Local Heroes and Land Grabs

The film Local Hero is one I keep coming back to.

It was one of the first films I watched with my wife and, in the middle of a hot, airless Hanoi summer, there’s something even more appealing about a barren, windswept Scottish beach.

My wife made her big entrance on our wedding day to Wild Theme from the soundtrack.  On our first summer holiday together in the UK we visited Pennan where the movie was shot.  Even phoning from the iconic red box outside the pub.

Today I just watched You’ve Been Trumped.  The story of how Donald Trump essentially hoodwinks the Scottish authorities into believing his exaggerated offers of investing billions and creating thousands of jobs in return for a stretch of dunes of special scientific interest.  The heartbreaking film details how the local residents were bullied by police and the filmmaker violently arrested. The similarities to Local Hero are endless and snippets of the movie are spread throughout the film. Sadly unlike Local Hero there is no happy ending with the dunes bulldozed in readiness for a hotel and golf courses.

Here in Vietnam I have been keeping up with Animal Asia’s campaign to save the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre in nearby Tam Dao.  Suffice to say that it’s very difficult to believe that there are any defence issues stopping the centre continuing as it is.  Beyond that you can do your own Googling and joining the dots.

Reminders then, both here and in Scotland that when the rich and powerful want something they tend to get it. It’s hard to know whether it’s more upsetting back in the UK where our “developed” nation has proved to be not so developed after all or here where it’s so easy to feel powerless.

However, doing nothing doesn’t seem like an option.  To bring Billy Bragg up to date: “changing your avatar is not enough on days like these”.

I am sure that of the people who read this there will be a cross section of expat business people, NGO workers, embassy staff and general investors in Vietnam.  We are guests here but we can still be respectful in getting our message across.  After all, it would impossible to argue that a positive outcome for the bear park wouldn’t be good for Vietnam.

We must make sure we are heard. This isn’t just happening in Vietnam but that’s where we are. We need to do something. If you’ve channels to people with power or influence then you must use them – if not then get in touch with Animals Asia and ask how you can help.