How To Help Friends & Family Understand Why You're Vegan: A Guide

Question from a Reader:

My wife has been vegan for many years and I just joined her a while back (talk about a good way to improve a marriage!). 

I am getting resistance from friends (and our kids, college age) and wanted something to point to for them to see the benefits of being vegan.  I remember watching a video you had which was basically showing your transformation from pre vegan to vegan with oil and sugar, finally to where you are now, and I have to say the changes were so impressive! Can you point me to a video where you showed that?

Answer, Plus List of Resources:

Help the World Become Healthier: Support Forks Over Knives

I've raved about the documentary Forks Over Knives many times on this blog and my social media accounts, but I just can't say enough. This is a must-see movie and it has the potential to help shift the health of the world. I've seen it almost 10 times and have watched it with friends and family, and we're all blown away by the eye-opening information and the comprehensive, powerful way it's presented.

Forks Over Knives follows Dr. T. Colin Campbell (author of The China Study) and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn (Cleveland Clinic) whose research led them to similar conclusions about the profound and often misunderstood effects that food has on our health. These are the doctors who influenced Bill Clinton to go almost completely vegan. The film also features a surprising array of folks who have changed and even saved their lives by adapting a whole foods plant-based diet.

Though Forks Over Knives won't have a wide release until March, there have been several opportunities to see an advanced screening, all of which have been sold out. If you happen to be in the Portland, OR area in the next week, please go see it - your support will help the producers book it in more theaters across the country (and hopefully the world). It is playing at the Regal Fox Tower
(846 SW Park Ave PORTLAND, OR) from January 7-13 and you can buy tickets here.

Celebrating Earth Day with James Cameron and other eco stars

I had an amazing time at the Home Tree Earth Day VIP Reception - one of the best events I've been to in L.A. It was held at the beautiful LEED certified J.W. Marriot hotel in Downtown, and best of all, there was no meat served! In attendance were James Cameron, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Suzy Amis Cameron, Michelle Rodriquez, Hayden Panettiere, Adrian Grenier, Billy Zane, John Salley, Frances Fisher, Josh Tickell, Rebecca Harrell Tickell, Angela Lindvall, Bai Ling, Brenda Strong (among others). Robert Cheeke was my co-host (and arm candy) and he did a fantastic job with the interviews.

This is the second time I've attended an Avatar event and I've really gained a lot of respect for James Cameron because of my experiences. Though I've always admired him, it was so wonderful to see him speak about the environmental message in the movie. Cameron also took the time to speak to each person that approached him at the events - even me! I got a fantastic on-camera interview with him that I am thrilled to share - hope to have it up later today.

In the meantime, please enjoy this video teaser and slideshow. I wore a great eco tee-shirt by Humanwear.

Why you need to stop drinking water immediately

Pictures from the Santa Monica College screening of Tapped

The water you're drinking right now probably contains chemicals linked to cancer...assuming you're drinking out of a plastic bottle or container - yes, even the one that says it's "BPA free" or "50% less plastic". So why does the label say it's "safe" and "pure"? Marketing. Truth be told, that bottle of water could be worse than what comes out of your tap, as the plastic has most likely leached something dangerous into it. I'm sure you're skeptical, because you've been conditioned to believe bottled water is better for you, but if you have even a doubt in your mind isn't it worth reading further?

Last night I saw the documentary Tapped (from the producers of Who Killed The Electric Car), and it was incredibly disturbing - if only you could have seen the look on my face while watching it. I found it interesting timing, because I've recently been struggling with a water issue at home. My Brita faucet filter broke a few months ago and I have been meaning to replace it, but wanted to do some research on other products first - this has proved to be quite time consuming. So out of laziness and frugalness (good filters can be expensive), I've been drinking from the tap. Every-time I turned on the faucet I felt like I was about to ingest a cup of chemicals, but I wondered if tap water is really all that bad. Turns out, in most cases, it isn't. In fact, I found out tonight that Los Angeles has been voted as one of the cities with the best tap water (though this page on EWG makes me question that)

Since this post is long enough already, here are some bullet points from Tapped:

Bottled water:

