The Belgian Docville festival canceled the screening of the film “Not In My Country: Serbia’s Lithium Dilemma” by Peter Tom Jones, as well as the debate.
“The Docville documentary film festival in Leuven ‘reluctantly’ cancels the documentary and debate on the controversial lithium mining in Serbia. Obviously, the debate could not be held because the topic was too sensitive, so it was then decided not to show the documentary itself. This is the first time that Docville has canceled the screening of a documentary for this reason,” said festival director Frank Moens for VRT NWS.
The website of the 21st edition of the Docville festival states that the screening of the documentary is canceled, as well as the discussion “Ethical mining, is it possible?”
VRT NWS states that the EU wants to mine more lithium.
“There are 27 good locations in all parts of Europe, with Serbia as the best option. But, for that, new mines must be built, which in turn affect the environment. There have been many protests against new lithium mines, both in Sweden and in Serbia. That is why the topic is controversial,” this media outlet reported.
Author Peter Tom Jones said in a podcast that opening a lithium mine in Europe is very difficult.
“Today there is not a single operational lithium mine in Europe,” he stated.
Peter Tom Jones announced on his LinkedIn account that falsehoods and rumors about his film have been spreading from the beginning.
“The primary goal has consistently been to divert attention from the factual, non-scientific and fact-based technological debate on the extraction, processing and purification of jadarite,” it states.
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“I stand behind the integrity of my work and reject any attempt to misrepresent it. I encourage open and expert debate, based on truth and not misinformation,” said Peter Tom Jones.
N1 unofficially learns that the reason for canceling the film screening was an open letter from artists, political scientists, university professors, and researchers.
“At a time when people across Serbia are protesting daily against the authoritarian regime, the Belgian DOCVILLE film festival plans to show a Belgian film that promotes lithium mining, made in cooperation with that same regime,” the letter states.
“As members of the academic and artistic community, we address you with serious concern regarding the inclusion of the film Not In My Country in the DOCVILLE film festival program. The film, which was funded by KU Leuven and conceived by KU Leuven professor Peter Tom Jones, claims to explore the attitudes of the Serbian population towards the lithium mining project in the Jadar Valley. This project represents a rare situation in which a lithium mine is being developed in a populated, agricultural and environmentally sensitive area, and was launched by the notorious global mining giant Rio Tinto and the Government of Serbia,” the letter states.
They added that the screening of the film “Not In My Country” coincides with massive, peaceful student protests against the authoritarian, corrupt regime in Serbia.
“Despite their unprecedented scale, these historic protests still have not received the media attention they deserve in Western Europe. Although the film was obviously shot before these events, its authors must have been aware of the existence of numerous civil initiatives throughout Serbia which, despite great obstacles, are trying to stop exploitative projects that do not benefit the local population. However, in its blinded zeal to promote lithium as the only solution for sustainable green energy in the EU, Not In My Country failed to seriously address the social, environmental and political implications of lithium mining,” the signatories stated.
This film was screened on February 5 in the European Parliament in Brussels and a debate was held, while a protest was held in front of the building. Activists from Ne damo Jadar Nebojša Petković and Zlatko Kokanović also attended the screening.
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Source: N1, Photo: N1