"DENIAL STOPS HERE: From 911 to Peak Oil and Beyond"

I just rewatched this and it was still so powerful. This man, Michael Ruppert, has been in the battle for a long time. The movie, made in 2005, is brutally honest about where we find ourselves as humans living together on planet earth. I believe the most honorable thing we can do is seek and speak the truth. Michael’s integrity and tireless, selfless willingness to share with all of us is most admirable. Thanks for not giving up and extending your hand for all who are trying to figure out where to go from here.
The film ends with what, for me, was a very hopeful message. We are not alone. We are the paradigm shifters. We are the map makers. There is a lot of work to do. There are so many talented, good hearted people in all of our communities. There is huge change ahead. There is going to be a lot more sharing if we are lucky enough to get a go at it. It would be great to think my grandchildren could have the opportunity for a healthy life on planet earth.


the movie at amazon



Michael Ruppert's blog here......

From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog
With the arrival of Peak Oil, the curtain has closed on Act 1 of the drama Petroleum Man. What will happen in Act 2? Chekhov said, "If there's a gun on the wall at the beginning of the play, by the end it must go off." In the world's nuclear arsenal are many guns on the wall. If life copies art, will there be an Act 3 in which the players, having learned their lesson the hard way, live sustainably? To explore these and other questions... FTW's Act 2 Blog. Read, comment, take heart! Orkin

Hemp and the Rule of Law

This is a great movie documenting the absurdity of our corrupt, insane inhuman drug policy. and hemp isn't even a drug!!!! As i like to say, you could drive up to a high school with a truckload of the stuff and no one would give you a second glance. Hemp could turn out to be one of the most valuable national security crops if we ever take the blinders off. So many useful products could be made from a crop that grows as a weed if left to it's own devices. As we deplete the fossil fuels and other resources of the planet, it would be great to have a top notch fiber to make the things we use to improve our lives. Car bodies could be made out of it (it's that good) and when the car were done we could compost them instead of sending them to the junkyards. we will need this fiber for so many things.

Jim Hightower writes a very insightful history of our folly war on drugs that continues to exact a high price on our society and our fellow citizens.

Hemp and the Rule of Law
A Documentary Film by Kevin Balling
“The best video treatment of this subject to date. Make the most of this video, show it everywhere”. Dave West, Ph.D. Plant Breeder. Director, Hawaii Industrial Hemp Project“It's an incredible DVD! Every member of Congress should see this video. If you watch it and don't think that hemp farming should be legalized then you weren't paying attention. It's so good that I would show it to my grandfather without any reservation.”. Tom Murphy, Vote Hemp“If you're wanting to learn more about the possibilities for industrial hemp in the United States, you could hardly do better than this DVD”. John Roulac, Author of “Hemp Horizons” and owner of Nutiva hemp foodsThe video is beautifully done. An excellent presentation of this important topic. This is a truly fine educational tool”. Gale Glenn, Vice Chair, North American Industrial Hemp Council “A clear and concise synopsis of the history, benefits and future of industrial hemp”. Candi Penn, Executive Director, Hemp Industries Association“Balling blends current events with history, creating a fine example of documentary filmmaking in a brisk 55 minute package” Winston-Salem Journal

SYNOPSIS
Blending history with current events, "Hemp and the Rule of Law" traces the crop’s legendary past in U.S. agriculture and chronicles the politically-charged debate to return the crop to American farmers. Thirty-one countries including Canada, England and the European Union now grow hemp. Although it has no psychoactive potential, hemp shares the same plant family as marijuana (cannabis). The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration makes no distinction between hemp and marijuana, and the United States remains the only industrialized country where farmers are not permitted to grow it. "Hemp and the Rule of Law" addresses renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, national security, the War in Iraq, and examines hemp’s role in achieving a “green” industrial future.

more on this film here

upcoming movie event

We, (Transition Ferndale, a sub-group of Transition Whatcom), are showing “the Power of Community” "how Cuba survived Peak Oil” on December 7th (Monday) at the Ferndale Whatcom Educational Credit Union. WECU

We will gather from 5:30p to 6:30p for a potluck, for those who want to, with the movie starting at 6:30p. Bring your own plate and utensils although I will have a few things available.