• 80 million bottles of water are consumed a day in the United States, and Americans buy 29 billions of it a year.
• costs 1,900 times more than tapped water
• controlled by corporations, so their priority is making a profit, not health. It is a 11.5 million dollar business (as of 2007)
• became a booming business in the 70's after Perrier became popular in social situations as an alternative to drinking alcohol during the day. Soda's market value was dropping and cola companies needed to do something, so they started selling water
• often marketed as a way to become beautiful, healthier, and thinner
• commonly labeled as "pure" and "safe, even thought 40% of it is just tap water (though many companies fool consumers by putting images of mountain tops on the packaging)
• numerous harmful chemicals have been found in bottled water (including plastic water dispensers), such as benzene and BPA, which are linked to major health problems such as cancer. Bacteria and pharmaceuticals are also common in bottled water
• plastic is made in petrochemical plants, i.e. petroleum from oil
• tap water is regulated by health departments, but bottled water is not. The FDA has no control over most bottled water, especially if it is produced and consumed in the same state. Companies that bottle water do not have to submit reports to FDA, or to the public. In major cities, tap water is tested 300-400 times a month

Recycling:

• Only 20% of plastic bottles are recycled in the USA, mainly because there are not enough collection facilities across the country. Only half of the country has curbside recycling (blue bins).
• Only 11 out of the 50 states have bottle bills (beverage container deposit, returned if you recycle) and only 6 of them have bills on bottle water. In the states that have the deposits, 70-97% of products are returned.
• Most plastic bottles end up in landfills, incinerators, or the ocean. The "beaches of the future" will be comprised of small pieces of plastic instead of rocks and sand.
• If you don't know about the Plastic Soup/Garbage Patch in our oceans, please look it up - here's a good place to start

Memorable quotes from the movie and Q&A:

• “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed” - Mahatma Gandhi
• "When in doubt, cut it out"
• "Bottled water is the greatest advertising and marketing trick of all time"
• "This government isn't doing anything, this government is for sale, so every-thing's ready to be auctioned off including the public's right to water"
• People look like "big toddlers" when they drink bottled water
• "There is no such thing as extra water" (referring to the corporations who are stealing it from small towns)
• "This is a battle that I know if I start I will loose" (referring to fighting against big corporations to stop harmful production of plastic in Corpus Christi)
• "Evian is just 'naive' spelled backwards"

What can you do?

• Write a letter to the government expressing your outrage - if enough of us raise our voices they may even watch Tapped!
• Reduce the amount of plastic you use altogether (not just bottled water)
• Attach a filter to your tap - Multi-Pure was recommend by Stephanie Soechtig (the director)
• Do a test of your tap water to see how clean it is - home kits can be purchased
• Visit the Water Quality Association to learn more about the quality of your water at home
• Visit the Tapped website to learn how to take action - it also has some bonus clips if you've already seen the movie
• Educate yourself about everything that you purchase, then vote with your dollar. Every time you buy something you are telling the company behind it that you approve of it, and therefore they will keep making more
• Remind yourself that you are lucky to have access to clean water, so use it wisely and conserve your use of it as much as you can.

When the movie was over I wondered how many people in the audience would continue drinking bottled water - it's a hard habit to give up, but there are very few circumstances in which I would do it again. In fact, when I got home I gathered my plastic reusable bottles and food storage containers and put them in the recycling bin - I'll replace them with stainless steel and glass. Then I looked around and realized I have a long way to go before I'm plastic free - all my body care products are in plastic too.

Needless to say, I think this movie is important for everyone to see ASAP. It will be available on DVD and iTunes starting on April 3rd. Please support this film - they are having a hard time getting distribution and media spots since so many companies are sponsored by Pepsi and Coke (the "bad guys" in the movie).

The more documentaries I see the more I realize that we're in major trouble - every one of them is waving a red flag. Each of these movies are telling us to break out of the brainwashing that has been done by major corporations. But instead of feeling depressed, I feel compelled to do something about it and to encourage others to do so. Please don't turn a blind eye, don't blow it off as a conspiracy, don't take a back seat and hope for the best, don't slip into the false peace of ignorance, and don't give the government the benefit of the doubt when so many sources are calling their bluff. Worse case you could be wrong, best case you could save your life and those around you.

