into images showing monitoring process.
Interview with WWF Guianas.

3. Monitoring and a description of the different turtle species.

Interview with a field monitor, explaining the monitoring process while carrying out a health check.
Images of Green turtles.

Voice over/interview "The Green turtle is locally known as 'Krape'. It is recognised by its round, blunt beak and [fill from interview and up-to-date research]. Many of the turtles feed on sea grass and algal fields off the Brazilian coast, before making their way north, nesting on the coast of Surname and the Guyanas. The Green turtle population is relatively stable."

Images of Leatherbacks.

"Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Leatherback turtle which is critically endangered and threatened with extinction. Suriname has one of the largest Leatherback nesting colonies in the world. Each year, around [fill from interview and up-to-date research] individual turtles nest in the area. The Galibi Indians commonly refer to these turtles as 'Aitkanti'. These giant turtles are among the largest living reptiles. They are extraordinary creatures that can grow up to [fill from interview and up-to-date research] in length and weigh up to [fill from interview and up-to-date research]. They dive as deep as 1300 meters and largely feed on [fill from interview and up-to-date research].

"While their numbers are in sharp decline, the nesting numbers recorded in Suriname show a remarkable increase since 1999. From more than 10,000 nests in that year rising to 30,000 nests in 2001 [CHECK, conflicting information from reports]. This makes conservation of the Leatherback nesting areas in the Suriname essential for the survival of the species."

Images of Olive Ridley turtles.

"It is generally accepted that Suriname has the most important nesting beaches in the Atlantic for the Olive Ridley turtle. But tragically, while 3,290 nests were counted on the beaches in 1968, by 1989 the number had dropped to only 598, a dramatic 80 per cent decrease. [Update with more recent figures]. This species is known to get caught and drown in the nets of shrimp trawls."

Images of Hawksbill turtles.

"The Hawksbill Turtle or 'Karet' only nest in the region occasionally. There are rarely more than 30 nests a year and relatively little is known about the species as they are difficult to study [WHY? Because of numbers?]."

4. Examining the problems: the impact of tourism, fishing and poaching.

Voice over: "The problem of poaching is a very real one. It is still one of the main threats to the turtle's survival. In order to enforce the anti-poaching laws the foundation for nature preservation in Suriname, Stinasu, works closely with Nature Conservation Division, a government organisation who enforce conservation laws and patrol nesting sites to stop poachers raiding eggs."

Interviews with manager and wardens from NCD.
Cut to into scenes of night and boat patrols.

Voice over: "The issues of poaching are extremely sensitive and are not simply about catching criminals. The existence of the reserves and laws to stop poaching have not been welcomed by everyone. The resident Amerindian people have lived in the area for centuries and have a long tradition of collecting turtle eggs, which are part of their traditional diet. In fact, they have argued that they have traditional rights to collect eggs as a natural food resource."

Archive footage

Voice over: "In the 1960s eggs were harvested during arribas (or mass nesting events) by the peoples of the two nearby villages. Villagers did not take kindly to being forced to stop collecting the eggs and in 1998 armed locals forced Stinasu staff off the area and monitoring was put on hold for two years.

"Although poaching has been reduced in the area through the work of Stinasu, the number of nesting females rapidly fell until in 1989, to just 424 - a fall of more than 80 per cent in two decades. During the peak season of 1995, more than 40 per cent of Olive Ridley eggs were poached, despite a ban on harvesting eggs [more up-to-date figures required]."

Interview with Amerindian village chief.
Cut into shots of the Amerindian village, fishing and daily life.

Voice over: "Now, the area is much more peaceful and in balance. Education projects are in place to ensure that everyone understands the reasons for conservation laws and the importance of preserving the nests. It is important that everyone benefits from the reserve, so that the area and the turtles can be preserved [more detail on Amerindian involvement needed]."

Interview with captain of shrimp trawler.
Cut into shots of shrimp trawler and images of TED (Turtle Exclusion Device).

Voice over: "Fishermen's nets pose a real danger to sea turtles. As fishing increases in the area so does the incidental catch of sea turtles. It is one of the main hurdles to sea turtle conservation. [More research information required]."