I am working on the skills, tools, and equipment I have to share. We can discuss/share and inspire each other with our ideas before and after. Perhaps we can start our Transition Ferndale listing. People should feel free to bring anything they would like to share. (ie: I have extra copies of films that could be loaned out)

a must see: Burning The Future: Coal in America

We should all see this movie. Since 50% of our electricity comes from burning coal,
we should know who is paying the highest price to enable our current use. This movie is so powerful. What is happening to the people of Appalachia, living in the world's 2nd most diverse forest on earth, is a crime. The people need our help ....

just for fun....Jack Johnson

i will be preordering the movie and cd!

Rethink Afghanistan

I just saw the film Rethink Afghanistan with a small group of other humans. There is absolutely nothing to be accomplished there with more military engagement. I am unclear what our military occupation has ever been about. Only a humanitarian mission could improve anything for the humans in Afghanistan. I guess you could make a case for an international law enforcement mission if it was the instigator of 911 you wanted. Hard to make that case in light of the fact that Osama was offered and our government refused him.

We should immediately cease funding the military industrial complex. I was horrified at the inhumanity we are visiting on the humans in this part of the world. Only when begin to show concern for the humans who live where earth’s natural resources and the routes to bring them to us are located, will we give the humans everywhere a chance to continue life on earth. This is the legacy I hope to leave for those who come after. If we don’t learn how to life within our means no one, including our children and grandchildren, will enjoy life on earth. Considering that we are 4% of the world’s population, using 25% of the planet’s resources, we have an opportunity to really make a difference.

If we stop using earth’s dwindling resources to fight over earth’s dwindling resources and build infrastructure we can pass on the legacy of a good life on earth. The humans in Afghanistan want the same things as we do. They love their families just like we do. The images in this movie are heartbreaking. And the fact that my tax money is funding this congressional military industrial complex adventure is abhorrent.


thank you, Rebekah, our Bellingham Code Pink , for showing this film.

sign to demand civilian solutions for Afghanistan here


I include this 10 minute segment from the film that addresses the plight of women in Afghanistan. If you watched corporate media during our occupation you would believe the myth that freedom is on the march and women are enjoying their lives as never before.

Bombs will kill women in Afghanistan
Posted by robertgreenwald on July 8th, 2009
Self immolation is a method of suicide by lighting oneself on fire. According to the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, self immolation has never been such an epidemic in Afghanistan as it is today. This is one fact that leads people to the sobering reality that our efforts in Afghanistan have done nothing for the vast majority of women there.



full post here

one of my all time favorites.....the Power of Community

I must not forget one of my all time favorite movies, the Power of Community. I saw this movie after being introduced to the peak oil concept in 2004 at a screening of The END of SUBURBIA. The people of Cuba have lived the “beyond fossil fuels” age, albeit artificially induced. The have a lot to teach the rest of the world if we open up to the possibilities. One of my favorite moments in the movie was this quote “we have one earth and it belongs to all of us.”

I see us needing 5 things: air, water, food, safety, shelter and community is the only way we can do it. We all have something to contribute. I believe the future will bring more sharing if we choose the legacy of life on planet earth for those who come after.

The people of Cuba found a way to reinvent their lifestyle during what they called “the special period.” They had higher fossil fuel input in their agribusiness than we did when the Soviet Union fell and they lost a large part of their imports. The United States increased strict embargos during this time, making this worse. People lost weight, suffered shortages and had challenges in every part of their daily lives.

The Cubans adapted and now people who produce food (organically and locally) are the highly respected members of the community. They demonstrate how to pull together and make sure everybody makes it. I love this movie and will continue to show it and put it into the hands of anyone who will watch it.

Just ordered 3 more.

Prepare to live differently!!!! a great article by Richard Heinberg: Fifty Million Farmers

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With
imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope.
much more information here...