Independent Australia!

To the Australian viewers who caught the broadcast of "Independent America" on SBS last night,

Thank you for watching, and for your effusive e-mail response.  It was a great thing to wake up to this morning.

Here are a few samples of what we received:

Thank you for your inspiring work and proving that there are still like-minded individuals foraging against the wave of corporate America. - Krista, Melbourne

Thank you for a wonderful piece of subversive television. It made me remember that there are things to love about Americans and it reminded me how we have rolled over in Australia and let the bastards like Borders etc have their way with us......this is what we tend to do here. - David, Melbourne.

Thanks for a great insight in to the excesses of global companies.  Unfortunately here in Australia the awareness is still low on the radar - but growing and the influence of your film will help a great deal. Congratulations on exposing the ugly side of an unregulated economy that has lost its connection with community. Well done. - Carl, Sydney

I just wanted pass on my congratulations for making such a great movie. All too easily, us Aussies see America as land of the dollar, with a population that either doesn't care about the major corporations, or simply doesn't think it can make a difference, so it was really refreshing to see people from the southern states (who politically are very conservative) to actively resist these big companies and preserve their cities and local culture. - David

Fantastic Job and Thank You  for your inspirational documentary…there was a great deal joy and hope and hand clapping in our household, watching people reclaim and rebuild their communities and move toward sustainable localised economies. Our country has too easily adopted consumerism and the American economic model and our communities continue to suffer from it. I Live in a large regional town which is littered with corporate chains, whilst local business struggles to survive. - Paul, Ballarat, Victoria

We watched your film last night on SBS.  Thanks for the memories!  About 15 years ago my wife and I travelled along many of the roads travelled in the documentary.  For us, a large part of the attraction of the US is the beauty - natural or otherwise (small towns and communities), that exists between the major cities.  Go the independents in the mainstreets of the world!!! - Tony, Perth WA

It was really great (and a refreshing change) to see a totally different slant on "mom & pop" America. Thoroughly enjoyed the show, and this note is just to let you know that there are even people "way out nowhere" who also appreciate all the time an effort you put into your production. Your are both to be congratulated. - Ray, Chermside South, Queensland

As we continue to look for innovative ways to spread the word about "Independent America" (stay tuned to this space for a couple of big announcements in the next few days), we're gratified to get such a terrific reaction half a world away.

Thanks Australia -- for watching, for responding (see all the comments below) and for all those who went ahead and purchased the full-length version on DVD in the past few hours!

Hanson, Heather and Tom

Comments

[Elissa Erickson]

Wow, what an eye-opening documentary. I'm an American living in Australia and stumbled upon this documentary on TV last night. I couldn't change the channel as it had a great message on Corporate America. I think I'll never be able to shop at another Wal-mart, Starbucks or Borders store again! Power to the Mom & Pop businesses!!!

Cheers to the film makers: Hanson, Heather and Tom.

[Peter Tolhurst]

Hello I thought the program was great in highlighting the difficuties of trade in a local area. It's not too bad here in Australia but it's slowly increasing.

All the best to all involved in the documentary.

Peter Tolhurst
Melbourne Australia

[IHateToast]

strong winds in brisbane made our reception very ... iffy. still wouldn't change the channel.
before i moved to australia, i was a big fan of the road trip in the u.s. roadside america dot com was my guide and i feel that because of my love of the smaller roads, i have a different view of my home than those who love the interstate, mallwart and fast food. unfortunately, most people i have met here (oz) and in europe see the interstate/stripmall u.s. i hope this not only opens eyes, but also gets people to rethink how they could visit north america...and how they shop and travel anywhere, really.
thanks!

[Ian, Brisbane Australia]

Hey that was a great documentry and while I watched it, I started to see the same trends happening in Australia. I work at a local newsagency which is locally owned and the business has suffered with a "NewsEpress" chain opening in a near by centre. What you said about spending 100 dollars in a local store goes along way with local businesses is sooooooooooo true, it makes an actual immediate difference. Keep urging people to shop at independent stores. Cheers

[Mark]

Your account of small town America's fight against the big chains made for compelling viewing here in Australia.

Although Australia does boast its share of global and local chain stores, the affect in our regional areas has not been as profound as your US depiction.

However I'm sure it will become a bigger problem as the pasturization of local tastes and sensibilities extends to the bush.

Keep going with the good fight and thanks again for such a wonderful documentary.

[Suzy Gneist]

Great program and very topical for us here. Woolworth recently bulldozed the Maleny (Queensland Sunshine Coast Hinterland) community by putting a store (unwanted by a lot of locals who prefer the local co-ops and M&D stores) in. The local council kept saying they couldn't stop them (W) from coming - I was interested to listen to the councils that did make changes and rules to protect their local economies in your program.
Suzy, Flaxton/Montville QLD Australia

[Dave White]

Great doco!
I did not get to see it until today.
A fantastic wakeup call to all Australians.
I hope the commercial networks show your film as SBS is a small market.
I have a retail degree but never worked in that industry, the reason was the fact that we were heading to 24hr shopping and faceless stores. I could not be part of it. I try to shop local and stay away from the boxes and Maccas etc. People in America have been caught unaware, I hope we can learn from that. I also hope you guys can take back your corner stores and the characters that run them. The next step is to pay some decent wages to the workers.
Thanks again, Dave White Sunbury Australia.

[Mat Colefax]

Good work guys,

It is a lonely road, maybe we are crazy and corporatisation is wonderful and we should all trot off the nearest supermall like the other 99% of Aussies, yet maybe not.. I opened yesterdays local paper the front page story is that our soon to be heritage listed national park is being eyed off for a nuclear power plant ! could this be connected to the corporate interests in uranium lobbying our fanatically economic rationalist governments ? If so then the recent opening or our very own supermall wool was just a softening up.

[Chris Parx-e Web Zine]

Great Doco I plan to purchase a copy to show my friends. Good Stuff

[Andi Hazelwood]

Bravo. It was my wedding anniversary, we were in a nice hotel room right on the beach, and yet we were glued to our TV!

The movement back to local production and consumption has a name: relocalization. I'm the Australasian Regional Coordinator for the Relocalization Network, 132 groups in 12 countries all striving to "relocalize" their communities for stronger local economies and energy security. Visit www.relocalize.net to learn more and to start your own group- support your local businesses!

[Justine Kelly]

Hi,

I'm in the process of launching a web magazine www.marketsandbazaars.com.au. It's articles on alternative shopping and new entrepreneurs that are ethical, environmentally friendly, innovative etc. and is aimed at soccer mums. I want to inspire the reader to think before they shop!

I'm wondering whether I can cut and paste the above review by Andi Hazelwood and borrow an image under the review section? I'd be happy to add a link back to the independent america website.

The website will go live mid January.

This website is based in Australia to support Australians but if you are aware of any suitable issue or writers I would love to get in touch with them as well.