The impact of tourism; visual of tourists watching turtles.
Vox pops with tourists and tour guide.

5. Conclusion.

Close.

For more information please email Andy or Louise.

Confirmed filming dates

2005-03-22T15:10:00.000Z

Confirmed diary dates for filming include:

April 1 - Turtle egg laying and conservation at the Galibi reserve in Suriname.
April 17 - Filming at Shell Beach in Guyana. Following a group of Amerindian locals newly trained in conservation techniques as they begin to monitor a nearby turtle sanctuary.

Organisations who are helping with filming include:
WWF
Stinasu
Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society

Jungle Boat Trip

2005-03-11T15:10:00.000Z

The boat from Belem to Manaus is now an almost legendary trip through Brazil to the jungle. This film of the five day trip sees foreigners sleeping in hammocks alongside local people in a journey down the Amazon river. If you are interested in this film please email Louise.

Jericoacoara

2005-03-10T15:47:00.000Z

Still on the gringo trail this beach town, popular with hip Brazilians, is accessible only by 4 x 4 jeeps over the sand dunes. While the area occasionally suffers from the odd power cut, the buggy rides, remote lakes, beautiful silver beaches and giant dunes more than make up for the town's hippy overtones. If you are interested in this film please email Louise.

Carnaval Chaos

2005-02-08T16:14:00.000Z

Salvador Carnaval at dawn

THE CAPITAL of the Bahia state in north east Brazil is a world away from the riches of Rio and the glitzy commercialism of the capital.
Revellers danced to the sound of drumming through almost all of the city’s streets night and day.
Salvador’s Carnaval dwarfs Notting Hill Carnival many times over and is distinct from Rio celebrations in that it is a street carnival for the people, rather than a pre-eminence on a Sambadrome where it can be difficult to get involved in a spectacle watched from the stands amid the bright lights and international TV cameras.
The city, once called Bahia, is the oldest in Brazil and was the country’s capital for two hundred years, evident through its large collection of colonial architecture in the old town centre, called Pelourinho.
Rio became the nation’s capital in 1763 after Guanabara bay’s strategic importance grew out of the gold trade and sugar cane industry
Salvador was founded in 1549 when was Portuguese became permanently occupied there.
Beautiful, buildings painted in pastel colours and with beautiful decoration surround the cobbled streets and squares where more traditional costume and music were to be found.
It was here that I was hypnotised by a macabre street entertainer kicking and flicking with a stick what appeared to a rabid cat bound in rags, much to the initial horror of passing women and children.
The artist, dressed in a gothic clown outfit, which appeared to be thematic of costumes in the old town, made a small fortune selling gadget which he blew to make the sound of a shrieking cat.
One of Salvador’s innovations are the trio elétrico, meaning The Electric Sound Wagon, which are, practically speaking, live bands (which are ubiquitous in Salvador, and Brazil for that matter) on stages, on top of a 15 ft tall wall of 100,000 watt speakers, carried by monstrous juggernauts.
The idea was invented in 1950 when a trio of musicians tore the seats from a ford car and wired up guitars to the battery and a set of speakers. The old model T fords eventually evolved to around the scored of giant lorries that were seen in this year’s Carnaval.
The trios are surrounded by blocos that parade through the streets of the old town and along the beach road from Barra to Ondina.
The blocos are roped off, inside of which are dancers wearing distinct tee shirts, while scores of stewards force their way through the crowds, rather like a mobile dance club.
People outside the blocos are called pipoca or human popcorn, because they get bounced around so easily.
The food, culture religion, and wonderful music of Salvador flows from its roots in west Africa and Bahia’s slavery legacy.
Most of the music of the African blocos is based on a tribal style of drumming and emanates from the black, poorer communities of the city.
One of the most famous Afro blocos is Olodum, while another worthy of note is the funky, high tempo Timbalada bloco.
One peculiarity, and a pillar of Carnaval, is the bloco called Filhos de Ghandy, the Sons of Ghandhi.
They are particularly notable for their white and blue Indian attire and head dress. Yet members are reported to join the group less out of reverence for the great Indian leader than because their dress is thought to be attractive to women.
The group spray people with perfume along route and play a calming and beautiful rhythm called ijexá.
The city is also thought to be the birthplace of Capoeira, the Brazilian balletic and acrobatic martial art passed down by the descendants of African slaves, regularly, if not sometimes violently, practised Salvador’s streets.
The other characteristic of Carnaval is the barracas which turn the city into thousands of parties with their own sound systems, fuelled by countless street vendors carrying polystyrene box coolers full of ice and beer or stalls selling killer strength caiprinhas or batidas made with cachaça and crushed fruit.
For more information please email Andy.

