Paul - What if we change

The end result of 2 years of filming in India, Mali, Bonaire and Bolivia: "What if we change"

All across the world, people are making efforts to restore and protect the ecosystem they are part of. Our video reporters followed the work of local communities and organizations in India, Bolivia, Mali and Bonaire for two years. This documentary is compiled from the more than 1000 video stories produced for this website. The film shows both the challenges AND the solutions when it comes to offering nearly 7 billion people a healthy life on earth.

DOCUMENTARY 'WHAT IF WE CHANGE' All across the world, people are making efforts to restore and protect the ecosystem they are part of. Video reporters of the initiative What if we change followed the work of local communities and organizations in India, Bolivia, Mali and Bonaire for two years. This documentary is compiled from ove...

Dear all,

Megan - What if we change and I hereby proudly present our documentary film on ecorestoration in the Garo Hills!

ABODE OF THE CLOUDS In the Garo Hills, North East India, local communities are taking the lead in adapting to climate change. By abandoning the age old tradition of slash and burn

So long, but not goodbye | What if BLOG

About to head off on our last field trip to Siju and Aretika in the South Garo Hills to do some additional filming. Will be difficult to say goodbye!

CENTER FOR WILDLIFE REHABILITATION AND CONSERVATION A short impression of the work done at WTI/IFAW's Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Kaziranga, Assam

Traditional Jhum (slash and burn) cultivation in the West Garo Hills

Methmina, Kenbilla, Pickar, Sanibath, Salba and Metaji, villagers of Aretika in the South Garo Hills, North East India, have filmed and directed this story on "TYI" (Atong for water). The film shows how the people of Aretika are facing several issues, all related to water: Pollution due to mining & a water shortage due to deforestation.
This film is the result of a participatory video project undertaken by whatifwechange, WTI, IUCN and Insightshare.

PARTICIPATORY VIDEO IN ARETIKA Methmina, Kenbilla, Pickar, Sanibath, Salba and Metaji, villagers of Aretika in the South Garo Hills, North East India, have filmed and directed this story on

Class 6 (groep 8) of the Jan Ligthart-Prangelaar school (Woudenberg, the Netherlands) sent us a video question about climate change. They were wondering if kids worldwide notice the effects of climate change, and whether they participate in environmental initiatives similar to their "warm sweater day", during which the central heating in the classroom is turned off to save energy.

Megan and I paid a visit to the Aeroville school in Tura (India) to find out.

ANSWER TO JAN LIGTHART SCHOOL - INDIA Class 6 (groep 8) of the Jan Ligthart/Prangelaar school (Woudenberg, the Netherlands) sent us a video message about climate change. They are wondering if kids worldwide notice the effects of climate change, and if there's something like 'warm sweater day' in other countries as well. Whatifwechange...

Tomorrow we'll be filming the kids at auroville school in Tura in response to the questions posed by the kids of the Jan Ligthart school (see link) regarding climate change.

Warme truien dag question Whatifwechange Groep 8 van de Janligthart/prangelaar school stellen vragen aan de reporters van What if we change

Splinder Areng, the Nokma (village head) of Daribokgre, was killed on his doorstep February 14th. Splinder was shot in the back by a a member of a local militant group.

In recent years the Garo Hills has had to deal with several armed separatist groups. These groups strive towards a Greater Garoland, a Garo state separate from Meghalaya. As a result of their guerilla tactics, violent clashes with the armed police occur frequently. Daribokgre is located deep inside the Garo jungle, where such violent clashes between militants and army usually take place. As a result, most communities in this area are forced to deal with the demands of both militants and the army on a daily basis.

According to local media, Splinder was killed because the militants claimed he was “a police informant”. Whether he was or not, it doesn’t justify what was done to him and his family.

We’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Splinder fairly well over the past 1,5 years. He was a warm, joyful man who always had the best interest of his community at heart.
A former hunter himself, he had developed a keen sense of the importance of nature and has been a pioneer for conservation in the region.

In this interview Splinder explains about permanent terrace farming in his community. Six families of his community recently converted their land into terraces, rendering slash and burn cultivation (Jhumming) unnecessary.

These are the last images we have of Splinder.

It was an honor to have known Splinder and we will cherish the memories of the evenings we spent in his company sharing stories at his house. Our sympathies go out to Splinder’s wife and five children, who we wish well in coping with this great loss.

PERMANENT CULTIVATION IN DARIBOKGRE Splinder Areng, Nokma (village head) of Daribokgre, West Garo Hills, explains about permanent terrace farming. Six families of his community recently converted their land into terraces, rendering slash and burn cultivation (Jhumming) unnecessary. These are the last images we have of Splinder. He…

Voting day in Meghalaya!

MEGHALAYA VOTES Meghalaya votes: Voting Peaceful