Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Subject: NYC Premiere of Escape From Suburbia plus panel discussions a fund raiser for permaculture scholarships

Local Energy Solutions is pleased to present the New York City Premiere of Escape From Suburbia: Beyond the American Dream followed by a discussion with the filmmakers and local activists.

Event Details:
Friday, February 1 and Saturday, February 2, 6:30 – 10:00 pm
Wollman Auditorium at Cooper Union
51 Astor Place
$20, $15 for students (ID required)
Purchase tickets at the door or online at: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/25997
A moderated panel discussion and drawings for books and dvds will follow each screening.

Escape from Suburbia is the long awaited sequel to End of Suburbia, the movie that introduced the issue of Peak Oil to millions of people. With Escape From Suburbia, director Greg Greene and producer Dara Rowland, pick up where End left off: asking how peak oil and climate change are affecting us.

Following the film, Martha Ma, editor of Eater’s Digest, will conduct a discussion among panelists. Appearing both nights will be Greene and Rowland and from the film Tom Nielsen, Sara Williford of Regeneration Farm CSA, and Abu Talib and Bobby Watson of Taqwa Community Garden. Following the discussion, audience members will be able to question the panel.

Friday nights panelists:
§ Andrew Faust – Biohome Permaculture
§ Dan Holmes – Restoration Farm, Bethpage, L.I.
§ Eli Ishchayll – Black Socialist Organization
§ Paula Lukats – Just Food
§ Karen Washington – NYC Community Garden Coalition
Saturday night panelists;
§ Cleo Jones – For A Better Bronx
§ Ian Marvy- Added Value Farms, Brookyn
§ Owen Taylor – City Farms Training
§ Carol Zakaluk – Friends of Brook Park

Unfortunately one of our invited speakers, Mike Ruppert of “From the Wilderness” and author of “Crossing the Rubicon” was unable to attend the invite, but he sent a special message to be prior to the screening.

At each screening, attendees will also have the opportunity to enter a raffle for two gift packages containing books and DVDs by Richard Heinberg, Stephen Leeb, Bill Mollison, David Jacke, and John Howe. Winners will be announced prior to the panel discussion and must be present to claim their gift package.
This event is sponsored by Local Energy Solutions, a project of the Five Borough Institute (A Not For Profit Organization). A portion of ticket sales will be used for scholarships for low-income students for a Permaculture Design Certificate Course scheduled from March 2008 to February 2009. For more information about this course and Local Energy Solutions, visit our website at: www.localenergysolutions.org

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm sure that you're all paying close attention to the Kosovo situation, but in case you're not...

From Jan. 28 - Jan. 30, 2008:

Kosovo leader says independence declaration in 'days'

The plans by Kosovo Albanian leaders for a declaration of independence are backed by the United States and most members of the European Union. Serbia and its ally Russia staunchly oppose any such move.

...The EU is drawing up plans to send a 1,800-member police mission to Kosovo to replace the current UN peacekeeping team that would have to withdraw after independence if there is no international agreement on the province's future.


Russia drafts action plan in case Kosovo declares independence

A senior Russian diplomat said Monday that Moscow has prepared an action plan that envisages close coordination with Serbia should the West recognize any Kosovo declaration of independence.
Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, the Russian Foreign Ministry's special envoy to the Balkans, said Moscow is encouraging more talks between the Serbs and the province's
ethnic Albanian majority. He said, however, that chances for such talks are rapidly decreasing, with Kosovo's leaders expected to declare independence soon.
Botsan-Kharchenko said at a meeting with Russian lawmakers that the ministry had worked out a plan of action if Kosovo declares independence, and the United States and the European Union members recognize it. He wouldn't give details but said the plan «envisages a close coordination of action with Belgrade.


Russia to rearrange troops due to U.S. missile shield

Russia's Defense Ministry plans to change the configuration of troops in Kaliningrad in response to U.S. missile shield plans in Central Europe, a high-ranking army official said on Wednesday.

Note: Kaliningrad is the main Russian military facility in the Balkan region.

Soviet military support group is revived

A Soviet-era military support organization said Monday it wants to reclaim its past role training youths for Russia's armed forces, which have been plagued by draft dodging, cadet abuse and low morale.

Rosto-Dosaaf, which once sponsored training courses and sports competitions for tens of millions of Soviet youths, will once again offer training in Russian high schools, said the group's head, Maj. Gen. Yuri Kamyshanov.


Watch this situation very carefully. This has been simmering for several years and there's no sign yet that anyone is planning to back down.

Rice Farmer said...

Very sorry to see that MCR could not accept the invitation, but I assume that's because of his "retirement."

And we should thank Shorebreak for the heads-up. I too feel that push is coming to shove. There's no doubt a lot more at stake here than the world TV-watching public can imagine.

