The KZNSA Gallery invites patrons to join them for a film screening as part of the programming of exhibition, groundWork: 25 Years of Activism for Environmental Justice on Friday, May 9 from 16h30 – 19h00
Through first-hand testimony The Bliss of Ignorance investigates South Africa’s complex relationship with one of the country’s most abundant resources: coal. With experts predicting the creation of a “sick” generation in the Mpumalanga region (which is home to 12 of the world’s largest power stations), this documentary looks at the impact of South Africa’s energy policy – particularly the support for Eskom’s coal-fired power stations – on public health.
In February 2015, the country’s energy utility Eskom was granted five years grace from complying with atmospheric emission standards, making this film even more timely and relevant.
Set against the wider climate change debate, The Bliss of Ignorance highlights how the mining and burning of coal affects the environment; polluting air and valuable water resources in a water-scarce country.
In 2012, 17,000 people in Carolina, Mpumalanga were left without water because their local supply was polluted by acid mine drainage. While making The Bliss of Ignorance the filmmaker – who has filmed and directed in a number of international locations – visited Durban, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town interviewing scientists, lawyers, professors, campaigners, doctors, university lecturers and representatives from Eskom. He also lived in a township in Middleburg, Mpumalanga to learn first-hand from residents about the main health impacts and how pollution is affecting their lives and the lives of their children.
The Bliss of Ignorance is a production for Friends of the Earth International and groundWork, Friends of the Earth South Africa. Its release date is July 27, 2025.
Exhibition Walkabout
A walkabout of the exhibition groundWork:
25 Years of Activism for Environmental Justice on Saturday May 10 from 10h00
– 12h00 led by Dorothy Brislin
Dorothy Brislin is the groundWork Senior Communications Campaigner. She is a communications specialist with over 20 years’ experience serving in the human rights space, working to achieve environmental, economic and social justice. As a feminist activist, she is thrilled to have joined the formidable team of campaigners at groundWork. Previously, she headed communications and campaigns for an international NPO providing strategic communications support to 17 Programmes, across 16 SADC countries and has worked with teams in various contexts internationally, regionally, nationally and at local, community level.
She has led campaigns and supported social movements in relation to struggles on land, mining and extractives, food sovereignty, safe cities, arts, media and freedom of speech among others. Her core aim is to support people from all walks of life to find the power in their voices, tell their stories and be heard. She champions the use of arts and creative expression for social change in her work.
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