Forks Over Knives: a must-see documentary

I have seen so many incredible documentaries about the environment and health in the last year (Food Inc, The Cove, No Impact Man, A Chemical Reaction, FUEL, Age of Stupid, Enlighten Up!), and I can add another one to the list: Forks Over Knives (FOK). Each movie has had an individual message, but what they all sum up to is that change needs to happen ASAP. However, change starts with us as individuals, and we have a lot of healing to do, which is what makes FOK so crucial.

Forks Over Knives is incredibly important to see because it really breaks down health myths. Even though I've been a vegan for almost 7 years I still have a lot to learn about what's best for my body, but it's so hard to get through all the noise. Everyone has an opinion about what's healthiest and how to look your best - so who do you trust? Most turn to doctors, but unfortunately there's a lot of misinformation from them too. Luckily, FOK is straight forward and pulls facts from scientific research, largely following T. Colin Campbell (author of the famous book "The China Study").

I almost feel that Forks Over Knives is more crucial to see than Food Inc., because our health is in danger. Food Inc. mainly centers around corruption and the hidden story behind food, while FOK is more focused and demonstrates that we can actually reverse or prevent most of our biggest health problems: obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. The world needs to know that these issues don't usually stem from our genetics, but from the way we eat. It is possible that if our food system changes, we can cut health care by 70-80% - can you imagine? Take a moment to imagine seeing the doctor less, no longer having to take medications, and saving your loved ones from untimely deaths. The title "Forks Over Knives" implies that we can solve medical problems by changing what's on our forks, instead of attempting to cut out our illnesses with knives.

Hippocrates said, "let food by thy medicine", and this is the main message of the movie. FOK points out that the health benefits of eating a plant based diet seem "too simple to be true", so perhaps that explains why some people are skeptical. We've been conditioned to eat foods that are not healthy for us, because they were marketed to be the opposite. Fast food is appealing to us because we're "overworked and over-scheduled", and many feel fulfilled after eating it. One of the most interesting parts of the movie is the explanation by one of its experts, Dr. Doug Lisle, of why we feel good after eating junk food - it deceives our stomach receptors and we overeat in order to feel satisfied. Brian Wendel, Creator and Executive Producer, explained it best to me,

• "Richer foods excite our senses because the most calorically dense foods we would find in nature would support our survival. They would guide us toward bananas, let's say, over celery. However, we can now artificially increase calorie density beyond what we would find in nature, leading to hyper-normal pleasure and into a state known as The Pleasure Trap. This state occurs when our pleasure circuits--designed to steer us toward survival and successful reproduction--have become hijacked, or tricked, by artificial stimulation."

Aside from having a great message, Forks Over Knives is really well done. It's just under 2 hours but time flies due to the editing and graphics. Please go see this movie ASAP - if it's not playing near you contact the filmmakers and request it! Spread the word - the world needs to see this! It's time we "eat to live instead of living to eat".

Here are some photos from the private screening I had with Brian Wendel. We had a great healthy vegan potluck (I brought cookies from Eat Pastry)!

Screening of A Chemical Reaction (Giveaway!)

I went to the screening of A Chemical Reaction today and was really inspired by it. Though the movie was low budget (came out of the filmmakers' pockets), that was easily overlooked because of the strong story and message.

I encourage you to see the movie (check out my giveaway of the movie below!), so I won't ruin the plot, but here are some of my notes:

• One of the main messages of the movie is that people, particularly Americans, don't really think for ourselves. We often do things without thought, especially if most people around us are doing it, or we grew up watching our families do it. This is very in-line with how I feel about eating habits, but this also applies to the products we use outside of our homes. A Chemical Reaction is about pesticides, which is not something I've really given much thought to, despite the fact that I am so careful about what I put in, on, or around my body at home.
• Pesticides contain the same chemicals used to make bombs, and yet we spray them on the same grass that we/our children/our pets run on barefoot. They describe it best in the film, "we're living in a soup of chemicals". These chemicals are also linked to disorders like ADHD, Parkinsons, and Autism.
• Many people are very attached to their lawns and making them look perfect, but who for -us or our neighbors? Lawns not only require pesticides to be weed free, but lots of water to keep them green - neither are eco-friendly. What we need to do is redefine the American Dream, and in this case that means letting go of the attachment we have to perfect lawns. Instead, why don't we try growing lawns organically, or not having a lawn at all? In California for example, residents are encouraged to give up their lawns and instead grow plants that don't require a lot of water or maintenance.
• Another big question raised in the movie is about the source of information and who we trust. This really made me think, especially since I live such an unconventional lifestyle - so where do I get my facts from? Personally, I get information from people I trust, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's true. A Chemical Reaction implies that a lot of information is biased and/or corrupt, especially when money is involved. Ultimately, what we decide comes down to how it makes us feel, both emotionally and physically. But we also need to stop lying to ourselves about supporting things that we sense are bad, simply because we're afraid to go against the grain or make a change. As June Irwin says in the movie, "if you let it happen you're part of the problem."
• The movie mentions a term I haven't heard of, called The Precautionary Principle. Check out Wikipedia for a longer definition, but in summary: if an action or policy has suspected risk of causing harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the burden of proof falls on those who would advocate taking the action...The principle implies that there is a responsibility to intervene and protect the public from exposure to harm. This is a great point, because it seems that a major reason people don't take action for the environment or health is because we don't have enough "proof" that we need to - this is basically just an excuse to take a back seat.
• Towards the end of the movie, someone (Paul Tukey?) says, "chemicals should not be innocent until proven guilty."

What can you do?

• There are some great resources on the affiliated SafeLawns website on how to have a natural lawn.
• It was mentioned post-screening that the E.P.A. is accepting comments on spray drift and ingredient disclosure - please check out the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances to let your voice be heard.
• Check out Pesticide Watch, a program that helps citizen groups across California develop sustainable solutions for dealing with pests, instead of using toxic pesticides
• This movie was sponsored by Seventh Generation and Firebelly Lawncare (organic)
• Check out my giveaway of the movie below for your chance to win it!

Movie giveaway:

After the screening they did a raffle and I won a copy of the movie, and since I've already seen it I'd like to offer it to one of my lucky readers. : )

• You must live in the United States
• You must follow each of the rules and keep your answers in one comment.
• You must provide your email address. If you don't want to post it publicly, please send me an email.
• **If you want to use this copy to show at a public screening, you must contact the filmmakers first, due to liability reasons**

1. Comment below and explain why this post inspired you to see the movie. Please let me know if you read about it anywhere else.
2. In the same comment, answer: do you have a lawn? If so, do you use chemicals? Why would this movie help you change your ways, or the ways of your loved ones? Why does it matter?
3. Follow ChemReact on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook - note that you did in your comment
4. Follow EcoVegan Gal on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, and subscribe to the FeedBurner email (top right column) - note that you did in your comment

A Chemical Reaction: movie

A Chemical Reaction is screening across the country, and will be in Los Angeles this Sunday afternoon. I'm going to try to make it.

A documentary movie that tells the story of one of the most powerful and effective community initiatives in the history of North America. It started with one lone voice in 1984. Dr. June Irwin, a dermatologist, noticed a connection between her patients’ health conditions and their exposure to chemical pesticides and herbicides. With relentless persistence she brought her concerns to town meetings to warn her fellow citizens that the chemicals they were putting on their lawns posed severe health risks and had unknown side effects on the environment.

Tukey and Rhys and numerous other members of the California environmental and health community will be on hand for the screening and a panel discussion. To reserve a seat at the screening, contact Brett Plymale at brett@pfzmedia.com.

TICKETS: By donation only ($10 suggested).

February 28th at 1 p.m. at the New Beverly Cinema

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Avatar: The Environmental Message - James Cameron at NRDC fundraiser

Tonight I had the exciting opportunity to attend the NRDC fundraiser featuring James Cameron and his movie Avatar. Although I knew that there were environmental messages in the movie, they didn't really sink in until I heard him speak. He showed 40 minutes of clips from Avatar at Fox Studios (in 3D!) and I had an entirely different emotional reaction then when I saw it in the theater. (It certainly helped that Cameron was sitting just a few rows in front of me!) The first time I saw the movie I was focused on the incredible special effects and the story, and was very impressed by them. This time, after hearing Cameron give a summary of the environmental message prior to the clips, it all became clear and I got chills. In fact, some scenes were very uncomfortable to watch the second time around (spoiler alert: when the magnificent tree falls down).

