Honeybee Blues – Documentary Screening and Talk
Grace Pundyk, author of The Honey Spinner: on the trail of ancient honey, vanishing bees and the politics of liquid gold.
Around the world, bee populations are facing annihilation. Yet so far, Australia has been immune: the only country not to host the deadly parasitic mite, Varroa Destructor, which has been responsible for the death of literally billions of bees around the world.
For this reason, Australia has gained a reputation for clean and green bees and honey. But how safe are we? And just how much is being done to prevent a varroa incursion, both on the mainland and here in Tasmania?
Honeybee Blues, produced in Australia and also featuring Tasmania’s forests and leatherwood honey producer, Julian Wolfhagen, tells the story of the world’s disappearing European honeybees and the efforts of Australian scientist Denis Anderson to save them from annihilation. From the old growth forests and orchards of Tasmania and mainland Australia to the industrial farmlands of the United States and the highlands of Papua New Guinea, Honeybee Blues is a scientific detective story that tells a 21st century cautionary tale.
Honeybee Blues takes an up-close look at the problems associated with the disappearing bees, the importance of these incredible insects in pollinating our food, and how things like deforestation, gm crops, pesticides and global industries are threatening the world’s bee population.
A special screening of this important documentary is on at the State Cinema on March 14 at 6pm.
After the screening there will be a talk given by Julian Wolfhagen, Grace Pundyk (author of The Honey Spinner), and Susan MacKinnon, the film’s producer.
TICKETS $10 at the State Cinema Box Office
Telephone: 62346318
http://www.statecinema.com.au/
http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/showcases/honeybeeblues/
HONEYBEE BLUES
Director – Stefan Moore, Producers – Susan MacKinnon & Anna Cater
© Mitra Films Pty Ltd 2009
Grace Pundyk