Dawn in Rio de Janeiro

2005-01-24T01:40:00.000Z

A HD time-lapse film of Christ the Redeemer from the picturesque harbour of Urca in Rio. If you are interested in this film please email.

Paraty

2005-01-19T01:06:00.000Z

WORD of mouth is a powerful medium. It took me from a conversation with an ex-pat American on a flight to the Brazilian metropolis of São Paulo, to a coastal town south of Rio.
The town, called Parati (Paraty in Portuguese, pronounced Parachee) is well known to the Brazilians for its beautiful streets and buildings. One of the defining features of the town is the charm of its cobbled streets and Paraty is widely accepted as boasting some of the finest examples of Brazil´s colonial architecture and the legacy of the Portuguese. Horse and cart still bob and weave down the bustling, narrow streets through they are now accompanied by cars and bicycles.
Paraty owes much of its history to its tidal persuasions, or rather the direction of its wind which blows inland during the day and to the sea at night. Following the arrival of the Portuguese, the town and its river, made for a convenient port for exporting a type of wood called Pau Brasil – the name transliterates to ´redwood embers´owing to its properties for use as a clothing dye. Paraty was built in the 16th century and the oldest parts of the city that still remain date back as far as 1647.
As the Portuguese began to take gold from the nearby inland state of Minas Gerais, Paraty became a port taking riches from Brazil to Portugal. The route over the mountains, which is the main reason why Paraty has remained largely unchanged, became known as ´The Gold Way´. Paraty, the name comes from the Amerindian word for fish, had a fort built complete with cannons.
One evening, I was lucky enough to stumble on a group of musicians who looked to be serenading a house in one of the town´s Praças, or squares. As I discovered, the event, outside the former mayor´s house, was part of a Catholic festival and true the nature of the Brazilian people I was invited into the house and given beer, cachaça and sandwiches. The owner of the house, Aloyzio Castro, was the mayor of Paraty three times and is still a very important man in the town. The festival, called Dia de Reis, meaning the Day of the King, ran from the January 6 until the Reis on January 20.
A local journalist, Edgar Bessa told me, ¨They do this once a year and when the band stop playing the music the people have to open their doors and let the them in and they have to let everyone else in too That is why you were invited in. The band play their music and they are paid with food and drink.¨
The music, called Granda, is similar to Samba and the band who played at the mayor´s house came from two other groups, the Caroas Cirandeiros and from Paraty, Os Caiçaras.
One of the other major festivals in June is called Festa do Druino and involves a colourful procession down the cobbled streets celebrating the spirit part of the holy trinity. The Festeiro sees one small boy made king for the day, symbolised when the town drunk is taken off the streets and thrown in jail. The drunk does not fair badly in this and in fact is given food, the local booze, cachaça and bed for the night. The next day the boy who is king orders the police to let him go. The police bow humbly in deference to the king and the drunk is set free.Paraty, its island-hopping boat trips and the nearby idyllic beaches of Trinidade are about to change as they become an increasingly popular escape for Brazilans now that a major road has been built over the mountains. When you have burnt yourself out at the increasing commercial and tourist driven Rio Carnaval, go to Paraty and see how the Brazilians do it.

For more information email Andy.

Small beginnings

2005-01-15T18:17:00.000Z

On January 15, 2005, camera operator, Louise Purnell and journalist, Andy McCorkell flew to Sao Paulo, Brazil. The duo are covering events and stories from across the continent through film (Digital HD; HDR-FX1E Sony camera), digital photography and with news reports. Visit this website to follow their progress and read the latest news.