I was quite moved by what Cameron had to say, so here are my notes:

• The environmental message was fully intentional and was one of the main reasons he made the film. He felt that in order to reach a global audience he had to make the movie in the "guise of entertainment", as opposed to the smaller audiences his documentaries attracted. He knows that creating an emotional reaction - eliciting "moral outrage" by taping into our "instincts at a primal level" - is the best way to get people to pay attention to an important matter, instead of "teaching or preaching". He felt that it was his duty to use the film for good. He wants people who see this movie to "see ourselves as nature sees us", and stated that the Na'vi are "an aspect of human nature", as are the antagonists: "good destroys evil in the film, and that gives us a sense of hope."
• He realized during the making of Avatar that "nature's imagination was better than that of the greatest visual artists on the planet" - no matter how inventive they thought they were while designing the scenery, they could always find similar examples that already existed in nature.
• One of the most fascinating parts was when Cameron spoke about his passion for being under water, and how that translated into the film. He pointed out how many of the plants, creatures, and colors are similar to what is at the bottom of the ocean. He conveyed the magical feeling of discovery and exploration he's experienced during dives.
• He had a lot to say about how the world is handling the environmental mess we're in: "we take what we need and we ignore the consequences, but we can't longer ignore the consequences anymore". We can't continue doing "business as usual", even though change is overwhelming. He said, "when people have the information, it scares them" and "we, collectively as a society, live in denial". We need to realize that our actions have repercussions and everything we do makes a difference, for good or for bad.
• Cameron closed the talk by saying that in order to make a change it will take "technology and social rearrangement".

Though I didn't go up to talk to him, I was happy to see that Cameron stayed for the entire reception to speak to the guests. I left with a lot of respect for him and will be rooting for Avatar during the Academy Awards!

If you haven't seen Avatar yet, make sure to see it in 3D (and iMax) before it leaves theaters! A few days ago I told a friend I didn't think I could see it again, but now I've changed my mind. ; )

When Cameron was done talking, NRDC president Frances Beinecke showed this great video they put together featuring great celebrity appearances like Leonardo DiCaprio.

Forks Over Knives

Forks Over Knives looks wonderful, and is described as "The Inconvenient Truth about nutrition and disease prevention". Check out the trailer and make sure to see it this summer when it comes out!

The feature film Forks Over Knives examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods.

Rent The Cove on YouTube for $3.99

If you haven't already read my post on the documentary The Cove, please do here. In short, it's one of the best and most powerful movies I've ever seen. And now you can watch it on your computer via YouTube for only $3.99! (It's also available on Netflix.)

The Future of Food

Tonight I decided to browse Hulu's free movies, and I was excited to see the documentary The Future of Food. It's definitely worth checking out, especially since it's free to stream on your computer. While it's not as entertaining and well produced as a movie like Food Inc, it's really fascinating and informative. In fact, it goes a little deeper into topics - like seed patents, GMOs, and government subsidies- that Food Inc only scratched the surface of.

This movie will encourage you to educate yourself about what's in your food and where it came from. Buy food that is local, organic, from small companies, and has minimal packaging and preservatives; doing this is a big goal for me this year.

Click here to learn more and get involved.

The Cove: movie review

I finally rented The Cove and watched it on the plane ride to Massachusetts. And I was blown away. I've seen a lot of documentaries this year, and I'm tempted to say that this was my favorite.

The Cove is so much more than I expected. Although I heard rave reviews across the board, I didn't know much about it. It was full of facts that i wasn't aware of - about dolphins, marine life, the ocean, Japan, and the government. This movie made me feel compelled to do something to make a difference, as soon as possible.

Though the movie was sad throughout, the part that made me cry was about government coverup of mercury levels in fish. I thought about the amount of people I know who eat fish and have no idea. Thus I was glad to show this movie to my pescetarian family, especially since it is easier for most people to swallow than a film like Earthlings.

