#sugarcane

Sugarcane (2024, Emily Kassie & Julian Brave Noisecat)

Hokkien people believed that the Jade Emperor was instrumental in rescuing them from their plight, which is why Hokkiens celebrate Bai Tian Gong. The sugarcane as well is commemorated as it kept them hidden and safe when the bandits were searching for them. In Hokkien dialect, the sugarcane plant is pronounced as ‘kam jia’, which sounds very familiar to ‘kam xia’, the word for gratitude. Thus, in Hokkien Chinese New Year, Sugarcane Stalks are often placed on either side of the offering table 🎑 or the front door of the house. This symbolizes the appreciation and gratitude of the Hokkien people to the Jade Emperor for protecting their ancestors all those years ago and hopes that he would continue to give them his blessings.

Typically, the ceremony 🎑 commences on the eve of the 9th day, typically starting at 11pm on the 8th day of Lunar New Year. But due to mum’s advanced age, she preferred not to jostle with other families burning the joss papers at the public bins. So, she Bai Tian Gong (拜天公) on the actual day at about 6am in the morning then send me down to the bin to do the burning.

Sugarcane is a widely grown crop in the Nile Basin, but its destructive effects on soils, water resources and biodiversity have become increasingly apparent.

As the thirsty crop draws down water resources, aquatic species like the critically endangered Nubian flapshell turtle suffer a loss of habitat, forage and nesting sites.

In an effort to revive soils, diversify diets and incomes, and boost water levels that many animals rely on, communities are implementing agroforestry projects in lieu of monocultures.

Sugarcane (2024) dir. Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie

The world's largest crop may have a role to play in building a waste-free and cleaner world.

Most of us only think about sugar when it comes to health. But after sugarcane gets processed, it leaves behind mountains of leftover fibre called bagasse, and a lot of it gets burned.

So in this video, I’m visiting the University of East London to see an alternative way it could be used: Sugarcrete, a building material made from sugarcane waste

You’ll see the lab where it’s being tested, hear exactly how it works from the people behind it, and watch me get hands-on making my own Sugarcrete block from scratch. If we can turn agricultural waste into affordable, lower-carbon building materials, what else are we sleeping on?

Huge shout out to Oluchi Okonkwo for having me and big thank you, Michelle Sanders, Risi Cheshire and El Tooth for helping me create this video!