Watched this film yesterday while recovering from my ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ Film and Cocktail evening, which was on all accounts a great success!

I had the thought that perhaps the dvd might be a good easy watch, not too full-on for my morning after brain and something I could watch while I ate brunch and sipped coffee, maybe even nodding off a bit. Well I couldn’t miss a beat, it was very entertaining (although not surprising) as it was yet another documentary that doesn’t hide the fact that American politics, and politicians, leave much to be desired. The Governator was, of course, charismatic and smooth and acted the part with gusto, while his opponents shrivelled and faltered by the wayside, there was no doubt that Arnie would come out on top.

Of course we all know the result of the race, but it is fascinating to see how well orchestrated the performance was, Schwarzenegger is not one to be underestimated in his drive to succeed at whatever he puts his mind to, if you have seen Pumping Iron you’ll know what I’m on about. And of course there is the majority of the American public who gladly supported their Terminator in his campaign, and were a hand full of people in the documentary that I really felt for, perhaps the few who tried to speak out about the lunacy around them (I know, I know, massive generalisation, but y’know the Californians voted for him, and I’m afraid the everyday Jo or Jane citizen that I see in docos and media here do not do themselves any favours, just take a look at this clip). Anyhow, see it it’s great!
From IMDB

The Green Party are hosting a fund raising preview of Who Killed the Electric Car? at the Academy on Monday at 7:50pm. You are invited to join them for this preview.
Tickets are only available from the Green Party. See below.
The Auckland Green Party is proud to host the environmental documentary film of 2007, directed by Chris Paine. “It was among the fastest, most efficient production cars ever built. It ran on electricity, produced no emissions and catapulted American technology to the forefront of the automotive industry. The lucky few who drove it never wanted to give it up. So why did General Motors crush its fleet of EV1 electric vehicles in the Arizona desert? WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? Chronicles the life and mysterious death of the GM EV1, examining its cultural and economic ripple effects and how they reverberated through the halls of government and big business.”

This screening will take place on Monday the 19th of February at 7.50pm at Academy Cinemas, Lorne Street. Tickets cost $15 and are only available from the Auckland Green Party Office, phone (09)303-4143 or email auckland@greens.org.nz.

View the trailer here.

Bolivia, 2004, directed by Jim Sanders.

What did I find most interesting about this film? It was not the inexcusable exploitation of the indigenous people of Bolvia by massive multinational corporations like Coca Cola, no surprises there. The documentary makers highlighted something I had not considered in the past, the coca plant is part of Bolivain culture and that just because it’s cultivation by unscrupulus organistions and individuals drives international drug trafficing – the plant cannot simply be exterminated. It is a very complex situation, evident in the US governments plans to introduce “alternative industries” to provide other surceses of income for farmers. The naiveity of the solutions is astounding, such as the introduction of banana plantations – complete with a marketing plan to introduce a ‘bananas in schools’ program. You have to see it to believe it.

http://www.humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz/films.asp#real

While not denying or excusing the Arab bias, Aljazeera’s journalists and employees expose the ignorance of the American media machine. Somewhat more refreshing and honest in it’s acknowledgement and understanding of the role of propaganda during war, it does not beat around the bush – so to speak.

Worth watching regardless of opinions on American/British aggression, as this is one of the most closely followed news channels internationally. It exists specifically for an increasingly marginalised and misunderstood group.

For more information, visit the news site:

Aljazeera

The End of Suburbia. An article dealing with issues regarding how we can become more prepared for it now, was published in a local northland paper, and was posted here on stuff.co.nz.

Aljazeera has more background on the political nature of the imagery here, which is probably more of a concern for Coca Cola.

Go NASA!

Where do you go to get permission to start firing at such “heavenly bodies”?
Is it really about unlocking the secrets of the universe or weakly disguised weapons testing?

chavezthefilm.com

From the website:
Synopsis

THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED
DIRECTED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY
KIM BARTLEY AND DONNACHA O’BRIAIN
IRELAND, 2003
74 MINUTES

IN SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Hugo Chavez elected president of Venezuela in 1998, is a colourful, unpredictable folk hero, beloved by his nation’s working class and a tough-as-nails, quixotic opponent to the power structure that would see him deposed. Two independent filmmakers were inside the presidential palace on April 11, 2002, when he was forcibly removed from office.

They were also present 48 hours later when, remarkably, he returned to power amid cheering aides. Their film records what was probably history’s shortest-lived coup d’�tat. It’s a unique document about political muscle and an extraordinary portrait of the man The Wall Street Journal credits with making Venezuela “Washington’s biggest Latin American headache after the old standby, Cuba.”

Germans Question US Nuclear Weapons

End of Suburbia highlights just how unsustainably these resources have been used. ‘Suburbia’, or ‘The American Dream’ is far more fragile than ever before imagined, we have become lulled into thinking that we can continue consuming power and products like there is no tomorrow.

Some experts; writers, geologists and other scientists suggest that we are already on the way down, we have reached a global peak and from now prices will continue to rise, demand continue to increase – and politicians will get desperate, as we have already seen ample evidence with Americas war for oil in Iraq.

Now we need to think ahead, our resources are limited, and so we must think sustainably, to move forward. On a positive note, one writer believes that this may force people to become neighbourly again, we will need to work together, and we can make changes on a local level.

This documentary was screened in Auckland by The Green Party NZ.