Pip Starr (a.k.a. Stuart Hill), documentary film-maker and activist, died on January 22.

Pip worked closely within the activist community in Melbourne for 10 years as an independent film-maker. He was involved in the EngageMedia collective, Ska TV, Bent TV, and the SpaceStation Video Lab.

One of his earlier films documented a Reclaim the Streets protest in Sydney in 1999. Pip said: "No time was more fun than the 7th Reclaim the streets in Sydney ... It remains my favorite doco still. I think I've made better quality doco's since, but none have been so much fun."

Aboriginal activist Gary Foley introduced Pip to the campaign against uranium mining at Jabiluka in 1998, which resulted in the film Fight for Country. "Gary made me understand the importance of film making as a documentation of history," Pip wrote on his website.

In 2002, Pip documented a break-out from the Woomera detention centre. The resulting film - Through the Wire - is stunning and moving.

Sydney activist Tom McLoughlin noted that: "Pip's work on the ground was not theoretical, his camera was helping people survive, and feel safer, and bring a risk of accountability and discipline on the security, a long way from the big city in a cowboy frontier style of governance. We loved him being there doing that work."

For many years, Pip worked closely with Friends of the Earth, especially on climate change, anti-nuclear and indigenous issues. Pip and his mum Helen came on the 2006 Radioactive Exposure Tour, when Pip was working on what turned out to be his last anti-nuclear film, Atomic Country. Pip also produced a film about the Roxby Downs uranium mine, Fire and Water.

Pip brought the plight of the Carteret Islanders to world attention with his videos, photos and activist reporting. Carteret Islanders will have to relocate to mainland Bougainville as their home is becoming uninhabitable due to climate change.

Another film - The Okapa Connection - follows the journey of a shipment of fair trade organic coffee from the mountains of PNG. The film reveals how fair trade and organic production methods are beginning to transform the lives of the coffee farmers in the remote and beautiful mountains of PNG.

Many of Pip's films were made in collaboration with Bill Runting under the banner of Rockhopper Productions. Another frequent collaborator was composer Mark Daniel.

Pip described his film-making philosophy on his website: "I'm attracted to global stories of importance. I believe documentary to be the most engaging and beautiful art form ever invented, and I always aim to make documentaries that live up to this ideal, and are as entertaining as they are informative. While recognizing that there are things about the world that we would do well to change, I also appreciate that the world is a magnificent and beautiful place that must be celebrated, loved and enjoyed."

Pip wrote: "My role in the scheme of things as I see it, is to create media that does not have a corporate or government agenda. As such the distribution of and income from my documentary film works is rather less than it would be than if I worked for or with a large organization. The freedom to say what I want from a political and creative perspective is far more important to me than money or fame, so I'm content to work on a small scale and maintain my independence."

Pip worked as a part-time nurse in the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. His interests, as described on his facebook, included film, activism, nature, beaches, politics, food, travel, human rights and the environment, gay culture, art, and history. Some other interests included Charles Dickens (hence the name Pip) and penguins (hence the name Rockhopper Productions).

Pip's contribution to activism and activist film-making was enormous. Friends of the Earth extends our deepest sorrow and sympathy to Pip's mum Helen and other family members, and to his partner Gurney.

A number of Pip's videos are posted at:
* <www.starr.tv>
* <www.engagemedia.org/author/pipstarr>
* <www.youtube.com/user/starrpip>

Pip's photos are posted at:
<www.flickr.com/photos/16944927@N02>

Pip's facebook: <www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=598972134>

A 2001 interview with Pip talking about his film-making:
* <www.milkbar.com.au/local/archive_12.html>

A short 2007 interview with Pip talking about his climate change film:
* <www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_273AU-cNI&e>