How Do We Break Through?

This past week I've learned about two fascinating movies that follow my own personal themes about "saving the world."

Movie #1

I learned about this first film from a couple of forums I subscribe to:

What a Way To Go: Life at the End

I have not actually seen the flick yet, but I plan to purchase it. However, I did see the trailers and a fascinating interview. Here is a quick summary of the movie:

"What A Way To Go looks head on at our present global predicament, as oil depletion, climate change, species extinction and population overshoot converge in a 'perfect storm' of cataclysmic dimensions. Produced independently by Sally Erickson and Tim Bennett, this personal essay explores the cultural stories and assumptions that have brought us to this point, and provides a larger context for thinking about, and feeling our way through, our global situation."

I should also throw in that they interview many of the top environmental authors of our day, including one of my favorites — Daniel Quinn.

Movie #2

Then, this morning Ray, a friend on my Atlanta Leavers discussion list, announced his new movie:

The Stumbling Block: Killing Creation for the Love of the Creator (Click on THE MOVIE)

This Internet movie tells of one person's escape from his mind-controlling religion. Once he began to do intense reading and research he learned some incredible things about Christianity and prophesy. At the end, he calls for a revolution against the Earth-destroying and soul-destroying Machine. It is a great movie that I wholeheartedly endorse.

Ray calls for everyone to be a "Rebel Monkey," which he defines as:

"Rebel Monkey: n. Any member of the species homo sapiens sapiens who is in full defiance of the stubborn religious stance against evolution, proudly accepting the fact s/he is merely a member of the animal kingdom and rejecting the notion that the human species was meant to own and rule the planet. Many desire to go back to primitive ways of life that worked well for the human species, rather than sticking with the status quo of complicated and over-controlling laws, rules, commandments and religions that have served as a cage for an increasingly hostile mankind, knowing that the ways before were ways that humans evolved and sustained for thousands upon thousands of generations, while the current lifestyle of man is managing to destroy the life on this planet in just ten short millenia."

Ray hits the nail on the head when he talks about the separation from nature and denial of evolution. This, I believe, is one of the root causes behind our civilization's general apathy and disregard for the planet.

A final note ...

I remain puzzled by the indifference or even disdain that most people have for the environment. I find that most people are either ignorant, selfish, or just apathetic about environmental issues. Some people are hoping that someone or something else will "fix it," such as God, technology, or government.

Some people are so busy just trying to "save" themselves and their family — just trying to survive — that they don't have the energy or time to help save the world.

Other people love the environment — the beach, sunsets, the mountains — but they simply don't know HOW or know WHAT to do to save it.

What I hate to hear from people is "that's too political." That is the biggest cop out ever.