CVs

2005-01-14T19:45:00.000Z

Louise's CV
Andy's CV

HDV equipment

2005-01-02T21:46:00.000Z

Equipment:

HDR-FX1E Sony camera
(latest High Definition technology, creating footage in HDV and DV to broadcast quality)

ECM77B lapel mic
MCE86N top mic
Top light
Lasto light
Manfrotto tripod (MDEVE)

Conservation film brief

2004-12-15T13:59:00.000Z

Aim

The aim of these films is to raise the profile of important conservation issues by helping to educate local and international viewers. It will promote a greater understanding of the issues and an appreciation of the work being done to tackle the problems.

Filming brief

To produce:
2-3 minute news bulletins focusing on the key conservation issues.
10 minute film bulletins about the present situation and the prospects for the future.

Potential uses:

News feature for English television, using contacts we already have with UK news broadcasters, such as BBC news, International Television News (ITN), Sky News and production companies such as caseTV.
Short films for educational and promotional purposes, for use both locally and internationally.

Potential effects:

Publicity.

Education.

Fund raising.

Responsible tourism.

The following organisations have already shown interest in this film:

Stinasu : Suriname

Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society Guyana

Iwokrama Guyana

Inti Wari Yassi : Bolivia

Zoo Breviven : Ecuador

The Black Sheep Inn : Ecuador

Kurumbe Project : Uruguay

Please contact us at this email if you are interested in us filming with you or if you have any suggestions for filming projects.

Please provide information on the following:
What is the nature of your organisation/project?
What activities can we film?
Guidance on further research and reading prior to our trip.

We are funding this filming trip ourselves so we are on a very tight budget. Can you offer any help or suggestions with regard to transport and basic accommodation please let us know.
(We also need secure storage space for our filming equipment)

We need at least a week in set up time and research and one to two weeks filming.
In return we will provide a copy of the film we make for you to use as you wish.

Archive in Action

2004-12-08T01:35:00.000Z

During our trip we will collect high quality footage including:

Shots of festivals, landscapes, natural wonders and wildlife
Underwater shots
Time lapse - dawns and sunsets

If you are interested please e-mail
Special requests - anything practical will be considered.

News cuttings

2004-12-04T18:24:00.000Z

Anna Scher

This initial exlusive breaking story on the plight of the famous drama teacher, Anna Scher - in a campaign backed by a galaxy of stars and celebrities including actors, Michael Caine and Linda Robson - later ran on the BBC, Click here to read the article in The Guardian, The Telegraph and then, in a film (email show reel) by Louise and Andy, ran on the London News Network (LNN) bulletin, London Tonight and GMTV.
Published 1/11/2003 (High & I).

The Biba Experience

Feature: 40 years on a book is published recalling a golden age of shopping and the swinging sixties in London's Kensington High Street.
Published 1/09/04 (Kensington Times).

Crack House

Magistrates Court report: A crack cocaine house is closed down.
Published 25/11/04 (Kilburn Times).

More Police

British Government Cabinet Minister calls for more police.
Published 20/11/04 (Willesden & Brent Chronicle).

Dawn swoop

An immigration operation by the British Government Home Office in London.
Published 1/11/04 (Kilburn Times).
Post Office

High profile people and media experts back a campaign save their Post Office in London's Notting Hill area.
Published 6/9/04 (Kensington Times).

Mystery drive-by shooting

The victim of a drive-by shooting vanishes.
Published 1/12/04 (Willesden & Brent Chronicle).

Embassy

Increasing levels security around the American Embassy in London caused outrage among residents who described the area as 'like the Gaza strip', complete with concrete bunkers and armed police officers. The story was followed up by regional newspapers and featured in television news bulletins.
Published 1/5/2003 (Westminster & Pimlico News).

Hospital cost soar

This story about soaring costs at the St Mary's Hospital multi-million pound development was later followed up by regional media including London's Evening Standard.
Published 1/3/2003 (Marylebone and Paddington News).
For further details on cuttings please email: a_mccorkell@yahoo.co.uk

Borrowing from Tomorrow

2004-12-01T19:04:00.000Z

Some 81,000 words of this book are already written - expected to be completed by the end of 2006.
Please email nextword@gmail.com if you are interested.