Rice Farmer said...

Japan calls on China to step up food safety
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080131/wl_asia_afp/japanchinafoodsafety;_ylt=A0WTUd3eqaFHFH0BnQRbbBAF

This is a major news item in Japan since yesterday. Everybody's indignant toward the Chinese. But in fact, this happens because spoiled Japanese and American consumers demand that the Chinese MAKE LOTS OF STUFF SUPER-CHEAPLY. The Chinese are just doing their best to accommodate. And we will just keep importing because our economies are now that dependent on China and its super-cheap goods.

A peon said...

Hey there friends and neighbors.I was just thinking about a post I remember reading on here from August last year about charities that asked the question "If one were to steer people towards ways to contribute money that would fight the criminal system instead of feeding it, what would they be?"

Well,I thought of a few and decided to post them.

http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/ is hurting for funding.

or, you can donate tohttp://www.runcynthiarun.org/thus casting your vote for Cynthia McKinney,seeing as doing so at the polls won't do any good thanks to rigged elections.

And www.truthout.com announces it is also in need of help.

trevbus said...

Underground telecom cables carrying internet traffic have been cut in both the Mediterranean and between UAE and Oman, and between Sri Lanka and Suez - ie in many different areas. What a coincidence.

Just before 9/11, Arab websites were taken down.

Superbowl is on Sunday.

http://smokingmirrors.blogspot.com/
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/fbishut.html
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/01/africa/ME-GEN-Mideast-Internet-Outages.php

It is unlikely a false flag event could be blamed on Iran now that they are officially in the clear. The all-purpose Osama Bin Sockpuppet would more likely be invoked.

At this stage such an event would be primarily aimed at suppressing dissent inside the US given the unfolding economic disaster.

Anyhow, many predictions such as this have been made previously, this too may come to nothing.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the four severed cables that have now completely cut off internet traffic in Iran, and partially cut off most of the rest of the muslim world...

Most muslim internet sites were shut down in the days leading up to 9/11.

Heads up this Sunday.

PS - There's currently a bill waiting in committee in Congress to re-instate the draft. There's also a finance crisis that can never be resolved under current economic structures. The only way out is to turn the pot upside down. The only remaining question for us is "when". The internet shut-down is an ominous sign.

trevbus said...

I'm wondering if Iran is the target afterall. The internet traffic report shows they are completely cut off right now (see entry for Tehran):

http://www.internettrafficreport.com/asia.htm

Cable cutting is a prelude to war

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0QUY/is_2004_July/ai_n6142317/pg_2

Will the Iranian oil bourse finally open, or (here's hoping) the US just wants Iran to blink first.

What will be the context in which the voters "choose" the Presidential candidates on Super Tuesday? Will the relatively peace-loving candidates be "understandably" swept aside?

Rice Farmer said...

Very bad news for people in Japan who eat: The Agriculture Ministry has just announced that the government's wheat resale price to millers will be hiked 30% -- yes, you read that right -- this spring. Since wheat flour, like corn, is used in lots of products, this means that food overall will be affected.

Rice Farmer said...

Analysis: China beats West in Africa
http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Emerging_Threats/Analysis/2008/02/01/analysis_china_beats_west_in_africa/8203/

Don't say you didn't see this coming.

Tyler Havlin said...

Recession is here

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/05/news/economy/recession/index.htm?postversion=2008020512

A growing number of top economists believe that the U.S. economy has now toppled into recession.

Alarm bells were set off Tuesday by a grim report on service businesses, which make up the majority of the U.S. economy.

"We're definitely seeing conditions spread to more parts of the economy. The big drop in business activity, that's a huge red flag," said Gus Faucher, director of macroeconomics for Moody's Economy.com.

Faucher said his firm now believes the economy is in a recession but he believes it's possible that growth will resume in the second half of this year.

However, Faucher noted this will depend upon additional rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, coupled with Congress quickly passing a proposed $150 billion stimulus package. That package includes $600 tax rebates for most U.S. taxpayers and some temporary tax cuts for businesses.

Economist Bob Brusca of FAO Economics said he doubted that the U.S. was in recession a week ago, but now he believes there's about a 75% chance that a recession began in January.

Rice Farmer said...

North Texas facing soaring construction costs
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-highcosts_04met.ART.State.Edition2.451a760.html

This is exactly what I've been talking about when I say that the soaring costs of building and maintaining infrastructure will do as much as anything to bring down the system. All we hear about is how biofuels will supposedly keep cars on the road, but if the roads are not maintained, you may as well leave your hybrid in the garage and get a horse.

Rice Farmer said...

China will drive global market for Gold
http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/newsdetails.php?id=5308