Aside from being an incredible piece about animal rights, it is simply a great documentary. It was very well edited and directed; the flow kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. At times I felt like I was watching an action movie in the style of Ocean's 11 or Bourne. The "cast" of the movie was so brave and persistent, and I was so proud of them, especially at the end.

I couldn't get enough of The Cove and I didn't want it to end, in fact I watched it with my family a few days after first seeing it. I live by the ocean, and I'll never look at a dolphins the same again. I've always wanted to swim with dolphins, but now I won't unless out in the ocean. This movie gives a fantastic explanation on why we shouldn't eat fish, for both our health and our planet. If more documentaries were as well done and powerful the world would evolve in a much needed direction.

You must see this movie right away - it will change your life.

Movie about waste on Venice Beach

There's a good reason why I'm doing the Blogger Beach Cleanup!

I shot all of this footage in an hour, and I didn't touch or move any of the trash, or interact with any of the people - how you see it in the movie is how I found it.

Fuel screening at Santa Monica Pier

Fuel website

Veggie Van Organization

Here are some photos I took with my iPhone

Age of Stupid documentary - screenings across the world

This is incredibly impressive and I'm really looking forward to seeing this movie.

The Age of Stupid USA Trailer from Age of Stupid on Vimeo.

The AGE OF STUPID is a LIVE event taking place this MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st - playing simultaneously in over 425 cinema’s across the USA and screenings in over 50 countriesaround the world!

The event consists of:

• ‘Green carpet' interviews with key activists and enviro VIP's
• Live performance by Moby
• VIP Screening of the feature film THE AGE OF STUPID
• Live discussions from the field with scientists working in the Himalayas and an Indonesian rain forest
• Live climate discussion with Kofi Annan, Former Secretary General of the United Nations; Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, UK; Phil Radford, Executive Director, Greenpeace USA; Presidents and Ministers from Indonesia, Quebec and the Maldives; actors Gillian Anderson, Heather Graham, Pete Postlethwaite; AGE’s director and producer Franny Armstrong.
• Culminating with a live performance by Radio Heads’ Thom Yorke

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW at your local cinema!
http://www.ageofstupid.net

Please find details on the global screening below or on our website THE AGE OF STUPID http://www.ageofstupid.net.

" An unprecedented global film event, the eco-premiere of the critically hailed documentary THE AGE OF STUPID will be broadcast live from New York City on Monday, September 21 to more than 700 locations in over 50 countries simulatenously, uniting nearly one million people for climate change reform during Climate Week NYC, setting a new Guiness World Record for the largest single screen shared audience experience ever.

World leaders, environmental luminaries, climate change campaigners and other newsmakers will gather for the green carpet eco premiere at New York’s World Financial Center for a screening of the documentary, followed by a live panel discussion on climate change where audiences will hear live from field scientists working in the Himalayas and an Indonesian rain forest as well as Kofi Annan, Former Secretary General of the United Nations; Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, UK; Phil Radford, Executive Director, Greenpeace USA; Presidents and Ministers from Indonesia, Quebec and the Maldives; actors Gillian Anderson, Heather Graham, Pete Postlethwaite; AGE’s director and producer Franny Armstrong and Lizzie Gillett, among others. The event will kick off with a green carpet bicyle-powered performance by Moby and will culimate with an aucostic act from Radiohead’s Thom Yorke.

The eco premiere, which be will simulcast to all participating theaters, will feature a live procession on a green carpet (made of recycled soda bottles) as guests arrive by bicycle, solar car, rickshaw, sailboats and other low carbon methods. Electricity used to power the event will be provided from renewable energy and all food and drink will be organic and locally sourced. Guests will be given reusable, metal water bottles with tap water upon arrival and handmade fans from Whole Food paper bags. An installation of 1,500 plastic water bottles will hang from the solar tent cinema, representing the amount of bottles consumed every second."

Eco Events at the Santa Monica Pier

Couple great FREE events happening this month at the Santa Monica Pier.

• Day of Peace event on September 20th
• Screening of Fuel documentary on September 25th (but you must get a ticket)

More details (click to enlarge the photos)

Short movie screening - TONIGHT

Though this is not eco or vegan related, I would like to invite all my L.A. friends and eco-vegan followers to the screening of my latest narrative short movie, "Juncture". It is playing at the Apple Store on the Santa Monica Third Street Promenade - Tuesday, September 8th at 7pm.

