Best of 2008: Videos
Wake Up, Freak Out – then Get a Grip
Imagine the worst case scenario of climate change – this 11-plus minute video from Plane Stupid activist Leo Murray titled, “Wake Up, Freak Out – then Get a Grip will lay it out for you. Packed with science and a violin playing polar bear, this video is an eye-opener (as if people needed that) and a wildly entertaining clip.
Murray’s take home message:
“It is now very clear that in order to actually win the fight against climate change, making big changes to the way we each live our own lives is not going to be enough; we’re also going to have to actively confront powerful vested interests who will stop at nothing to prevent the changes we need from taking place. We have to be more than just consumers.”
See the video HERE.
Bioneers
Another year and another successful Bioneers conference. DTE had the immense pleasure of participating in the 2008 Bioneers satellite conference held at Spokane Community College in October. It was a thrilling way to recharge our batteries and refocus on what’s important. Of the many speakers, presentations and conversations to look back on from Bioneers – a satellite presentation on biomimicry by Janine Benyus remains most memorable. It’s a long video but we promise you will walk away amazed at the wonders of nature and innovation.
See the video HERE.
"Everything's Cool" and "Heat" Two of our favorite videos were actually previews for thought provoking documentaries that dealt with the politics of climate change. The first, a href="http://everythingscool.org/index.php">“Everything’s Cool", concerns the origin of the debate, the disinformation, and stressed the urgency of climate change while striking a humorous tone. The second was called “Heat” which provided an eye opening look at the special interests of the presidential candidates. Like “Everything’s Cool,” it examined the history and consequences of government inaction on climate change. It also addressed the expansion of China and India, the rise of nuclear power, and answered the erstwhile question, "who killed the electric car?" Stop Making Sense Who could forget David Byrne, the former lead singer of Talking Heads? Byrne is an avid cyclist, and when he’s not riding in New York with a hilarious helmet cam commentary, he’s praising Spokane’s ingenuity for the Centennial Trail. But his bike rack design could ultimately be the push some people need to get out there. Expo '74 Last but not least is Expo ’74, Spokane’s environmentally themed World’s Fair. Here come the bellbottom shots and cheesy music. This was one of our first posts on the new site launch. Here’s what we said at time: There’s something of merit with this footage, especially for young punks like us who weren’t here. Example: The “huge industrial eyesore” that was transformed into beautiful Riverfront Park. And there’s a tendency to diss Expo 74. Even the brilliant (but now sadly defunct) MetroSpokane stated its intention with a banner reading “because Expo ‘74 happened a long time ago” as a way of tearing down the past, looking forward. Yet there’s no denying it changed the way we look at the Spokane River and it’s possible to trace contemporary concerns back to this event. It was even called “Celebrating a Fresh, New Environment.” Last year, when discussing the Shoreline Master Program for the Spokane River with the City, Friends Of The Falls discovered the original design which reminded them of the “energy, optimism and foresight that drove the community in those days.” Proposed in the wake of Expo ’74, one page presciently read the following: “Every community has a heart. It may be a central business district, a civic center, a square, or even a building. The location and character of the heart is paramount as an expression of the character of the whole city. Spokane began on the river near Spokane Falls and Havermale Island. The heart of the City is still there, but cluttered and obscured. By removing this debris, the way is cleared for re-establishing the area in the public mind as the city’s heart. The heart becomes a focus of high aesthetic, social, and cultural significance rather than just some street intersection which is basic to the plan concept of welding together the City, its people, and its river heritage.” Again, that was thirty years ago. Awareness is high but it still feels like such visionary language is sorely absent today. We’re hoping the upcoming Down To Earth launch will provide fresh energy, optimism and foresight for environmental issues in Spokane.