Patagonia Torquay to host screening of The Giants

TORQUAY’S Patagonia store will host a free screening of documentary The Giants tonight (Friday, August 11) as part of a national campaign to end native forest logging.

Described as an exploration of “the intertwined fates of trees and humans”, the film is a portrait of environmental activist and former Greens leader Bob Brown, “who took green politics to the centre of power”.

“From a seedling to forest elder, The Giants interweaves Bob’s story with the life cycle of the ancient trees he is fighting for.

“Drawing on Bob’s lifetime of activism, The Giants challenges the audience to write the next chapter.”

Dr Brown said native forests could not be allowed to be lost if the species living in them were to be be saved and the wild trees kept growing “as a carbon bank, as a hedge against worsening global heating”.

“Heeding growing public outrage, the governments of Western Australia and Victoria have decided to end native forest logging, in the main, this year,” he said.

“But the NSW Labor government and Tasmanian Liberal governments have dug their heels in against the rising tide.

“Here’s where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can intervene.”

Patagonia Australia is holding three screenings of The Giants at its stores, including in Torquay tonight, and is also supporting native forest rallies across Australia organised by the Bob Brown Foundation, including in Melbourne tomorrow (Saturday, August 12).

“There’s a lot of momentum and it’s such an important time for our communities to band together,” Patagonia Australia environmental and social initiatives manager Shannon Bourke said.

“We hope you can come along to see this brilliant film and learn how you can be a part of Bob Brown Foundation’s (BBF) upcoming, nationwide Rally for Native Forests.

“In the decade we’ve been working with BBF, through our 1% for the Planet grants program, we’ve been consistently blown away by the commitment of forest defenders from across the country. Now is the time for the wider community to back BBF in this crucial work.

“We all need to do our bit to ensure Australia’s native forests stand tall and unharmed, particularly as they are vital in fighting the climate and biodiversity crises.”

The screening of The Giants will be held at Patagonia Torquay, 116 Surf Coast Highway, Torquay, tonight from 6pm.

To reserve your place, head to thegiantstorquay.splashthat.com