Videos, slide shows and other audiovisual material presented in this section is the contribution of Noragric scientists, often in cooperation with representatives from collaborating institutions.
------------------------------------------------- EDUCATIONAL AND DOCUMENTARY FILMS -------------------------------------------------
• Synopsis of the Timbuktu documentaries
A two-part TV documentary on European stories about the desert city Timbuktu by Ass. Prof. Tor A. Benjaminsen, Noragric, and Carsten Sørensen, Univ. of Oslo (producer). Year of production: 2003.
Shown by NRK1 in May 2003 and August 2003. Available in Norwegian, English and French versions. The first screening of the two parts at NRK1 had an audience of about 400 000. -- Contact at Noragric: t.a.benjaminsen*at*umb.no
For centuries, Europe and the entire western world have developed various images and perceptions of Timbuktu and its inhabitants. These images have changed, in accordance with Europe’s own changing interests and ideological trends. Already long ago, these images were transformed into myths and stories of the unknown. Many of these myths still survive, and thus influence the western world’s general image of Africa.
The documentaries present Timbuktu’s history from the 14th century to independence in 1960, as well as the western images of Timbuktu. The films introduce historian Salim Ould El Hadj from Timbuktu and the English historian John Hunwick.
When the small wells in the Timbuktu region dry out in March or April, the nomads have to find water and pastures elsewhere. The local nomad leader Mohammed Ag Mahmoud and his community received support from the UN to bore for water in an area with otherwise good grazing conditions. The nomads can thus continue to supply the Malian society with livestock, which is a valuable economic good.
New research has shown that the local population’s natural resource management strategies are adapted to the significant climatic unpredictability in the Sahel, and that their present use of these resources generally does not represent as large a strain on the environment as was previously claimed. On the contrary, a nomadic lifestyle seems to be a highly suitable way to utilise the Sahel’s dry areas.
• Prof. Tor Arve Benjaminsen has acted as research consultant on a video production by Thomas Tellander and Carsten Sørensen on the conflict between international conservation and local interests in Serengeti/Ngorongoro, Tanzania. Title: Masaier i Serengeti. Inntrengere på eget land. (Maasai in the Serengeti - trespassers on their own land). Shown by NRK1 (Norwegian Broadcasting Cooperation). 1998.
------------------------------------------------- • Two educational documentaries on water management issues created by collaborating institutions:
- WATER USERS' ASSOCIATION: BRINGING WATER AND PROSPERITY TO FARMERS. An educational documentary film presented by Noragric, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and
- PARTICIPATORY ON-FARM RESEARCH: BRINGING PROSPERITY TO FARMERS. An educational documentary film presented by Noragric, Norwegian University of Life Sciences & Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University. -- Covers Contact at Noragric: bishal.sitaula*at*umb.no
The Water Users' Association (WUA) is an organisation of farmers who come together to manage their irrigation needs. Through involvement in various stages of irrigation management - water acquisition, water allocation and distribution, system maintenance, conflict resolution and information dissemination - WUAs have led to improvement in the performance of irrigation systems. And this, in turn, has led farmers to greater prosperity in many countries and regions.
Participatory approach to research entails the active participitation of the local people in planning, decision making, and implementing the research and development of their watershed. In this documentary film, a participatory on-farm research is illustrated to promote soil conservation and natural resource management in Pohare-Khola watershed of Nepal by involving relevant stakeholders. The research integrates the socio-economic, institutional and biophysical components in the real world context and generates take-home message that can be utilised by farmers for sustainable watershed development.
------------------------------------------------- SLIDE SHOWS ------------------------------------------------- • On February 26, 2008, the Global Seed Vault in permafrost mountains of the Norwegian island Svalbard was opened by the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg. Prof. Cary Fowler (on leave from Noragric) and Prof. Gunnvor Berge participated in the opening ceremony. -- Slideshow from the opening ceremony of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault by Gunnvor Berge (.pps)
(Some versions of Windows Internet Explorer may choose not to open the files in .pps; in this case press F5 in order to see the slideshow)
------------------------------------------------- COMMERCIAL ADS ------------------------------------------------- • Noragric study programmes (wmv)
