Max Bilbow and Rattle Media

Morely heart-throb Dylan Brierley’s wishes you a merry Christmas with his latest Rattle Media production Come Back to Me – by Dylan Brierley DylanBrierley.com For more information on our productions visit RattleMedia.co.uk.

I have seen a couple of articles over the last year, embarrassingly sourced from kayakers, suggesting that the Bujagali Dam has made lives worse for local Ugandans. Let’s forget, for the moment, that Uganda is a developing country; landlocked, not very windy, and without a Nuclear program. Let’s forget that it has one of the most powerful natural resources in the world flowing through it. Let’s even forget about the millions of inhabitants that are still without electricity and the fact hydropower is the only realistic option open to the country. OK… have you forgotten all that? Then you probably also forgot that the dam only covered 10k of white water, that people displaced by the dam were relocated into houses that had power. You surely also forgot that BEL (Bujagali Electricity Ltd) has invested in local schools, hospitals, business centers, agriculture, reservation programs and tourism. Forgotten all that as well? Did you forget that tourism is growing and not shrinking? That BEL has helped rafting companies set up facilities further downstream so that the rafting is still as amazing as ever? You probably also forgot that kayaking is not, and will never be, the main source of employment and life-worth for Ugandans. But to put your mind at east, you’ll be happy to know that Kayak the Nile is doing great, especially since they now have a lake, in addition to a river, to operate on. But lets be honest: all new power projects are going to come at some cost. To build a thing, one needs land to build on. Stopping a river changes local geography. Change is scary because it can, as has many times in the past, be handled carelessly. That’s why, with the help of Simon Wood (Guerilla Films), we have collated hours of footage that documents all the positive effects, promoted by a strong social responsibility, that has been put back into the local community. The public should always question the merits of a new project (hydropower, nuclear, fracking, etc…) but when reactionist journalism continues to rely on biased information given by ignorant kayakers, it’s frankly embarrassing. The following three videos were all filmed after the construction of the Bujagali Dam. More will be coming over the next few months including a broader documentary about the changes.

This recent video is a very emotional tribute; Dylan Brierley’s latest production. For more information on our productions visit RattleMedia.co.uk.

Well no… This is Rattle Media’s second project for Sustrans: a new bridge built for Brompton-on-Swale. Our local creek! More information at sustrans.org.uk. For more information on our productions visit RattleMedia.co.uk.

In association with Nile Special Lager, A Dam Relief has released this video showing how simple acts can have large effects on a community. For more information on our productions visit RattleMedia.co.uk.

Rattle Media’s first project for Sustrans: a new bridge built in Bradford. More information at sustrans.org.uk. For more information on our productions visit RattleMedia.co.uk.

If you care about the developing world, you don’t have to do much; watch, maybe read, and then share. Day in the life of Juma is not about rafting on the source of The White Nile (Jinja, Uganda). It is about how one industry has effected Juma Kalikwani’s life (Over the last 15 years) and allowed him, not just to live a good life, but to pursue his dream of becoming a talented musician. This has a tremendous effect on Uganda’s social and economical development. But you have to ask “Why is this important?”. And by answering that question, by seeing the big picture, you will understand what a developing country really is. The first track is by my Ugandan friend, Ssuuna Matthias. The second is by Juma himself. Big thanks to Izzy Bruno, Colin Wong and Sam Ward for helping us out with the cinematography. For mor information and updates, click on the image below:

Have a look at our latest music video. ‘When the Wind Blows’ is written and performed by Josh Healey.

Another great music video from Dylan Brierley. You can find out more abut Dylan and www.DylanBrierley.com. All our music videos (and pricing) can be found at on the Rattle Media website.

OK, maybe there are millions of people who already don’t hate Invisible Children‘s co-founder, Jason Russel; star of the viral movie, Kony 2012 (I was about to start explaining what the film was about but then I realised you don’t want me waisting any more of your time). Anyway… the original film was seen by hundreds of millions of people world wide and succeeded in raising awareness of the atrocities committed by Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army, in Uganda between 1986 and 2006, by enormously oversimplifying a twenty year conflict in a developing nation. NOTE: for the sake of simplicity, I am not going to talk about all the neighbouring countries that have also suffered but somehow not drawn as much awareness as Uganda. So as I was saying – like many Ugandans, and other people who’ve actually been to Uganda, I was royally outraged by the type of awareness Jason’s film had created: 200 million people now thought Uganda was unsafe – a huge blow for tourism and investment… But then I realised: Kony 2012 is a blessing in disguise. Before its release, the world’s population could be split into the following three categories: Those who know Uganda well and are angry at it being portrayed as unstable Those who have never heard of Uganda, let alone can find it on a map Those who’s knowledge of Uganda boils down to: “Uganda? That’s in Africa, isn’t it? It must be dangerous there…” The fact is that all Jason Russel has done with his movie is put more of group 2 into group 3. Group 1 are not going to be convinced that Uganda is unstable, however all those people now in group 3 are hungry for the truth, and they are now very much aware of a little African nation called Uganda… “Awareness”. A Blessing In Disguise? So not only has Kony 2012 increased the number of people in group 3, who now know Uganda exists, it has also riled the inhabitants of group 1; those who know the truth – who wan’t Uganda to stand out for the right reasons. Ugandans all over the internet are speaking up, shouting in a way, because they want to reclaim their country’s narrative (the goal of this new website, set up by a group of young Ugandan professionals, called Uganda Speaks). More Ugandans than ever before are logging onto Facebook and Twitter to share their truth. Even our project, A Dam Relief (conceived initially to raise awareness of tourism opportunities in Jinja, Uganda) has gained more support and passion from Ugandans and expats who want to correct the country’s identity. And you can watch our teaser video here: “The biggest problem Uganda has is identity” But this is why we shouldn’t hate Invisible Children, Jason Russell or Kony 2012. “Awareness” was the name of the game and, regardless of intent, it has truly worked. To clarify my point, the fact that you are reading this sentence suggests that Kony 2012 has increased your interested in Uganda… The Bottom Line There is a point to all this: I believe, and an awful lot of people in Uganda agree, that the way to help a developing country is through development. For development to occur, you need an economy. A Dam Relief is a FOR PROFIT organisation. Profit for us, profit for our investors, profit for their staff and profit for all the local business that their staff buy products and services from during day-to-day life. And this can only work if more people are willing to visit Uganda, enjoy themselves and, for the odd entrepreneur passing through, invest. So… if you really want to see Uganda become great, and I truly believe it can, then all you have to do is spread the truth – Uganda’s truth – that she is a safe and stable nation; full of fun, adventure and the most incredibly hospitable people you will ever meet. Like every country, she has her problems; like every democracy, she h[...]

This is the latest Rattle Media music video. I’m the Busker is written and performed by Dylan Brierley, a 14 year old artist from Morley! I reckon he’s come a long way since this cover of a Frank Turner track…

by Three Sheets T’ Wind, featuring Leesa Mae. Video made by Rattle Media.

Lost but found footage from one night in Altai; the peak of a guitar showdown between me and one of my Russian comrades.

New Rattle Media music video for the band ‘Little Vegas Lies’. The Track is called: ‘Standing Room Only’

Goga Takhar – Fit Figure