More information can be found on:

• ENGAGE Productions website (click on Juncture)
• Juncture's IMDB Page
• Apple Third Street website

Fuel screening in San Francisco

The Veggie Van Organization cordially invites you to FUEL in the Park to view the 35 minute cut of the Sundance Audience Award winning 2008 Documentary Film FUEL, which will premiere in SF on September 18, 2009.

When: Monday, Labor Day evening- September 7, 2009 7-9 PM

Where: The Justin Herman Plaza Park,1 Market Street, Embarcadero Plaza, San Francisco

Come be the first to see our TOUR roll out all of eco- vehicles before we take off across the USA. The Veggie Van Organization is about to embark on a tour to spread the message about green education and green jobs for all.

The screening will be shown on COMM CINEMA'S 'BIG GREEN MOVIE MACHINE' powered up by our BIG GREEN ENERGY BUS the first interactive rolling sustainable energy laboratory that runs on solar power & biodiesel.

Also on hand will be The Veggie Van, the first Winnebago to cross the country over 12 years ago using used fryer oil & our electric motorcycle by ZERO motorcycle.

Meet Filmmaker Josh Tickell and Producer Rebecca Harrell

PLEASE RSVP: fuelsf@thefuelfilm.com

Media contact: Nathan Marcy Sunshine Sachs & Associates ph: 310.275.3222 marcy@sunshinesachs.com

please bring your blankets & picnic with us

Suggested Donation $15

The proceeds will go to The Veggie Van Organization, a 501 c3 Non-profit organization, and the San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department.

Interview with Shaun Monson, director of Earthlings & Unity

Finally my interview with Shaun Monson, which was taped at World Fest 2009, is uploaded!

For more information, check out the Earthlings website.

No Impact Man: review

Last night I was invited to a screening of "No Impact Man", a documentary I was really excited to see. I really enjoyed the movie and was quite inspired by it.

The documentary follows a somewhat average family of 2.5 (father, mother, & young daughter) as they spend a year "living deliberately" with "no impact" in New York City to understand their dependence on consumption and waste. They cut out automated transportation, electricity, non-local food, and new material purchases. Conflict arrises in 2 ways: first with Colin's wife Michelle resistance and later with public scrutiny (the latter I was quite shocked by).

Although the family isn't vegan, they are vegetarians. Can't say that I didn't shudder when Colin swatted and killed a few flies, and ate dairy, but at least he gave up meat and were nice to the compost worms.

They film made some great points. It brings up America's obsession with want: how our culture supports the mindsets, "why shouldn't I have it?" and "I don't need it but I want it". No wonder we have such a hard time giving things up - most of us have been raised to use things even if they're unnecessary. The movie has a great name for this: "consumption coma". How much of what we think we need and want is really that imperative? Are these decisions really worth the effect on the earth? This reminds me of how often I'm told by non-vegetarians that they don't want to stop eating meat (or, with non-vegans, cheese) because they'll miss the taste too much - is the taste really worth the impact? It would make a difference if people started focusing on how to get what they need in a sustainable way, and finding ways to be satisfied. That's the message of "No Impact Man": Colin and his family found how to be happy with the limits they placed on themselves and realized they didn't need as much as they thought.

Colin explores the realities of what happens to the things we throw away, and brings up the important fact that recycling isn't all it's made out to be. While putting something in the recycling bin is definitely better than putting it in the trash, most people don't realize what they're usually doing is "down cycling": many products are not recycled to the full extent we imagine. In fact, most waste is shipped out of the country to be "recycled" and many facilities have no idea what happens next. This is exactly why "No Impact Man" is so important - most people think it's ok to buy products that are highly packaged if they recycle them, while Colin shows that it's better to avoid packaging all together.

This movie left me wondering how much of our impact on the environment is due to people being selfish and lazy, or due to ignorance. Unfortunately I'm not sure that the film will reach a large audience due to it's independent style, but I hope people will pass it on and recommend it. Colin and Michelle show that every-day people can make a change in their lives and adapt to it, and demonstrate that their choices make a big impact on the world. For that reason, this movie should be on everyone's must-see list.